"The Cut"

Chapter 29- Impractical Practice

Chapter 29- IMPRACTICAL PRACTICE

The morning of Homecoming had finally arrived. The game was at 1:00 p.m. and the members of the FHS varsity team were prepared to demolish the Bulldogs! Coach Fullman asked that they report for pre-game practice by 11:30 to give them plenty of time for a briefing. Chase and his coach remained at odds with each other, but both were using the avoidance tactic at this point.

 Chase had to pick up Katie's corsage beforehand, so he and Evan met up at the Flowers of the South at ten o'clock. They saw many of their classmates in passing and paid for Katie and Grace's corsages after meeting Dahlia, the owner of the floral shop.

 She was the most widely-used, friendly florist in town ; also the least expensive. 

"I hope this silver-blue-ish is close enough to Grace's dress. I suck at this kind of 'ISH'." Evan remarked as they exited the flower shop. He sniffed the box, and examined the baby's breath and bow that was laced with care around the wrist corsage.

 Chase was lucky that Katie's dress was baby doll pink. Really more like saltwater taffy pink, but Katie didn't want to shatter the illusion. Chase was only going by one pic that she had sent and it was semi-blurry.

"She will love it, either way." Chase re-assured Evan. "So long as you don't walk out the door tonight and forget to bring the damn thing." Evan laughed at the thought of showing up at Grace's house empty- handed in front of her family.

"Nah. Can't let that happen. I've only met her dad and little bro once and mom twice, so I need to maintain the good impression. Plus, we're doing pics at our place before dinner, so we gotta have the whole 'flower thing' going, right? Don't forget." Evan instructed. 

 He suddenly thought of Carson, like a nightmare that a child couldn't shake from their memory. He wondered if she had tried to contact Chase.

 Or, if she would even be seen at Homecoming at this point?

"So, have you heard from the she-devil?" he asked casually. Chase looked like he'd just been stung by a hornet. He shook his head emphatically.

"No! Thank Gawd. I can't help but think this isn't the last of her, though. I hope she doesn't make a scene at the dance. I don't want to be embarrassed in front of Katie." His skin crawled at the thought of her approaching them in the gym that evening. He knew that Carson was relentless. 

 Maybe he would be spared and she would show up with a date of her own?

 Probably not.

"Good Lord, can you imagine?" Evan started. "I don't know about Katie, but I know the Homecoming Whore, and she ain't giving up on you that easy, my friend. She's gonna fight till the death." He shook his head as he and Chase walked across the crowded parking lot.

"Let's hope not. I don't even know this girl that well. The last thing I'd want is for Carson to start a drama-fest at the dance. We'll end up getting tossed out on our asses." He added. 

 Evan chuckled.

"Just don't feed the monster, Bro. Shut her down like Chinatown. She'll get it eventually." He walked toward his truck and tossed the corsage on the front seat. Chase fired up his muscle car and revved the engine. He put the automatic windows down and slid his sunglasses on.

"You got it. Alright, Man. I'm out. I gotta bounce home real quick before practice. See ya in hell!" he beamed and backed out of his parking spot at Flowers of the South. He blared Lil' Baby's "Whoah" as he screeched out of the shopping strip in his infamous Dodge Charger.