01 | Vacation
The last bell of eighth grade felt like freedom. Finally done! It was the best year, honestly. High school felt… right. Except for basketball. I’d played on a small-town team, and the coaching was basic. I knew I could be better, but I needed real training. I was determined to find a team that would push me.
***************************************
The next week, my brother’s cricket tournament started. Ten hours of driving, but I had the car to myself while he rode the team bus. We arrived around five. By six, I was asleep in bed.
***
My phone’s alarm blared “Blah, Blah, Blah” by Armin van Buuren. Ugh. I almost threw it across the room. I didn’t want to get up. Another whole day watching cricket with no one to talk to.
There was Michelle, two years older, from the rival school. We didn’t speak. I didn’t *like* her, exactly. More like… annoyed.
**
We sat on stools next to the field by nine. I claimed my own stool, alone. It felt like everyone was watching. Then, behind me, voices. Three people greeting each other. I turned around and… everything went quiet. A boy stood there. The most beautiful person I’d ever seen. I quickly turned back, avoiding eye contact.
Later, walking to the bathroom, I saw him again. I fumbled for my phone, pretending to text, and nearly tripped over my own feet. Embarrassing. He just smiled.
He smiled at me. It was just a friendly smile, Chloe. That’s all it was.
***
As the day wound down, my mom stood talking with his mom. I wandered over, since I was alone. He joined us. My heart hammered in my chest.
“Hi, I’m Tyler,” he said, his voice kind.
“Hi, this is my daughter, Chloe,” my mother blurted out.
My cheeks burned. He was… handsome. Really handsome.
The day ended quickly. On the ride home, I couldn’t stop thinking about Tyler. He was nice, kind, *and* handsome. He probably has a girlfriend. I hope he doesn’t.
***
Another day of cricket. Yippee. Just kidding. I like watching cricket, but it gets boring.
Nothing exciting happened. We all sat and watched. No one talked. It was a short day.
***
The third day of cricket. I expected it to be stupid and boring.
Then, one of the mothers had an idea. The Congo Caves! Tyler was going too.
Inside the caves, I was terrified, but I hid it. Five of us: me, Tyler, Michelle, Michelle’s annoying little sister, and another girl. Tyler walked behind me the whole time. He was a gentleman, letting me go first.
At one point, we were standing near the back, unable to see or hear the guide clearly. Michelle squeezed between us and pushed me forward, so she could stand next to Tyler.
Bitch. I wanted to scream. Swallow it, Chloe.
**
We emerged from the caves. I walked ahead of him again.
“Why are you so quiet?” he asked.
Stay calm.
“Are you always quiet? Or are you just looking? Or don’t you talk much?” He smiled.
“Nah, I’m just observing everything,” I said, my voice shy.
“You’re a good listener, then,” he said kindly.
“I-I-I don’t know.” I stumbled over the words.
Just then, Michelle appeared, stealing Tyler’s attention *again*.
When we waited for our parents, Tyler talked to me. Every time I started to respond, Michelle interrupted, launching into a new conversation with him. It was infuriating. She was so mean to me.
Just leave me alone!
The day ended. I was so glad it was over. I didn’t have to look at her rat face any longer.
****
The week was over quickly. After the Congo Caves, we didn’t really interact. I was done with Michelle, and with Tyler because she was always around him. She was a slut. She was so mean to me.
To be honest, I think he liked me, but Michelle’s constant presence distracted him. She made it obvious she liked him, and he loved the attention. I wasn’t pushy enough. We lived so far apart anyway. Long-distance never works.
I saw him smoking once. I tried to ignore it. He was kind. Maybe it was a good thing things didn’t work out. Everything happens for a reason. There are better, kinder boys out there. I have plenty of time to find one.
Hello everyone! I hope you enjoyed this chapter. There are many more to come, I’m planning a fifty-chapter story. I’ll get it done, no matter how long it takes.
I know this chapter was boring, but please read on. It will get more interesting.
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xoxo