Life's Unexpected Surprises - 18. Chapter 6.2 - Fresh Bonds - Second Chance

Breston Crossen

2 Elijah and I have been at this new school for almost a week now. He has gotten to know a couple of people around school, me not so much. I've tried talking with a few people but not much out of class.

Right now I was in math, and the past couple of days I've been talking to Taxon and Simon. They seemed pretty cool, especially since Taxon is Isaac's nephew. I'm not as into Blades as Elijah, but it's still interesting.

Simon, the kid Elijah and I met in Antoine's shop, is pretty cool. He's a collector of comics. His dream is to collect all the Marvel comics out there. His parents had a bunch of them before he was born. That's where his love of comics came from.

“Who's your favorite Marvel character?” Simon looked at me. Tax sat on the other side of him. I stared at him blankly. “No seriously, who is it? There's so many I know it's hard to choose.”

I shrugged. “I really like the Black Panther movie. I used to watch it all the time growing up.” My dad liked the MCU, still, does.

Simon thought about it for a moment. “Ya he's cool, Black Panther is actually the richest comic character ever.” I didn't know that actually, pretty cool piece of trivia. Simon turned to Tax. “Yours?”

“I was always taken in by Daredevil. His hyper senses are really cool,” and he had a great Netflix show, so I'll admit he is cool. Simon started going on a rant about how cool his Marvel is. He's just like Elijah just about Marvel, not Blades.

When the bell rang, and Simon was finally forced to stop ranting. I laughed, mostly to myself. “You're just like Elijah.”

Simon rolled his eyes. “That kid is all about Blades; seriously he's got an obsession.” Tax and I both looked at him. His face lit up in a grin, and he waved us off. “Ya ya, whatever.”

Tax walked off with me the other way. Our classes were on the other side of the school. “So you're brother is into Blades?”

I nodded. “Ya, we saw your Uncle Isaac in the summer, and I swear he melted at the sight of him.”

Tax laughed. “I never got the whole 'oh my god it's Isaac Adams,' thing everyone does when they see him. He's just Uncle Isaac to me.”

“Imagine seeing your favorite celebrity for the first time.” Tax thought about it for a moment and had a look of realization. “Ya like that.”

“I guess I have experienced that before. The odd time I've gone with my Uncle to events.” He must have met some cool people. “Anyways I should get to class. I'd like to meet your brother sometime and talk Blades.”

“Ya sure, we can arrange that.”

Tax's face started to redden. “Sorry if it seems like I'm more interested in your brother. You're a cool guy Breston; I'd like to have you over to hang out sometime.”

“Sounds like a plan Tax.”

“Anyways see you later.” Tax went off towards his next class. I guess I'm not completely hopeless in the friend's factor after all.

Elijah Holmes

3 “You're quite good at soccer young man.” The P.E. teacher came up to me after the class was over. I was helping clean up the soccer balls that were left out on the gym floor. “Ever played the game?”

“I was part of a team before I moved. But haven't looked into anything here yet.” I was pretty good, no star of the team but was a solid member of it. I haven't really wanted to get back into it since we moved.

I threw the last ball into the bag. “Well if you're interested, soccer tryouts are after school today. Thank you for your help, Elijah.”

“No problem.” Giving a shy smiled, I headed off to get changed.

It's not that I didn't enjoy soccer, just wasn't my main hobby. I always liked reading more than anything; I liked throwing myself into a world of fantasy and make-belief. You can't do that while playing soccer.

Once I finished getting changed I headed straight for my next class. Luke was waiting right outside the gym doors. “You never said you liked soccer!” Luke grabbed my shirt and pulled me close to him. “Soccer tryouts are today, what can I do to make you try out?”

I shrugged. “I don't know. My first love has never been soccer.”

“Well, that doesn't mean it's not an option!” Luke looked like he really wanted me to play. “Please Elijah; it would be so much fun having a friend on the team.”

“I'll think about it okay?” Luke accepted that answer and finally let me go. We head off to our next class together, still on the topic of soccer.

I knew Luke was really into sports, but I didn't know how much. He's into almost all of them. He likes hockey, soccer, football, curling if you can think of a sport he likes it. His favorite you ask... dodgeball.

“That's not really a sport...” I give him a questioning look.

“Sure it is. People play it all the time outside of school. If you look hard enough, they have leagues some places.” Well if you look hard enough, you can find almost anything sooo. “But I just like dodgeball the best.”

“I still wouldn't call it a sport.” I shrugged and continued on the work we got in class.

“Soccer is a sport, though.” He wiggled his eyebrows at me. I think he might be implying something. “Come on; you have to try out for the team.”

“I don't have to do anything,” I said plainly.

Luke nodded. “Okay true but why shouldn't you try out for the team?”

I couldn't think of anything besides the easy answer. “Don't know, I just don't want to. I have never been a star in soccer just liked to play with the ball.” The idea of keeping the ball up without the use of your hands always intrigued me. Just so happens I got really good at it.

“So how bought you just come to the tryouts and watch? You don't have to tryout, just be there as my friend.” Luke pleaded with me. He even tried to give me the puppy dog eyes in hopes that would work.

“Fine, I'll watch but no promises on trying out.”

“YES!” Luke shouted, gathering the attention of the entire class. We gave off a little laugh before the class went back to work. It was quite embarrassing, but it was just for a moment. “You'll want to try out; I'd bet on it!”

I wouldn't, and I didn't. There in the bleachers, I and many others watched as they kicked a ball about. Luke tried time and again to get me to come down, but I just waved him off. Some other time maybe, but not now.

Chapter End.