Through the Dark

Chapter 35

I woke up as the loud sound of my alarm rang through my ears. Getting up I changed my clothes and dragged myself downstairs to have breakfast.

"How's your ankle?" Jason, who was having his breakfast, asked.
"Alright," I said and sat down.

"Listen, I'm actually really sorry," Jason said for the hundredth time.
"Jason how many times will I have to tell you? It is not your fault," I added firmly.

Even though I assured him that he was not the one to blame, Jason felt guilty for some reason. He kept looking down with a sad face for which I kicked his leg with my left one, the one which was okay. As a result, his face shoot up to look at me almost instantly.

"It's my other leg, dumbo," I stated because Jason's alarmed face said that he assumed I hit him with my sprained ankle.

"Jason, you were not even near me when I had fallen. Why do you think that it was your fault anyway?" I inquired. Hearing that, he was at first uncomfortable and he fidgeted in his seat.
"What?" I asked again.

"I saw that you were really upset yesterday. If I was in your position, then I would have wanted to get the sympathy. Yesterday, I did not put any heed to it and it clearly was a really big mistake. I should have talked with you or just said that it was not a good idea to play because you were unable to concentrate properly. Now, see what the outcome is. You cannot play in the Final match for the tournament that you have been waiting for since a long long time," Jason explained.

I was left speechless by what he just said. Never in a million years did I think the Jason Carter would open up about something and would express his emotions the way he did.

I put my hand on top of his, which was in the table. The gesture made him look at me straight in the eye.

"Jason, I am hundred percent sure that you are not the one to blame," I stated yet another time. He half smiled before letting out an awkward cough. I pulled out my hand instantly and felt my face warming up due to the blood rush that I did not anticipate.

"We should get going," he added quickly.

As we entered the car Jason turned on the record player to play some music. He did not ask if I had any preferences and I did not tell him either. I was just grateful that the music was not metal or rock because at that time it would have added to the headache I already had.

These past few days when Jason and I had gone to school together, he would instantly disappear after arriving. He would be minding his own business and I saw him once or twice in the whole day. However, that day I was bewildered when he waited for me.

As soon as I got out of the car, Jason put his arm around me to support me as I walked. I could have just walked alone but he stuck back, a gesture which I greatly appreciated.

All the people present, both strangers and classmates, knew that I was in the team. Every once in a while someone would stop by and ask me about my leg. It was getting pretty annoying as I was stopped 10 times even before I could cross the parking lot. At a point I actually considered recording the explanation and playing it everytime sometime asked about it.

As Jason and I entered the court, all of a sudden all eyes were on me. I did not know if it was because I had a sprain or the fact that Jason was the one who I was walking with. I sort of assumed that half of them thought the former one while the other half of the people were busy scrutinizing me. In the distance, I could see Avery standing. Her face was wide open and I knew it was because of Jason and not my sprained ankle.

"What the fuck!" it was Nathan who spoke out. He was standing behind where I was.

"Vianna?" he asked unable to take what he saw.
"You are not playing today?" he asked horridly.