Tuesday came and breezed away quickly, than Blaire Ivanhoe called an emergency meeting for all the Bloomfield Post journalists, after school.376Please respect copyright.PENANA40G0oLxjKf
The weekly issue's deadline had moved two days earlier, due to school closing on Thursday for the long weekend, that rolled off everyone's tongue's the entire day. My stomach tossed, I was expected to hand in an edited copy of my article on six o'clock that night, when all was still blank. I knew Blaire could see my anxiousness, because she smiled, like she wanted me to fail. I knew I had some records to set straight and providing the best article I could manage to write, would do the job.376Please respect copyright.PENANArcb50mJtwv
I noticed Jane's absence and I wondered where she was, considering when we had Math, she was at school. When Blaire's long lecture ended, I was the first one out the door, when the rest had sat on to start working at their own desks on their individual masterpieces. For a moment, Ms Donahue's class looked like a real newspaper office.376Please respect copyright.PENANA4hpmv181uG
Outside, the halls were empty and the skits sound of my sneakers screeched against the floor. I duck down halls, easing my way to the school exit -unknown how I was going to get home. 376Please respect copyright.PENANAGxsA05oKZx
Hockey practice was on Tuesdays, which meant Graeme would be there too. I had never seen him play but I wasn't one of those girls who'd stand beside the arena and watch him the entire time if not an actual game. I wanted to give the impression that I had far better things to do, although I didn't and really wanted to have a peak. I skipped the first exit and continued to the arena, not knowing how I was going about everything.376Please respect copyright.PENANAJEGBaE5oT0
As I passed principal Johnson's office, through the glass window I could see Ms Allendale typing on her computer. She gazed up and before I could look away, she waved for me to enter. I turned around, entering the door when indistinct chatter emerged from the principals main office.376Please respect copyright.PENANAV7fQt5oyGC
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"I'll assume you're on your way to Coach Byrd and not just for the boys at the ice ring." She started and I almost blushed at the thought of my motives.376Please respect copyright.PENANAv5lJ7Iybti
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"Oh," I said, "I forgot Tuesdays are hockey practice. Gymnastics were usually scheduled for Tuesdays at my old school. I'm still getting around how things work here."376Please respect copyright.PENANAKwSWFzEEjR
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"It's okay, sweetheart, you don't seem like one of those girls either. Anyway, would you be so kind to give this to Coach Byrd, tell him I need a clearing on the medical reports. He's still three short and he can't have a team without principal Johnson knowing his athletes are one hundred percent healthy."376Please respect copyright.PENANAxphy16HlFI
Ms Allendale handed me a flip file, thick and heavy -than the principal's door swung open and I was invited by a thick bush of long frizzy hair and golden, light brown skin.376Please respect copyright.PENANA9YtD0GMEZu
Small world and one as nerve wrecking to awaken every secret I hoped to leave behind.376Please respect copyright.PENANAIdkFOOkxZV
"Kaye," she started, "I didn't think I'd ever see you again."376Please respect copyright.PENANASOVY78ygCF
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My stomach curled and I had to lunge towards the small office bin to release the aftermath caused by my ghosts from the past. Ms Allendale's attention was now on me and she moved quickly to help me when she realised what was happening.376Please respect copyright.PENANAtRvN6fwkOQ
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"Heavens child," she said, "to the nurses office you poor thing."376Please respect copyright.PENANADMp2c0OGNO
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"I'm fine," I told Ms Allendale and even though she wasn't convinced, she took a step back and allowed me to breath.376Please respect copyright.PENANA1ehwgB2wjm
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"You're not pregnant, right?" Ms Allendale said and the awkwardness intensified.376Please respect copyright.PENANAIqOsJtsm01
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"Of course not, Ms Allendale, I still have to get that gold for Bloomfield."376Please respect copyright.PENANAfMiarByUK8
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"And college, than marriage."376Please respect copyright.PENANAMwWIftBrA4
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I couldn't possibly but Ms Allendale wouldn't know that. No one could, except of course...376Please respect copyright.PENANAW4zFtoapvE
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"Shikana Knightly." She smiled at Ms Allendale and I was grateful for her presence -although it hadn't seem so.376Please respect copyright.PENANA4n7gUh3VSB
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"Ms Allendale, head of secretarial affairs and a friend, if you need one." She smiled.376Please respect copyright.PENANAC9mWtMfLn2
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"How are you?" Shikana addressed me and I knew the question wasn't contemplated over. 376Please respect copyright.PENANA0z7w2H9If6
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"You girls know each other?" Ms Allendale inquired surprised. "Marvellous! How about catching up on the way to Coach Byrd's? Call it a tour for our new student."376Please respect copyright.PENANAFjRNWvX8md
I liked hearing new student knowing it wasn't addressed to me yet this time, more nervous upon learning about Shikana's enrollment. It was Ms Allendale's suggestion that made me want to grab the bin again. 376Please respect copyright.PENANAtqP8y4pHKd
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Ms Allendale picked it up than rushed us, giving me no time to talk myself out of the slow torture I would endure, once Shikana and I were left alone.376Please respect copyright.PENANAWirfpJIhue
The emptiness of the hall was invaded by the uproar of testosterone fueled bodies, causing the familiar chaos that occupied Bloomfield Gymnasium everyday. It was so weird walking a hall, if just an empty one -with Shikana Knightly, a friend I had left behind only two schools ago.376Please respect copyright.PENANAljzSJixs3J
Mind what I say -Shikana Knightly, a friend; a true friend.376Please respect copyright.PENANAc8d3DGz8qY
The hockey team echoed as they emerged from behind us and disappointment filled upon learning that Graeme wasn't amongst them. Than my name suddenly echoed through the hallway in chanting harmony, than hands clutched around my legs and I was in the air in one swift lift.376Please respect copyright.PENANAgMoOxCMHCF
There was no point in screaming. The level of privacy I earned was dependant on my level of participating in the world of the highschool elite. By slapping Alexa Drew, I became bad -ice in the eyes of Bloomfield Gymnasium's student body. It meant that my reputation earned social points with the hockey and lacrosse teams -all of my brother's people.376Please respect copyright.PENANAqVr5tiFMhB
When they put me down, I blushed as Shikana looked over at me.376Please respect copyright.PENANAamzMTi2C03
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"Popular still, I guess some things...stick." She spoke.376Please respect copyright.PENANAH3EuP5F9yM
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"I'm still the person I was three years ago, Shikana and everything sticks." I said and her facial expression changed as I walked into the arena, eyes scouting for Coach Byrd.376Please respect copyright.PENANA8w1H1V11Sq
"Kaye...we should talk." Shikana suggested.376Please respect copyright.PENANAOuGkIssYKA
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"Hush, not now." I told her.376Please respect copyright.PENANAMi6dyvVMLT
Alexa, Kath, Heather and both Carissa and Stacey stood in the pavilion seats. I wasn't too surprised that Carissa and Stacey had finally reached their ultimate goal in life -to walk alongside Alexa Drew although I didn't know at who's expense. Only Alexa didn't craze over the boys that was warming up and for a moment, when we found each other's eyes, I could see she had been crying. 376Please respect copyright.PENANAhJXbEPvCn1
I wondered if her supposed friends knew too. I felt bad for her, not because I could clearly see she didn't want to be there but because it was so crystal clear that Alexa Drew had no idea who she was. I than remembered that I still had an article to write.376Please respect copyright.PENANAYbvNsA9xZ1
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Coach Byrd stood on the ice and I slowly walked onto it when he motioned for us to come through. I delivered Ms Allendale's message and he had taken the file and retrieved red stickers from the back of it, took out the first page and placed it next to a few names.376Please respect copyright.PENANA9lxTgn9AeZ
Shikana made her way to us and smiled at Coach Byrd, "Hello coach."376Please respect copyright.PENANAIOov7WdLTa
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Coach Byrd blew his whistle and the boys immediately came to a halt.376Please respect copyright.PENANALuOiCba37O
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"Don't I know you?" He asked her as his face wrinkled together in a frown.376Please respect copyright.PENANANnH69cPrkH
Coach Byrd wasn't a man of many words but when it came to coaching, he surely had a mouth to him.376Please respect copyright.PENANA0y74BU0PAT
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"Regionals twenty fifteen, the queen of the ice. Gary's little girl."376Please respect copyright.PENANAz3XAY4h85n
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Both Shikana and I gulped hard.376Please respect copyright.PENANAmZazVKMWRZ
Gary's little girl.376Please respect copyright.PENANA2tKArtIdFQ
"You must have me mistaken for someone else, coach." she replied.376Please respect copyright.PENANA2gtR9sQqOc
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"Is Graeme not playing this season, coach?" I inquired, knowing it was probably not the best thing to do.376Please respect copyright.PENANAgJNb2lAbBh
Just than, Joey skated our way and came to stand next to Coach Byrd.376Please respect copyright.PENANAHweIfYueil
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"If you can find him this time anywhere in Bloomfield, ask him. I'd like to know as well."376Please respect copyright.PENANATJArYN1PA6
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Joey looked at me, like he had known about Graeme and I's encounters than Kath called his name. 376Please respect copyright.PENANALiithGLzug
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"Hey..." He said than caught a glimpse of Shikana behind me, "she new?"376Please respect copyright.PENANAaViwExGTx7
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It was weird having Joey talk to me and I couldn't figure out whether it was because of either the incident with Alexa or Shikana's presence.376Please respect copyright.PENANAWU1buqLQcj
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"Yes. A skater." I hissed and Coach Byrd's eyes found Shikana again. I had talked too much and knew that continuing to stand there would only wake unwanted feelings. Some of which had risen when I suddenly became a weird kind of popular and more upon seeing her.376Please respect copyright.PENANAFzJVFtnAKs
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"Maybe we could train together sometime."376Please respect copyright.PENANAihZB7P804J
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Joey offered and Kath shouted again.376Please respect copyright.PENANAeCWD7PnvT2
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"I don't think she'll approve and I'm not into jocks, sorry."376Please respect copyright.PENANAHKXpWf1rBp
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Joey looked motivated, Shikana wouldn't know, that in that moment, she had given Joey Durant a challenge -one he would carry out until he'd won her over, without taking Kath into consideration.376Please respect copyright.PENANAHAqsN8InOO
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"I better get going..." Joey raised a brow and it made me wonder if he was planning on breaking up with Kath.376Please respect copyright.PENANADWFXA0q2qL
It was typical of Joey to chase after girls, it was Kath's karma -for breaking up Alexa's relationship with Graeme, than again with Wiley.376Please respect copyright.PENANAERPCGRglwI
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Some part of me wanted Shikana to hook up with Joey, if ever it would go that way but it was wise to not make an enemy of Quiet Kath. It was a danger sign for her future at Bloomfield Gym -both Kath and Joey.376Please respect copyright.PENANAwHiRG4yX0L
I knew that Joey would continue to pursue Shikana and that meant she would get a name either from him or his girlfriend. Joey would certainty call her a tease and the boys would learn to do so too and of course, Kath would probably use Stacey and Carissa to pass the rumors of her 'slutness'.376Please respect copyright.PENANA8tAJD8w8p0
Highschool to me than, was more than just a headache, but for some reason had become less dreadful, getting to know Graeme Yorkley. 376Please respect copyright.PENANAemekUHX0DD
When we exited the gym, Shikana fell into rhythm and wasted no time. "Graeme?"376Please respect copyright.PENANAp3GzGlcMO0
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"No one." I said. Than the boys locker room door swung open and Wiley appeared, causing everyone present to take a few minutes to breath.376Please respect copyright.PENANAC0IdWXklJx
Wiley's eyes gazed between the two of us than back at Shikana.376Please respect copyright.PENANALtHRQUPgQ4
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"Hi." She said and we could see Wiley gulping. 376Please respect copyright.PENANA3G1ENwvjCb
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Wiley took a few steps forward until he stood in front of us. "Hey." He simply shrugged than turned to face me, "I was waiting for you. We should get going, I'm having something small tonight, you should come, maybe. If you want to."376Please respect copyright.PENANATVpg7sypWI
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"I don't know where you guys live. So..." 376Please respect copyright.PENANAswQ4zvKiYX
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"On Mane Street on the left, the fifth house from both sides -it's hard to miss."376Please respect copyright.PENANAiXgMZHoWHM
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"Maybe we could grab something," Shikana suggested to me, "I'll drop you off at home than it shouldn't be a problem. Only if you want to...that is."376Please respect copyright.PENANAIJWw5DfvFb
I didn't want to go with neither Shikana nor Wiley. Going with Wiley meant we would most certainly have to talk about Alexa and matters regarding Shikana, well let's just say -too complicated to smooth over in one day.376Please respect copyright.PENANA1QcesiQDDa
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"I have an article to write for the school's weekly magazine, so...maybe some other time." I told her.376Please respect copyright.PENANAQLSOnVR6fz
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"Sure." She simply said and walked back to the principal's office, with the thick file Coach Byrd had send back and I assumed her mom waited for her.376Please respect copyright.PENANAyR7em1xWOM
My stomach curled, than Wiley said. "Why did you lie to principal Johnson about not knowing Dr Wiggins?"376Please respect copyright.PENANA3C2Tx9tb85
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"Because I don't remember him." 376Please respect copyright.PENANARzOVJfmBJ7
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I knew Wiley could tell I was lying but he wouldn't push me. It wasn't like him.376Please respect copyright.PENANAhAklgQWaHF
We arrived home to an empty house once again, even though we moved to Bloomfield to have some family time. Than, when four o'clock rolled along, Wiley informed me that both our mom and dad went back to Grass Hill for an urgent call regarding their old jobs. In that moment, despite my secrets surfacing I wished we wouldn't have to move again. It wasn't Bloomfield that grew on me, it was the memory of Wiley's Valentine's banner.376Please respect copyright.PENANALRDPHaXdZ6
One day we're going to wake up and realize we should have tried. My mind immediately finding Graeme and how I couldn't fathom the thought of leaving my first real crush behind. I wondered if he would be attending Wiley's small gathering but moreover why he had become a ghost for an entire weekend, without a word, without a text. I didn't understand Graeme, I wanted him for myself but I wasn't sure he did as much as his words described.376Please respect copyright.PENANAJGcUWjrhR1
Than, I remembered about my article and ducked behind my laptop, knowing that the next day I would walk around school naked. I had never spoken about Oakley before and perhaps it was time. 376Please respect copyright.PENANAQXpGDDSD8F
Time to truly let go of everything that I kept to myself. Between Oakley and I -I was still alive and I knew at some point, she should be heard and amongst the faces of Bloomfield Gym, someone would be able to relate.
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