Twenty

Walking down the hallway with my eyes locked on my phone, I was still checking for an announcement for me to be able to update Mr. Eric and the team.

I even left my laptop open overnight. You know, just in case the announcement will drop but, I ended up falling asleep and waking up having my laptop drained.

Still walking and on my way to the classroom, my eyes found the bastard, Archer, struggling again on opening his locker. "Back so soon?" I said and put my phone inside my pocket.

He looked at me and sighed, "Yeah."

I helped him again opening his locker by giving me his pocket knife. "What about your feet?" I asked then his locker busted open. "Is it good now?" I added.

He nodded at me while I was giving him his pocket knife. "Kind of. My uncle somehow did or put something to it. And now I can barely walk by my own. Though I have to use this." he pointed at his cane that is leaning on the locker.

I didn't notice it at first. Then I nodded as an answer. Someone suddenly tapped my shoulders and when I turned to look, I saw Candice. "Hey." she greeted and went to my side.

"Hey." I smiled and greeted back.

"Mr. Eric told me to give you this." she handed me a folded paper. "He said that don't read it yet until you call for a meeting after lunch. With your team, specifically."

I nodded and smiled, "Thanks." I said. She also smiled and darted away. 

"Someone's smiling." Archer said while teasingly looking at me. I was staring at Candice as she walks away and then finally looked to Archer.

I saw his teasing smile forming on his face, "What?" I confusingly asked.

"Looks like our manager is also a low-key lover boy too." he squinted his eyes, still wearing that teasing smile.

"Shut up." I put the folded paper that Candice gave me in my bag. He grinned and I know that he is still teasing me with that smile. "Go back to your room." I said then walked away.

He looked at me while I was walking away. "You're not my mom, asshole!" he shouted. I didn't respond and just laughed at him then I went to the classroom.

Hours have passed and we are currently in the fifth period. Mrs. Cenerie announced that we are having a quiz today. That is also one thing that we hate, surprise quizzes. I hate her phrase that says "Alright, guys! Quiz time!" and wearing a weird devilish smile on her face.

But, since we've been together for nearly four years, we have a special talent that we can proclaim.

"Strictly, no talking nor looking at your seatmates. If I caught you taking a look at each other's paper, you know where you'll end up." she said, sarcastically and gave us the answer sheets.

Mrs. Cenerie went to her table at the front after giving us the sheets. She sat in her chair and did some paper works.

Pretending that I'm writing, I peeked at Mrs. Cenerie while my head is down. I saw her writing and doing some works and that's when I signaled Justin who is beside me.

He quickly got the signal and passed it to Kylie that's on his side. Then Kylie passed the signal to Candice. Still, Mrs. Cenerie is not turning her head to us. The signal was immediately delivered to Irish.

She took the chance to write down in a piece of paper and crumpled it. She stretched her arms as if it looks like she's just working up his nerves. Her arms turned, still pretending that she is stretching, and the crumpled paper was thrown.

With enough reflexes, Maddie caught it. She quickly wrote down the answers and passed it to Elie who's at her back. Elie then did the same thing that Maddie did.

The passing was still ongoing. The note reached the rest of the class then it finally arrived at Justin. He caught the paper while it was flying through the air and that is when Mrs. Cenerie looked up and saw what Justin did.

"Mr. Lerman!" she shouted. I closed my eyes shut and pressed my lips. "Shit." I whispered.

Mrs. Cenerie stood up and walked towards Justin. Justin stayed on that position, his hand making a fist in the air while the crumpled paper is inside his fist. The others take a look at the scene.

"What's that in your hand?" Mrs. Cenerie seriously asked.

"It's, uh.." Justin stuttered. Mrs. Cenerie was still looking at him. "..a fly." Justin continued.

Mrs. Cenerie squinted her eyes, "Open your hand." she ordered. My heart raised and beat fast. I'm still looking at Justin while breathing nervously.

"Open your hand, Mr. Lerman." she repeated. Justin gulped and slowly opened his fist. My eyes were locked into the fist and I saw nothing. My eyes widened as I saw that his hand was holding nothing.

"I thought you said you caught a fly?" Mrs. Cenerie wondered.

"Oh, I think it flew out." Justin responded. Mrs. Cenerie gave him a warning and walked away to return to her desk. I called Justin in a whisper and he looked at me.

He showed his left fist that is hiding at his back. My eyes went to the fist he showed and he opened it. And that's where the crumpled paper is located. My mouth parted from amazement and chuckled quietly.

He smiled and winked at me then he wrote down the answers and passed it to me.

The period ended and I got out to have lunch. I didn't bring any food this time so, I bought a snack at the cafeteria. I found an available table, so I took the chance and got the seat. I was peacefully preparing the snack when Justin jump-scared me.

"You motherf—" I grunted.

"Uh-huh, no cursing." he shushed. "I saved your ass earlier." he added then took a piece from the bowl of fries that I bought.

"For your legitimate information, you caused that trouble." I pointed at him and ate my food.

"What? No! It was Roller's fault! He threw the paper so fast." he blurted.

I shook my head and held my drink. I took a sip from the juice. I was about to say something to Justin when a hand slammed our table. I got shocked and quickly looked at the guy who slammed the table.

It was Archer, holding a tray in his right hand. "Can I squeeze in?" he asked, looking at me and Justin. We didn't answer or speak anything then he sat down in front of us.

"Oh! Fries." he said then took one from my bowl. I chuckled and just let him get a piece while Justin is glaring at him.

Justin then looked at me, "What is he doing here?" he asked, annoyed by Archer.

"Well, this is the only table left available so I went here." Archer said while smiling at Justin. "And also, we have a meeting later."

Justin glared at Archer and leaned forward, "I'm not asking you, dickhead." he whispered.

"I know, but I have pure sympathies for dumb people like you." Archer sarcastically whispered.

I could see the fury in Archer and Justin's eyes, it's like the two of them are killing each other in their minds. Unexpectedly, Justin grabbed Archer's collar making him close to Justin's angry face.

Shocked, I grabbed Justin's shoulder. "Stop it." I ordered. Justin didn't let go and he's now breathing heavily.

"It's either you fucking let go of me or I fucking beat your ass in front of everybody." Archer threatened, his fist is slowly rising.

"That's enough, both of you. Stop it already." I said again with my voice in a half shout and half-whisper. The two glared at each other before letting go. I sighed, looking at both of them.

The whole lunch was silent and I can probably tell that Justin is uncomfortable the whole time. He left the table when I told Archer to go get the team and meet here at our spot.

I took a breathe when Archer also left the table to do what I told him.

Archer came with the team and I told them to take a seat. I put out the paper that Candice gave earlier and opened it. While reading it, Jason leaned forward to have a look at the paper.

"What's that?" he curiously asked.

"It's, um...the announcement." I answered then looked at the team.

"What announcement?" Roller asked. "Is that the thing you've been waiting since yesterday?" Archer added. I nodded at them.

"Yep, and it says here that the opening ceremony is cancelled." I stated.

Roller gasped, taking everyone's attention and looked at him. "Does that mean the games are cancelled too?" he asked with his eyes wide open. "Oh no! I'm gonna be sad." then he pouted.

"No, Roller." I chuckled. "Only the ceremony is cancelled, the games are still on. You all can still have the match."

I folded the paper again and put it inside my bag. "Besides, we're gonna know who is your first opponent, in the next few weeks. I received an email earlier that says since this year's sports competition is on a whole new level, we are gonna be facing powerhouse schools."

"Shit, man." Jared expressed. "Powerhouse schools? How are we gonna beat that?" The others didn't respond anything. Neither did I.

I kept quiet because I don't know what to respond also. The meeting ended and we went back to our classes.

After our last period, I went to the court with the team where they will do their training. They started warming up and again, I sat down on the bench, but this time, I don't have my laptop since we already got the announcement.

Archer was benched also because of his foot still healing.

I was watching the training when something hit my mind. I am supposed to talk to Justin.

With that thought, I snapped out and quickly rushed towards the door. When I got outside, I turned my head around to find Justin then I ran immediately to the bench where we usually go.

And there, I found him sitting on the bench with his phone. I walked closer and then sat beside him. He noticed me and then paused the game on his phone.

"Hey." he shockingly greeted. "Aren't you supposed to be with the team?"

"Yes, but I am actually bored." I complained. He laughed at me, he turned off his phone and put it in his pocket. "What do you want?" he asked, giving me a poker face.

I looked at him and chuckled, "Don't give me that face." I said.

"What face?" he dumbly played. I glared at him as a response. He rolled his eyes and laughed. "Alright. Alright. What do you want?" he asked, this time he's with his normal face.

"That's more like it." I smiled while nodding my head. "Anyways, uh, I wanted to say sorry."

"For what?" he confusingly asked.

"Earlier. I shouldn't have agreed that Archer can sit with us."

He again laughed at me and shook his head.  "Are you really apologizing for that?"

I nodded, "Yeah."

"You don't have to, dumbass. I'm just so annoyed at that guy. His height, his cockiness, his foul mouth, and his existence. If I have the guts I would beat him up."

I also laughed at him, "You know, I am so glad that there are no sharp objects around when you two bickered because based on what you just said, you look like you are prepared to kill him anytime."

He shook his head and laughed too. I stayed with him for a couple of minutes before leaving and went back to the team.