Page 6 of An Unexpected Turn
“There are basketball tryouts on Friday. Great way to meet new people if you’re interested.”
His smile faded as he shook his head.
“I’m not into sports. I was in this robotics club at my old school, but I don’t think there’s one here.”
“There is, just the sign-up isn’t until the end of the month. I can talk to Mrs. Lopez about getting you in if that’s something you’d like to do.”
His head shot up. “Could you get me in? My old robotics club won a competition last year.”
“Wow, that’s awesome!” A blush crept up on Michael’s olive skin. “I think so. It’s open to all students, and with that kind of experience, they’ll be thrilled to have you.”
“Right. Everyone wants a new kid they don’t know.” He huffed, exhaling a long sigh.
“Michael, you’re in a class full of new kids. Try to let that take some of the pressure off.”
“If I’d stayed in my old town, I’d be in high school with all my friends. Freshmen are new to the school, but they all already know each other.”
“Things change in a new place. It’s not the huge disadvantage that you may think.” I scooted closer to my desk, leaning in to get a better look at Michael. “Do you like to be called Michael or Mike?”
“Mike,” he answered. “Although I doubt I’ll ever stop my dad from calling me Mikey.”
I bit back a smile at his groan. “Well,Mike.As I said, I’m new here too, in school and in town. Why don’t we make a pact to get ourselves out there a little? There’s a school barbecue on Saturday, but the park is open to the public. I’m sure your dad would bring you.”
“My dad’s done enough. He’s already stuck with me.”
I shook my head. “I know your dad, and I bet he’s happy to have you living here permanently now. It’s a lot of change, but change can be good if you give it a chance, right?”
He lifted a shoulder, fidgeting with the strap on his backpack. For a minute, I forgot who I was trying to convince.
“I guess it could.” A long beat of silence lingered between us before he lifted his head. “I always liked visiting my dad. It’s just different living with him. It’s not that I don’t like it, it’s that ...”
His chin fell to his chest.
“Whatever you say in here stays between us.”
His head popped up, and his eyes met mine, searching my gaze as if he were assessing if he could trust me.
“My mom just kind of dumped me on my dad before she moved away with her new husband. I didn’t want to move with her and my stepdad, but it would have ... I don’t know ...” He shrugged.
“It would have been nice to be asked what you wanted to do instead of being told?”
He nodded. “I had to leave our house, all my friends, and she didn’t even care.”
“That’s rough, Mike. I’m sorry. Leaving home is always hard, but it doesn’t mean you can’t make a new home somewhere else, right?”
He nodded, breathing out an exhale long enough to make his shoulders droop.
I smiled, resting my elbows on my desk. “So, I guess I’ll see you at the barbecue?”
His shoulders shook with a tiny chuckle before he nodded.
I flicked my wrist to check the time on my watch. “I think Mrs. Lopez is free last period. You can ask her some questions about the robotics program now if you’d feel more comfortable.”
His brows knit together. “Really?”
“Stay here. I’ll see if she wouldn’t mind a visitor. And you don’t mind missing the rest of your last class, right?”
He laughed to himself, and I spied the strong resemblance to his father in his crooked grin.
