Chapter 8: Boredom

The rest of my day was a blur and soon I found myself squished in next to Aimee on the bus. The game was that night and I was eager to get home. I was really happy when I realized that I didn't have homework on a Friday, but a little sad that I would be going to the after game dance as the fifth wheel of a happy couple. Nobody asked me to go. The bus crawled slowly up the hill towards my house, the driver desperately trying to avoid the people jaywalking across the street.

"Get out of the street!" She yelled out the window, barely containing a stream of profanities.

The people merely shrugged and continued walking in the middle of the street. Apparently, they were aware that regular cars might hit them, but a school bus wasn't likely to. They were acting all arrogant, strutting around like they owned the street, when Officer Tim, school security guard and SWAT team member came up behind us, and promptly issued them tickets. Aimee and I couldn't hold in our hysterical laughter at the way their faces looked.

The street finally cleared, the bus continued its slow ascending of the hill. We made it to my stop with no further battles and I couldn't help but be a bit sad that I was almost home. Home meant being picked on by Lily, yelled at by my mom, and having too much expected of me from my dad. At school, I had Aimee to talk to, and we never, ever, fought. Levi was going to end up my friend. Seth presented a good friend and a mystery to solve. I wished for the thousandth time that we were all at a boarding school.

I quietly opened my front door and attempted to sneak in without Daisy discovering that I was home. I failed miserably. The yellow ball of fur, slobber, and energy came bounding down the stairs and jumped up, shoving me with her paws. I slammed back against the wall and hit my head.

"Ouch!" I cried, my head already beginning to throb.

"Hi honey, what happened?" My mom inquired, also coming down the stairs. I wondered why she was so chipper.

"Daisy pushed me into the wall and I hit my head." I moaned, rubbing the tender spot as a bump started to form.

"Sorry about that." She said, sounding sincere. "Do you want a cookie? They came out of the oven a couple minutes ago."

Cookies? I was bewildered. She only bakes when she's happy or when there is something in it for her. I chose the latter and decided that she was trying to bribe my dad into forgetting he was mad at her, like always. However, I wasn't one to pass up on a warm cookie.

"Sure, I'd love one."

She put a cookie on a plate and even poured me a glass of milk. Still confused, I took the plate with a mumbled 'thank-you' and trudged up the stairs to my room. I felt my phone buzz two separate times on the trip, and wondered if two people actually wanted to text me, or if Aimee was just being longwinded. I kicked my door open and plopped onto my bed, stretched out, and set my plate on my stomach. I withdrew my phone from my pocket and flipped it open.

'Two new text messages,' it read. I opened the first one, from Aimee.

Lol a guy just got kicked off the bus for cussing. Lucky for him, his stop was next though…

I laughed. The bus driver had a mean streak, and I felt bad for anyone who messed with her. People even got in trouble for sitting on each other's lap when the bus had no seats left. I opened the next message and was surprised to see it was from Seth.

Where's your softball practice tomorrow?

Odd. Why would he care to know that? Nevertheless, I replied. Um, our coaches managed to reserve the field at our school.

Within a minute, he had replied. That's cool. You get the nice field huh?

Yeah, they take really good care of it. Except the pitchers mound… It has a rut the size of the Grand Canyon. I sprained my ankle in it before.

Don't fall in! And ouch, I didn't know that.

Yeah, it's got me messed up pretty bad. My endurance hasn't been the same since, you know? It's my stride foot when I pitch so all of my weigh is pounding on it all of the time…

Wow, that stinks. At least you got a cool pair of crutches!

Sure, cool crutches… ;)

So, will you text me and let me know where you're sitting for the football game?

Sure, no problem.

Cool! Well, I really have to go, work calls. I help patrol La Push. Kinda like a Police Cadet thing, I guess. But I'll see you soon, ok?

I couldn't help but feel a little sad. But I messaged him a quick goodbye and resigned myself to waiting for my dad to get home so we could leave for the football game. A computer game sounded fun, so I slid in my game where you own a virtual zoo. I had a special edition that included dinosaurs. After an hour or so of watching polar bears swim around, and dinosaurs accidentally being let out of their enclosures and rampaging around, and monkeys eating bananas, I was bored again. I glanced at my computers clock and was dismayed to find that it was only 4 o'clock. The game wouldn't start until seven, and we would leave at six thirty to get good seats, so that left quite a block of time for me to entertain myself with.

I decided to try to find something to wear to the game. Something that would be comfortable and support the team, be dad approved, and impress Seth. I considered myself past the point of denial. I liked Seth and I would do anything to catch his eye. I rummaged through my closet and my drawers, trying to find something that would work. I failed. There was nothing I owned that was flattering and the school colors, silver and red. I decided on my old P.E. shirt from the previous year, a thick pair of jeans to fight the cold, and some red earrings. Not quite what I was after, but it would do. I checked the time and discovered that I had managed to kill barely half an hour. Wonderful. I decided to lament to Aimee.

Aimee… I am so bored! Can you text?

She replied within minutes. Of course I can. I always can. But OMG I am so nervous for tonight… What if he wants to dance?!

Um… Then you dance with him? It is a 'dance' after all…

Right! I knew that…

So, did you tell your mom and dad yet?

No… I guess I should huh?

Yeah, I think that would be wise…

Ok here it goes, I'll text you updates as I go, ok?

Sure thing, I'll be waiting.

I sat for five or so minutes before I got an update. And what I read literally had me rolling on the floor laughing, my breath coming in gasps.

I told my mom and dad at the same time. My mom is still frozen in shock, and Dad can't decide whether to kill me or hug me.

Lol. So far, so good I guess.

Now Mom has snapped out of her trance and is asking me about a million questions about him. Oh no…

What?!

She's calling my grandma, my aunt, her friends… STOP MOM, NOOOO!!!!

Now I wasn't breathing at all. The dreaded phone call to the relatives had me in stitches.

Wow… My dad is doing victory laps around the house. Talk about pathetic.

I was laughing so hard, I was worried about my health. I hadn't breathed for several minutes, so I decided to stop reading her messages until I could collect myself. But when my phone vibrated again, I couldn't resist the lure of Aimee and her family's antics.

Now they're sitting me down and giving me the responsibility talk…

Ooh, poor Aimee.

Well that couldn't have been more mortifying.

I bet it was! I'm glad that's one thing I'll probably never have to worry about.

You have to be kidding me Kayla. Have you seen the way Seth looks at you?

No, not really.

He looks at you like you're a dream come true.

Come on Aimee, cliché much?

I couldn't think of any other words to describe it. 'Answer to his prayers' works too.

Stop pulling my leg.

I'm totally serious Kayla! You need to stop doubting yourself.

I can't help it Aimee! Nobody cares about me but you. Not even my parents.

Then they're stupid and will someday regret it. And Seth cares about you.

I see you aren't relenting, but I'm not going to agree with you.

Whatever Kayla. You'll see.

Ok. So, do you feel better now that your parents know?

The conversation continued on like that for a while, with Aimee gushing about how happy she was and me trying my hardest to stay in a good mood. Finally, six o'clock rolled around and both of us said good-bye so we could eat dinner and leave for the game. I trudged downstairs, uneasy, because I hadn't left my room since I got home. I was uncertain as to what I would find happening.

My parents were locked in a death glare in the kitchen. Lily was happily chattering, oblivious to what was brewing. My mom was angrily stirring something on the stove and my dad was tearing open the mail. Mom plopped our dinner on three plates and stalked out of the kitchen. The three of us grabbed our plates and sat in the living room, the silence only broken by Lily. The distinct clinking of metal on ceramic was especially loud coming from my dad. I glanced at him to see that he was angrily shoveling his food into his mouth. I couldn't fathom how he ate so fast without choking, but I quickened my pace so I wouldn't fall too far behind. When he stood to take his plate into the kitchen, I followed, as did Lily with her untouched food.

"I don't want to go to football!" Lily announced.

"Sorry Lily, it's either stay here with your mother or come with us to football." "But I don't want to. Can I please go to Josie's?"

"If you call her fast and make sure it's ok with her mom." My Dad snapped.

"Ok!" Said Lily brightly, pulling out her cell phone. Yeah, a ten year old with a cell phone, with love from grandpa. Josie's mom agreed to take Lily, much to my relief, and we drove her around the corner to their apartment complex. After that, we were off to the game.

A/N: You guys are so amazing if you're still reading! Please go to my homepage (fanfiction isn't letting me put the link here) if you want to know why I haven't posted in so long. And as always, please review!