Chapter 32
Michael's P. O. V
School ended and my nerves were high on alert, I was the epitome of nervousness, epitome? Not using that word again.
The driver picked us up early to get me home in time to get ready. Makela was talking none stop on how much Mia was excited for the game. It made me glad that some sort of parent figure was excited about my game.
Aunt Lola had attended a few some time ago, but she wasn't as excited as Mia was. The woman was doing some cheer poses at home, she almost broke her hip.
"Am alright."she said, holding unto the side of her hip, "I can straighten it..."
"Am I paying you to while away your time here? Where is the file I handed over to you yesterday to scan and upload?"Mr Tyler asked from behind her.
Mia jumped in shock, loosing her balance and almost falling to the ground, I was about to catch her, but Mr Tyler beat me to it and held her waist firmly. They were like that for some moments adjusting to their current position, Makela coughed them back to reality.
"My apologies, and the file is in your study Sir"she said looking down.
"You two go study in your rooms."Mr Tyler said referring to I and Makela. "Mike has a game tonight sir."Mia chipped in, "I know that am not stupid. That's not till seven PM, till then they will both study now."Mr Tyler said.
"Alright kids, upstairs with you."Mia said, "Sir is there any work left?"Mia asked while we turned to leave.
"Take the rest of the day off."Mr Tyler said, "go rest that hip."he added and walked away.
Maybe he just really needed some more patience from us, I sighed and went upstairs.
I took my phone out from my pocket, Diana had called me earlier on and I hadn't picked up. Now seemed like the best time to call her back and talk to her.
I called her but she didn't pick up, my anxiety got the better of me and my thoughts roamed all over the room.
I didn't call back, that would seem way too desperate and the last thing I wanted was anyone thinking I was desperate.
Especially Diana.
I read the plays again, I thought through the strategy Coach had planned out and it was perfect against the rival school.
I laid my head on my pillow and faced the ceiling, thinking about what important thing Pablo had to do that stopped him from attending the game.
Diana's P. O. V
I heard the door open and close, the tension in the room rose a bit, mum was stunned to see me but quickly recovered from it.
"I bought us ice cream."Mum said holding the ice cream above her head smiling gleefully. Why was she so chill? We were short of money and she was busy buying us ice cream.
She placed it on the table and sat down, "don't just stand there, come join me."she said and tapped on the sofa. I sat down watching her, she looked stressed not just from work but from worry. She had eye bags, I didn't notice them before and more stress lines had formed on her forehead.
"Is this what you're wearing to the first football game of the season? "Mum asked, "you can do better than that."Mum said. She took out her strawberry ice cream and stuffed her face with it.
"When were you going to tell me that you lost your job? "I asked out of the blue. It took her by surprise, that much I could tell, she almost choked on her ice cream. She dropped the ice cream on the table and used her thumb to wipe the side of her mouth.
"What? I didn't catch that."she said, I rolled my eyes and looked at her more directly. "Since you like to pretend I'll ask once more, when did you plan on telling me you lost your job? "I asked harshly.
"Job? What makes you think I lost my job?! Silly girl."Mum said, she tugged tightly unto her shirt, "I know you did."I said still holding my ground. "Wow, way to have trust in your mom."She said under her breath.
"I wonder if I can ever do that. You shouldn't lie to my face so blatantly. You're only making the situation worse."I said.
"Listen, you've been acting off lately and I get you're still growing up. I mean to say you get your mood swings every now and then. But...the sass talking has to end.."I cut her off, my anger rising like a river current.
"No mom the LYING has to end. How many things have you been covering up? I know you work as someone's PA."I said.
She grew pale instantly, "don't lie anymore, I logged into your email on my laptop and read the email your agency sent you."I spat out. I glared at her fully awaiting her next reply, she looked short of words.
"Diana I need you to calm down..."she started, I stood up abruptly and walked into the kitchen. I placed both hands on the sink taking steady breaths. If she could hide this, what other things was I being kept in the dark about?
"Diana love, I wanted to tell you"she said but I cut her off. "No mom, you didn't want to do that. If you wanted to I would have found out by now."I said. "It's not like that, I wanted to protect you from worrying."She said tenderly.
"Well I am worried okay? And I am bound to get worried, you leave earlier and come later, I was soaked in worry each night I didn't have dinner with you. And each morning I woke up to a empty house! I am worried! More than you think! "
I stopped to breathe, I could feel my insides bursting with rage, I was upset, I was sad, I looked to see a tear fall from mother's eye.
"Why are you crying? It doesn't make sense."I said, she was the lucky one, she got to express her pain without having to say anything to anyone.
"You hate me don't you? "she managed to say, why was she making this about herself again! I grew irritated at this and walked past her up to my room, she followed me, calling out to me but I refused to pay her any attention.
"I had you on my mind when I accepted to work as a PA."she said from behind me, but that wasn't what I needed to hear from her, this wasn't the time I needed to hear it.
I walked into my room and slammed the door, the first time I actually slammed the door in my mother's face.
"Can we just talk? "she begged from the outside, I sat on the floor my back against the door. I wanted those tears she was shedding, I needed those tears, I touched beneath my eye, but it was dry there. I bit my lip in rage hoping physical pain would help but I couldn't produce those salty rain drops.
Her knocking seized, all I could hear was the sighs and breaths from us both. I buried my head in-between my knees and hoped for the tears to finally flow.
Michael's P. O. V
"Tonight we play to win, and we play as a well oiled machine. I want coordination, cooperation and commitment on that field tonight. It's the first game of the season and The Lions are going to win this match! "Coach said.
We all responded to his pep talk, yelling our heads off.
We all ran out of the locker room touching the head of our mascot before running off into that field. I trailed my eyes around to take In the sense of excitement radiating on all the faces. The screams from the stands placed a smile on my face, the colors from every corner made my heart warm. I located Makela and the volleyball team waving banners they made to support the team.
I tried to locate Mia but she wasn't around, my heart sunk at that. Did she not come to tonight's game as planned? Before I could look any more, the whistle snapped me back into focus, and I ran towards the team.
We huddled up and I said a few things before we all broke out and yelled feeling pumped up.
While taking our positions, I looked around and saw Josie at the edge of the field, holding a clipboard. Her focus on our positions.
Diana wasn't with her? I took another look to the cheerleaders, she wasn't there either! Maybe she was just coming a little later, I focused on the game and once the whistle sounded I called out the play to the team.
A/N : Thanks for reading this story! Double update all for you! Love you all, vote comment and share the story. See y'all in the next chapter.