Chapter Fifty-Five: Marcus

My grades have really come up, so my parents have finally laid off with the nagging all the time about how low my averages have been. I started doing my Honors English homework, so my grade there is up to a B. I had a solid B in Algebra I and now it's up to an A; I'm a whiz at math. Of course, I had an A in gym, and I was already making a B in just about everything else. I've had these great cheat sheets in World History the last three tests, and I'm working on another one for when we have our big nine weeks test in two weeks. When I'm done making it, I'm going to take a picture of it with my phone, then during the test, I'll keep my phone between my legs, and look down there when I can't remember something. Mr. Foster doesn't have a clue about what I've been doing.

So with me being back in the good graces of my parents, I'm back in business in the social scene. Caleb and me are both dating ninth grade girls, so obviously we can't take them to prom. We got together the other day and decided that maybe we could have our own little celebration on prom night and have the girls over to one of our houses for food, and video games, and maybe some movies or something.

We had a long conversation about which house we would entertain the girls at, so we started ragging each other about who had the bigger flat screen TV. Ours is a 55 class, and his is only a 40, so guess who won that battle. I told my mom that we wanted pizzas and Edy's Moose Tracks for dinner, and she was down with that because of all my good grades. It's good being back in her good graces; Dad seemed suspicious that my grades have come up so much, especially in history, but like they say, what you don't know, won't hurt you. I don't mind not having to rely on Joshua for wheels and not being around that foul wench Jordan is always a good thing. Mom said she would be glad to pick up Tameka and Leigh if their parents would bring them home, so everything was set up nicely.

Tameka got here first, so I showed her around the house and especially my bedroom where all my trophies are going all the way back to when I was a kid. She seemed really interested in my telling her how I had won all those awards. She already knows about my plans to play D-I football and basketball. I don't know if we'll still be dating then. I don't want to tie myself down before I get to experience college.

After Caleb and Leigh arrived, we all went down to our rec room, and feasted on pizza. Caleb and me probably ate a whole one each, they were so good, and the ice cream was great, too. Caleb and me then played Madden NFL while the girls did some silly game on Playstation. I really wasn't paying attention to what they were doing. I whipped Caleb's butt while we were playing Madden. I mean, I've been on a roll lately.

After it got dark, the four of us went out the rec room door and walked around the backyard for a while, to have some alone time...if you know what I mean. Tameka is way hotter than Camila and Kylee ever were. I can't believe I ever wasted my time and money on them. I've got to tell you I like not having my girlfriend go to the same school as I do. If I meet, like, a hot new transfer girl next year or run into a babe at Mom and Dad's club, I can lay out my charm without Tameka knowing about it and getting in my business.

The NBA playoffs were on when we came back inside, and Caleb and I asked the girls if they minded if we watched some hoops and they said they didn't care. I really need to be studying the moves of those NBA shooting guards. It just dawned on me a couple of weeks ago that I could be playing in the NBA in no more than seven years, less if I turn pro early. If I went pro after my freshman year in D-I, I could be playing pro just four years from now, so I've got to be ready when that time comes.

Caleb knows how much I want to play pro hoops, so he has stopped telling me just to concentrate on football. I appreciate him not wanting me to play just football; I can be his go-to receiver the next three years and fill up the basket in the winter.

Round about 11:00, Tameka's and Leigh's dads showed up. Tameka's old man sort of has this foul expression when he's around me, and he was the same way when he picked her up. I could care less, things are going my way.