"You are such a jerk. But you're apparently my girlfriend, so…I'll spare you this time." Sammy flicked the side of Gracie's head, jumping back in suspicion that she'd do something in return.
"Hey, you!" She smacked at his hand. "Meanie!" Gracie stuck her tongue out.
"Sammy!" a voice called from behind Gracie. Gracie turned around and her eyes narrowed almost instantly. Savannah, the head cheerleader, was coming up the hall towards them. "Hey, Sammy! How's the team looking for the game tomorrow?" she asked, batting her heavily mascaraed eyelashes.
Sammy popped a knowing smile. "We're doing good, actually! I was worried about Travis, him being a wide receiver, but with enough practice, I think we got a strategy going on! I'm more concerned that I'll goof up than anyone else, though," Sammy chuckled, beaming, "but we should do fine against those Hallow High Ravens. How's cheer?" Sammy thought of Savannah as more of an encouraging friend, maybe being a bit annoying at times, but she usually always found a way to be around him. Sammy was oblivious about it.
"Oh, cheer's great!" Savannah enthused. Her words were threaded with giggles. "We're practicing harder than ever, so you'll be able to hear us over the crowd yelling." Here, a pointed look was inserted at Gracie.
You've got some nerve… Gracie thought irritably, glaring back at the preppy girl, who was too busy blowing a bubble with her pink gum to notice anything else. Except maybe Sammy. She was gawking at him without care.
"Don't you have somewhere to be?" Gracie stepped in, sick of seeing the head cheerleader ogle over her boyfriend. "Like, practice?" She hissed the word between her teeth and stepped forward, closer to Sammy, and hoped the airhead would take a hint.
Savannah only laughed. "Practice is after school, silly!" She stuck her finger out and booped Gracie on the nose.
Gracie's glare sharpened. You just wait, princess…
"But I do have to get to class! Buh-bye~" she cooed sweetly, shooting a quick wink at Sammy before hurrying away.
Twat.
(I kind of wish that this was longer, but I don't know what to add…)
As Sammy waved Savannah a goodbye, he turned to Gracie.
"You alright? What was that all about?" He was using his rarely-used serious tone, and his eyes were narrowed with concern.
(It's cool!)
Gracie blinked at his tone being so serious. "Couldn't you see how much she was flirting with you?!" she asked quietly after a moment. And on the day before homecoming, no less. She's gonna have to use a lot of makeup if she continues this…
Sammy's face changed. It wasn't firm, but soft, and his voice took an apologetic tone. "Gracie," his hands went to her shoulders, "you know that I wouldn't do that. Savannah's just a friend, okay? I'm sorry if there's a misunderstanding, but I wouldn't do anything like that. I know that you don't like her, but I swear, nothing is going on between us."
Gracie looked at his face and studied his eyes. After a minute, she sighed. "Alright. I believe you… crazy,"she added the last part as a tease and poked his cheek.
"Hey! I'm not crazy! You are!" Sammy grinned and playfully shoved her. "I have to get to class, though. I'll see you later, maybe?"
Gracie laughed and thoughts of Savannah instantly disappeared from her mind. "Yeah, definitely." A mischievous look flashed across her face. "But you don't know when…"
"Oh no! I'm gonna get jumped by girlfriend Gracie! We're all doomed!" Sammy laughed before heading off to his class, AP History.
(About what time of day is it? Like, 1st period, 2nd, etc.?)
Gracie watched him go and grinned before turning and heading the opposite way to CEO Business Sim.
(I was thinking first, but we can timeskip to their practice, maybe at the end of the day if you wanted.)
(Okay!)
Sammy had to rush to Football practice, feeling bad that he couldn't talk to Gracie beforehand. He knew he shouldn't have spent those extra minutes helping Gavin on his soccer passing in gym, but he did nevertheless. Fetching his change of clothes and a water bottle, he practically ran to the sports area of the school, a separate area altogether. Irritatingly, Sammy was the one of the last players out of the changing room.
Gracie was art the field hockey field, already leading her team through stretches and the warm up jog. She smiled as she heard a group of freshman whisper: "That's Gracie Hart! She's an All Star." Gracie thought about Sammy, and her smile grew.
"Sam! C'mon! We're about to start warmup!" Kyle hollered from outside. Sammy was quickly getting changed in his number 07 jersey, frantically trying not to be late-he was the Quarterback, as well as a leader.
Just as Coach Doran was about to blow the whistle, Sammy stumbled out of the changing room.
"I'm…not late!" Sammy huffed. "I was…helping someone…sorry, Coach."
A faint hint of a smile resembled on the Coach's face before he warned Sammy that, "just this once, I'ma let it fly. If it happens again, you wouldn't be setting a good role-model for the rest of the players."
Of course, Sammy knew the Coach was only joking-this was the first-and only, hopefully-time that this would happen. Besides, Sammy was one of the best players on the team, and he wouldn't let anyone down. Not even Gracie.
(Time skip? I don't have any ideas atm)
(Okay. When were you thinking? It could be at the football game or after both of their practices they go out for smoothies or something…? Those are just suggestions.)
(I feel like…smoothies? That okay?)
(Yup, that's fine! Do you want me to start?)
(It'd be preferred)
(Okay!)
The field hockey team ended practice like they always did: practicing strokes, meeting in the goal cage for a team meeting, announcements from Coach Taylor, and then everyone getting dismissed. Gracie stayed behind and took cones and balls and pinnies up to the shed since she knew no one else would. A few girls decided to stay today and help with the water and ice, so she was free earlier than usual. Coach Taylor must've told them to, Gracie thought, fishing her keys out of her backpack. She was going to drive over to the stadium turf field to watch the last 15 minutes of Sammy's practice.
"Gracie," Coach Taylor called out her name just as the senior captain was unlocking her car. Gracie nodded at her coach and hurried over after throwing her stuff in the backseat of her car.
"Yes, Coach?" she asked, absently glancing around to make sure that no one had left any trash. They wouldn't be doing sprints tomorrow if she had anything to say about it.
"I'm hesitant to tell you this, not because I know it'll go to your head, but because I don't want you to stress yourself out about it for no reason," Coach Taylor began.
"What do you mean?" Gracie asked quietly.
Coach Taylor took a slow breath and spoke, "You've been nominated for All-County and All-Region."
Her heart took a bounding leap. Being All-County and All-Region were the qualifications for All-State, the dream Gracie had been chasing since she'd picked up the stick in 6th grade. "Are… Are you serious?" she asked breathlessly.
Coach Taylor smiled. "Yeah." Her face turned quickly serious. "Gracie, listen. Please don't hold yourself to any higher standard then you've been, okay?"
"Yes. Okay. I will. I mean– I won't. Thanks so much, Coach!" Gracie stammered excitedly.
Coach Taylor laughed. "Alright, now get out of here. You need to take a break tonight. Relax. Do something to reward yourself."
"Okay!" Gracie replied, jogging back towards her car. She got in and made sure no one was looking as she squealed excitedly. All-County and All-Region! She couldn't wait to tell Sammy!
"Great work guys!" Sammy hollered at the end of practice. They were all exhausted, but Sammy was in his prime, a big grin on his face. This was the hardest they'd worked ever-even Coach Donegan was chipper. Sammy couldn't wait to see Gracie, so he could spend some free time with her.
(Savannah encounter? Or is it too early? Also, sorry for the shorter response!)
(YES! And it's fine!)
The cheerleaders were all heading out as well. The ones that had cars had left and the underclassmen waited for their rides.
Savannah was looking utterly gorgeous as always. Not a hair out of place. She wouldn't have stood for it. The sparkles on her practice uniform glittered as she approached the football players. She quickly spotted Sammy and made her way towards him, even though other players tried to get her attention.
"Sammy!" she called, waving at him.
With a grin on his face, Sammy waved back, "Hey, Savannah! Ready for the game?" He was breathing heavy from exhaustion, but, if he could, Sammy'd go through another hour of practice. This was the kind of stuff he lived for-his team working flawlessly, people to cheer him on, and, of course, Gracie.
"Oh, definitely," Savannah enthused, shaking her pom-poms to reinforce her excitement. "It's the biggest game of the year! And the whole squad is working on something special, just for you!" she chirped sweetly. "Are you ready?" She bounced on the balls of her feet, as if ready to spring into a cheer at the drop of a hat.
Gracie pulled into the parking lot at the stadium as the football players and cheerleaders were leaving. She pulled out her phone to check a text she'd gotten, then looked around for Sammy. She didn't see him right away. He must be helping clean stuff up, she thought, a smile flickering across her lips. If he was busy, she didn't want to interrupt him, so she decided on waiting in the car until he came out.
"You know it!" Sammy beamed. "And I can't wait to see it! Hold on a sec…umm…I don't mean to be rude, but I'm supposed to meet Gracie in the parking lot. Good luck cheering us on!" Sammy brushed past Savannah, his stride towards the parking lot. Once he got there, he had to squint to see Gracie's car, to which he waved over.
Savannah watched him go. Her eyes clung to his movements. "I can't wait to show you," she murmured, heading towards the back exit where she got her own parking spot, curtesy of several school officials.
Gracie grinned as she spotted Sammy, and she honked twice before pulling out of her spot and driving up beside him. She put down the window and smiled. "Hello stranger. Need a ride?"
"Hey another stranger, and yes, I would. Hitch-hiking is number one on things to do for no reason!" Sammy laughed before tossing his stuff in the back and hopping in the passenger seat.
"How was hockey practice?"
Gracie bit down on her lip hard to contain her excitement. "It was great. We ran through the warm-up, did a some drills. We worked on corners and strokes… And at the end Coach pulled me aside when all the other girls left… AndshetoldmethatIgotnominatedforAll-CountyandAll-Region!" The unbridled words burst from her lips so quickly that she couldn't contain them if she tried.
Sammy had tp process what she had said-it was a jumble of words.
"Wow! Gracie the Great, we need to celebrate!" Sammy's grin was genuine as happiness for Gracie flooded him.
(I didn't mean for him to rhyme, I swear!)
(Lol, it's funny! I like it! XD)
She beamed excitedly. "Sounds like a plan! I'm thinking we do a smoothie run, how about you?"
