Blue jeans

Chapter Six

Chapter SIX

The next day we all began school as usual and Bailey and I: much to my annoyance pretended like the conversation from this weekend never happened.
I was standing in front of the school lost in thought. This weekend certainly didn't go as planned and now that we are back at school it feels like going back to the weekend to fix it wouldn't be such a bad prospect. Seeing Bailey I quickly walked away.
Bailey absolutely refused to sit with me throughout all our morning classes, which made it feel like we were indeed no longer friends. I struggled to have the motivation to attend  my last  morning class because of this. But I knew I was a good student and prioritized attendance above all else, so I did.

During lunch I passed through the somewhat empty hallway and I saw Colten in the corner of my eye, smiling at me.
Slowly walking over I smiled back with a serious lack of confidence. He looked at me curiously and concerningly. Cotlen is a special person at Ruford Jensen because he notices a lot more than most, almost like the school's messenger in a sense.
We started talking and laughing, mainly conversing about each other's sport weekends. He confessed that my team was in a lot better shape than his, considering half of his team was out due to injuries at their home- opener this previous Saturday.
I laughed but also felt bad for him at the same time.
Rugby was unfortunately one of those sports where if a majority of the people were injured you were basically screwed. Volleyball in a sense was the exact same way. He continued to talk about how they, by a stroke of luck,  won a margin of a  point: he changed the subject.

" You and Bailey have kind of been MIA, what's up?" he replied conversationally
" Well I basically told her about my epilepsy diagnosis, and it went ..
" South?" he said, finishing my sentence.
" Exactly" I replied, feeling like I wanted to sink lower and lower into the chair.

Look I know that Colten is a very good guy, but I also know how boyfriends work, he was going to take her side eventually: even though I would much prefer If he didn't.
The afternoon drug on and on, almost like I was going to school as a snail instead of a human. Then it was practice, basketball practice. " This time of the day, could not have come soon enough" I thought bitterly. Claudia entered in with what I could see was an embarrassed look on her face. Well I hope she was embarrassed she left on Saturday without telling anyone else but Gail. But then I stopped myself and thought there was something bigger brewing here. She stood in front of us zoned out and nervous like  she thought her shoes were going to fall off or something of that nature.
" Look I'm sorry everyone for abandoning you last weekend" she said but I had a family emergency
" Aha"  I said quietly snapping my fingers, I knew there was a catch.

Fortunately no one heard the snap, as I can't really snap at all. We went on with practice as usual. Today was more of a slow practice, as we were trying to get back into routine after the weekend. I heard rumours that Bailey was leaving the team to join the cheer squad, but I didn't think anything of it, and went along as normal: like Claudia's conversation with us never happened. We finally ended after what seemed another two hours, and I ran out as if staying in the gym would make me sweat more.

Bailey is still waiting for Colten, her feet dragging on the floor and making designs in the sand. He finally pulls up after a few minutes, and she hops in his monster tireed truck, almost running her side into the seat. She climbs in, throws her duffle and backpack in the back, and buckles up. Colten gives her a kiss, his fingers tickling her neck. He gives her a hug and another kiss on the forehead. Hugging her still he smiles stroking her hair. They finally after a few minutes drive off, his arm wrapped around her.
" So?," he said with a smile: how was practice ?
" Alright" she replied noncommittally
" That's good,'' he smiled.
He explained his family situation to her a few minutes later.
He didn't really want to, but it had to be said eventually. Bailey sat there quietly, the tears flowing down her face. Colten's grandpa was the only example of a grandparent she had, even though Colten and her were not blood relatives. He hugged her tightly as they were stopped by a red light, and due to our cities regular traffic they would most likely be there awhile. They finally made it to the house with his arm around her. His sister Claudia has already driven herself home.