Chapter 11:
Kenny PoV
"Ok, that's fine." I ramble on to the woman on the phone. "Thanks again, bye."
"Good news?" Wendy asks me as I put my phone down on the lunch table.
"She's awake." I give a slight smile. "Sat up eating a hot meal. She'll try and beg as many of them as possible. Hospitals are like five star hotels to her."
"Well hey, at least she is ok." Kyle says, who is sat next to Wendy. Stan was nowhere to be seen, I was wondering whether he might have been sent home after the incident earlier. I daren't tell Wendy because I knew she would freak out, so I just said he was probably having a word with coach.
"Have you heard from your dad?" Bebe squeezes my hand.
"Do I ever?" I laugh weakly. "I don't think he has been home all week, I have no idea where he is sleeping; in the street for all I care. Kevin fucked off too last night, went to stay at some mates or something so it was just Karen and I at home. She kept crying and had to come into my bed, that's the worst part of it all, having to tell her it's ok. Even if I don't give a shit about my parents, I know she still does deep down. She is too young to understand I suppose." There is a long silence and I realise I have destroyed any happiness there was at this table. "…Sorry."
"No, don't be." Kyle soothes. "It sounds horrible."
I just shoot him a smile rather than making another speech and I am about to start eating my pizza and fries when Stan enters, looking worn out. I notice the group from Douglas' table look up as he walks past them.
"Where the hell have you been?" Wendy's pitch increases instantly.
"Math." Stan holds up a sheet of equations.
"…Math was four hours ago." She shrieks, Bebe and I exchange a look, people may call her a bitch but at least she didn't make a scene when I turn up somewhere five minutes late.
"I know." Stan sits himself down next to Kyle, who is now wedged between the two. "I was in the principal's office and then had to do my math in the free period."
"Oh for God's sake Stan!" She cries and Kyle winces at the sound. "What, just because you didn't do your homework? Did you tell him you attempted it? You didn't dig yourself a hole did you?"
"I'm just gonna-" Kyle starts to get up before he is pulled back down by Stan.
"No, you stay right there dude." He warns, using him as a human shield. "Yes I did tell him I attempted it but he didn't listen. He gave me detention after school-"
"What and made you do it in your free period and see the principal?" Wendy screams round Kyle, who buries his head in his hands.
"If you'd let me finish…" Stan groans. "I told him I couldn't go to detention because I had football after school. So he told me he didn't care and I wasn't putting up with that. That is why I had to go to the principal's office and then I had to catch up on the work I missed in my free period. Which took me two hours, because it's me."
"Oh for fucks sake, bloody football." Wendy rolls her eyes and I laugh as Kyle imitates her. Which was a bad idea, because she turned on me next. "Kenny, you were in his class, what really happened?"
"Well, I was late." I cough, not wanting to be dragged into this domestic. "But it sounds pretty on point to me."
"I told you to finish that homework and now look what has happened!" She continues as if I never said anything.
"Yes well everything is sorted and ok now so can we just drop it?" Stan yells.
"This is your education Stan, not mine." She finalises and he stands up.
"I know!" He shouts, the whole canteen had fallen silent a few minutes ago. "Don't you think I know that? It's what everyone keeps telling me!"
"Where are you going?" She questions, also standing up.
"Somewhere to eat my lunch in peace." He tells her and begins to leave before turning on his heel. "But you had better still be coming to the football match tonight."
"Oh don't worry, I will!" Wendy screams. "To make sure you don't ask the football to prom instead of me!"
Stan leaves after giving her the finger and she slams herself back down on to the bench. I notice Bebe trying hard not to laugh and I bite my lip to stop myself. Kyle slides down the bench away from Wendy as discreetly as possible. Everyone is still in complete silence and staring at our table. I shoot everyone an uneasy smile and Kyle coughs a few times to try and get the chatter going again.
"…Well this is fucking awkward." I conclude.
Kyle PoV
"Hi mom!" I call as I enter the house.
"Hi my little sugar puff." Sian imitates my mother, slamming the fridge door with a grin on her face. I take a step back when I see she is wearing nothing but a towel. This was not good, I should not have a crush on my cousin. I shoot her an awkward smile and help myself to a packet of cheesy poofs. "Good day at school?" She asks, sitting down at the table, opening a bottle of water. Don't drink the water. Don't drink the water. Yep, she's drinking the water and it makes her look super-hot. Snap out of it Kyle.
"Yeah…" I mutter my eyes fixed on her pale pink lips. I shake my head and turn my back to her, pretending I am searching for something. I had to ask her, I had to ask her now, else I would never get the chance. "So, Sian…" I say casually, the name rolling off my tongue. "I have an issue… Which you may be able to help me with."
"Hey, look, if it is erectile dysfunction, it happens to lots of people." She explains. "My old boyfriend had it… after he slept with me so it wasn't as big a deal… I think I sort of broke it actually-"
"Ok, well it's not that." I interrupt and she turns her head to look at me. "It's um… It's a bit weird… Because you're my cousin and everything but I was thinking… Would you be able to come to dinner with me… Tomorrow night?"
"What like a date?" She frowns, looking quite scared.
"No! No." I yell. "Not a date… I mean yeah well it's kind of a date but we are just pretending it is."
"Ok, you've lost me." She looks confused.
"Basically." I take a deep breath and slow myself down. "My friends are all going out for this 'couples night' thing at Shakey's tomorrow and I always get left out of this kind of thing. So I told them I would bring my girlfriend along… Only problem is, I don't have one. I have tried, honestly but no one seems to want to come with me. I know it's extremely weird and creepy and you can say no if you like but this is my last resort."
"…Will you buy my food?" She questions.
"Yes." I confirm.
"And there will be no physical contact?"
"No physical contact, what-so-ever." I reassure her and she ponders it for a while.
"Sure, I'm game." She smiles and a wave of relief washes over me. "But you really are odd, you know that?"
"Yes I do." I mutter as she leaves and then call after her. "Thank you!"
Wendy PoV
"I mean, I tried to help him, but he just didn't seem bothered." I explain to Bebe as we walk under the bleachers. I scan the pitch for any sign of Stan but there is just a referee standing around. I really wasn't in the mood for having to cheer with the squad right now but I knew if I pulled out, Bebe would murder me. We were just opening it anyway, then we could chill out for the rest of the match… or try to. "I'm not going to lie, he did try to work it out, and I could see he was thinking about it. But he seems so pre-occupied with everything else. I don't know, do you think I over-reacted?"
"Maybe a little." Bebe drones and I see the boredom in her face as we take our seats on the front row. "Where is Lola? I asked her to get here early."
"I thought she was with Red in the hallway." I reply. "She was mouthing off at Bridon again, remember?"
"No." She shrugs. "Maybe I was too wrapped up in the interesting conversation we were having."
I give her a glare as Lola enters, followed by Red and Jenny. "I swear to God, guys are just put on the Earth to piss us off." She yells, sitting down next to me.
"Oh good…" I hear Bebe mutter.
"Tell me about it." I agree, ignoring my best friend's sarcasm. "Do Stan and Bridon want to share a doghouse?"
"Yes please." She laughs and rests her head on my shoulder.
"Do we need to run over the routine again?" Bebe stresses, standing up and straightening out her skirt. "We haven't practiced it since last semester."
"Yeah and we did it all last semester..." I point out. "I think it is drummed in our heads forever."
"Fine, but if you mess it up Wendy…" She snaps.
"Why me?" I ask, defensively. "What is up with you tonight, Bebe?"
"I'm just stressed about it, that's all." She huffs and goes over to greet Esther, Annie and Milly. Bebe was like Stan; her life revolved around one certain thing which she was adamant she wanted to do for the rest of her life. Like Stan's football obsession, cheerleading was her ultimate passion. She literally took her role as head cheerleader to mean she was the queen of the school. This consequently, was not a positive for me, as it meant that both my best friend and my boyfriend were obsessed with sport.
"What routine are we doing?" Jenny frets as she runs over to us, tying her hair up as she does so. "I don't want to ask Bebe because she will yell at me."
"Apparently the one we did last semester." Lola tells her.
"...The one with Annie's somersault?" She questions and I nod. "I'm gonna mess this up so bad."
"Where the hell is Heidi?" Bebe yells, coming back over to us and dragging Esther and Milly with her. We all just shrug as the football team begin to line up on the pitch. "We're about to start."
"She's in the changing room." Jenny tells her. "She's come on her period and can't find a tampon."
"Oh for fucks sake." Bebe sighs, exasperatedly. "Couldn't you give her one Jenny?"
"Ouch, white skirts too..." Red bites her lip and is given a death glare from Bebe.
"Someone just go and find her." She orders.
"On it." Esther begins to run away.
"Hi Bebe, Heidi is in the changing room." Annie informs us as she enters.
"Wow really?" Bebe drones and walks away.
"...Ok." Annie mutters and sits down on the bench. I watch as Stan appears on the pitch, leading the rest of the team consisting of Kenny, Clyde, Craig, Token, Bridon, Jason and another boy from the year below. Pete Melman automatically walks over to the reserve bench.
"Why is Pete always a reserve?" Jenny asks angrily.
"Because he's shit at football." Milly sniggers. "Why do you care anyway?"
"I don't..." She shrugs.
"He's such a prick." Lola sighs, staring out at the pitch.
"Who Pete?" I frown.
"No!" She retorts. "Bridon. Look at him, his stupid flicky hair, doing stupid stretches."
"...You like his hair." I remind her.
"He's still an idiot." She mutters and I smile. I watch Stan as he pats Kenny on the back and goes over to give everyone a pep talk. He looked so happy, he was in his element. I felt bad for having a go at him earlier, it wasn't his fault. I could see he was trying. I wanted to run out there now and hug him and tell him I was sorry. I was almost about to when Lola interrupts my thoughts again. "Why do we put up with guys Wendy?" She ponders. "Why don't we all just become lesbians? It would be so simple."
"Each to their own." I giggle as Red mouths 'Is she drunk?' to me.
"What's going on with you and Stan then?" Red asks me, nothing my transparent stare towards the football pitch.
"I don't know." I shrug. "I want to make up..."
"Well do it then." She tells me and my eyes glide from her to Bebe, who is running back in with Heidi and Esther in tow. "And quick!"
I make a run for it before Bebe can tell me otherwise and glide across the football pitch. I could tell everyone in the bleachers were staring at me, I wasn't surprised; a random cheerleader was making a run for it. I reach Stan and he turns around after following Token's gaze.
"I just..." I stutter, my words seemed like sand now and I was out of breath from running. "I wanted to say sorry and good luck."
A smile forms on his lips and he picks me up quickly to spin me around. We kiss for about five seconds before all his friends start teasing us.
"I'm sorry to." He whispers. "I love you."
"I love you to." I kiss him quickly in the cheek before running back towards my squad. "You can do it!" I yell, my eyes fixed ahead of me. The sound of Stan's mates cheering is echoing in my ears. Right, now I was ready.