A Player's Game

Chapter 24: Looking Down the Bottom of the Barrel

"He doesn't look good?" I asked sounding confused and I was. I never knew it was even possible for him to not to look good. He always looked good.

"I just heard people say 'he doesn't look good', I don't know what they mean by that though," she answered, shrugging her shoulders.

"Oh," was all I could say. I started to tune out the conversation again, and not that I meant to, but I was just so caught up in what Alivia said about him. I found myself wanting to see him more and more. I felt poking from Teddy again and replied with, "what?"

He pointed to Frankie beside him, so I leaned forward to see Frankie as he began to say something.

"We're in the classroom for gym today," he informed me. I felt my mouth quickly frowning. Classroom days were boring. Although watching sports films were entertaining, I'd rather do something in the gym, but really, I had no choice. I answered him with an 'ok,' and the bell conveniently rang signaling for our next class to start. I picked up my things off the seat beside me and walked to the classroom with Frankie.

When we walked in, the lights were shut off and the only light was coming from outside peaking behind the blinds and the light from the projector, projecting an image of a power point on the wall. Frankie and I sat next to each other in the third row just as the bell rang, but I didn't see Logan. At this point, it didn't surprise me at all if he just didn't come to school anymore. Mr. Young started to do attendance.

"Is Carter not here today?" Mr. Young voiced in the front of the classroom. He always called people by their last names. I guess him and Logan have something in common. Mr. Young took the silence as a no and marked something on a piece of paper. He returned to his desk to lay the papers on a pile of notebooks and just as he made his way back to  the front, the door to classroom opened.

"Nice of you to show up Carter," Mr. Young commented as Logan stepped into the classroom.

"At least I showed up," he retorted as he made his way past me without making eye contact. As soon as he sat in the back, I glanced back at him, but as soon as he caught me looking, I quickly turned around.

Half way through the class, I shifted my head to look at Logan again, hoping he wouldn't notice a turning head a few feet in front of him. From the projector light I could slightly see his features. He looked tired. He had a slight purply-blue tint to his under-eye bags. His hair was that sexy-kind-of-messy, so it still looked good as he sat back in his chair. He didn't look like he usually does: he looks like he hasn't slept in days; he looks sad, and just emotionally drained. He must've noticed a pair of eyes on him because his eyes met with my own. I missed his eyes. This time I didn't look away, I just stared into his brown eyes which captivated me every time I saw them. His eyes were filled with emotion, confirming that he felt sad, which made me want to sit next to him. A week ago, I was mad at him, but I just feel sorry for him and I feel like it's my fault he's like this. I couldn't hold back from him any longer.

Are you okay? I texted him. I know it was probably the wrong idea to do it, but I just felt like he's hurting because I won't let him explain what he wants to. Maybe the truth couldn't be that bad. I turned around to see if he got it. I got my answer to that question when my phone vibrated and a message from him appeared on my screen.

So now you wanna talk to me? I felt the sarcasm come off the message and could tell he was pissed off.

Sorry if I bothered you. You just seem sad.

A few moments later he responded: You're never bothering me Stella. And yeah I kinda am sad. pissed too. I miss this girl and I wanna talk to her, but she won't let me.