Third chapter! Now we're progressing in this, but this is only a short one for now. Sorry for that, but since this story is only 10 chapter story, I figured I might as well take this slow. Yes this is only a 10 chapter story, I spent most of the free time I have working on the plot for this story more than my other stories in progress so far. So with all the hand written chapters, plot and everything for this story cleared up, all I have to so is publish chapters. But that, still isn't an easy thing to do for me. It's not really. LOL
Anyways here is chapter 3 enjoy!
-Stuck-
The cafeteria was as its usual everyday mood, but for Darwin, he seemed to have forgotten about minding the environment around him.
Sitting on a table across Sarah, he quietly ate his lasagna. Of course, he couldn't help but feel like raising a brow in annoyance whenever he notices Sarah glancing at him.
Taking a sip of his soda, Darwin finally set his eyes at the ice cream girl.
"What?"
Sarah, with a dumbfounded look on her face asked as she chew on her burger.
"You've been glancing up on me. Don't lie. I counted you've glanced seven times now.
Darwin replied a little bitterly, causing Sarah to slightly blush.
"Oh, um... Sorry..."
Sarah emmidiately said in apology, her tone sounding sheepishly from embarrassment.
Darwin shrugged it off in return before deciding to continue eating his lasagna.
Taking a glance at Sarah who was obviously enjoying her burger, Darwin however decided to watch her eat for a moment as he continued finishing his food.
Seeing Sarah looking at him directly in the eyes, she raised a brow before questioning him.
"Mmm, now you're staring at me. Why? Hmm?"
Her questioning was almost sounding not as annoyed neither insult, but much rather, teasingly.
"Hey, I'm just curious. Seeing you enjoying that burger and stuff, I thought you like ice cream."
Darwin replied, almost as if starting an argument.
Sarah's brows furrowed in surprise, then a quick frown before replying.
"You probably don't know, that burgers are my favorite."
Darwin being finished with his lunch decided to scratch the back of his head.
"Hm, I actually did thought you like ice cream more..."
He said simply as he decided to take another sip of his soda.
"Why? Is it because I'm an ice cream myself?"
Sarah questioned, almost as if a remark with a roll of her eyes.
Raising his hands in defense, Darwin replied, his brows furrowed in surprise.
"Hey I didn't know okay? Plus, how was I supposed to know that? It's not like we hang out that often."
Darwin said defensively.
"We've never really hang out. Not once."
Sarah said simply as she finally finished her last bite on her burger, now starting to eat a vanilla flavored ice cream with a flat bottom cone.
"We are now."
Darwin said correcting her.
Sarah in return, gave him a sour expression.
"We're just having lunch together. It's not hanging out."
Darwin frowned at that.
"Oh really? Then tell me what's the difference between hanging out and having lunch together."
He finally argued.
"Simply said? Hanging out, going to places together, this we're doing, we're just having a simple lunch together."
Sarah replied, her tone sounding almost as if she didn't really cared about her statement.
After she finished her ice cream, Darwin only remained quiet as he watched her take a sip of her soda.
"Hm? What's wrong, Darwin?"
Sarah asked after taking large gulps on her soda.
"This is not a date. Right?"
A stupid question to ask, Darwin had a dumbfounded look on his face.
Sarah being surprised had her eyes blinking rapidly with a small blush and her emmidiately began shaking her head.
"Of course not! Oh gosh we're just eating lunch together, Darwin!"
She said, her voice a bit squeaky and almost stammering on her words.
"Hey I'm just asking! No need to overreact!"
Darwin replied quickly, his face a little red.
"I'm not overreacting, I'm just trying to clarify it for both of us..."
Sarah said softly, her voice still a little squeaky.
"Well, that's good to know, I guess..."
Darwin replied, his voice low and face flushed red.
Feeling a bit of awkwardness now, Sarah came up with the idea of changing the subject quickly. As to not be uncomfortable with Darwin.
"You know, I'm not really that as boring as everyone thinks. If you want, we can talk about why I'm not so obsessed anywaymore."
Sarah said with a soft chuckle.
"Oh that, I've clearly forgot about that! Yeah at the bus earlier... Wait, we gonna talk about it now?"
Sarah let out a soft giggle and replied.
"Well, if you want."
She said with a small shrug and smiling softly.
Darwin only shrugged in return and replied.
"Why not? I could use some company, too."
"And I'd figure you'd say that!"
Sarah said with a huge grin on her face.
Darwin only shrugged it before speaking.
"Well, I'll hear it now."
Sarah grinned wider and slowly leaned forward.
"I quit cheerleading."
She said in her casual voice, her tone almost as if in excitement.
Darwin's eyes went wide in surprise, his furrows raised high from what he just heard.
Of course, even though he didn't hang out much with Sarah, he like most of the others in Elmore high knew the loner passionate fiction writer was part of the cheerleading squad for the football team. It was rather strange than to say weird that she left her cheerleading squad, but for what exactly did she left it for?
Looking at Sarah with now only a raised brow, Darwin saw her expression as if being back a hidden excitement.
"Isn't it great, Darwin?"
Sarah asked, a soft giggles following her question.
"Why? I mean, why did you quit cheerleading?"
Asking it made Sarah shoot him a confused look for a second but afterwards, Sarah smiled gently and replied.
"For soccer."
She said, her smile becoming a grin.
"Soccer?"
Darwin repeated, his surprised look that he had became a bit of nostalgia, a little.
He was into soccer, though gumball doesn't seem into the sport but the times alone he spent without his older brother, Darwin had fun times alone kicking a soccer ball. His mom, Nicole even saw him a talent in it as he secretly played on his own and bought him his own soccer ball, that Darwin himself doesn't show to Gumball much. As much as Darwin loved spending time with Gumball, he did admit, that he does get boring sometimes on their usual routine of hanging out, and soccer became his great companion as passing time alone.
"Darwin?"
He heard Sarah's voice again. Looking back at her his eyes blinked for a moment before giving a reply.
"Oh wha? I mean, you quit cheerleading, for soccer?"
Seeing Sarah giggled, she nodded at him.
"Yup. I've been practicing with the soccer team for a week now. The cheerleading squad weren't pleased, especially when seeing me on my uniform."
Sarah said almost excitingly, but her tone changed to somewhat of guilt by the end of her last parts on her sentence.
Darwin looking at her for a moment then sighed before replying.
"I bet they're jealous. They're only cheerleaders."
He said with a reassuring tone.
Sarah slightly surprised by it furrowed her brows.
"They are?- I mean, no I bet not, I mean... I've been cheerleading longer than I've been on a soccer team."
She looked down for a moment after.
"Well, soccer is fun."
The word fun slipped out of Darwin's mouth as he himself had his eyes widened in surprise saying it.
Sarah on the other hand smiled softly.
"Indeed it is. Much like writing a fanfiction."
Looking at her in surprise, Darwin raised a brow.
"So let me get this straight... You've been into soccer, secretly huh?"
He asked and before expecting anything for an answer from her, Darwin was surprised yet again to see her actually giving a shy nod.
"Y-yeah..."
Sarah replied, her face slightly red a bit embarrassed.
"That sounds cool. Really."
Darwin said simply, but deep down he meant it.
"Wait, really?"
Sarah asked, her eyes blinking in surprise.
Darwin gave a nod and a sincere smile, even though his smile was onlg small and barely, Sarah saw his sincerity in it.
"Thanks, Darwin."
She said before standing up and picking up her now empty tray.
Raising a brow and picking up his tray as he also stood up, Darwin asked.
"Wait Sarah where are you going?"
"Practice. It's nice having lunch with you but I gotta go practice now."
Darwin gave a skeptic look and replied.
"The soccer club practice is only during Saturday's. Most of the practices done on every week is just about the football team of the seniors."
Darwin said, bitterness in his voice. Not that it was for Sarah, it was just his dislike for the football. He always hated the attitude of the seniors on the football team, then again, he had never heard of them picking up on anyone on the soccer team despite almost everyone is picked up by the football bullies.
Looking at Sarah, Darwin spoke.
"They hate other sports club practicing on the field when they're on practice."
Sarah snorted before giving a reply.
"Like heck that'll stop me. I'm playing soccer if I want."
She said confidently, her voice sounding serious.
Being surprised again, Darwin had his eyes blinking.
"Something I can relate. I play soccer too, as my past time."
Sarah gave him a surprised look.
"R-Really?"
Darwin smiled softly and nodded.
"Mrs mom even bought me my own soccer ball on my 14th birthday. She knows I love soccer too."
Sarah grinned and replied.
"Well if that's so, how about you come along play soccer with me?"
She asked, her brows wiggling with a small tease.
Darwin frowned, he didn't liked the teasing, but he did liked the offer of coming along and play soccer. But thinking of Gumball, he then reconsider his thoughts of coming along. But why would he not? It's not like he's got anything better to do alone, right? Gumball is spending his time with Penny. Penny. The girl Darwin's jealousy overcome him.
Looking at Sarah, Darwin wasn't sure of his decision yet. Either he accept or refuse the offer.
"Darwin? Are you alright?"
Sarah asked gently, he'd voice so soft as she waited for a reply.
Darwin couldn't reply. His face showing an expression of one that tells he's struggling with making a simple decision.
Sarah raised a brow for moment, then her eyes softening as she stared at Darwin almost sympathetically.
"You don't have to think about... her."
She said softly, her tone was low and gentle as she said it.
Darwin looked up at her, eyes meeting Sarah's showing the jealousy. Sarah could see it. She can see the jealousy that was hidden on the wearing eyes as if, seeking company, any company. From anyone.
"Darwin... Let's go."
Sarah gently said, her eyes softly staring at Darwin's with a gentle comforting smile. One that Darwin for sure needs.
Darwin seeing her smile sighed, then slowly, he gave a slow nod.
"Okay..."
He replied, his voice almost as if there was no sound into it.
"Great. I know now just what to keep you distracted."
Sarah said softly, her gentle smile still on.
Raising a brow in confusion Darwin asked.
"What's that?"
Sarah let out a soft giggle and replied.
"Soccer silly. Let's go play soccer."
A small, weak smile came across Darwin's face and a slow nod.
"I'd love to."
Quite a short one I know, but next chapter i assure you readers will be longer, but since that's all for this chapter I'll see you readers on chapter 4 and hope you stay tuned for it!
ripntear