THE ALLURING CATASTROPHE

CHAPTER 13 - Clinton, Canton, Chuggingtlon? What is it?

It was Friday and I was walking towards my locker while my eyes were wandering around to find my best friends but I can't find anyone in the herd of students standing in the hallway. As I opened my locker, I found an old photo of me, Shelley, and Noah lying there which was from 5th grade in our previous school. Shelley was in the middle with her middle teeth broken with a crinkled nose because Noah and I were pulling her braids from the side and giggling.

This photo was clicked by my Dad when he took us to a little picnic. As the memories flashed in, I felt tears building in my eyes and-

"Hey", I heard Noah's voice as I wiped the tiny drop of liquid dripping out of my eyes.

"Hi, where were you?", I said.

"Where did you find this photograph?", he said taking it from my hand.

"I found it in my locker this morning and by seeing the little glitter sprinkled at some places, I guess Shell put it here and she knows my code.", I said.

"Oh", he sighed.

"Where is she?", I asked.

"She had some work to do for the arrangement of the dance.", he said.

"Dance class at this hour?", I frowned.

"No asshat! The high school dance party after two weeks.", he said.

"We are having the DANCE after a week.", I exclaimed.
" I am so excited but it's October, right? Dances are most probably done at the end of-", I was cut off by Noah.

"I know. I know. But, in Brookville High, the dance party is celebrated on the 3rd Saturday of October and the prom at the end of the year.", Noah explained.

"Gotcha", I exclaimed.

I loved to dance and I have always loved dances in the movies and books for sure. I never went to a high school dance before. Not even in my freshman and sophomore year because we didn't have one in our previous school. And hypothetically, if we had it, then I can't think of a single person to go with because I was a loner. I had friends but they were just for the namesake. So I spend time alone most of the time. But joining Brookville High in midterm had some perks. And I am so excited about it.

"Let's go to our classes", Noah said and I noticed a little dismay in his behavior.

"Your fight is still going on, isn't it?", I asked raising an eyebrow.

"What fight?", he said grimacing.

"For real?", I scoffed.

"Okay. Yes. We're still not okay. He's upset because of me", he sighed.

"Why? What's the main issue?", I asked as we walked in the hallway.

"It's nothing. Just a stupid thing which Dyl can't understand.", he said.

"Are you going to tell me or not?", I stopped and asked him folding both my arms.

"Okay, fine. There's this guy Clinton, whom Dyl hates. It's mutual actually. But the soccer team needs him for the game next month but Dyl is not gonna join the team and the coach made me join it. And Clinton makes me wait and forces me to ask Dyl to join the team. And I can't tell this to Dyl because I told him that Clinton is my friend.", he said with guilt in his eyes.

"Why did you lie to him and how dare that Canton torture you? Didn't you do something?", I asked.

"His name is Clinton and I can't do anything because...because if I'll fight back then he's gonna mess with Dyl and if he messes with him, Dyl is gonna lose his calm and he'll fight which can lead him to the suspension which won't be good for him for now. That's the same reason I lied to him.", he said.