26.

Sofia

Luckily, I found room in the front seats. There were so many people shielded under the canopy and everyone was trying to keep warm.

There was a particular boy who was sulking beside me. He had spilled all of his coffee on his woolen cardigan. I wondered who he had come with. I looked around for Charlene. Likewise, I expected to see her, but I didn't.

Why wasn't she here?

“Hey!” Eugene crossed the field, waving at me. His hair was already covered in snow, and he was wearing a sweatshirt underneath his jersey.

“Hey.”

He beamed his childish smile at me. “Thanks for coming.”

I nodded.

“Grey man!” The team coach yelled from the field.

“That's me. Talk to you later.” He winked and ran along just as Charlene appeared next to me.

“I had looked around for you…”

“I was in the dorm,” she sat down. “He invited you, right?” She cocked her head towards Eugene. The coach was specifically giving him instructions.

“Yeah. I owe him just this once,” I replied.

“He likes you, and you don't have t