So tired of this. The app won't stop glitching and this is really irritating.

Chapter 9: Ironically

The words repeated in my head even after I left the school.

I have a rep don't you ruin it.

I don't understand what Xavier meant. First he apologises then he leaves rudely. The small glint of kindness vanishing like that. My mind swirling with different thoughts. I lokked of the ledge my feet dangling below, the five of us were at the skatepark, Audrey decided to take us. Ty and her can skate but the other two and I can't. Becky is filming the skaters going up and down ramps as well as doing some really cool tricks. Tony has his headphones on ignoring everything around him as he concentrates on the sketch his drawing.

"Hey, what's up ?" Audrey asks sitting next to me. Her eyes are straight ahead watching Ty try teaching Bec how to skate.

"Just in deep thought, what about you?" I answer casually with a shrug of my shoulders.

She sighs, "Nothing much, hey I have an idea"

The ravenette jumps down from the ledge and pulls my hand,"Um . . . Okay then"

"Come on Danny I'm going to teach you to skate!"

I shrug and follow her. Why not? Maybe I can finally boast to Peter that I'm better than him at something.

Audrey puts down a skateboard in front of me. I put my one foot on the board with Aud's help as she positions me correctly,"Okay, now push yourself forward, left leg causing the movement, right leg guiding you"

We practice for a while and then the girl says she has to leave, we greet her before she goes and I try to control the board by myself and end up slipping, my back hits the skateboard and starts moving. The whole world going in fast forward. I can feel myself going downward before the board stops with a thud hitting a ramp. I try getting up in pain, reflexes causing me to rub my back, and see three sort of familier faces looking at me puzzled.

"Hey, who is this?" One of them say.

Wait.

I knew they looked familiar.

Jackson Hemsworth, Trey Harper and Mark Anderson.

Three of the badboys.

I look up at them, Trey, the brunette looks at me confused, "Is she safe to touch or we leave her here?"

"Dude, let's call Xray this girl doesn't look dangerous," Jackson says. Huh?

"Bro, that's for strangers," Mark says hitting the back of JK's head. He is the smart one.

"She is right here you know," I say sitting up and crossing my legs.

Mark shrugs,"Need a hand?" He offers with a soft smile.

I shake my head these boys need a trick played on them, "Take me to your leader"

"Ahh, alien," Trey screams jumping on Jack and pointing at me in horror. I stifle a laugh. Trey is hilarious.

"What's going on?" I hear a familier yet nauseating voice say. Xavier walks up to us, a black spray in his hand, looks at the two boys then at Mark who rolls his eyes at the stupidity of his friends then looks at me.

"Obviously none of them will try to help you up," Xavier says offering a hand. It takes me a second to process the words.

He wants to help?

I get up and pick the skateboard up before giving a small awkward wave, "Uhhh . . . Sorry for interrupting you guys. For whatever it is that you're doing"

I notice only now the spray cans and duffel bag near a wall, graffiti all over it but it looks incomplete.

"We're doing street art wanna join dude ?" JK says. He's friendly. Like Becky.

"It's fine Jackson I have friends to get back to," I reply.

"Wait, you know us?"

"Bro we go to the same school," Xavier tells the boy before looking at me, "You skate?"

"Uh . . . Not exactly I was learning to with my friend . . ." I trail off looking around. There's a wall when I came from going uphill. From where I slipped, you can't see the bottom from there.

"Well we can teach you," Xavier suggests.

Woah did I hear right.

It's like he switches personalities or something.

"Maybe next time, my friends will be looking for me um . . . can you guys do me a favour?" I ask. The four of them nod.

"Don't speak to me at school, your'll are popular and I can't deal with attention so yeah if you guys wanted to talk just uh . . . Not at school okay it's alright if you guys wanted to pretend we never met I understand that too," I end up rambling. The is sort of the truth , I just don't want to become friends with my enemies or let them find out that I'm the "Swift" kid.

"It's okay we get it," Xavier assures as the others agree. I smile and wave before walking back up to where I came from the skateboard in my hand.

I told my friends that I lost the board and went to get it, they believed the story thankfully and didn't ask any questions. The four of us go for ice-cream after that and then I come home. I hope the four boys keep their promise.

"Hey, Peter," I greet my brother walking in. He closes the door and gets back to watching the Brazil prix . I go upstairs and take a shower, the perks of having short hair is I can wash it ever day without having to dry it. Mum says I'll catch a flu like that but that's good because I can miss school.

"Who's winning ?" I ask sitting in the sofa.

"Max Verstappin is doing pretty well, the Ferrari drivers are having a hard time working together," He answers.

"What about Hamilton?"

"He's somewhere there," my brother replies waving it off. Ouch, I like Hamilton.

"So what did you do today?"

"Eat. Sleep. Watch TV. The usual"

"Garfield," I mutter.

"You calling me fat? Who do you know with more muscle than me?"

"Um. . . Mike Tyson"

"You don't even know the guy"

Well to be fair, the football team are really muscular, I unfortunately had to witness them after training. Super gross. My eyes were scarred for life after that and I learnt my lesson about staying after prac.

"So, how's your life, Danny you have female friends right?"

"Yes, I do"

"That's a shocker," my brother mocks and I throw a cushion at him.

"Okay okay sorry. How about football hows that going ?" He tries changing the topic.

"Awesome actually but there's a long story I need to tell you,want to go play some football?" I say standing up with a grin.

"No, I'm tired but remind me to go bike riding with you when my Harley is fixed"

Wait. What is he tired from doing?

And did he say he'll let me on his Harley Davidson?

Awesome !!!

My parents come home late today. Since mum is a lawyer and dad works in a hospital they have weird shifts. The two of us order pizza and watch a Euro 2020 match before I go to my room and do some homework. I scroll through my phone when I'm done looking at the instagram posts Thomas put up. I sigh and look up at the ceiling trying to figure why he decided that we aren't friends anymore .

Well that's life right?

C'est la vie

I prefer this school with all its shit it still doesn't have so many bullies or dumb parties. Okay apparently they have a lot after the first football game. This school also has a lot of drama but I'm not involved so that's nice.

"Hey sister," Peter knocks leaning against the doorframe.

"Oh, hi are the parents home?" I reply .

"Nope, you need help with your homework?"

"Nah, all done I did most at school anyway"

"Hey, are you okay? You look distracted," he asks plopping on my bed as I spin the chair to face my brother.

"Peter I need to tell me your opinion on this," I say, "You can't tell a soul about this"

"Danny what's up?" He asks worridly.

I then proceed to tell him about Dan Swift. My alter ego. I needed to get it out.

"Daniella Lucy Swift, this is flippen messed up, what the heck is up with you?" He says my full name-this is scary.

"Nothing," I mumble.

"Ugh, seriously you're insane you know that?" He snaps pinching the bridge of his nose.

"Yeah, but it's too late to leave the team, I want to play against whoever we're versing and show them girls can play football to"

"Well you could of told the principal or organised a protest this is too much, you're an idiot and I love you but this is. . . "

"Ridiculous. Unexpected. Unplanned. Deceiving. Crazy?" I suggest.

"Reckless, Danny and I'm saying that"

"Yeah, you're right," I sigh.

"Okay enough about this, let me see your kit, oh and figure out when you're going to tell everyone the truth"

I nod, getting my t-shirt and shorts.

* * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * *

Hey people

How's it going?

What is up with the badboys

And Audrey she's acting weird.

Do you think Peter is right ? Is he going to do bike riding lessons with her ??? And where is Thomas?

Well we shall find out soon!!!