In Fair Verona

XV

Unedited—

The bell rings loud signalling the end of the day. I'm staying after school because there's a soccer game on the field and Sebastian's on the team. It's not for another hour though.

There's a tap on my locker door as I grab my binders. I look up to see Isaac.

"Oh hey," I say.

"Are you staying for the game?"

"Yeah. You?"

"Auguste wanted to watch it."

I close my locker and raise an eyebrow.

"Auguste? He likes to watch sports."

"No but it's less boring then home, apparently." I lock my locker and Isaac and I start to walk.

"Oh. Do you know what school we're playing?"

"No. I don't pay attention to that stuff. Although I think it was on the announcements."

"On the speaker that doesn't work in half the classes."

"Yes that speaker." He smiles.

It's quiet for a second.

"Where's Auguste?"

"He asked I meet him and Ximena on the bleachers by the track."

"Oh she's going. Must be fun being a third wheel."

"They're not officially dating but it definitely feels like it."

I turn on my phone to check the time and notice a text from Arianna.

Ari: Hey

Not wanting to leave things awkward I text back. The first time I've talked to her.

Me: Hey

I turn off my phone to listen to whatever Isaac's rambling on about.

"I mean they always had it in the last week or so but that's barely even a unit. It was just logical things people already knew and there's no real course for it or anything."

What?

"Oh hey guys!" Phoebe calls out. The halls have emptied a bit.

"Hey," I reply.

Phoebe makes her way to us.

"You guys staying for the game?"

"Yeah," Isaac says. "Auguste and Ximena are at the bleachers."

"Smart. Those things fill up fast then you're stuck sitting on grass."

A notification goes off on my phone.

Poppy: Seb is playing. I'm sat with the annoying Jeremy
Poppy: help. Please come soon he's annoying
Poppy: his friends are with other people

Isaac and Phoebe both stare at me as my phone notifications go off.

"Poppy is stuck alone with Jeremy."

"Oh. Rip."

"I've got to meet Addi up soon. Isaac you're off to third wheel. Casey, where are you going?"

Isaac looks to me waiting an answer but on the spot I feel like I'm choosing between Poppy and Isaac.

"I can't leave Poppy alone, sorry," I say to Isaac. He looks a little let down and chews the inside of his cheek a bit.

"I'll walk with you guys though. Let's go."

As we walk Phoebe talks about her day and about how Amber is in her art class.