It was much warmer today. I was stretched across the bleachers lazily cutting out pictures for health class in the brightest yellow t-shirt I could find in my closet.
The football team was down below, tossing footballs back and forth. I smiled eagerly as I scanned the sweaty faces for Louis.
I didn't see him.
My eyebrows drew together in confusion. I stood up, blocking my face from the sun, making sure I hadn't missed him.
No Louis.
I set down my scissors and glanced at my iPod. It was 4:00. Practice had started over an hour ago. I shut my eyes and thought, "He said he would be at tonight's game . . ."
I ran down to the football field. "Coach Leonard," I cried, running toward the team. A man in a gray sweatshirt and dirty orange cap on faced my direction. His eyes narrowed. "We're in the middle of practice! What d'ya want kid?" he barked. The team slowly stopped throwing footballs, one by one, to stare at me. "I know," I said, suddenly nervous about all the attention. "I'm a friend of Louis, erm, Potts, I mean. Do you know where he is?"
A look of concern passed over the coach's face. "I was wondering the same thing," he said, removing his cap and scratching his head. "He said he would be here." I glanced around the field once more, hoping to catch a pair of light, brown eyes. I shook my head. "I'll find him."
Coach Leonard nodded and barked orders to the team as I ran up to my backpack. Thoughts crossed my mind as I gathered my things together.
I heard a familiar giggle and looked down.
Louis's piece of jewelry sat a few rows down, talking to her pack of friends.
My stomach flip flopped but I took a deep breath. I had to do this. I was desperate.
I slowly approached from behind. A shaky finger tapped her shoulder. She whipped around, a foolish grin on her face. But as soon as she saw my in my yellow t-shirt and jeans the smile faded. Her eyes gave me the hardest look I had ever gotten in my life.
But I brushed it off.
"Um, hi," I said quietly. She gave me a blank stare. Her pack of friends were twiddling with their hair in the background.
I coughed. "I know you must not like my because of Louis and me suddenly having this 'friendship' thing. But I know you're his girlfriend and I was wondering if you knew where he is."
She smirked. "Yeah, whatever."
"He probably got beat up by his older brother again."
My heart froze. I gasped and clutched my stomach, which was about to make my lunch pay me another visit.
Do you cry Louis?
No. I'm 17, that's too old to cry.
I could see his face, filled with anger and depression. How could I not have seen it before?
"Do you know where he is?!"
She shrugged and turned back to her group and they all began giggling once more.
I walked back to my backpack. I sat down on the bleachers and tried to fight my overwhelming emotions.
That's why he doesn't cry.
He's shed too many tears already.
-msof57
