Real Smiles

He saved her name as "Paris❤".

Childish.

He didn't want to change it though. It gave him hope. Being her wingman so far hadn't been so bad. His heart beat, remembering what had happened earlier.

We almost .. kissed.

He replied.

'Hi'

*

Year 11 had three classes. 11-W, 11-K and 11-S.

Dressed in the blood red button-up shirt and black shorts of Redwood High School, Alekay sat next to Callum Scott in homeroom on Tuesday with 11-S.

"Alright that's the register done with," said the homeroom teacher, Mr. Long. Mr. Long was the type of man to wear suits on every day of the week and that's exactly what he did.

"I like your tie, Mr. Long!" shouted Winnie, from the middle of the class. Mr. Long went pink. This was why the girls liked to tease him.

"Thank you, Winnie." he replied.

"Now let me get started on the announcements. The announcements for today are that our school sports day is coming up next weekend, please begin, or continue, training in accordance to that. I would love to see students from my class win on that day. If you have questions about what team you're in, please see me after homeroom." Mr. Long's voice slithered to the back of the class. He had a mixed accent.

Mr. Long was an American-Chinese teacher and he was liked by basically all the girls in Year 11. First of all, he was young, mid-thirties at most; he had that movie star look. Smart clothes, long, neatly tied brown hair, blue-green eyes that seemed to stare through you and a Hollywood smile.

"The auditions for this term's Wild West Play are starting today. Make your way to The Redwood Theatre Hall after class if you're interested in doing that." he said.

He flipped a page. "If you want to switch extracurricular clubs, please come see me after class here- I'll be here from 4 to 5 p.m. Thankyou that's all for today, you all have P.E up next with 11-K and 11-W. Goodbye."

\*

"Hiiiiii-yaaaa!"

Alastair Moore viciously spiked the ball down to the other other side.

Volleyball.

Everybody liked Alastair. He gracefully landed on the floor and wiped his blonde hair out of his face. He was handsome; he was athletic; he was smart. Who wouldn't like him?

Alekay was a substitute so he watched from the sidelines.

I wish I was just a little bit like him.

Ms. Mayer, the P.E teacher walked onto the volleyball court and interrupted the game. She walked onto the side of the conceding team.

"Do you see what you did wrong?" she asked, loud enough for everyone to hear.

No response.

She turned and faced the rest of the class on the side.

"Does anybody see what they did wrong?!"

Susanne from 11-K put up her hand.

"Yes Susanne."

"They lost their form." she said.

"EXACTLY!" shouted Ms. Mayer. She picked up the ball and walked off the court. "Volleyball is not like football where you just tee-ter tee-ter your way around a pitch and hope you're in the right place." she begun, prancing around to illustrate her words. "You have a place to be. STICK TO IT. If the ball is going over your head, leave it. If you are going for the ball, COMMUNICATE. But whatever you do, Stay. In. Your. Area!" She clapped out the last four words for emphasis. "Are we clear??"

The whole class nodded.

"I said - are we CLEAR?"

"YES MA'AM!" chanted the class. Ms. Mayer rolled the ball back onto the court.

"Restart." she said. "You." she pointed at Alekay.

He pointed at himself.

Me?

"Yes you! The one with the short hair. Replace someone in the conceding team."

The person who's fault led to Alastair scoring instinctively walked off and Alekay walked in to replace her.

It was mixed teams; girls and boys.

Team Alastair served the ball to the other side. The score was 2-0 to them. Alekay volleyed it to the other side. They returned the ball. Back and forth the ball went- until Rex Morgan set it up for Alastair to spike.

And he did.

3-0.

Alekay's team members hung their heads. They didn't even know who to blame. Another team member walked off and another person walked in. They passed the ball to Team Alastair, they restarted.

1-0. Alastair converted a restart into a point.

They restarted.

Alastair volleyed the ball in from deep in his own half.

2-0.

He was just outshining everybody else. One more point and the game was over. But now Alekay and Alastair came face to face on opposite sides of the net. Rex served the ball to the other side. Team Alekay returned. Angus from Team Alastair played a one-two and volleyed it to the other side. Fredrick dived and saved the ball from dropping on the floor. Alekay popped it over the net. Alastair easily bumped the ball up to a teammate who passed it back.

Alastair elevated with elegance and slapped the ball down swiftly.

It was a perfect spike.

Team Alekay hung their heads.

Then the ball hit Alekay's head. -And floated into play. He fell from the impact but he had "blocked" Alastair!

Mimi from the same team dug the ball to the other side. Alekay stood up. Adrenaline rushed through his body. Did nobody see what he had just done? He had blocked Alastair freaking Moore- with his head.

Fredrick spiked the ball for Team Alekay.

In.

2-1.

Somebody walked off from Team Alastair.

"Well done, well done! Let's see a game now!!" shouted Ms. Mayer.

Restart.

Team Alekay got a little more motivated. They had more style than before. Alastair and Alekay were now in different positions on opposite sides. Team Alastair returned the ball. Peter popped it softly to Mimi, who sent the ball up into the air for Alekay.

Alekay watched it rise and took one step. Then two- he rose from the ground like he could fly. With all his power but at the same time none of it, he swung back his hand in the air - and brought it back round at lightning speed.

The ball obeyed. It rocketed towards the ground moving much faster than Alekay was.

In.

And the person who the ball fell closest to - was Alastair Moore.

By the etiquette of the lesson, he had to sub off. It was his fault. Team Alastair stood shocked. The whole class was quiet. Alastair smiled wildly at the ball on the floor and rolled it to Alekay on the other side and quietly walked off.

Sabrina replaced him.

2-2.

Restart.

Although Sabrina had almost no skill in volleyball, the rest of the team balanced out the hole that had been left and they fought for the last point of the set. Returns after returns, the ball stayed in the air.

Rex Morgan spiked on Alekay- blocked. This time properly. Callum Scott dove and saved Team Alastair from losing the set. Without Alastair, the whole team was much more united. It wasn't a matter of "pass it to Alastair".

Winston returned the ball to Team Alekay's side.

Peter popped it up for Fredrick. Fredrick popped it to Mimi and Mimi returned it to the other side. Callum volleyed the ball back instantly. Peter set it up for Alekay who rose for the spike-

And hit it out.

3-2.

Team Alastair celebrated on the other side. Two sets to nil.

Alekay dropped to the floor. They lost.

Alastair approached Alekay, offering a hand. He had the same wild smile from before.

This is a trick. He wants to humiliate me.

Alekay grabbed a hold of his hand. It wasn't a trick.

But why is he smiling like that?

"Well done." said Alastair. "Not many people can say they spiked on me today and definitely not like yours." he smiled.

Is he faking it?- or am I just paranoid?

Alekay smiled back. A real smile.

"Haha thanks man,"

"Do you play volleyball often?" asked Alastair. His deep blue eyes were examining Alekay's innocent face. He wasn't as simple as he looked.

"Nope." replied Alekay, "total fluke this time!"

Alastair laughed. He was about to leave.

"Hope to see more of it in the future. You should try out for the team. Bro."

\*

Boys Changing Room.

"Did you see the way Alex spiked on Alastair?"

"Mate it was epic!"

"And Alastair's face! He was so shocked!"

"Of course! Mans couldn't do anything about it!"

"Don't care. We still won."

"No bruv. You got lucky. If Alekay landed that last one it would have been over for you guys!"

Alekay wished people would stop talking about him like he wasn't there, or at least as if Alastair wasn't there too. Alastair got changed quickly and walked out first.

Is he upset?

Alekay sprayed his body and put his shirt on again.

"Hey bro, could I use some spray?" asked Rex. Alekay threw the canister to him.

"Thanks."

Rex used some spray and handed it back. Alekay packed it in his black designer bag while he buttoned up. He was almost fully dressed.

He walked up to the mirror in the changing room. It was a long, full-body, wall mirror. He checked himself out, made sure his shorts zip was shut, buttoned up to the very top (the Redwood High School uniform didn't have ties for boys), got out a brush and brushed his hair and then put on his bag and walked out. His next class was 'Cooking Arts'.

Outside the changing room, Paris was waiting for him. Paris was in 11-W. She waved. He caught up with her.

"How was volleyball on the other court?" she asked.

"Nice I guess." replied Alekay.

"Stop teasing!" she exclaimed. "I already heard in the changing room. All the girls from your court were like- Alekay won Alastair! Alastair lost! Alastair was knocked out! Alekay is handsome!"

"Eh!" That last one. Alekay blushed.

"Ha! Look at you!" laughed Paris, "I made it up," she said.

"Oh."

"You boys were just talking really loud so I heard."

"Oh."

"Why do you keep saying 'oh'? Do you want me to slap you?!" she said, raising a threatening hand.

Alekay didn't react.

"Oh my goodness!" laughed Paris. "Are you in your feeeellss??"

Alekay bleakly stared at her.

"Okay okay sorry." she said, "but speaking of feels, I still haven't told you who it is."

"Who who is?"

"Who I like." she said, as if it was the most obvious thing in the world. "Remember?"

"Oh yeah go ahead."

Paris giggled.

"What class are you going for?" she asked.

"Cooking Arts."

"Oh. I'm going for Drama."

"Okay then. Let's split here."

They stood at a junction of footpaths in Redwood High. Each one had a sign showing which section of classes it led to. Drama, Music, Art and Creative Design were in one block. Cooking Arts was on its own. Paris crossed her arms.

"But Alekay! I still haven't told you!"

Alekay crossed his arms back.

"Then tell me."

"Okay okay." she said shyly.

She's so cute.

"What you looking at, huh?!" she said, suddenly going gangsta.

Alekay raised his arms in surrender.

"Nothing boss,"

"Yeah that's right! I'm your boss!" she crossed her arms and bobbed her head in a 'cool' way.

"Alright I'm going to class now." said Alekay, walking off.

"No no, Alekay wait!" she said, holding his hand.

"Fine. I'll tell you."

Alekay stopped. She let go.

"But I'm soooo shy! I promise I will RUN away after telling you!"

Her brown eyes glinted a little from the sun. She had braided her hair so it hung from her head in long brown locks. She smiled at him. Her pink lips pouted a little because she was being silly.

My heart.

Alekay laughed.

"Okay then. Run away."

She crossed her feet and spun around with her arms around herself.

"Okay so.. I like-" -

She paused to see if he was still listening.

"I like Alastair."

.

.

.

Of course.

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