Edited 2019

AN: Frist let me say how sorry I am for not updating over the weekend. This being the second time that I have moved I forgot how much I hate it. After three days of packing, cleaning, carrying, and driving I am officially out of my old apartment. The best part is that I cannot get into my new apartment until the thirteenth of August. So my stuff is split between my parents' house and my cousin's. Enough about my problems again I feel so bad about not updating that I am going to write a longer chapter for 14. I hope you are still there reading and thank you for your patience.

Chapter 13

"Alright, y'all settle down. I have some announcements to read. First a reminder to sign up for drivers-ed by Monday at 2:15 pm. You need to have your permit and a check for classes when you sign up. The cost is $175.00. The checks need to be payable to Bon Temps High School. Next applications for Ambassadors need to be into the office this Friday by noon. Finally, a reminder for those of you going out for the cheer squad and dance team auditions are this afternoon after school. The cheer squad is in the gym and dance team is in the auditorium. Oh, and before I forget I have been asked to remind y'all of the closed campus policy. Stating that freshmen are supposed to stay on campus for the lunch hour. I know that some of you are running home for lunch but I am supposed to tell you not to do so. I think if you were going to be caught you would have. Well, that is all I have unless one of you needs to say something. No good we have five minutes left so I will see some of you tomorrow. Those of you in my next class you could open your books to page 29 and start skimming. We are entering the lovely world of proofs." Mr. Brigant announced with a smile. Some of us me included groaned at the prospect.

"Sookie are you ready for this afternoon? I am so excited. Do you want to know what song I picked? I was having a hard time deciding so I went with the stand by Man! I feel like a Woman. You never did tell me what you were going to do. Did you stay with your idea to do a lyrical dance or did you change your mind? I know that it will be just great whatever it is. Did you know that the Crane triplets were going out for the dance team too? Well, I think that you would cause they are cousins of yours, but I don't know how much you talk to them. I still don't understand how you can be related to them cause y'all look nothin' alike. What with them being all willowy, tall and dark. I was hoping that we would have another boy go out. I think that it is awesome that Claudine and Claudette convinced Claude too. Granted I don't think that they really had to do that much convincing if you ask me cause we both know how much that boy likes to show off. Too bad he swings the other way cause he is gorgeous. I also heard that Mr. C's nieces Gladiola and Diantha going to try out too. Did you give any thought to being the JV captain like Tara offered you? I would so take that chance if she let me." Amelia finally stopped to take a breath. There are some days that I don't know how she can keep going like that. You would think that she would pass out due to a lack of oxygen, but she just keeps right ongoing.

"Yes for the first two, a point routine, yes Claudine told me over the summer but I did not know about Claude and eww he is my cousin. Mr. C did not mention that Glad and Dia were going out and yes I think that I will. Did I answer everything because I am going to open the book now?" I said opening my math book. This was a lesson that I was dreading. Even with the evil proofs class still went by fairly fast.

Freshman English with Ms. Flanagan was getting boring we were going over the different types of literature. I knew all the different types, having been an avid reader for most of my life. If I had to listen to Ms. Flanagan explain the difference between fiction and non-fiction one more time, I think that I'd fall asleep. Instead of taking notes like I was supposed to do I was finishing my drawing of Gran. I had forgotten to finish it the night before. I had about twelve minutes left of class so I was just drawing away waiting for the period to be over. When class was over I sprinted to the art room. I wanted to see if Godric was gonna need my assistance as a model again. The time that I had spent sitting there has hard but being alone with him could be relaxing and nerve-racking all at once. When I entered the room I was somewhat disappointed that he was not there yet. I sat down and took out my drawing. Ms. Cooper came over to see what I had done.

"This is well done Sookie. I came over to let you know that I am letting you sit for Godric again today. Your assignment for me is to a lager drawing using shading. I am giving everyone two weeks to finish." She said walking off.

"I hope that it is alright with you if I work on the portrait again. I even have a surprise for you while you are sitting today. Come one let's go so I can keep working." Godric surprised me and led me to the small studio across the hall. He opened the door and sitting there was a cello not my cello but a cello none the less. "I thought that this would help you to sit more naturally."

"Thank you. I felt so weird sitting there with nothing in my hands. Would you mind if I practice while we are in here?" I asked picking up the cello and perching on the edge of the chair.

"You could for a while but I will want you to hold still with the bow on the strings at some point. Also, can you take your hair out of the braids, so it is similar to what it was yesterday?" He asked sitting on the stool on the other side of the room. I put the cello down and started to undo my braids. Once I was finished I shook out my hair. I picked the cello back up and played. I was playing for about thirty minutes when I noticed Godric had stopped drawing. He was looking at me with this odd smile and mumbling to himself.

"Do you want me to stop playing now? I am sorry I got lost in the music." I said not meeting his eyes.

"No it is alright I enjoy watching you play. You play with such emotion. I am jealous. I don't think that I have ever played like that. I know that I play well but that, is just technique. Sookie, when you play you, bring the music to life. I wish I could do that, I have not felt anything when I play in a long time. It has kind of turned into a mechanical thing for me. I play because I can, not because I want too." He answered in a sad tone.

"Well, I think that we both have something to be envious of the other about. I would love to have the technique that you have. I may have emotion but that will only get me so far. If I want to get into Juilliard then I am going to need more than just heart." I stated firmly.

"I think that I am going to need you to sit for me again tomorrow would that be ok with you?" He asked.

"I would be glad to. I will see you later at tryouts. I want to go to history early if that is ok with you?" I countered. I grabbed my bag and made for the door.

"Bye Sookie. A plus tard, mon petit." He said. I left the room thinking. I am going to have to ask Mrs. Fant what these boys keep saying to me. The only French I know is from dance, so, I am not really sure what he said. The only thing that I got out of it was little. I walked to the stairs and went up to Mr. C's classroom. He was at his desk writing. He had a planning period during third period. He looked up when I entered the room.

"How are you doing today Sookie? Should I be worried that you seem to be early for my class every day?" He said smiling.

"I am ok a bit nervous but ok. I have art with Ms. Cooper and she was letting me sit for one of her independent study students. He got done with what he wanted to do for today so he let me go. Hey, you didn't tell me that Glad and Dia were going out for the dance team too." I said taking a seat.

"It is good to know that you are not skipping class and my brother had not told me that the girls were going out for the team. Are you afraid that they are going to outdo you?" He probed with a knowing smirk. He got up to start writing the notes out for the day.

"No I think I will do great and so does Tara and Lafayette since they already offered me the JV captain position. Which I have decided to take them up on so I am not too worried." I answered taking my notebook out. It was a pretty big deal for a freshman to get the JV captain position, most of the time it went to someone in the junior class. I wrote down what he had on upon the board. The class went by at a snail's pace not that I am complaining but I wanted the school day to get over with so that I just try out and go home. When class was finally over Amelia, Holly and I went down to the cafeteria for lunch. My stomach was starting to knot up which made it hard for me to eat. I was sitting between John and Eric leaving me very little room. The conversation at the table was being dominated by Amelia and a friend of Alcide's named Tray Dawson. He was another one of the football guys but did not spend much time at the house on account that he and Jason do not get along the best. Tray is the alternate quarterback.

"Are you starting a new diet where you move your food around your plate Sookie?" Alcide asked, looking worried at me.

"No, I am just nervous about this afternoon, so it is kind of hard to eat. My stomach is unhappy at the moment. I don't want to get sick if I eat too much." I said picking at my meatloaf.

"Well, you should still eat something, so you have the energy to dance later. It may even help with your stomach if you eat something." He added taking a bite of his mashed potatoes.

"I will," I said taking a small bite. I ended up eating a little more before lunch was over. It did settle my stomach some but not completely. Hoyt walked with me up to chemistry. I missed most of what Mr. Merlotte talked about. I was sitting in class one minute and then walking to Mrs. Fant's the next. She was setting out worksheets on the desks. I sat down in the seat that I had sat in the day before. The worksheets were to have us fill in the information from the second chapter. When everyone got settled she had us work in partners to read the chapter and find the answers. I worked with Preston again since he wanted to. Eric was not in class so I was guessing that he was doing something else today. It took Preston and me about thirty minutes to finish the worksheet. We spent the rest of class talking. I learned that he was an only child of divorced parents. He lives with his mom during the week and his dad on the weekends. He was on the basketball and baseball teams. I told him about being raised by Gran. I told him about how Jason could be an idiot sometimes but he really means well. Also that he is a great big brother when he wants to be. I told him about how I was going out for the dance team and how nervous I had been. He thought that I would do just fine. Talking with him had really helped me to get my mind off of my nerves.

"So are you going to the game on Friday?" He asked smiling with hope.

"I am. I was planning to go with my dance team friends. Are you going?" I inquired.

"Yes, I am. I was hoping that if it was alright with you that I could sit with you." Preston answered bashfully.

"If you don't mind sitting with a bunch of girls and a couple of guys ogling the team then I think we can make room. Sometimes Amelia and Lafayette can be a bit much but they are a hoot to listen to." I said.

"I think that I will survive as long as you are there with me." He said coyly. He glanced at the clock noticing that class was almost over. "I had a lot of fun with you today. I like you Sookie."

"I had a good time talking to you too. I can see us becoming really good friends. I will see you tomorrow." I said as I packed my bag and left.

"Bye Sookie." He said sounding kind of dejected. I walked down to the band room in better spirits than I had been at lunch. I got my cello and went to one of the practice rooms to play. Mrs. Fortenberry was giving us the rest of the week to practice so I was going to use that time. I had not been practicing that much at home so this time was a big help. Before I knew it, the class was over, and I needed to get my bag from my locker and change. Between talking to Preston and playing my cello I was feeling pretty good. I knew that I could do this and do it well and that is just what I was going to do.

Translation: A plus tard, mon petit. Until later, my little one.