Chapter five: typical days

Friday (8 23)

"Dude wake up we're going to be late!" Ollie shoved me out of  bed.

"Dude what the hell?" I yelled as I sat up.

"You over slept get ready!" He threw a pair of pants at me.

"Shit!"

I scrambled to my feet and threw on the first thing I saw. I stumbled over myself as I ran down stairs. I grabbed a pack of crackers and grabbed my bag.

"I set an alarm!" I yelled at the sky as I pulled out of the drive way.

"Yea you turned it off and went back to sleep." Ollie said buckling up..

"Heard anything from your mom?"

"She's messaged me but I haven't even bothered looking at them yet."

"How are you feeling?"

"I'm fine for the most part. I just hope it stays that way."

"Let me know if it starts getting bad."

"I promise I'll tell you but it's only going to be a month without medicine I should be alright."

I appreciated his concern but, I knew I would be fine. I passed by the drive through and pulled into the school's driveway.

"You two alright?" Parker asked as Ollie and I met up with her and Micah.

"I'm shocked I'm here before you two." Micah said. He looked like he hadn't slept at all and his eyes were a little puffy.

"We're fine. I just over slept."

"Damn you don't normally oversleep like that. Micah and I were about to head to class."

"The practice match last night whooped my ass. I was in the whole game with zero subs and everyone was being stupid. So I had the ball most of the time."

"You are the star player!" Ollie smiled and bumped my shoulder.

"I'm sleeping the weekend away." I could tell we were all tired from our first week of school.

We sluggishly walked into class, mr. L was already there. He didn't say anything but I could tell he was wondering why were were late. We all sat down and Micah laid his down while I propped mine up and closed my eyes. I opened the.  when I heard the late bell ring. I looked behind me and Micah was still passed out.

"He's out cold." Ollie laughed. I nudged him awake. He sat up quickly and looked around before the pledge started.

"Alright class, today you'll be presenting your pieces. Do I have any volunteers?" I heard a desk bang together as someone tried to get out of it. I turned around as saw Micah standing up and he made his way to the front.

"So." He propped it up against a few books. "I made this to represent all the overwhelming joy of doing so many new things for the first time. I had some help from my friends with it." The canvas was painted light grey. There was a blue eye made of magazines in the middle and pastel rainbow tears fell from the eye.

"Looks kinda gay to me." Someone from the other side of the room said. Everyone started to laugh. His expression completely changed. I watched as he shrank into himself.

"What the hell guys!" I yelled as I stood up. He looked at me and I could see relief wash over him.

"How would you feel if someone laughed at your project and called it gay?" Parker walked over to him and brought him back to his seat.

"That was uncalled for and Ezra please watch your language. I'll deduct five points from the class and ten from Callie for making that comment." Mr L said writing in his book. I got up and sat a soccer ball on the desk. I made it look like Wilson from cast away.

"Cast away is my favorite movie and soccer is life." I bitterly said looking at the crowd of students.

"Anything else you would like to add to that?"

"Yea I would."  I held up my middle finger and went back to my seat. Ollie and Parker tried stifling their laughter. Mr. L gasped and scribbled in his book.

I turned around in my seat and saw Micah had his head buried in his arms. I rubbed his back as Parker went up and presented. She had a big canvas with a college of different water color flowers and in the center was a her mom and dad. All of it was hand painted. Ollie went next and I zoned out on his power point and the rest of the presentations. When everyone was done presenting we all got a lecture that took up the rest of the class.

"I hope Micah's okay." Ollie said as we walked to our next class.

"Parker will cheer him up."

"Are you alright?"

"I didn't like seeing his face crumple like that."

"Anyways see you at lunch." He went into his classroom and I was left to walk to my class by myself. We didn't do much in any of my classes. We mostly watched videos or we did light work. I always enjoyed Fridays. They were always easy going. I was even allowed to sleep in one of my classes as long as I was done with my work. When it was lunch time, Micah was no where to be seen.

"Where's Micah?" I asked Parker as she sat down.

"I don't know. He didn't say anything during second period he just had his head down the whole time."

"Was he in his fourth period?" Sarah looked up from her text book.

"He came In for a moment but he asked Lim to take him somewhere."

"Whose Lim?" Ollie asked.

"That's Lim." She pointed to a short boy with black hair. Her wore a hoodie, despite the weather, and a face mask.

"He asked me to let you guys know he went to the nurse. He needed to call someone he'll be back soon."

"Thanks. We were worried about him."

"Yea. Whatever." He walked away with his hands in his pockets.

"He took that pretty hard didn't he?" Parker asked.

"Yea. Considering he was homeschooled I don't think he's been exposed to that before." I opened my pack of crackers and piped one in my mouth.

"Is that all you brought for lunch?" Ollie asked.

"Yea. I woke up late remember?"

"Here have some of mine." He split his sandwich and chips with me and I split my crackers.

"I swear I forget you two aren't brothers."

"Hey guys." Micah's voice was watery and his eyes were pink and puffy.

"Everything okay?" I asked as he sat down.

"Yea."

"Did something else happen between this morning and now?" Parker asked.

"No. Just added into old stuff." He mumbled.

"You can talk about it whenever you want." I patted his back.

"Wish it were that easy."

"So what are your plans for the weekend?" Parker asked leaning back in her seat.

"I'm going to go home and sleep the weekend away." I said stretching.

"And I'll be playing video games loudly so he can't sleep."

"Wait so can I ask if you two are staying together?" Parker asked.

"Yea. Stuff happened with my mom again and this time it went to far."

"Hey you've got mine and Ollie's place to stay."

"Thanks guys."

We went back to class and the day dragged on. Ollie and Parker met up with me outside. I asked Micah if he wanted to watch my practice game but he said he couldn't. I wasn't sure he couldn't or if he just wanted to go home. I didn't blame him though.

"Wanna get burgers after this?"  Ollie asked grabbing my bag.

"Didn't bring money."

"Did I ask if you brought money?"

"He's got you there." Parker handed me a bottle of water.

"Then sure. Are you going, Parker?"

"Nah I can't. I'm puppy sitting and my aunt will be dropping the dog off around six. I can't stay for all of the practice match."

"Alright."

I finished my water as we made it to the field. Not all of the members were there yet and the practice team hadn't even arrived. I always made sure to be early so I had time to do extra stretches.

"Moore come here real quick!" Coach Wells called after me.

"What's up?" I asked running up to him.

"Do you want to be Center Back or Striker? I know you're normal position is Striker but Ried is sick and couldn't make it."

"Is there other good blockers?"

"Hayden but she's new."

"Who would take striker?"

"Larley would."

"Alright I'll take CB."

"Larley!" I heard coach yell as I walked away to go stretch. After five minutes or so the rest of the team showed up and so did the practice team.

"Alright guys It's our typical line up except Larley is striker and Moore is CB. Hayden you're a sub for Moore if something happens or he needs a break. Roe, you're a sub for Green and Lev, you're a sub for Holmes. Go out there a play like we're going against Green Wood. And don't get hit in the face." There was a collective yes sir and we got into our positions.

It was weird being so far back from the action. I played this position before but striker was my main spot. I watched anxiously as our team went deeper into enemy territory. I knew Larley was good because he used to be second striker but he was moved back to defense after he sprained his knee. It didn't take much to score our first goal. We reset and they took off at the sound of the whistle. Our defense never really saw much action. We were one of the best in the nations. Though, that was until Green Wood started doing illegal moves. We won the first inning by a landslide. It was ten to two.

We had a quick break before we switched sides. We lined up again and the game began. I watched as one of the opponents ran the ball into our territory. I tried to get in his way but he was a lot bigger and stronger than me. I felt  his shoulder go into my diaphragm as I fell to the ground. I coughed as my shoulders and back crashed into the unforgiving ground. Despite the lack of air, I sprung up and chased after him. Smith took the ball from him and passed it to me. I turned around and ran it to the edge of my box and kicked to Larley who was  waiting on the other side of the field. He got the ball and scored.

"Yea!" He exclaimed as we reset.

He ran the ball down the field. He weaved through everyone. He was so noble and small it was hard for people to keep up. He went to strike again but was shut down. There was a loud thud as the two collided. The referee blew his whistle and held up a flag. The guy looked worried as he said something repeatedly. I watched as people took a knee as Larley stayed on the ground. He held his knee, his face was white as paper. I remember over the summer he twisted knee but I didn't think it would affect him now.

"Back off give him space!" Coach wells ran onto the field. The was an exchange between the coaches before Larley was lifted off the field.

"Moore, Hayden come here!"

"Yes sir." We both said in unison as we approached him.

"Hayden I want you to take his spot. Moore you're going back to striker." I looked over at Larley. He was layer down on a picnic blanket. He tried fighting back tears as he held onto it.

"Is he going to be okay?" I asked.

"Don't worry about him right now. I'll handle it."

We ran back onto the field. I tried not to worry about him but seeing him in so much pain made me worried. We continued the match but it was hard for all of us to ignore the ambulance that had arrived. We ended up stopping the game because everyone was too distracted. After the ambulance left both teams regrouped to their side of the field.

"Alright guys, here's the deal. Larley will be out for rest of the season."coach said as the practice team packed up and left.

"We have more than enough players to sub in though. Hayden, you'll be CB for the starting line up from now on. I know you don't have much experience or field time but that's okay. The guys behind you will have your back. Moore, you'll stay Striker. When we face off against Green Wood I need you guys to be in top mental and physical condition. That means we'll be doing only drills and warm ups next week. No more scrimmages or practice games until after Green Wood. You guys got that?"

"Yes sir."

"Good. Larley will be okay so don't worry about him. He just needs to rest and stay off the knee. Go home and rest up for the weekend."

"Man." I mumbled as I sat next to Ollie.

"You guys were great! Though I hope that one guy is okay."

"He will be." I drank some water and gathered my stuff. Parker had left by the time the game ended.

"Still want to get burgers?" He asked as we walked to my car.

"Hell yea. Where do you want to go?"

"Queenies?"

"Sounds good."