Teams | A Jamie Johnson FanFiction

Part 10 - The Birthday

"Do you really think this is helping our morale?" Mr Hansard said, turning to face Jack, before marching off towards the store cupboard, shaking his head.

Her performance had earned her some sort of admiration - from me, Michel, Jamie. But loathing from Dillon and Harry, their glares turning the room ice cold.

We began some passing drills, but Mr Hansard was right. The team was low on morale after Jack's outburst. The normally loud room was quiet - silent, actually. Except from the sound of Mr Hansard's voice yelling instructions and the footballs being kicked on the wooden floor.

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"So, are you coming?" Indira asked; she was going to everyone she'd invited, triple-checking their presence at our birthday.

"For the last time Indira! I am coming to your sleepover!" Jack said, but when most would have said this with happiness, or at least a smile, she seemed disheartened, probably from her disappointing result of her place on the team.

"Just checking! I don't want to be alone on my birthday!" she squealed, taking out her phone to check more RSVP's.

"I'll be there, is that not good enough for you Indie? It is my birthday too." I said, looking up from my book.

"Yes, but, I see you everyday - this is special because it's my birthday!"

"Yes, you have mentioned that." I replied, rolling my eyes and turning my attention back to my book.

After the school day had finished, and we had got back home, Indira began prepping for the party. I should have been helping, but I was too busy reading. Soon the house was decorated to perfection - banners and balloons filling the hallways. Anyone other than us would think we were hosting for hundreds, but there was just a few friends coming - something that our mum had reinforced after Indira had wanted to invite the whole of our year.

As soon as the doorbell rang, Indira ran to open it, eager to welcome the guests.

When I heard the voice, I immediately walked to the other side of Indie in the door: it was Harry and Dillon, and some of their mates.

"We're here for the party, let us in Cave." Dillon said with a smirk.

"Um, how about no?" I said, starting to shut the door.

Dillon stuck his foot in door frame, stopping the door from clicking shut.

"But we have our invites!" Dillon said innocently but mockingly, holding up a pink piece of paper in Indira's handwriting.

Slowly, I turned to face Indira. "You invited Dillon?"

In response, she opened the door wider and stepped to the side, letting the boys come in, cheering loudly.

"Mum's not gonna like this!" I yelled over the noise, and Indira ignored me.

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It seemed my job at the party was to run around after everyone, picking up empty drink cans and yelling at people to be careful before they spilled food on the light carpet. When I heard the doorbell ring, the relief that I might be saved rushed over me, and sure enough, it was Jamie, Jack, Boggy and Nancy. "Oh thank god." I said, opening the door to let them into the chaos of the house.

"Happy birthday!" Boggy said, handing me a card.

"Thanks." I said, taking the card with a smile. "Indira invited Dillon." I said, my smile fading slightly whilst they all filed in.

"You're kidding." Jack said.

"Nope." I replied. "Could anyone other than Dillon have caused this?" I said, gesturing to the scene in front of us.

I was getting angrier and angrier the more the party went on. None of us were enjoying ourselves, apart from Indira and Dillon and his mates, who had pretty much trashed the house by now. Eventually I had had enough. I stood up.

"I can't take it anymore!" At the sound of my voice, everyone quietened down, eyes on me. "Get out!" There was a pause. "I said, get out!" Eventually, people began filing out, looking confused. I realised that this was probably the most confident speaking in public I had ever done. I was just so wound up. This was meant to be my birthday too!

"What the hell are you doing, Bella?" Indira said, accusation in her voice. "Are you trying to ruin our birthday?"

"If it means not destroying our house, then yes, I am trying to ruin our birthday." I responded, smirking.

When the last of Dillon's friends had left, all shouting remarks about the party being over to soon, Dillon and Harry made for the door, but Indira's hand flew out to stop him.

"No, stay. You're my guests and I want you to stay." Indira said, her cold glare still boring into my eyes.

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The silence was deafening, if you know what I mean. The awkwardness that filled the room was exactly not how a party should be. Everyone was sat in a circle, some sat on the floor, the rest on the two sofas filling the room. I caught Jamie's eye across the room, and we hesitated for a second, before giving him a smile that conveyed everything I needed to say. He returned it, and I felt a sudden wave of relief. Maybe things would be good between us after all.

"Why don't we play a game?" Nancy said, probably to lighten the mood.

Dillon scoffed. "Good idea. Lets all sit around playing pass the parcel." he said, rolling his eyes. But then, an idea seemed to cross his face and he sat up. "Unless we play something a bit more... interesting?"

"Like what?" I said apprehensively.

"Boys vs Girls. Whoever can scare the other first, and I mean properly scare, before 9 o'clock, wins."

Jack laughed."That's ridiculous." And I agreed.

"Why? It's fun. Besides, the boys will obviously win, you're probably just scared." Dillon said with a laugh.

"Er, no, because the girls would obviously win." Jack replied, giving Dillon a weird look.

"Says who?" Dillon responded.

"Fine, you're on." and she shook hands. With Dillon.

I groaned. Why did they have to make everything a competition?!

I thought of as many things as I could to put them off. "Are you sure you want to be on the same team as Jamie, Dillon?"

Out of the corner of my eye, I saw Jamie give me a weird look.

"I'm sure me and Jamie can put our differences a side for a while, right Jamie?" Dillon asked. "In order to set the record straight?"

Jamie looked as though he would say no, but suddenly a look of recognition flashed across his face as an idea seemed to form in his mind.

"Why not?" And the boys stood up to gather around and form a plan.

I groaned again. "I can't believe we're doing this. Why did you challenge Dillon?!" I asked Jack, unable to hide my annoyance.

"Er, because he was being annoying like normal? I just needed to shut him up. Besides, what were you planning to do for the rest of the evening? Sit here and be bored?" Jack said.

I had a perfect answer to that.

I would have read my book. Alone.