Alright guys, I went a little crazy tonight and actually wrote two chapters. Four and Five. Five is the first chapter that has a song surrounding it. Colbie Caillat's Try was the foundation for a better part of this chapter. I hope you guys like it, and as always, let me know what you guys think!
Enjoy!
Chapter 5 – Try
As the teams went to change out of their jerseys and shower their bodies clear of sweat, the onlookers began to disperse from the field and the bleachers. I bid Ed goodnight, as I wanted to stay behind and speak to Kevin about what he had said and to formally thank him for standing up for me. For protecting me. For winning that game for me. A smile crossed my face as Ed walked off. I could feel myself blushing to myself. I was lost in my own thoughts so I was startled when someone tapped my shoulders.
"Whoa, Double D, no need to jump out of your skin." I suppose I was more startled than I let on. Nazz smiled up to me. "Are you coming to the victory party, Double D? You should totally come! I'm throwing it for the team, and you are totally invited!" I looked at her, completely aghast. I looked around me, expecting someone to be behind me that she was talking to. When I did not see anyone, I looked back to her bubbly smile.
"Oh, thank you for your invitation Nazz, but I do not know if I am exactly the right person to go to any party." I nodded apologetically and Nazz pouted at me.
"Aw, come on Double D! We never see you come to anything like this. We want to see you get out of your shell sometimes." She put her hands on her hips. "Alright, how about this. If you come, and you really are uncomfortable and want to leave, you can go whenever you want. I won't stop you. Besides, I'm sure there will be people there who want to see you, so will you please come?"
I let out a sigh and looked back to the school. I wanted to speak to Kevin before I left but that did not appear to be happening, but I could not say no to Nazz. She was rather stubborn, but in a subtler way than, say, Eddy's stubbornness. "Oh, alright. I'll come, but I'm holding you to your agreement."
Nazz's smile beamed up at me, as if she did not hear my requirement to going, or she ignored it. I'm not sure which. "Awesome! Alright, come on, Double D! Let's go!" She pulled me along after her. I looked back at the school as I saw some of the football team starting to file out, freshly cleaned and out of their sweaty jerseys. Nazz apparently had no intention of slowing down for me to thank anyone.
As we approached Nazz's house in the cul-de-sac in Nazz's small car, music could be heard coming her backyard. She pulled up and into the driveway. Luckily no one else was parked in her spot, seeing all the cars that were already parked along the side of the road and even in the front yard. What ruffian would park their car in the front yard? Imagine the damage their car was causing to the ground below it. There were surely to be tire marks buried into the grass.
Nazz distracted me from my internal ramblings as she got out of the car. I did the same and followed her around the side of her house to get to the backyard where the music got even louder. Nazz was practically yelling at me over the music so I could hear her. "I had Sarah and Jimmy set up ahead of time. I knew Kevin would pull out a win. That man always does." She smiled and waved me over to follow her.
"That he does." I said quietly to no one in particular. I followed her over to a table adorned with refreshments. A punch bowl was surrounded by plastic cups and additional cans of soda for anyone who desired a drink with more carbonation, a tray of cookies sat next to that display and a stack of three sheet pizzas, still in their boxes, sat on the opposite end. Nazz handed me a plate and smiled.
"Here, help yourself! And I promise the punch isn't spiked." She winked and laughed at the horrified expression that I'm sure crossed my face. I decided to take a can of soda, just to be on the safe side. I walked over to the pizza and took a couple slices onto my plate and closed the box to prevent any insects from finding a special meal. I turned and looked to see who else was here. Sarah and Jimmy were playing with the music, Rolf was seated on the ground, inspecting the grass it looked like, and a few other students from school were roaming around the back, talking to each other. Nazz's social circle I'd assume. Not students I would normally spend time with. I wondered who she thought would want to see me here.
Then I heard it, the low rumble of His motorcycle, followed by loud cheers. Everyone in the yard started yelling out of excitement. Hooting and hollering for the victorious captain and his team while Kevin came walking around the side of the house, Nat and a few of their teammates hot on his heels. They must have driven in a car behind him. The cheering got louder and was more intense when they rounded the corner into sight. I found myself cheering right along with them.
I also found myself staring at Kevin. His hair was still a little wet, so he did not have his hat on, his red hair almost shining in the light of dusk. His hat was folded in the pocket of his leather football jacket. He looked so dashing and the pride that was exuding from him was palpable. His deep green eyes caught mine staring and I immediately turned my face away and blushed. I walked over to a small table on a patio and sat in the lawn chair next to it. I set my soda down and took a bite of pizza, trying to distract myself from my thoughts and my deeply reddened face.
As the Sun began to fully set, Nazz, Sarah, and Jimmy went around to light the torches that were stuck into the ground for mood lighting, I'd guess. The music continued to play and I found myself at peace just sitting and watching everyone else. Even though Nazz came over a few times, telling me that I could go if I was bored or uncomfortable, I told her I was actually alright right where I sat and simply enjoyed not being alone. She fixed me with a look of concern, albeit a short glance, before she smiled and said "good!"
Nazz walked away from Double D and over to where Nat and Kevin were getting something to drink at the table. "Um, hey guys, could one of you go talk to Double D? I feel bad because no one is really talking to him and he's just sitting over there by himself." She rubbed her arm. "Maybe I shouldn't have forced him to come."
Nat smiled at her then looked up over to where the cutie sat. "Alright then, I will volunteer… Kevin! Go cheer up our little cutie over there. It's been a rough day, he looks like he could use some company." Kevin glared at Nat. "Now, now, don't look at me like that. I'm just looking out for our delicious little friend over there. Much like you did earlier, right Mr. Protective?" His devilish grin was enough to make Kevin want to punch it off, but instead he turned a deep red that rivaled the redhead's hair.
"Shut up dude. You don't know what you're talking about." Nat gave him a push to get Kevin moving, but he didn't budge. Nazz looked up to Kevin.
"Aw, come on Kev, can't you at least check up on him?" She gave him that pouty face that she knew he couldn't say no to. Girls don't play fair. Doesn't matter if you're dating them or if they are like a sister to you. They just don't play fair. Ever.
"Fine. I'll go see what's eating him." Kevin started to walk away but not before Nat said:
"I mean, I could eat him up. He's just so cute."
I sat and sipped my soda and took a few small bites of my pizza, lost in thought so deep that I did not notice that someone sat down until I could smell their tantalizing musk with a dash of body spray over the smell of my pizza. I turned to see Kevin lounging in another one of the four chairs around the table next to me. I blushed and turned away.
"What's up dork? Something the matter? You looked a little upset, so I thought I'd come see how you were doing." I did not even realize I looked upset. I was rather content sitting in the background watching everyone else enjoying themselves and laughing and talking and dancing and my internal thoughts were rambling, and before I realized that I had not answered any of his questions, Kevin spoke up again. "Listen, if it's about what happened at the game, don't worry about it. That guy won't be an issue any more. We put him in his place."
I nodded and smiled, thinking about the thumbs up he gave me at the end of the game, and I could feel my face betray my thoughts. "I-I-I wanted to thank you for that, by the way. I was going to wait for you to come out of the locker room so I could thank you properly and in a timely fashion, however Nazz wished for me to come to the party, so I acquiesced to her invitation." I gave Kevin a small smile, but his piercing green eyes were scanning my face again.
"Uh huh. You're welcome. You're a friend, dude. I'm not going to let an a—jerk talk to a friend of mine like that." He crossed his muscular arms and leaned forward on the table, getting closer to me. "But why don't you tell me why you are hiding in the corner with that fake smile on your face?"
Darn it. He was more perceptive than I gave him credit for. "Spill it, Double D. What's buggin' ya?"
With a sigh I turned away from him, just enough to keep the view of my red face out of sight. "I am enjoying myself, Kevin. You need not be concerned about me. I was realizing how out of place I am here, that's all. Everyone is nice; do not mistake my words for anything but, however, I find that there is not anyone to talk to. These are all the popular students who roam in different social circles that I am not privy to. There is nothing wrong with that, though. It is what happens in our construct call high school."
A soft song began to play over the speakers and a few couples that were at the party began slow dancing with each other. I listened to the soft melody and sighed.
"Dude, you don't have to try so hard to be anything but who you are." I turned to him. It was almost as if he was saying the lyrics of the song. "You shouldn't have to care about what everyone else thinks, man. You are great just the way you are."
You don't have to try so hard
You don't have to, give it all away
You just have to get up, get up, get up, get up
You don't have to change a single thing
"All that matters is that you like you. Who cares what anyone else says?" I think a tear started to slide down my face while I listened to Kevin speak. The song did not help because it echoed his sentiments.
Do they like you?
Wait a second,
Why, should you care, what they think of you
When you're all alone, by yourself, do you like you?
Do you like you?
Kevin reached out and put a hand on my shoulder and I could not stop the flinch that it caused, a small sob escaping my mouth. "Dude, I didn't mean to upset you." I shook my head and put a shaky hand on Kevin's. His hand was warm and I turned a little, streaks of tears sliding down my face and Kevin's face was flushed, unsure of what to do with my current state.
Take your make-up off
Let your hair down
Take a breath
Look into the mirror, at yourself
Don't you like you?
'Cause I like you
I blushed under the weight of his warm grip as the song came to an end. "I apologize, Kevin. I do not mean to be a downer. I was not expecting this type of conversation when Nazz asked me to come. I would not have said yes if I knew I would act like this."
Kevin sighed and gripped my shoulder tighter. "There you go again, man, acting like being you is such a bad thing to apologize for. Why don't you like who you are? Because we like you. Nazz wouldn't have invited you otherwise. Nat wouldn't have convinced you to come to the game. And I… I wouldn't have protected you like I did…" The red in both our faces deepened. I was sure they were acting like beacons because I could feel eyes on us, but Kevin did not appear to care because he did not remove his hand from my shoulder. "Listen to me, Edd," he-he-he used my name… "Don't try so hard to be someone you aren't. We like you just the way you are."
I blushed and gave a small nod. "Th-thanks, Kevin. For everything you've done for me today. Words alone cannot express my gratitude." Kevin gave a cocky grin and patted my back gently.
"Come on, Dork, why don't we get you home?" I nodded slightly and stood up. I walked my empty plate over to the garbage and tossed it in. I then kept my soda with me, as I had not finished it yet.
Kevin scarfed the rest of his slice of pizza and down the cup of punch he had. Nat gave him two big thumbs up and Kevin rolled his eyes and flipped him off. He motioned for me to follow him and I obliged, walking slowly behind him. I lived quite a few houses down from the center of the cul-de-sac where Nazz's house resided. Kevin walked with me the entire way down to my house. I was surprised because I would have thought that he would have rather take his motorcycle, but I assumed he was going to go back to the party.
We walked in silence and when we arrived to my house, we stopped at the front door. It was dark and the only lights on were the streetlights scattered sparsely along the street. "Thank you again Kevin, for walking me home. I assume you will be returning to the party then? You are the guest of honor after all." Kevin shrugged while I took out my keys to unlock my door.
"I'll probably head back just to pick up my baby girl." I blinked at him, confused. "My motorcycle." I nodded in understanding and put my key into the lock and turned it to unlock the door. A strong hand reached over and pushed against my door before I could open it. I turned and looked at Kevin, his arm outstretched against the door. "Promise me you'll actually try to be yourself without any negativity." I gave a small nod, the heat from his arm warming my face with a deep blush. "Good." Kevin pulled his arm back, but not without placing his hand on the side of my face first. "'Cause I like you. You're a friend and I want you to be happy." He let go, leaving an empty cold feeling on my face and a pit in my stomach.
I watched him walk away and I turned and walked into my lonely house. I closed the door and locked it behind me, the dark and quiet house doing nothing to take from the feeling I had inside. I put my hand up to my face where the heat of his touch was now only in memory.
Do you like you, he asked me. I did not have an answer. "'Cause I like you" he told me. What was it I was feeling? Maybe he was right.
Maybe all I had to do was Try.