𝔻𝕚𝕟𝕖𝕣 ℝ𝕠𝕞𝕒𝕟𝕔𝕖

𝔸𝕤𝕜𝕚𝕟𝕘

A/N so the way my school works is that football season starts when it's kinda still warm out. We have a few games and then it's homecoming. Idk about other schools but that's how this book works as well. So it's now chilly kinda really. :)

Cuori's POV
"Dave, listen. Ya gotta ask her!" I insisted. Davey and I were sitting in the library. He had his head in his hands, stressing over whether to ask Maddie to homecoming or not.
"She won't even talk to me! How am I supposed to ask her if every time I go up to her she runs away?!" he complained. I sighed, searching for more comforting words.
"Just, keep trying. Come and tell me at the end of the day what she said." Davey sighed.
"Fine. Thanks C! You're a real lifesaver." He said, grinning. I smiled up at the boy.
"No problem! I'm the group therapist. It's what I do!" We walked out of the library and parted ways to our lockers.
"CUORI!" Race came barreling down the hall, pushing down too many people, but not caring. "Did Ace ask you yet?" He lowered his voice just a bit.
"Um no." I responded, confused.
"That son of a bitch." Race ran down the rest of the hall and turning the corner. Race was on the track team, hence the nickname. I joined the rest of the guys in the cafeteria where we hung out every morning. Elmer was giving Romeo a piggy back ride while parading around the large area. Specs and Crutchie were helping each other with homework, Jack was drawing, and Shiner and Al were going over math formulas on flash cards.
"Hey Shine!" I greeted. She looked over at me and smiled.
"Hey C!" She cherrily responded. I cocked an eyebrow.
"You seem quite happy." I said curiously. She laughed.
"Me and Albert talked last night, and Davey's just a boy! I shouldn't be so upset over him liking someone else." She shrugged. I nodded sitting down with the two.
"ANTONIO HIGGINS GET THAT OUT OF YOUR MOUTH!" The drama teacher, Mrs. Hannah yelled after Race, who nearly crashed into the wall as he dashed into the lunch room, cigarette between his teeth.
"But Mrs. Hannah, it's not even lit!" He whined. Mrs Hannah gave him a look and he sighed, taking the cigar out of his mouth. As soon as the teacher was out of sight he popped it back in.
"Finally got a new pack, huh Racer?" I asked. He nodded happily.
"And it's about damn time too. You were starting to get on my nerves." Race threatened to hit Albert as he sat down with the three of us. Race was chaotic to begin with, but without his cigarettes it was only worse. Lit or unlit it gave him a piece of comfort for some reason. "Watcha dooiinnnggg?" Race asked leaning over my shoulder.
"Geometry. This stuff even confuses me sometimes." I sighed. The warning bell rang and we all headed to our first class.
"Shiner!" David called down the hallway. Shiner immediately picked up the pace almost bolting to class. Davey stopped next to me and sighed. "See! She doesn't even talk to me." he gestured down the hall in the direction she ran in.
"She's being stubborn Dave, try again later." I assured him.
"Ok, why is everyone calling me Dave so far?" he asked. I cocked an eyebrow curiously.
"Do you not like it?" he shook his head.
"No it's just... You guys never said you were calling me Dave. It kind of just started and passed along in the group. I don't know." I laughed.
"That's how most nicknames start! One person says it and we all hop on board with it." I explained. He nodded.
"So how did you get your nickname?" he asked.
"I play cards, and we just got creative with it. I think it's the only one we actually thought about." I told him. We entered the classroom and took our seats.
"Shiner." Davey tried again, but she didn't answer him.
"Shiner DaSilva you don't answer David, and I'll soak ya." I whispered. She turned her head and faces the boy.
"Um." David's face flushed with color. "I was, uh wondering..." Albert and I took in a breath. "If you had the English homework I need help on a few questions." Albert groaned and I face palmed as Shiner handed him the paper. He gave an awkward smile "Thanks."
"ThAnKs." Albert mocked him. "You were so close!" He whisper shouted at Davey.
"I froze up! I'm sorry guys, I don't think this will work." The bell rang signaling the start of class. I slumped down in my seat and desperately tried to focus on class. It didn't work.
•••••••••••••••••••••••••••••••••••
Shiner and I walked through the lunch line, a group of girls in front of us.
"I hear he has the hots for someone." One said. Another rolled her eyes.
"Its probably just a rumor. He is hopelessly in love with me." I was ready to barf again. A great feeling.
"They don't know when to stop being obsessed with themselves, do they?" Shiner sighed. I shook my head.
"Sadly not." We walked across the cafeteria, heading to our table. We had to pass Spot's on the way.
"I honestly don't understand this, Spot." Clubs said, handing a paper back to Spot.
"Well neither do I." He rested his head in his hand. I scanned over the paper, seeing it was a math problem. I spoke up.
"It's a factorial, you multiply it." Spot looked at me and back at the paper.
"Um. Thanks!" He smiled, I smiled back.
"No problem!" I started to walk away, but Ace called me back. "C!" I turned around as Shiner walked back to the table.
"Would you, um, maybe wanna, go to homecoming with me?" My mouth fell open and I almost dropped my tray. I heard Spot laugh a bit at my state. I wanted to smack him upside the head but I resisted the urge.
"Um. Yeah! Sure! That would be great." He smiled.
"Great! I'll see you Friday night then." I nodded, walking away and sitting down at the table with no emotion on my face. I was too shocked.
"C, you ok?" Race checked.
"I just got asked to homecoming." Race sighed.
"C, no one can understand ya when ya mumble." He said putting his cigar back in his mouth.
"Ace asked me to homecoming." I spoke up. Albert groaned.
"HA SUCK IT! HAND OVER THE MONEY!" Race stood up from the table a bit.
"You placed bets?!" Shiner asked.
"Who wouldn't?" Race shrugged counting the money to make sure he had it all.
"You should run." Elmer cautioned Race. Race's eyes went wide. Last time he placed a bet on my life choices, he was soaked.
"Oh shit." Race said, realizing what was coming. He shot up and started to run as I followed suit. "OH MY GOD! CUO- CUORI!"
"Piece of crap GET BACK HERE." I shouted after him.
"GO RACE GO!" Albert cheered. The whole cafeteria was watching now. Mrs. Hannah was on duty today and she knew how these things ended, so she didn't do anything about it.
I picked up speed and launched myself at Race, knocking him to the ground. "We talked about the bets, Racer." I said while he was in the headlock.
"Yeah. But why aren't you chasing Albert?" Race asked, trying to pin the blame on someone else.
"He's too slow."  I said casually. I climbed off of him as the cafeteria went back to what they were doing.
"Damn Ace, ya girls a badass." I heard Clubs tell his best friend.
"Yeah she is." He smirked. I smirked back and brushed my hands off casually. One thought was on my mind the rest of the day, how off Ace seemed.