“Out!” Chide called as he tapped out Chelsea when she slid to third. “That’s game!” All the guys started coming in from from outfield, dusting of their dirty t-shirts and grinning at stained pants and dirty sneakers. Chide tossed the ball back and forth in his hands. He headed back toward the dugout where a couple of the girls were were telling Chelsea to shake it off when she made it back. Chelsea just laughed.
“No big deal!” She said stretching her shoulder and trying to rub the dirt of her skin. “We’ll get the guys next time!” She was beautiful, Chide thought, and really nice; easy to get along with and into baseball - not even soft ball, Chelsea played with the guys. Chide snorted.
“As if! Long as I’m on base, you won’t touch third!”
“Watch it Wellington, I might forget whats the base and slide into your shin!”
Chide laughed and waved her off. “See you guys, gotta go study for the Maths test.”
“It’s math.” Girls and boys voiced chorused.
“Yeah ok, ok! Whatever.” Behind him, kids were throwing bats back in the supply shed getting ready to head out. It was evening now. Whenever they played a casual game, they tried to do it when the sun wasn’t beating down like coals from the pits of hell. Argos hadn’t played today, choosing to stick to the books. Chide on the other hand could’t handle too much school in one day.
“By Chide! we’re playing soccer on sunday, you in?”
“It’s football! Sure. But do you have enough people?”
Jack shrugged, “Dunno, we’ll play with whoever shows up i guess!”
“‘Kay, see you then.” Chide walked away, counting on his fingers how many meal’s he’d be able to eat this weekend with the plan he had. He’d already went over the “limit” for the past coupe weeks and now he needed to seat cutting down. His shoulders sagged, so did his mood. Less food mad for a bleak day. Bleak days made for bad focus and bad focus made for crappy grades and that just sucked to Chide.
He kicked at the dirt on his way back to the dorm, a few kids trailing behind him were boisterous and goofing off. Usually chide would be with them but now that he was out of the game mindset, he could’t stop thinking about the amount of food he was gonna miss out on this weekend. He opened the door to the dorm and kicked the dirt off his shoes in the doorway.
“Hey, Chide.”
Chide looked up, startled. There was Raze, sitting at on of the high tables, nose in a book. This was the first time he’d ever seen her studying, let alone studying in the lounge. “H-Hey.” He mentally groaned. What the heck was up with the stutter? Lame. Raze shot him a small smile, then went back to copying notes. He smiled back, just a little, but he didn’t think she noticed. Weird!
Anyway, he headed down the hall. In the room was Argos, grabbing his ID and stuffing his keys into his pocket.
“Where you going?” Chide asked. Argos hadn’t mentioned any plans.
“Gym.”
“Oh, really? You’ll go to the gym but you don’t wanna play baseball with your friends, that’s real cool.” Chide was just joking and Argos knew it. Argos just shrugged.
“Hey, why’s Raze out in the lounge?”
Argos looked confused. “Am i supposed to keep tabs on her? I dunno. Isn’t that like, A normal thing?”
Chide scoffed, “When ave you ever seen her sitting out there. And since when was she normal?”
Argos said, “Yeah, you’re right. Maybe she’s opening up a bit.”
“Or maybe she got locked out.” Chide laughed. “Hey, Soccer on Sunday, you wanna come?”
“Yeah, I should be free.”
As Argos was walking out the door, the next question tumbled out of Chide’s mouth before he even thought about it. “Why don’t we invite Raze?”
Argos’s eyes widened. “Raze? I thought you said she was the devil incarnate. What changed your mind.”
“Dunno, she seems OK, actually. I guess I was wrong.”
“Guess so. Yeah, Invite her. Be prepared for a no, though.” Argos said.
“Yeah, I know. See you later.” Chide said.
“See you.” Argos shut the door behind him.
Chide was alone and bored. For the next few hours, he tried to study. He told himself he’d made progress after three math problems and took a fruit roll up and PS3 break. When he struggled with enough battlefield he sprawled out on his bed, looking at the ceiling and his mind raced over the past few weeks. Ate too much, studied too little, and got distracted too easily. His text tone pulled him out of his thoughts.
Chelsea: Chide, some of the guys said you left the other night with Raze. They said she looked pretty bad. Is she ok?
Whoa, unexpected. He didn’t even know she had his number.
You: She seems better. Idk i don’t really talk to her much. you know how she is and all. We aren’t friends I was just worried something would get out of hand.
Chelsea: Ok. Just checking. Did you see Col there? She said she wasn’t but….
Chide remembered Chelsea’s girlfriend. He always had to remind himself about that when he caught himself staring at her butt too long. But Colleen was really cool, too. They were cute together.
You: Don’t worry, She wasn’t there. You gotta trust her ok!
Chelsea: Haha you’re right. See you on sunday. Be prepared to get your butt kicked!
You: Yeah, ok, you keep telling yourself that…
Chelsea: OH! BTW, just saw Argos in the practice room with Gail????? Idk what thats about but maybe she’s opening up a bit!
You: Really? Thanks for the tip. Have you seen Jenn or Izunami? Nami hasn’t come back since we left the field.
Chelsea: Yeah, actually. Jenn’s here at the library cramming with Helix and Neil. Want me to get her?
You: Nah. I just think Raze is locked out of her room or something. She’s in the lounge.
Chelsea: Chide, wtf, some people study in the lounge. Stop playing detective !
You: Says the girl spying on my brother.
Chelsea: Hey, that’s different. That’s your brother and your partner. I just wanted to let you know that’ all.
You: Haha ok, well see you sunday Chelsea
Chelsea: Yeah, sunday! You’re going down.
Chide closed the message window from Chelsea and opened up a new one.
You: You locked out?
He waited a while for the reply, which he expected. But he hoped he’d still get one.
Raze: No
Great, Chide loved one word answers…
You: well, why are you out there?
Raze: The room smells like bleach. Nami was cleaning.
You: Oh.
You: Hey, where’s gail
Raze: Uhh, idk. She said she was gonna go to the gym or something. Why
You: She’s not at the gym, tho
Raze: Are you implying my sister would lie to me
You: No, but i think she’s with argos and I just wanted to know if you think she’s going to kill him or something
Raze: Why would she be with Argos. You know she hates him.
You: Chels told me
Raze: Chels?
You: You sit right behind her in Maths!
Raze: **math
Raze: Cordiella? That Chelsea?
You: Yeah, That Chelsea
Raze: You guys are friends?
You: Hey! I have a bunch of friends.
Raze: W/e I’m just saying she’s too pretty for you.
You: wtf, jerk! anyway she’s got a girlfriend
Raze: Ouch
You: i wan’t interested! Hey, wait, this is not why I texted you
Raze: Why did you text me, I don’t remember signing the BFF pledge
You: Oh please, get over yourself. I just wanna know whats up with Argos n Gail
Raze: Go check it out then!
You: I can’t! If gail catches me, she’ll murder me with a spoon or something
Raze: Yeah, so why don’t you go check it out
You: Ha. Ha. C’moooon you’ve gotta be curious!
Raze: Yeah, actually kinda am. Where did you say they were?
You: Practice room.
Raze: which???
You: i guess the freshman one, since its always open and you don’t need to reserve it. Check there.
Raze: I’m kinda in the middle of a bio chapter. We have a test monday.
You: SHIT REALLY?
Raze: you’re really stupid.
You: Yeah, but … shit. ok I gotta study. You go see what they’re doing!
Raze: Good luck.
You: Are you gonna go???!!!!
Raze: Study Your bio, dip shit.
You: K w/e
Chide dropped the phone on his stomach and huffed. No way was he studying Bio when Argos was sneaking around. He quickly picked the phone back up and tapped out a message:
You: Ok, i can't focus now.
He wondered if he was being to friendly with Raze, but in truth he was just so bored. He waited for a reply until someone banged on the door and he nearly fell out of bed he was so startled.
"Who is it?" He huffed.
"Come on Sherlock, open up."
"Raze?"
"Yeah, can you open the door? Or did I scare you?"
"Uh, sure," Chide said, picking himself off the bed, "Its unlocked just come in."
The handle twisted and the door swung open. "Ok, come on, lets go!"
"Where?"
She struggled to keep from face palming. "It was your idea! Lets go see what our idiots are doing."
"Oh!" Chide exclaimed, "Yeah, Okay!"
