The Girl With Many Names

▪︎ Chapter Twenty-Four ▪︎

I got to school the next day to meet a bubbly atmosphere. I walked to my locker and was just about to open it when Clover arrived.

"Hey Dani" she greeted, hugging me.

"Hey" I replied and then pulled back "Is it just me or does everybody seem excited?"

"Of course they are! Tomorrow is the big game between Arlington's Hornets and Blue Lake's Swans. Blue Lake is another school here in New York and the Swans and Hornets have been rivals for as long as I can remember" she explained, excited as well.

"Oh, okay but it's tomorrow right? Why are you all already excited?" I asked, confused as I brought my books out of my locker.

"Yeah, but it's a game everyone has been anticipating. The Hornets have always beaten the Swans before now, but at the last game they had, the swans actually beat them! So, everyone is excited to see how the Hornets bounce back by winning tomorrow's game" she explained, her eyes gleaming with pride.

"Oh okay then" I said just as I was done getting my books out. "Hey, what was the outcome of your mum's visit to the hospital yesterday?" I asked, remembering our conversation at the cafeteria the day before.

"Oh that" she replied, her excitement dying out as she turned to face me. I instantly regret asking that question. "She had to do a test but the result won't be out till tommorow"

"Alright then" I replied awkwardly, staring at the ground "Uh, so tell me about the Hornets" I piped, trying to cut through the tension in the air. Lucky for me, it wasn't very thick because though it wasn't as bright as before, her smile was back.

"Okay so as you know, Steve is the captain and Peter is the deputy" she started. We had both gotten our books out so we rested against our lockers as we talked. I nodded and she continued "Thomas is one of the great players and Blake, well he's the top scorer in most of their games. There's also Josh, Timothy, Freddie, Sam and a couple other guys on the team that you don't know"

At the mention of Blake's name, our little encounter of the day before flashed through my head and I realized something. The chip. I forgot to ask my mum about it. I made another mental note to check it out later and then replied Clover.

"Blake's a top scorer?" I asked and she nodded "Oh that's nice, I swear he should be captain and not Steve McJerkface" I added the last part, rolling my eyes and Clover giggled.

"Well, we can't always get what we want" she replied, shrugging, just as the bell went and we made our way to Chemistry.

We entered and walked to the back of the class to take our seats. My eyes scanned through the few heads present for a familiar mop of dark brown hair but it was nowhere in sight.

"He's most probably in the gym, practicing with his teammates" Clover said from the seat next to me.

"What? Who?" I asked, feigning ignorance.

"Oh come on Dani, I know you were searching for Blake" she replied, rolling her eyes.

"No I wasn't" I denied, crossing my arms over my chest.

"Yeah sure and Obama's my father" she replied sarcastically, bringing out her phone.

"Whatever" I dismissed but then after some minutes, I asked "But aren't they going to get into trouble for skipping classes?"

"Nope, all the guys on the team are excused for the day and besides, today is basically like a free day because most of the teachers won't come to teach and school closes for the day after recess. Looking at how scanty this classroom is should tell you why the teachers don't bother to come" she explained.