We were stuck in detention again, the awkwardness between me and Jamie too familiar in the silence. When the hour was up and we were free to leave, we walked in silence to the main doors of the school, where a van was waiting in a no-parking area. Jamie's face spread into a huge smile which was returned by a man stepping out of the van.
"Do you want a lift home?" Jamie asked in a forgiving sort of tone.
"I dunno, I could just walk..." I said shrugging, but Jamie interrupted.
"Come on, Bells, just get in."
I forced a smile. "Fine."
All the way in the van I leaned out of the window, trying to distract myself from the blaring music from the radio. Also trying to remember that Jamie's dad was the one who'd practically told me to stay away from Jamie, as to not get in the way of his football. But then the other day, hadn't Indira practically told me to admit myself to him? But I wasn't even sure if I like him, not like that.
We arrived outside Jamie's house where I would get out and walk to mine around the corner.
"Wanna come in for a cuppa?" Jamie asked his dad.
"Aahh, I'm not sure your mum'd like that now." he replied.
"Mum's still at work and Mike'll be at the allotments."
"In that case, a cuppa would be very nice." his dad admitted.
"Bella?" Jamie turned to me.
"Yeah?" I said with my arms crossed.
"Please come in."
I paused for a second."Fine." I unbuckled my seat belt and made my way out of the passenger seat of the van, Jamie following.
______________________________
"How have you got so many trophies?" I asked Jamie, running my hand along the shelf in the kitchen that displayed a hug array of footballing awards.
"Born winner that one." His dad replied.
I glanced at one trophy and giggled. "'Most improved'! How bad were you before?"
Jamie laughed and it felt good to be more open with him again.
Suddenly, we heard the door open and voices rang from the corridor. Jamie's mum Karen and her boyfriend Jeremy came into the room, closely followed by Mike.
"What are you doing here?" Karen was the first to speak, her voice showing nothing but frustration and anger. "Who gave you permission to pick him up from school?"
"I don't need permission I'm his father..."
"You do need permission. And you absolutely need permission to enter this house."
"Well Jamie invited me in, so..."
"There's not a proper court order in place here."
His dad seemed to have had enough; life came into his voice. "Let's get one then."
Karen scoffed, but Ian continued. "The courts will listen to what Jamie wants and he wants to see me." He turned to Jeremy and Mike. "It's just pure paranoia as per usual."
"No, you used to make me THINK I was paranoid but it turns out I wasn't though was I."
"Oh, here we go."
"And if you think I'm going to let you waltz back into his life, filling his head with false promises!"
"What false promises?"
"A trial at Hawkstone!"
"What are you saying, that I can't get him one?"
Karen scoffed, but Jamie interrupted. "Mum!"
There was a silence that seemed to last forever.
"If what you say is true, then how can I stand in his way?" she said, trying not to admit defeat.
All through this, I stood watching awkwardly in the corner, watching this madness unfold. My heart ached for Jamie, who leaned on the kitchen counter, his head bouncing between his mum and dad as they continued arguing intently.
"Bella, lets go." Jamie motioned for us to leave, and his parents' heads swung in my direction; they obviously hadn't noticed I was there. Karen's face looked apologetic, but Ian's was frustrated. He expressed this further by practically storming out the front door like a kid having a tantrum; I heard his van drive off into the distance.
Obeying Jamie's instructions, I followed him out the door. He grabbed a football on the way out and proceeded to kick it about at his feet as we walked slowly in the direction of my house.
"It's the semis tomorrow. Are you gonna watch?" Jamie asked me, not taking his eyes off the ball at his feet.
"I'm still grounded remember? Besides, you wouldn't want a girl like me to come between you and your football." I said sarcastically with an eye roll.
"Are you still going on about that? After my dad said it, I was just a bit paranoid. Football means everything to me, I just don't want to be distracted."
This hurt, actually, him thinking I was a distraction, but I put on a smile and pretended. "I get it."
I didn't get it. At all. Why do people who play football always assume they can't do anything else in their lives?
"So now you do want to be friends with me?" I asked after there was another moment of silence between us.
"No."
I flinched. "What are you on about?"
"Maybe I want to be more than friends?"
I flinched again and my eyes widened as I realised what Jamie was saying.
"Sorry...I've got to get..." I was walking backwards on the pavement and nearly tripped up. "...get home, I've.. Bye." I said, and began walking home the long way; I didn't glance back once.
Oh my god, why didn't I just accept?
Wait, what was I talking about? I knew exactly why.