The banquet last long into the night, filled with laughter and pictures. Mrs. Atkins wanted senior shots with Zeke and the others. Then everyone together. The juniors together with the twins. Just and Noah. It beca like a photo shoot that only ca to a halt because it was closing ti.
When we got ho, Mrs. Atkins took everyone’s awards to the living room. Mine included. She started to reorganize the wall even though it was nearing midnight.
Eveyone started to go their own way, with my way being bed. I grabbed my pajamas and changed in the bathroom. I ca back to the room and saw that Noah was already dressed in his pajamas.
"So..." Noah looked at with raised eyebrows.
"So what?" I asked, frowning. I piled my dirty clothes in our basket and crawled into bed.
Noah picked up my new cellphone. "Are you going to text him?"
"Who-oh." I sat up. "I an...I forgot to take a picture with it all..." It was too late to go downstairs and do it now. I didn’t want to ruin Mrs. Atkins work or arranging the awards.
"I have so that you can send to him." Noah pulled out his phone and started to send so pictures that were taken. He proceeded to show how to save all the pictures to my phone album so I could keep them too. Then he picked out one that had holding all my awards, smiling, but looking slightly awkward. "This is a good one. You can clearly see what each award is for."
I followed his instructions on how to send the photo. After it sent, sothing ca to mind. "What if he doesn’t reply?"
"Then he’s still a jerk." Noah said solemnly.
My phone buzzed with a notification.
"Looks like he’s still trying not to be a jerk." Noah showed his reply. "’Congratulations! I’m happy for you.’"
I smiled.
Noah handed my phone and I put it on the charger near the bed. "Tonight was amazing."
"Yea..." I agreed. I felt like we’ve been riding high on the playoff wins for weeks now. All the way until championship. And now the awards.
"You know what this ans for next season?" Noah asked. He got into his own bed after turning out the lights.
"No. What?"
"It ans we’ll be the returning champs. Not just league champions, but CIF champions. All the schools will want to beat us."
"Isn’t it normal to want to beat any opponent?" I yawned.
"Just wait. You’ll see. You’ll feel the difference next year." Noah told .
He wanted to talk more about baseball and what was to co, but I was too exhausted. I passed out within seconds of getting comfortable under my blanket.
***
Sunday morning, everyone gathered for brunch, woken up by the sweet sll of Mrs. Atkins’ cooking. She knew we would all be sleeping in and had prepared a feast of breakfast and lunch items. If I hadn’t known she was a real estate agent, I would have definitely presud she was a chef. Her cooking was incomparable.
Mr. Atkins and Zeke were already at the table when Noah and I ca down, still in our pajamas. Mr. and Mrs. Atkins were dressed nicely so they must have so work to do outside of the house. Zeke was only in workout clothes, hinting at what he might be doing today.
"Are you going to The Cages today?" Noah asked Zeke, piling food on his plate while standing up.
I sat down and grabbed what was closest to , including the scrambled eggs and a bagel.
"I was planning on going for a jog and then lifting so weights." Zeke answered. "Why? Did you guys want to go there?"
Noah nodded. "We always want to go there." He finally sat down with a large plate of food. "We can’t wait until your done with your workout, if you want us to."
"Alright. I’ll take you guys this afternoon." Zeke nodded.
" too!" Dave made his entrance, snatching so bacon off Noah’s plate on his way to his own seat.
"Hey!!" Noah objected. "You didn’t have to take my food. You can grab your own."
"Yea, but you always grab the crispiest bacon." Dave smirked, munching on said bacon. He plopped down on his seat and started to fill his own plate.
"Dave." Mr. Atkins sighed. "There’s plenty of food. You don’t have to steal from Noah."
Dave nodded. "Yea, I know." He lowered his voice. "Kyle’s on his way down with a planner. I hope you and Mom are ready for this."
Mr. Atkins was surprised. "A planner? Have you guys planned out your sumr already? Should I get my card to start booking the flights and hotels?"
"Just wait and see." Dave lifted his brows. "Kyle put so serious effort into this."
"I’ll go get your mom." Mr. Atkins got up from the table and went to the office. Mrs. Atkins must have went straight to work after cooking for us.
It made feel kind of guilty and sad at the sa ti. I swallowed the lump in my throat.
"You okay, Jake?" Dave asked from across the table.
I dabbed the corner of my eyes with a napkin. "Yea. Just a little tired still."
"There’s no ti to be tired!" Kyle said loudly, making jump, as he walked into the dining room. He waved a book around. "Where’s Mom and Dad?! I’ve got sothing to show them! Mommmm! Dadddd! Co out, co out, wherever you are!"
"Stop making such a racket." Zeke started him down. "Mom and Dad are in the office. They’ll be out soon enough."
"Oh." Kyle collapsed into his chair, losing so of his excitent. "I didn’t think they would work today."
"It’s practically sumr." Noah said between bites. "They’re going to start getting really busy soon." He glanced at . "Everyone buys houses during the sumrti. Makes it easier to move when they have kids in school and whatnot."
I nodded, pretending I understood. I watched as Kyle tapped the book he was holding. He waited for his parents to show, not even reaching for so food.
"Dude." Dave spoke up. "Just relax and eat sothing. You’re getting on my nerves."
"How can you eat at a ti like this?" Kyle lifted the book and waved it at Dave. "This pertains to our future!"
Zeke glared at Kyle. "Stop waving it in my face. I’m trying to eat."
Noah laughed as Kyle had to put down his book. "You’re so hyped. What are you going to do when Mom and Dad cut down your sumr plans?"
"Cry until they give in!" Kyle said proudly.
Noah and Dave really laughed. Zeke even cracked a smile.
"You all are so lively this morning!" Mrs. Atkins greeted, walking in with her husband behind her.
"Mom! Finally!" Kyle jumped out of his seat. He guided her to her seat next to Noah; then grabbed his dad’s seat from next to , and dragged it all the way to the other end with his mom’s seat. "Dad, co! Take a seat!"
Mr. Atkins raised an eyebrow. "I feel like I’m about to sit down for a presentation of sorts."
"You can think of it that way!" Kyle answered. "The presentation of my sumr plans!"
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