For the next few weeks, everything had gone back to normal. Or more like a new normal that included Zeke, Riley, Ms. Elly, and Mýa. Mýa and Zeke would wait for the bus stop every morning together, with Mýa having to wake Zeke up at least once every week. They would see each other sometimes in school and would sit together at lunch with Mýa's friends and some of Zeke's new friends. They would ride the bus home from school together unless one of them had something to do after school. Mýa would have Softball Practice, Tournaments, or hang outs with friends on the weekends while Zeke had Baseball Practice and Tournaments. And they would occasionally hang out and Mýa would sometimes babysit Riley.
Mýa was at Zeke's house a lot and would hang out with Riley or Zeke, help Ms. Elly, or bring them things. Everyone had grown pretty close and everyone was used to one another. So they had a new normal, it was different from what Mýa had been used to but she liked it.
It was now September 23rd and the whole school was buzzing with excitement for homecoming. Mýa, Hailey, Tilly, Mabel, Mia, Illa, Payton, Zeke, some of Zeke's new friends; Colt, Blake, Isaac, and Bella were all sitting at a table together at lunch talking.
"I don't understand what makes homecoming such a big deal." Mýa stated. "I mean, it's just another football game, yet there is a dance, a parade, and all sort of hype for it."
"Yeah," Payton agreed. "It is very overrated."
Blake and Colt (who were both on the football team) looked at them like they were crazy. Even Zeke found it weird. "Come on, what's not to like?" Blake asked.
Colt added in, "This is one of the most important games of the season. If the team wins this one we will get more support from students, everyone will feel excited, and it starts us off strong."
Mýa sighed, "I guess you can think off it that way, but you already had your first game so this doesn't really make or break your season. You already started off, strongly. I am not interested in football and homecoming doesn't make me any more interested. I will go to the parade but that is all I've ever done during homecoming week and it is all I would desire to do."
Zeke looked at Mýa's friends. They were used to this, Mýa felt certain ways about certain things and she rarely changed her mind. They had already tried to persuade her to go to football games and to come to the homecoming dance but she would only ever go to the homecoming parade and to random football games when they persuaded her extra hard. Zeke looked at Mýa and said, "Why aren't you interested in football or the homecoming dance? I thought you would like that."
Mýa looked at him and answered him honestly, "I have just never found football to be interesting. I don't understand the concept of the game and there are a lot of things I would much rather do. Football is so basic, everybody always loves it and the dance and there are popular cheerleaders and jocks and party's and hanging out on the bleachers, and I am just not into it like everyone else is."
Zeke sighed, "Have you at least tried to go and have a good time? Football games and the homecoming dance is a fun part of highschool. You should come with us." He wanted to know.
"It's not important to me." Mýa stated as she got tired of the conversation.
The rest of lunch the large group talked about other things, but Zeke kept looking at Mýa. He wondered why she didn't like football or 'normal things' like cheerleaders or jocks. He liked that she was different but wanted her to be able to go to the homecoming game and dance and enjoy it like everyone else does.
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"Why don't you come to the homecoming game with us? Just once, please!" Illa asked for the 7th time.
"No. I already told you no, do I need to say it in different languages or something?" Mýa exclaimed exasperated.
"Why not? You have never even gone, I'm not asking you to go to the dance." Illa continued.
"Because it is like every other boring football game I have ever gone to." Mýa said.
"Come on, Zeke even tried to get you to go. He probably wants to see you there, he practically asked you to go with him!"