CHAPTER 7: TRYOUTS
A/N: So, I don't want you guys to think that all this story is going to be about is high school drama, because it won't be. This story will be focused around Hiccup battling his ED, and Astrid and his parents helping him through it. I just have to set all that up first.
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Hiccup's POV
Usually I lay in bed for a while on the weekends. Not that Sunday. As soon as my alarm went off at 5:15 am, I jumped out of bed, slipped my jeans on over my boxers and put on my jacket. My parents said that they were going to get up at five so that my mom could take a shower and my dad could load her luggage into the car. Our plan was to leave for the airport at 5:30. I hated the plan. Well, not the plan, just why we had to have one. My mom belonged at home with us, watching movies and having cookouts with Gobber and laughing and loving, not off in China telling doofus business people how to run their company.
I went to the bathroom and trickled a small stream of dark piss (worry about that later), then headed down the oak stairs. Our garage was attached to our house, so if you went out a door in the back corner room behind the kitchen (the mudroom), you walked into it. My dad was there, loading my mom's suitcases into the back of the pickup. She was bringing one large roller as luggage and a duffel bag as a carry-on.
"Hi, dad," I said, stepping onto a little rug on the cement floor. The garage door was open, and the dark outdoors gave off the-sun-is-going-to-rise-in-a-little-while feeling.
My dad finished tying down the baggage and shut the tail gate. "Good morning, Hiccup," he said solemnly. He looked exhausted. He tried to give me a smile, but it didn't make it to his eyes and ended up as a sad little smirk. I felt a strange surge of anger toward my mom. Yeah, if she went, her reward would be amazing, but didn't she realize how much pain and sadness she would cause? How much hurt she would leave in her wake?
I walked over to him across the concrete, shivering as my bare feet came into contact with the cold stone. When I got close to him, he spread his arms and I simply walked into him as he held me. My fists curled into his rumpled gray Berk Viking sweatshirt. This is stupid. I'm going to be sixteen for God's sake, I should be able to handle my mother leaving for a little bit...
"Where's mom?" I mumbled into his chest.
"Just blowing her hair dry, you know how long it takes her," he attempted a chuckle, but it got lost in his throat before it could escape from his mouth.
We stayed that way for a couple more seconds, before he pulled away suddenly. I turned to see what he was looking at. My mom's now-dry hair was in three long braids that were braided together down her back, and she was wearing sweat pants, a simple brown sweater, and her dark green, knee-length pea coat.
She looked at us sadly. "Hi. Are- are we ready to go?" No, no we're not. We will never be ready.
My father nodded and I went inside for a moment to put on my sneakers. When I came back out, the truck was started and my parents were already inside. I went around to the passenger side and climbed over my mom to sit in between her and my dad. My dad backed out of the garage and started on the memorized route to the airport. He drove with his left hand and draped his right arm across my shoulders to rest his free hand in the space between my mother's shoulder blades.
He seemed to realized that his depressing mood wasn't helping the situation, so when he started to talk when we turned onto the highway, it wasn't anything about what was happening at that moment.
"So, tryouts are tomorrow, right?" he asked me cheerily. I nodded sleepily. My mom stroked my head. "Well, son, how d'you think you'll do?"
"I don't know." Oh, I knew, alright.
My dad turned onto the exit that led to the airport. "I was just talking to Gobber, and he said that fifty-seven kids signed up. Only thirty-eight will make it. Twenty for varsity, eighteen for JV." A football team only needs eleven team members, but there are extras so that people don't have to play every game or if someone gets hurt.
"Okay." I didn't care. I didn't want to talk about sports, but I knew that was how he was going to cope at the moment.
My mom kissed the top of my head. "You have to tell me about it tomorrow night."
We were silent for the rest of the way. I was exhausted and felt weak. I had gotten home at about eleven from the party the previous night, which was an hour sooner than my parents had expected. I had said goodbye to Astrid at her house, which was awkward, and I hadn't known if I should've kissed her or not, but I blocked it from my mind when I got home. My parents had been watching Casablanca, which I'd sat down for the end of. First, they asked me if the party went okay, and I said it was, but that I was just really tired. Sometime before the end of the movie, I'd fallen asleep, then woken up for a moment to my dad setting me down in my bed. My parents had told me goodnight, and I'd set my alarm then fell right back to sleep.
"Here we are," said my dad, jolting me out of my daydream. We were in the airport parking lot. I looked at the time: 5:53. The flight from Wilder Airport to Bejing left at 6:30. We got out of the car and I took the duffel bag while my dad grabbed the suitcase. We walked across the parking lot toward's the bright entrance. When we got to the automatic doors, my mother noticed my panting.
"I can take it, love," I said gratefully, sliding the duffel off my shoulder and into my mom's arms. We stayed close as we made our way in the direction of the airport McDonald's. When we arrived, we chose a small table to sit down at and stared at the menus.
"What do you two want? I can go order," my dad offered. I stared at the menu while my mom told him.
"Hiccup? What do you want?"
"Um, just some scrambled eggs."
"You sure?"
"Yeah."
I folded my arms on the table and rested my head. My father returned a couple minutes later with a tray of food. We ate quietly, watching people bustle around the airport. When we finished, my dad collected our trash and threw it away.
When we got to security, we had to let my mom go on without us. She hugged me first, wrapping her strong arms around me tightly. I pressed my face into her collarbone, never wanting to let go. I averted my eyes when she and my father kissed, not that I was disgusted by it, but I knew how much my he would miss her (how much I was going to miss her) and I couldn't take it. We waved as she walked away, then headed back out to the car, a broken family once again.
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My dad didn't get home until nine that night, the time he usually got home when my mom was gone. He sometimes didn't park the car in the garage, so I was startled when he came in, having had no warning of the garage door opening. When he walked in the front door, I was on the couch, finishing up some last-minute homework.
"Hello, son." He looked over at the kitchen, as though he was half-hoping that my mom would be in there, trying to cook.
"Hey, dad." He was always this way when she wasn't here, but I knew that this time was going to be even harder than before.
"I- I got an email from your mother," he held up his phone, "We're going to Skype at nine fifteen." I looked at the clock.
"I'll get it set up, then." My dad pulled his computer out of his bag and handed it to me. I walked over to the counter and opened the laptop. Toothless scratched at my ankles and I absentmindedly rubbed the top of his head. My dad came over and sat down on a stool next to me. We waited. 9:06. 9:07. 9:08.
"Are you hungry?" My father asked.
"No, I'm good." I hadn't had anything to eat that day since the scrambled eggs.
"Did you have lunch?"
"Yeah."
"What'd you have for dinner?"
"I warmed up some frozen pasta." That part wasn't a 100% lie. I had warmed up some pasta, but I'd simply dirtied the plate and stuffed the food down the sink. I'd found this trick about a year ago and learned that it kept my dad from making me meals. I wasn't hungry. I didn't want to eat. I felt too... something to eat.
9:10.
"You might want something more." I sighed and stood up. I knew he'd just keep telling me that. Better give him what he wants. I went into the kitchen and took a granola bar out of the cupboard.
9:11. 9:12. 9:13.
I finished the granola bar.
9:14.
The computer screen lit up with the words "Valka Calling". My dad clicked accept.
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I walked in the front door the next morning, letting Toothless off the leash. It was pretty warm that day, the high was 65 degrees Fahrenheit. I sighed as I grabbed my backpack. My dad hadn't gotten up yet. He was usually like this for a couple days after my left, he'd get up at the last minute possible to go to work. The Skype call with my mom last night had been fine, she'd told us what China was like, we said we missed her, she said she missed us, and I went to bed, but my dad had stayed up for I don't know how long.
I gave Toothless one final pet and walked out. I had woken up a little late, too, and it was already 7:25. I sat on my front steps as I waited for the bus. I took out my phone and played Flappy Bird, a new game I had found. Just as I crashed when I got to 76, the bus pulled up. The ride was quiet, and nobody bothered me, so that was nice. I was pretty nervous, because Astrid had said that whatever she had done at the party would be all over the school. And I was quite sure it involved me.
I got off the bus in front of the school and walked in the front doors. I had been right. As I made my way to my locker, people glanced at me and whispered. I tried to keep my head down and not look at them. As I was shuffling through my locker, a familiar shadow surrounded me.
"Hiccup! I couldn't find my phone and haven't been able to contact you!" A breathless voice hurriedly spoke behind me.
I whirled around in surprise. "Wait, you heard what happened?"
Fishlegs' face scrunched in confusion. "Heard about what? I've been wanting to tell you all weekend that I signed up for football, too?"
My mind relaxed slightly, but my heart still pounded at the speed of sound in my chest. God, going on a date with Astrid Hofferson was giving me panic attacks. "Oh, okay, that's great." Fishlegs was the closest thing I had to a friend, and vice versa.
The large blond boy saved his hands in front of me. "No, no, no, what happened that you think I knew happened?"
I rubbed my forehead. "Honestly? I don't even know. I... uh, I went to the Thorston twins' birthday party and-"
His eyes widened and he cut me off. "Seriously?! How did you even get in?"
I glared at him, annoyed. "If you would ever fucking let me finish a sentence I would tell you!" I took a deep breath, trying to steady my now-pounding headache. "Astrid Hofferson invited me," I held up hand to keep him from interjecting, "Don't even say anything on that. I left the party early and she started to leave with me, then ran back and did something, I don't know what. When she came back she was fucking sprinting so fucking fast. Then we left. Sorry about the language but you irritate me and when I'm irritated I swear." I was kind of scaring myself, I was never that forward or talkative or bitchy. Mostly I kept my head down, occasionally talking to Fishlegs or a teacher, and I spent most of my time at home hunkered down on the couch or in my dark bedroom.
"Oh, sorry. So, she didn't tell you what she did?" I shook my head. "Huh, I always thought she was a bit insane..." he caught himself, "But as a girlfriend I bet she's great!"
I face-palmed. "She's not my girlfriend," I muttered, "Or... I don't know-"
"Hiccup!" I turned to see Astrid striding toward me, ignoring the glances she was getting.
"Astrid!" I whispered nervously, "What did you do?"
"Oh, nothing," she replied breezily, trying to seem nonchalant, "I kind of slapped Heather Collins on the face."
My eyes became as round as coins. "What, why?"
"Because she's a bitch and I hate her and I've always hated her and I don't want to be around people like her anymore," not skipping a beat, she turned to Fishlegs, who had been watching the exchange like it was a life-or-death tennis match, and stuck out her hand, "Hi, I'm Astrid Hofferson, who are you?"
He stared at her, bewildered, then shook her small, strong hand in his enormous, gentle one. "Fishlegs Ingerman," he said in a small voice. I rolled my eyes.
Just when they released hold of each others fingers, Ruffnut burst threw a small huddle of people on my left. "Astrid! It's all over! I mean, only the people who were there and like the cheerleaders and sports people know exactly what went down, but most everyone kinda knows you did something. Hi, Hiccup." I gave the tall girl a small wave in response.
"Thanks, Ruff, for being on my side," Astrid says gratefully, but the Thorston frowns at her.
"Uh, yeah, about that, everyone's kinda choosing sides now." I looked at her in horror. What? This was so weird, no one ever spoke to me before, and now I was caught in the middle of a classic high school drama. I should not have gone with her, she's way to good for me.
Astrid pursed her lips. "Y'know, I don't really care about that. But, just to be curious, who's siding with who?" She was so cool, so collected.
Ruffnut had been glancing at Fishlegs since she'd arrived, and, as she answered Astrid, she was staring him intently, causing him to sift in discomfort. "Well, about half the cheerleaders are with Heather, just the ones who are too stupid to spell their own names. I think the whole volleyball team is with you, though. Snotlout is dating her, now, so, the football players are pretty much on her side."
"What about Tuff?"
"Uh, he's kinda neutral. 'Cause he's Snot's best friend, but he knows I'll murder him if he turns against you."
"Thanks, Ruff." The bell rang and the crowds started to move around the halls. Astrid turned to me. "I'm sorry about all this."
I shrugged. "'s okay."
She started to turn away, than came back. "Meet me outside the library before lunch." I nodded, speechless. She wants to see me again? But, I'm causing so much trouble.
I looked at Fishlegs and Ruff. "Well, uh, we better go... class." As I bent down to grab my textbook and stuffed it in my bag, I heard Ruff talking.
"You have AP Biology next, right?" For a second I thought she was talking to me, but then I heard Fishlegs' voice.
"Yeah."
"Me too."
"Really?"
"Yeah, wanna walk me there?"
Ruffnut Thorston takes AP Biology? I straightened and saw them walking away. Suddenly I had a huge headrush and had to lean back against my locker to steady myself. It's nothing, I just stood up too quickly.
Right?
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I stood close to the wall right outside the library and stared at my shoes. The bell had only rung a couple minutes before, and my class had been only a few classrooms away, so it didn't take me long to get there. I took a deep breath and tried not to panic about the coming afternoon. The morning intercom announcements said that tryouts would be held at 3:30 on the football field, and it reminded me how much I wanted to make the team. My dad would be so proud of me.
"Hey." I looked up to see Astrid in front of me.
"Uh, hi. So, um, are we gonna go to lunch... or are you going to go? Or-" Astrid shut me up by putting a finger to my lips, and kept it there as she talked.
"I don't want to go to the cafeteria, it'll just be too annoying. Can we just stay in the library?" I nodded, feeling my face flush. She took her finger off my mouth. We walked into the library and sat down at an empty table.
"The math lesson was kind of confusing today, do think you could help me?" asked Astrid, tentatively pulling out her textbook.
"Yeah, of course. I mean, I am your tutor after all." We worked on math, and spoke nothing but math, for the next five minutes until I couldn't take it anymore.
"Why, Astrid?" I blurted out.
She looked up at me, startled. "What?"
"I mean, you could've had your pick of any guy in this whole school, or any school for that matter. Why did you invite me?"
She took a deep breath, and stared down at her paper. When she exhaled, her eyes traveled back up to meet mine. "Because, I just... I'm so sick of it. All the pathetic drama and athlete boyfriends and people that have absolutely no substance." She kept her gaze on me the entire time. "I... we met like, three times, and I just could tell... Well, you have substance, Haddock." I blushed and ducked my head down, staring at my too-loose jeans. I have substance? I had no idea what that even meant, but... Oh God I need to say something!
"Four times," I muttered unintelligently, not raising my head, but looking up into her ocean blue irises.
"What?"
"When we were little, you fell off your bike and I gave you a Band-Aid." Did I really just say something that sounds like it came from the How to Be a Stalker handbook?
But, to my surprise, she smiled, "See? Substance! You care, Hiccup, you care. So few people today give a shit about anything."
I coughed awkwardly. "Okay... so, uh, you got number 5 wrong..."
We turned back to the lesson, but Astrid continued to speak. "And, just so you know, I'll be at your football tryouts."
"WHAT?!" My head jerked up and Astrid flinched. Oh, no, no, no.
"Well, Tuffnut is trying out, too, so Ruff and I are going to just sit on the bleachers together. Is that okay?" She asked tentatively.
I laughed shakily, trying to compose myself. "Haha, yeah, yeah, it's fine. Just, uh, you're about to see how little substance I actually have," I said, gesturing to my non-existent bicep.
Astrid laughed and rested her hand on my shoulder. "Hey, it doesn't matter if you get onto the team. All that matters is if you try."
"Okay." And we went back to Algebra. After a couple more minutes, Astrid threw her pencil down on the table and slammed the textbook with an almighty thwump! that sent my heart pounding.
"No more, just NO." She swept the books and paper into her bag swiftly. "We have, like, fifteen minutes left until fifth hour, bring out your lunch."
My face paled. "What?"
"You told me that you brought lunch and ate it in here, right?"
Think of a lie, think of a... "Oh yeah," I said, slapping my forehead, "Shit, I forgot it today."
She shrugged. "Eh, it's fine, I'm not that hungry, anyway."
"Me neither."
My stomach growled, and I ground my fist into my belly, hoping to quell the noise.
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I ducked into a bathroom stall in the boys locker room at 3:24, pulling my athletic shorts, T-shirt, and running shoes out of my bag. I didn't want anyone to see me change. I tugged off my shirt, and was instantly greeted my the familiar sight of my prominent ribs and hipbones. I changed into the gym clothes quickly then pulled the shorts back down and sat on the toilet. I felt like I had to shit, but only a two small turds fell into the bowl, along with some piss the color of ale. It was actually lighter than that morning. I had drank a lot of water a couple hours before, so I convinced myself that that was all I had to do. Drink more water.
I left my regular clothes in my bag, hanging on the back of the stall door, and silently slipped out of the locker to join the growing group of boys on the field. Astrid'd had passed me in the hallway between 6th and 7th hour and told me that she would be going down to the bleachers right after the bell rang. I could see her and the other girl sitting in the middle of the silver structures amongst about twenty other girls. God, I wanted to impress her.
"Hiccup! Wait up!" a panting voice came from behind, and I turned to see Fishlegs jogging toward me. "You nervous?" He asked when he got to my side.
"If you don't count the fact that it feels like a herd of buffalo are currently ravaging across my stomach, then no." I said. He nodded in agreement.
"Hey, you've met Ruffnut, right?" I noticed that he was also staring at the two blondes.
"Uh, yeah, briefly." We were almost to the field.
"We walked to biology together, and she's actually really interested in it too, and I was just wondering if you know if she'd be interested in-" his talkative babble stopped short when Gobber's sharp whistle pierced the air.
"ALRIGH', HURRY UP, LAST MINUTE STRAGGLERS!" We were actually right on time, but we still hurried through the gate and lined up next the other boys.
"Okay, listen up," he began, holding his stumped arm behind him with his full one. He was coach of the JV team and only co-coach of the Varsity team, but he made every football-related speech at the school. "Only thirty-eight of you will survive today." I rolled my eyes at his over-dramaticness. Unfortunately, his hawk-like gaze caught that. "DON'T-YOU-DARE-ROLL-YOUR-EYES-AT-ME-HADDOCK! As I was saying-"
I stared at the ground with with my eyes round, my entire body shaking as though it was -30 degrees outside. I didn't even notice what Gobber was saying, something about what we were about to do, all I could hear was the whispers and giggling laughter of the other boys. Gobber wasn't trying to be mean or embarrassing, he just liked to tease me a lot.
I followed awkwardly as the coaches waved everyone over to a row of tackling dummies.
"Alright, everyone line up again, and then we'll move down the line and we'll watch you." I was in the middle of the line, I had gotten separated from Fishlegs and was sandwiched between two seniors that looked like heavyweight wrestlers. As the line moved down I got even more nervous.
Finally it was my turn. I ran up to the first dummy and rammed into it with all my might. I barely moved it. The guys to my left and right laughed, but I tried to block it out as I moved onto the next one. No movement. The next one. No movement. The next four. No movement. I looked up at Gobber and he gave me a pitying glance. There was only one more dummy, but this time, when I ran into it, my arms hit it and were so weak that they flew out to the sides and my chest collided painfully with the training equipment. It knocked the wind out of me, and I slid down to my knees from the impact. But that wasn't even the most embarrassing part. When the guy to my right got to the dummy, he picked me up and moved me to side in one quick movement, then rammed into it with the force of a rhinoceros, moving it at least two feet. I scrambled backwards and stood up awkwardly stumbling over to the group of finished boys, which included a very smug-looking Snotlout. I ignored their whispers and looked up at the bleachers. Astrid was staring at me with a concerned expression. I gave her a small wave, which she returned.
When Fishlegs got done, he waddled over to me and started talking, "I think I did pretty good on those. I mean, I moved them. How 'bout you?"
I glared at him. "I fell down, and I didn't move them at all."
"Oh, sorry."
I accepted his apology with a small wave of my hand and watched the last of the boys finish up. When they were done, the coaches had us follow them somewhere else. Goober jogged back and walked next to me.
"How ya doin', kiddo?" He asked gently.
"Well, I failed, if that's what your asking."
"It isn't. I'm talking 'bout your mum."
I looked down at my sneakers. "Um, I don't know. I'm... I'm okay."
"What 'bout your dad?"
"He's fine. He just... misses her."
Goober put a hand on my shoulder then turned me so I had to look at him. "If ya ever need to talk to somebody, I'm right here." I nodded then stared at the grass. "And don't feel bad if ya don't make this team. I know I say different a lot, but sports don't matter." They matter to my dad, I wanted to say, but I didn't.
Goober went back to stand with the coaches, and we began the next exercise. Two drills later, I was exhausted. Spots danced in front of my eyes, and I could barely stand up, but I kept going.
"Alrigh', for the last drill, you gotta run from this end of the field and back, so line up..." Goober paused as we got into position. "Okay, ready, set, GO!" We took off down the field and I had to try all as hard as I could to keep my eyes open and my feet moving.
"GO HICCUP!" I thought I heard Astrid's voice scream from somewhere to my right, but my senses seemed to be dulling. I was somewhere around three-fourths of the way, and people were already running back past me when my vision started to darken. I tried to moved my next foot forward, but it wasn't working. Suddenly, I had the strange feeling of falling, I felt hard ground covered with grass beneath me, and I knew no more.
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"-cup! Hiccup, can ya hear me?!" I felt a hand patting my face, and I flinched, making some sort of ymph! sound. I heard the person above me sigh happily. "Can ya open your eyes?" I creaked open my eyelids and was immediately greeted by Gobber's relieved face. I pushed myself up onto my elbows and realized I was still on the football field and there was a circle of boys around me.
"Wha- what happened?" I said, raising a hand to my head and rubbing my eyes and forehead.
"You passed out." I looked to my left and saw Fishlegs kneeling next to me.
I pushed myself up further until I was actually sitting and leaned back on my hands. "For how long?"
"Only about thirty seconds or so..."
"Let me through!" A feminine voice pushed itself through the crowd and Astrid appeared between the boys, followed closely by Ruffnut. She ran over to me and fell to her knees. "Are you okay?" She said, her face scrunched with concern, and put a hand on my shoulder.
"Yeah, yeah I'm fine," I assured her, struggling to stand. She took my left upper arm in her strong, warm hands, I grabbed onto her forearm with my right hand and she helped pull me up.
Gobber put his remaining hand on my back. "Here, let's get you over to the bench..." Astrid kept her hands grasping my arm as they helped me walk. I tried to tell them that I was okay, and I could walk by myself, but they shushed me and didn't stop.
Gobber turned and shouted over his shoulder, "We're all done! You can go home!" I glanced around and saw Fishlegs walking away reluctantly, too.
We got the bench and they sat me down. I jerked my arm away from Astrid's grip.
"I'm fine, really," I whined.
"Ya sure?" Gobber asked, keeping his hand on my shoulder.
"Yes," I said emphatically, "I think I was just exercising too hard or something..."
"And you didn't eat any lunch, either," Astrid reminded me, and I mentally thanked her for sparking a fire of explanations.
"Yeah, and I didn't get a lot of sleep last night, too, and I'm just kind of stressed right now..." I trailed off. Both Gobber and Astrid knew my mom was gone, and I saw them give each other a knowing glance. "Seriously, I'm okay."
Gobber looked at me, but he seemed pretty convinced. "'Kay then, if ya don't think ya need to see the nurse or..."
I cut him off. "No, I don't." To prove my point, I stood up. "If you don't mind, I have to get home to let my dogs outside."
Astrid didn't say a word, but she followed me back toward the locker room. "I'll wait right here," she said as I disappeared inside. Thankfully, the locker room was already empty. When I came back out, Astrid was where I had left her, along with Ruffnut.
"Um, I'm gonna go then, bye," I mumbled awkwardly and walked around toward the front of the school. They followed me.
"Do you have a ride?" Astrid asked.
I shook my head. "Uh, no, I'm just going to walk home."
Astrid stared at me in surprise. "Our houses are like sixteen blocks away!"
I nodded. "I know." I had walked home from school plenty of time before, when I'd stayed after to talk to a teacher or deal with bullies and missed the bus.
"My parents gave me and Tuff a car for our birthday, but he went to Snot's house, so I'm giving Astrid a ride. You can come," offered Ruffnut.
I looked over at her, startled. "Um, oh, uh, okay, tha- thanks," I stuttered out like an idiot.
So, we piled into the slightly rusty sedan, Ruff and Astrid in the front, me in the back. The ride back was silent, punctuated only by Astrid occasionally asking me if I was sure I was okay. We swerved onto Nadder Avenue, and Ruff dropped Astrid off first. When we pulled alongside my house, I unlatched the door and prepared to get out when the twin grabbed my arm.
I looked into her stern eyes with fear. "Listen up, shrimp. Astrid has been treated like shit by everyone she's ever dated. She's my best friend, and she deserves someone good to her. If you hurt her in any way, I will kick your anus to Uranus and back, got it?"
I nodded fiercely and she let me go. I climbed out of the car and stared into space as the silver car skidded away. What the fuck?
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I spent the rest of the day finishing homework, listening to music, and snuggling with Toothless, Skullcrusher, and Cloudjumper (my mom couldn't take him all the way to Bejing) on my bed, wallowing in self-pity and confusion about Ruffnut's threat. My dad didn't get home until nine again that night. We Skyped my mom immediately, and they both asked me how tryouts went. I said it was okay. Gobber obviously hadn't told my dad what had happened, and I prayed that it would stay that way.
I had a peanut butter and jelly sandwich for dinner, my first meal that day.
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A/N: Sorry that this took so long to update. Next chapter is where everything really starts to get going. Please review!