Another Jock Story

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That morning I couldn't wait for classes to end, I kept looking at my watch waiting for the bell to ring. And that surprised me, because usually I found the people I know so superficial and so different from me that I fled them like the plague. But inside, I was aching for company, I felt so alone, so desperate for someone to understand me and really talk to me. Sometimes the loneliness gets too much that I wanted to make the step that would get me closer to the others but at the same time shut down an essential part of who I am to make them accept me, but at the last minute, I would back down and go back to my own world waiting and hoping for the person I really wanted to befriend. And, deep down, I felt without any doubt that Adam could be that someone. I didn't know him at all, he saw me at my worst moments, me crushing into him, me spacing out, me being more quiet than a mouse and yet he still wants to know me and to be friends. And his smile was so open it sent butterflies in my stomach.

Finally it was time for lunch and I eagerly headed for the garden. He was already there lying under Willow. He heard me getting closer so he sat up and waved to me, I gave him a small smile and sat down next to him.We unwrapped our lunches and started eating quietly when I noticed he was staring, when I looked up he pointed to my sandwich and asked "Why are you putting carrots in your sandwich in the first place if you are picking them out?"

"They are not for me, they are for the rabbits family in the garden.", I answered.

"Have you named them too?", He teased.

I smiled saying : "I named the parents but I can't tell the children apart. The parents' names are Sunny and Snow."
I showed him the two rabbits approaching me cautiously , sniffing the small plate I brought for them and then eating the carrots. I saw Adam watch them amused then he said : "I can see why you named that one Snow for the colour but why Sunny?"

"I used to have a teddy bunny, its name was Sunnyside bunny. When I saw this one, the name came to me.", I explained:

"It had a yellow jacket with white spots. Its cheeks were pink,and it smelled so nice."

I didn't realize I was really recalling this memory aloud until I saw him looking at me with a look that held amusement and something like the look you would have if you were watching something cute and funny. I guess it was because it was weird for a seventeen year old to talk about such things. But actually I felt really comfortable talking about anything and everything with him without him looking at me like I was weird or insane.


The potentially awkward moment was thankfully avoided when the little bunnies jumped out of the bush and joined their parents eating and fighting over pieces of carrots.

We had been watching them for some time when I heard him say : "Are you coming to the party tonight?"

"Sorry?"

"Are you coming to the party tonight?", He repeated,obviously thinking that I didn't hear them the first time, but I did, and I thought I heard wrong because no one has asked me to join a party before, no great loss there, but I expected Adam to know that since he witnessed himself that I was far from being the partying kind. So I answered :" No I am not"

"Why not?",he looked a bit disappointed,"Do you have something planned?"

"Not really."

"Then come to the party. It will be fun."

"I honestly doubt that", I chuckled"I don't really like parties, especially when they are loud full of raging hormones and eventually drunk guys either ending in the closet with the cheerleaders or having races in the streets."

"Talk about pessimism"He managed between laughter."Come on, it's not that bad. We're not all that bad."

"No you're not.", I admitted, "Still, I'm not the partying type."

"I'm sure your brother will come, you could come with him and leave when you get bored.", He insisted.

"Why are you trying to convince me to go?", I asked curious.

He answered smiling : "Actually, I don't really want to go, but as a captain of the team I am expected to. So I figured that if you are to come I will enjoy it more."

His answer stunned me so much that I found myself speechless for a moment then I asked him looking for confirmation "You think that ME going to the party will be FUN ?"

He nodded enthusiastically and I looked at him with such surprise that he burst out laughing. He managed to get back in control then he looked at me and said seriously : "I know we don't know each other that well but from the little I know about you I find your company far more interesting than the others' so I'd really like it if you came to the party."

I thought it over for a minute, obviously he wanted me to go, and he looked like he'd be really disappointed if I said no and I would hate to see that look in his face especially when we were getting to be friends and I really liked him. Besides it wouldn't be that awful to go to the party, and I could leave whenever I felt like it.

Finally I looked at him and said : "Alright, but only for a short time."

The look on his face was the one of a child given a most wanted toy. It was so cute I couldn't help the smile tugging at my lips and suddenly the thought of going to the party wasn't as horrible as I was thinking earlier. He returned the smile then said excitedly "Great, we'll have fun I promise."
I somehow doubted that but since it seemed to make him happy it wasn't that big of a deal.

At that moment the bell rang signalling the end of lunch break so we walked into school, before we separated to go each to his classroom he said : "I'll be waiting, don't be late ." He waited until I nodded my agreement then waved at me and went to his classroom and I went to mine aware of the silly smile on my face but unwilling to hide it and uncaring for whoever saw it.


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