PART SEVEN | ORANGE JUICE AND LAME PARTY

I look out to my window. Imagining the green grass, the blue sky, and children are smiling. But it's just another gloomy day. The world is full of trepidation.

Ding!

Good luck for today, Bunny Tooth. Don't forget to smile when doing those Liberty poses.

I receive a text from Emily. A smile creeps on my face. I type my reply.

Thanks, Em. Have fun in London! Love you.

I check the mirror once again. A girl with a red uniform and a ponytail hair standing in front of the mirror. I tighten the red ribbon on my hair, make sure it won't loose any time soon. My bag is already packed with my stuff. I pick up the bag and sling it on my shoulder.

Go. Fight. Win.

The first game of the season starts today. Students from my school are wearing their red caps, red hoodies, red shirts, and even paint their faces with red face paint. The school spirit is in their blood. It is hilarious to think a football game is really important here. Not only the students, but the citizens are also eager to come to the field. The dads, the moms, the children.

Oscar and Mom are driving me to the field where the match held. Mom is very excited about today. She even bought the most expensive ticket so they could get the best view of the field.

"Just in case you are nervous, look at us on the front seat. Okay, Hon?"

"Sure, Mom," I say with a sigh, sometimes Mom is just overreacting.

I am not the one who plays football. I am cheering them, Mom.

It's been a nerve-wracking week I could tell. Gwen is suddenly missing from our practice. It is frustrating because she is our captain, or she was. The coach is furious and disappointed with her irresponsibility act. She might be kicked out from the team if she appears back in the future. On the other hand, I am so worried about Gwen. She used to be a responsible girl. I look up to her as my senior. She might be facing some difficulties now. The rest of the seniors do not know where she is. Gwen doesn't attend the class as well.

Due to Gwen's sudden missing, we have to do the backup plan for our performance. Coach asks me to do the count and lead the chant. It is not a big deal, just a few additional tasks. We let Gwen's issue slip away and focus on today's game.

The football players are already doing their warm-ups routine on the field. I spot Jeremy's back facing me. It's hard to recognize him in his football gear but the 'Harrington' on his back makes it clearer.

Everyone seems to love Jeremy. Everyone is cheering him.

"Come on, Jeremy!"

"I love you, Jeremy!"

"Go destroy 'em, Harrington!"

The girls are giggling and gushing about him.

"Look, he is my favorite. Jeremy Harrington."

"He is so handsome!"

"Jeremy is on the field! Look at him!"

He is the epitome of the game itself. People come just to see how he would win the game today. He plays like a young version of Tom Brady for God's sake. He is the star tonight.

"Earth to Tara." Julia nudges my stomach. I blink my eyes, realizing that I've been staring at him the whole time.

Get a grip, Tara-Jane.

"Sorry, what do you say, Juls?"

"Your dad is coming?"

I shake my head, "no, he flew back to Tanzania yesterday."

"Listen to me, Tara. Amy is throwing a party after the match. We have to come," she pauses and points her forefinger to me, "you have to come."

"No, Juls. You know I-"

"No excuse for today, Missy. You're coming with us. It's after-game party, Tara."

Julia is glaring at me. It's better to shut my mouth and surrender this time. I have no excuse left.

The match begins to start. They hurdle, they tackle. The audiences are clapping and shouting every time their team earns a touchdown. Jeremy himself is impressive on the field. No doubt why everyone worships him. It ends up for our school victory. People are cluttering to the field, giving the player hugs and congratulations.

Jeremy jogs toward me with his cheeky smile. He is soaking wet with sweats. His skin glows.

"Hey," he pants.

"Great performance, Jer."

"Your chant cheerin' me, Tara-Jane." He winks at me. I am aware of the look on my friends' faces offering me right now. It is not only Julia recognizing our banter but also the rest of the girls on the cheerleading team. Jeremy also senses their look. He lowers his voice.

"You go to the party?"

I bit my lower lip, unsure about the decision.

"Julia will be mad if I refuse this time."

He chuckles at my response, he leans in and whispers to my ears "okay, then. See you at the party, Tara-Jane." With that, he jogs back to his teammates. Leaving me dumbfounded.

What was that for?!

I could sense the girls are snickering. But I ignore it and walk to the changing room with Julia. Mom and Oscar give me a hug once I exit the building to meet them at the parking lot. I inform Mom that I would be hanging out with Julia and the girls from the team tonight. Celebrate the victory. Oscar cocks his eyebrow, knowing that it must be not only hanging out but partying. Yet, he remains silent.

What a supportive brother.

"Call me if you need anything," he says when we are already at home.

"I'll be with Julia and the girls. But thanks Oscar, I'll call you if I need help."

I jog to my room, better hurry before Julia comes to pick me up. Picking an outfit to a party is very unfamiliar to me. I end up wearing my black jeans and a black sleeveless top. I heard Julia honks her horn outside. My feet stumble on the rug as I grab a red scarf in my closet, just in case my attire is too dark for a victorious party.

"Come on, pretty!" Candice's voice hits me right in the ears when I jog toward the car. Julia snorts behind the steering wheels. Miko sits on the passenger seat, texting. It perhaps the Mathletes boy she adores. I sit on the back seat with Candice.

"Little Miko has a new boyfriend!" I peer her phone from behind. I couldn't see her screen clearly but I'm sure it is a boy she is texting with.

"Kimiko, you better focus on your study," Julia imitates a deep voice, impersonating Miko's father. She ends up earning a punch on the shoulder from Miko. We laugh at the scene.

Finally, we are arriving at Amy's house. She is one of the seniors on the cheerleading team. The house is already packed with teenagers from our school, but I could spot unfamiliar faces from another school. Amy seems popular around the town.

"Welcome, welcome!" Amy appears on the front door, welcoming us with a hug. Julia grabs my hand and leads me to the center of the room. Candice and Miko are behind us. Amy's living room turns out to be a dance floor. We join a crowd in the seating area. I could spot some girls from the cheerleading team and the jocks.

My eyes are searching for Jeremy but couldn't find him anywhere. Until I heard cheering from the front door. I recognize Lux is standing side by side with Jeremy, the crowds are circling them. He lifts Jeremy's arm and yells, "man of the match today!" Everyone starts to cheer. Some guys are bringing their fist up to the air. The girls are giggling like a maniac.

I tear my gaze from them when someone taps my shoulder.

"This is Tara-Jane. My bestfriend."

Julia introduces me to a girl. I think she goes to a different school. Never saw her around. I offer her a smile. Then we are engaged in a conversation about school and stuff. I feel thirsty, so I make an excuse to the kitchen to grab some drinks. The kitchen is full of liquor. I decide to open the fridge and find a box of orange juice.

Thank God.

I pour the juice on a plastic cup and gulp down the cold liquid. I don't know if I am so thirsty until I drink the juice.

"Thirsty, Tara-Jane?" a familiar sound surprises me. I turn around to see his cheeky smile. He is wearing his white cotton shirt, I couldn't see it clearly when he is standing on the front door lately. He snatches the juice box from my hand and drinks directly from the carton box.

"That's gross, Jer."

He cocks his eyebrow at me, "wanna see me chug this juice?"

"Go ahead." I give him a daring look. He points his forefinger and middle finger at me then back at him, orders me to look at what he is about to do. He brings the box to his lip and chugs the liquid down his throat without coking. I open my mouth in awe and clapping my hands.

"That was cool."

"Sure." A smug grin plastered on his face. He throws the empty box to the bin next to the fridge.

"You don't drink alcohol," I state.

"I don't drink alcohol."

"Why? I won't tell coach." It's me who brings up the joke this time. He lets out a deep chuckle.

"Because I have to stay sober to show you places." He offers his hand, "C'mon. This party is lame."

I stare at his hand. The party is absolutely lame, I agree. Then I am thinking about Julia and the girls. They seem enjoy the party.

My curiosity wins again. I grab his hand, "Let's go."

***

To have a better picture of chugging a drink, I saw a video titled 'How to chug like a boss!'.It's hilarious, I ended up laughing so hard.Pardon me, never do the chugs before. By the way, thank you for reading this part. Don't hesitate to comments and hit the votes button. Love you.fiarfn