No Shame (Book 2 - No Regrets)

Chapter Forty-One - Not a Princess

KATIE'S POV

  First, around three o'clock, Dad called to let me know his connecting flight from Seattle was delayed. Meaning instead of being back home with plenty of time to get ready and attend the banquet, he might not even get back home before midnight. I assured him that I understood and couldn't wait to have him back home. "Big celebratory dinner tomorrow evening, Champ." He promised as we said goodbye.

Then, around four o'clock, Mom called to let me know she had been called into an emergency meeting with no ending in sight. She assured me that she would be racing right over the second the meeting finished; and I assured her that I understood and didn't want her to rush. "I mean it Katie, the second the meeting ends I am on my way." She said before she had to end the call to return to the meeting.

I got changed into my dress and ready in one of the dressing rooms used by the theater department with some of the other girls on the team. Sharlotte curled my hair for me and Amber helped me do a light makeup look. Right before the banquet started, before I put my phone away in my locker, I called and texted Dominick to check with him about tonight. When he didn't answer, I knew he had forgotten and he wasn't coming. No one was. I took a deep breath, refusing to ruin Sharlotte and Amber's work by giving in to a pity-party, and forced on a smile.

Once the rest of the girls on the team arrived, Coach Sherbert gathered us all together in the practice gym to take a group photo for the sport's banquet page in the yearbook. "Let's get you two girls in the middle to come forward, have you down on one knee or sitting with your legs together and to the side." The girl who took the yearbook directed, Ahri and Mickayla, who were in the middle of the front row. After a minute of adjusting dresses, fixing hair, and getting comfortable, both were posed how the photographer needed . "Awesome, okay, now everyone squeeze in close, we want everyone in the picture." she directed.

  "Nobody fart." Sharlotte whispered the joke as Jena, her, and I squeezed in closer. The corners of my mouth pulled up more in amusement. The camera flashed once and then three more times time. "Perfect!" The photograph said. "Okay, hope you all enjoy the banquet."

The banquet was held in the main gym. The bleachers had been pushed back, the basketball hoops folded up, and tables with plastic red tablecloths arranged into four long vertical rows. A microphone stand was set up and centered in front of the two middle tables. In the back corner of the gym spread across two long tables was the catered dinner with people standing behind waiting to serve the food.

The basketball team was seated at Table 3, many of the girls sat with their guests on the center to farther end of the table; while the few without, consisting of myself, gathered near Coach Sherbert at the front table. Once all the sports teams in attendence had taken their group photo, tables started being called to line up to get food. Twenty minutes of waiting later, I returned to my seat with a plate of steak, mash potatoes, two buttered rolls, and garlic buttered herb roasted potatoes. 

  My mouth was stuffed full of my first bite when I felt a tap on my shoulder. I looked over my shoulder and found Jena holding her plate of food, equally full as mine. "My older sister didn't end up coming, want to sit with my family?" She asked.

I accepted her invitation and spent the rest of the banquet seated across from Jena's and between Garret and her. Garret's hair was freshly cut and he carried a mild scent of cologne with faint wiffs of aftershave. He was dressed in a solid color button-up and black pants. Jena's mother wore her straightened hair down and a simple maroon dress. Jena's father, who I met for the first time, was dressed similarly to his son. His hair was residing and buzzed short. I found more facial similarities between Jena and her father than Garret and him.

An hour after everyone had been served and begun eating, the coaches took turns speaking and recongnizing each of their players. Coach Sherbert had a certificate to award to each of us, some honorary recognitions and some more humourous. Sharlotte was awarded a certificate for "most improvement",  Amber a certificate for being "leader of the group chat", Jena a certificate for "most energetic", and I a certificate for "most baskets scored". After all the girls got their certificates, we gathered together for another group photo, this time taken by parents. I had Garret take a photo on his phone to send to me.