Big Bad Wolf

03

N E D

I was looking at the clock on the wall, waiting for the second hand to strike twelve for the bell. It was my last class of the day and I couldn't wait to go home because I felt so tired.

I immediately stood up when I heard the bell startling Sandy who was siting beside me making me chuckle.

"Sorry." I said and she laughed.

"It's fine. I was just startled." She said and I nodded and sprint out of the classroom.

I went to my locker, opening it and pulled my earphones. I plugged it in my phone and in my ears and searched for my playlist. I shut the locker and walked out of the building and started my jog way back home. I always jog except if I feel so tired after practice.

After twenty minutes of walk and jog, I stopped in a convenient store to rest. I went to the refreshments area, opening the fridge only to close it again as I changed my mind and grabbed the warm water that was at the opposite rack of the fridge. I looked at the racks, maybe I still have something I need to buy that I forgot. After scanning the whole place, I went to the cashier and lined up after the costumer that was entertained by the cashier.

I placed the bottle on the counter when the costumer after me was done and see himself out of the store. The cashier girl smiled at me. I recognize her, of course, since I always buy water there on my way home.

"My day wouldn't be complete if I won't see you." She said making me smile. Her hair was blond and the round hat like a golfer's hat she was wearing with the convenient store logo fits her. She looked cute.

"But I don't come here everyday." I said and I watched her punched the barcode of the bottle.

She chuckled. "I always see you passing by at the window around this hour everyday." She said and her face turned into a light shade of pink when I didn't say anything and just stared at her. "I'm so sorry if I am creeping you out." She chuckled nervously.

"You just surprised me. I guess I'm flattered." I smiled and she shyly smiled back.

**

I went out from the store when costumers started to flood the place which mostly were students. I emptied the bottle and walked home which was ten more minutes by feet. I replayed the playlist and it made me feel relaxed, looking at the familiar place I always saw every evening.

"Thank God." I muttered when I finally arrived and I moved the rug that says welcome from the door way and picked the key that was hidden under it. A very typical hiding place of a house key. Mom always forgets to duplicate the keys so we won't be locked out if ever one of us will be home early. I unlocked the door and went inside, dunking the key in a bowl of receipts of different bills.

I went to the kitchen and looked for something to eat because all those running and walking were making me hungry.

I grabbed the left over sandwich which I guess was Jameson, my younger brother. He never finishes his sandwich but I got myself to finish it anyway. I shut the fridge close and went to my room and took a shower.

**

I was laying on the bed and playing with my phone after I took a long shower. I didn't notice the time until I heard a knock from the door.

"Dinner's ready." Jameson said. I plugged my phone first before I went out of my room for dinner.

I helped mom with the plates. Dad asked how was Jameson doing with his school and Jameson just answered with his famous school's fine line. I think it was the perfect time to tell them about the training camp.

"We're having a training camp next week." I said and dad looked at me.

"Are you doing good with your studies?" Mom asked.

"Of course." I wasn't the most intelligent when it comes to academics but my grades were good enough not to be able to be dropped from my scholarship. So, I think I was doing just fine.

"Don't just focus on volleyball." She said and I nodded.

"Do you have a girlfriend already?" Dad suddenly asked making me look at him.

"No." I said and Jameson chuckled.

"I do." He said and mom shushed him.

"Boy, you're still young. Don't even think about having a girlfriend." Mom said making me chuckle.

"Hear that? No girlfriend." I said to him and he stick his tongue out to me.

"You have no girlfriend either." He teased and I chuckled and gritted my teeth at him. This kid.

**

I went to the gym early since my last class finished early. I wheeled the cart full of balls and I threw it upwards, spiked it to the wall and received it. I kept on doing it until I ran out of balls.

I turned around when I heard someone clapped their hands. "That's our ace player." Felix said making me chuckle and roll my eyes. He was always the one who loves to tease everyone.

They helped me clean the gym, throwing the balls in the basket and coach went in clapping his hands to get our attention.

"Start running." He said and we started running around the gym and we were teasing each other and Felix would go around pinching everyone's n*****s and they would start pinching around like perverts that we run with our hands covering our chests.

We did some regular stretching on our own while coach was busy with his phone. I sat on the floor, my legs spread apart and I bent down to reach my ankles.

"Gather around." Coach called and I stood up and gathered to where coach was. He motioned his hand for us to sit down and we sat together a little bit closer and I was a little cautious because they like to grope around.

"I just want to remind you about the things you need to bring this weekend. You need to provide your own tent, of course. Your personal utensils and toiletries." He said.

"You will be split into four groups and the basketball boys will do the same. You will be grouped with the basketball boys together."

I heard Justine groaned who was beside me. "I hate those guys." He said and I remembered Dean making me scrunched my face.

"Yeah." I agreed. "Especially their ace." I said and Justine nodded his head, agreeing strongly with me.

**

My head was pounding as I rushed to school and the heavy gym bag I was carrying wasn't helping. I groaned when I saw Felix. He waved his hands at me and I sat on the bench, waiting for everyone. I went twenty minutes ahead of the time of the gathering and I wasn't expecting Felix to be early too.

"It's a miracle, you're early. You're that excited?" I said and he chuckled

"I am excited to escape the house." He said.

I pulled my phone and plugged the earphones on my ears, maximize the volume to mute Felix's ranting. I leaned my back on the back rest of the bench and closed my eyes, trying to fall back into sleep because I woke up early to check what I packed last night.

I slowly started bobbing my head to the music when someone tapped my shoulder making me open my eyes and saw Kevin, one of my teammates and our setter. I pulled one of the earphones to hear him clearly.

"Ariel asked what do you want to drink. He's going to pay." He said and almost everyone were already there and I could see the basketball team at the other side gathered in circle and my eyes caught Dean's.

His stares were piercing making me look away first because it was awkward but I could still feel that feeling when someone was staring at you. It was uncomfortable.

"Let me see what's in the vendo." I said and I went with Kevin to where my teammate were.

I picked a soda and thanked Ariel. A few minutes later, a huge bus stopped and coach went out together with the basketball team coach.

"Sorry, we're late." Coach said and he motioned his thumb to the bus. "Let's go." He said and we all went inside the bus, looking for a good seat to sit into. Everyone was trying to take the seat near the window. I sat on the second row at the back near the window. I was about to reserve the seat beside me to Ariel when someone took that seat suddenly making me looked up and check who it was.

I was surprised to see Dean.

"What about your car?" Someone from the basketball team asked Dean.

"I let Garrett drive." He said and he looked at my direction and outside the window. "Besides, I like the view here more." He said.

Out of all the guys there, why Dean?

I turned my back at him and plugged back the earphones on my ears, resuming my playlist when everyone already settled down and the bus started moving.

******