Author's Note: Hey guys, lovin the support! Thanks so much! I really into this now
PHASE 1
Chapter 2: Forfeiting the Game of Love
"What are you doing?" Travis said, looking at Roberto, who was holding Laura up by the waist.
"Uhhh.." Roberto said slowly, realizing the position they were in. He dropped Laura to the ground in attempt to make the situation seem normal.
"Hey!" Laura said "that hurt you know!"
"So does looking at you" Roberto retorted "but you don't see me complaining."
"That's it" Laura said, standing and dusting herself off "you are the stupidest, most immature jerk I have ever had the misfortune to meet!"
And with that, she turned "from now on" she said, looking back one last time "you and I are strangers!"
After Laura had stalked off, Roberto could do nothing but stare in the direction of Laura's retreating back. He stood, mouth agape, until Travis nudged him in the arm "you okay man?"
"Uh…" Roberto said slowly, snapping out of his trance to look at his raven haired friend "yeah, fine"
"Well good" Travis said with a smile "you looked kind of weirded out"
"I am" Roberto said without thinking "a little" he said as he saw the look Travis was shooting him.
"I thought you hate Laura?" Travis said.
"I do…" Roberto said slowly "I just didn't think that she'd say something like that? You think she was serious?"
"Most likely" Travis said, watching as Roberto's head drooped.
"Oh" he said in an almost disappointed tone.
"I'm kidding" Travis said, putting his friend into a headlock "I didn't know you cared so much what Laura thought anyway."
"I don't" Roberto protested.
"You sure about that?" Travis said slyly.
"Shut UP" Roberto said angrily "don't you have a game to play?"
"Yeah…about that" Travis said sheepishly.
"What?" Roberto said, sensing his friend's tension "what's wrong."
"No one blames you for it" Travis said "no one really wanted to play today and now this frees up our Friday."
"What are you talking about?" Roberto said in confusion "Slow down."
"Well the thing is…" Travis said nervously.
"Will you spit it out already!" Roberto snapped.
"With you gone we were short one player" Travis said slowly "so we had to…"
"Don't tell me…" Roberto said in horror.
"Yeah" Travis said, nodding his head solemnly.
"WE HAD TO FORFEIT!" Roberto yelled as he sunk to his knees.
Never in his life had it been his fault, never had he or his team had to forfeit on his account. No wait, it wasn't his fault. It was Laura's! If he hadn't have bumped into her, he never would have been held in verbal combat. And if he hadn't been held in verbal combat, he never would have been late to the game. And if he hadn't been late to the game, they wouldn't have had to forfeit. It was all Laura's fault.
"STUPID LAURA!" Roberto yelled without second thought.
"Hey don't worry about it" Travis said "the coach rescheduled the game."
"He did?" Roberto said in relief.
"Yeah" Travis said with a nod "he argued with the ref until she gave in."
Good old coach Roberto thought, rising to his feet.
"Well I'm going to get going" Travis said, "Everyone's getting together for Laura's birthday at the revolving restaurant."
"How come I wasn't invited" Roberto said, inwardly hurt.
"Do I have to answer that?" Travis said incredulously "or did you already forget your last encounter with Laura."
"Stupid Laura" Roberto cursed under his breath, beginning the long trek home.
"Don't feel too bad Roberto" Travis said as he waved his friend good-bye.
A bush behind him rustled and a figure all in black popped their head out very slightly "phase one complete" it whispered into a walky-talky.
"Stupid Roberto" Laura groaned as she walked towards the revolving restaurant "now I have to go to my own birthday party upset."
When she got to the restaurant, Kana was waiting for her "where have you been?" she said slightly irritated "you're late to your own party."
"Not my fault okay?" Laura said just as angrily.
"Whoa what's wrong" Kana said sensing the anxiety.
"Nothing, it's nothing" Laura said dismissively "I had a run in with you know who."
"Roberto?" Kana said confused.
"Is that his name?" Laura said irritably "for a second I thought his name was idiot."
"Let's just go inside" Kana said to Laura, pulling her gently into the building. Before going in, she looked to a nearby bush and gave it the thumbs up.
After she had done that, the dark figure popped out and returned the signal with a thumbs up of her own.
"We've got a surprise for you Laura" Kana said as she and Laura stepped into the elevator and pushed the button for the top floor.
"We?" Laura said confused "I thought it was just you and me coming here."
Kana just smirked but remained silent as the two continued their ride up the various floors of the building. Soon after, they reached the top. In minutes, the elevator doors slowly slid open and all of Laura friends, June, Kylie, Maria, Travis, and even some from her old town, Melody, jumped out shouting a hearty "happy birthday Laura!"
Laura shrank back in surprise "oh my…" was all she could manage to say. Kana pulled on her arm and led her towards their table, which was covered in decorations. Pictures from magazines, different styles of the number 13 and streamers in every shad and color blanketed the table and chairs, acting as a table cloth and seat covers.
"How…creative" Laura said with a smile, finding her voice once again.
"We thought you'd like it" Kylie said with a grin.
"I love it you guys" Laura said, hugging them all without thinking.
"But that's not all" June said with a smirk.
"What?" Laura said "you guys have done so much already, how can there possibly be more?"
"Sit down and we'll tell you" Maria said, gesturing to the decorated chairs.
Laura did as was instructed and so did the rest of her friends "As a special treat" Maria continued cheerfully "Everyone here (with the exception of Travis) is sleeping over at my house for the whole weekend!"
"Seriously?" Laura said in a bit of a worried tone "are you sure that's okay?"
"I've already checked it over with my mom if that's what you mean" Maria said with a smile.
"It's a hamster party" Kylie said with a wink "so bringing your hamster is required."
"Don't worry" Laura said with a laugh "I'm positive Hamtaro will be thrilled to see Bijou, Oxnard, Penelope and Pashmina again."
"Good" Kana said with a smile "then we'll see you there."
"So then the game was cancelled?" Laura asked as she and Travis were walking home together "not forfeited?"
"Exactly" Travis said with a nod and a smile.
"I'm so glad" Laura said, returning the smile.
"Why?" Travis asked.
"I would have felt bad if the team had lost" Laura said "you guys are representing our school you know."
"Oh" Travis said, looking away.
Laura merely smiled, but she knew that wasn't the real reason she would have felt bad It wouldn't have been Roberto's fault, it would have been mine. She thought but they wouldn't know that, so they would have kept thinking that it was Roberto. I would have felt horrible.
Later that night, after dinner, Laura was getting ready to go to her big sleepover the next day. As she was packing, she saw her journal lying in one of her drawers. Ever since Laura had passed Mr. Yoshi's class, she hadn't found any time to write in it. So, to pass the time, she sat down, opened a pen, and started to write.
I totally fumed at Roberto today she wrote but this time it wasn't like before, this time I even told him I wasn't going to talk to him ever again. I was really mad and I meant it at the time. But now I'm having doubts, especially when I heard they almost had to forfeit the game because of me. And, after all, he did help me a lot.
Lately it seems I'm seeing more and more of Roberto and less and less of Travis. I mean, as it is, today I've said, written, and thought the word Roberto more times than I think I've said, written and thought the word Travis in my entire life! But he confuses me…A lot! Sometimes he can be incredibly sweet, but other's I just want to wring his neck!
But it's this confusing behavior that makes me think about him more and more often. We're always fighting, but yet, it's as though we enjoy it. It's the only thing that keeps our conversations going, I'd hate to think of all the awkward silences we'd have if we had a nice rational conversation (as crazy as that sounds)
Anyway, it's not like it matters now, I've opened my big mouth and now I have to keep my word. I will NOT talk to Roberto even if it kills me! For a few days at the very least.
Author's note: there you go, another chappie done. Send in the reviews please!
