AN: Here starts Ten Degrees East. Unlike History Notes, I know where this is going and it makes me laugh. Sort of. This one is about one girl, Asia Chambers, and a shocking realization. It's from Asia's POV, only, so yeah. After this one is finished, I will take a break from writing and posting. Anyways. Enjoy.

Ten Degrees East

The Last Tuesday

Chapter One

I couldn’t find Alex anywhere. I leave for two seconds to the concession stand, return and she has vanished. I scanned over the crowded stadium listening for Alex’s yelp of a laugh over the hoops and hollers of the crowd cheering on the boy’s baseball team.

“Get out the way.” Demanded someone while another waved his or her arm, head going back and fourth from right of me to left.

No time to look for Alex anymore, I fell into the closet seat almost dropping my nachos as I bumped into the person beside me.

“I’m sorry.” I mumbled doing my best not to make eye contact.

“That’s alright, oh hey Asia.”

I tensed at the unfamiliar voice, turning slowly to take in the petite girl with curly blonde hair in the seat next to me. I was surprised that I recognized who it was though I couldn’t recall her name.

“Hey,” my voice shook as I replied, eyes wondering the crowd I had disturbed.

There were other faces I recognized. Two were on the freshmen team, and two other from the junior varsity team. One of them I knew better then the others only because I knew her name was Candice. She tried out for the varsity team but didn’t make the cut. It was her first time playing real softball and I was doing my best to let her know what to expect. It paid off somewhat sine she made it to JV. We hadn’t talked since then. Actually, I think my sister is her friend.

I caught her stare for a second and she smiled lightly to me. I returned it slightly embarrassed to why she was looking at me like I that.

“Are you here alone?” Asked the blonde I still hadn’t put a name to.

I shook my head dipping a naked nacho into cheese. “No. My friend is around here somewhere…I sort of lost her.”

“You mean Alex?” I cocked an eyebrow wondering how she knew whom I meant, but that’s a little stupid seeing as I’m with her all the time and Alex knows most of the freshmen.

“Yeah...” I sighed grabbing for my bottled soda. “Have you seen her?”

“Yeah, yeah,” her head swiveled around. “I just saw her a minute ago.”

“Do you know where she went?” Finally, the cap popped off and I swigged the cold beverage finding myself strangely thirsty.

“No sorry.”

“Oh, okay. I guess I’ll-“ I didn’t get to finish.

The crowd erupted into cheers at what have been a homerun if I could see over the wall of Roosevelt High Cobra fans in front of me. The group of young players jumped from their seats as if on cue. Something rammed into my back sending my bottle out of my hand and into my nachos. Coke and cheese went everywhere staining my jeans and shirt. Instantly, I shot to my feet letting everything fall to the ground just as the cheers died down.

“Hey, Asia, did you see- oh my god.” The blonde busted into laughter pointing and holding her stomach. The others turned curious eyes and followed suit.

My face flushed. I didn’t answer back to the little group’s concerns as I hauled down the steps and to the concession stands getting a wad of napkins before sprinting to the nearest restroom. The red in my cheeks deepened as other girls glanced at me and began to laugh.

Great job, Asia. You can be such a klutz sometimes. In a matter of minutes my clothes were soaked with tap water reeking with nacho cheese, soda, and the fake flowery perfume of liquid soap. With a sigh, I went to an air dryer putting my lower half of my body under the roaring heat, scrubbing as much remnants from the cloth as possible.

That should be enough. I groaned as the dryer shut off. The horrid smell was sill there but at least the stain wasn’t so bad.

“Hey,” The tap on my shoulder caused me to jump. “Sorry.” Candice frowned. In one hand I noticed a ball of black.

“No, no. it’s fine.” Maybe if I could get my heart to stop racing. Why was I so jittery tonight anyways?

“Um,” she paused running a hand through her copper. “I thought you might want to, um, change or something?” Her eyes darted everywhere but me as she held out the rolled up shirt to me. “It’s one of the, erm, extra softball shirts.”

“Thanks, but you didn’t have to.”

A pink flowed onto her cheeks. “I didn’t think you’d want to go around like that. I know how it is to get stuff all over you it sucks.”

“Yeah it does.” I agree looking down at myself. Not to mention stink as well. “In that case, I’ll go ahead and change.”

Candice beamed as I took the shirt away and went into a stall to change out my soiled shirt for the new one. It was too big, way too big but it would suffice. Too bad she hadn’t brought any shorts or something but I would be thankful she even thought about me to bring this.

When I came out, Alex was walking in with a huge cup that she dumped into a sink.

“Hey Asia!” Alex belted eyeing the bundle in my hands. “Accident?” She teased looking over at Candice who twisted her toe into a crack on the concrete floor. “Hey Candi-Cane, how’s it goin?”

“Pretty good,” She said turning to Alex. “Asia spilled her coke and nachos all over her so I got her a shirt.”

“Leave it to Asia to waste food.” Alex tsked pulling her arms over her chest.

“Someone bumped me.” I admitted turning on the water to wash my hands to wash off the sticky, brown gunk of coke.

“Likely story.” Alex rolled her eyes.

“It is, isn’t it?” I threw my dirty shirt in her face and she gagged letting it drop to the floor. “Where’d you go anyways? I looked all over for you?”

The humid air outside the restroom drew the air right out of my lungs. I started back for the bleachers, but Alex stayed to the left leading us out of the stadium. I turned around watching Candice wonder away shooting me a careful glance back. I felt bad for forgetting her.

“Thanks again, Candice!” I called back. She waved then quickly bounded away.

Alex chuckled to herself. Before she could turn away, I caught her glance from Candice to me, a dangerous smirk playing on her full lips. “Liz was right.”

“Excuse me?” I asked and she chuckled again. “Liz was right about what?”

“Nothing,” She clenched her jaw to hold back the snickers.

I rolled my eyes. “Maybe right about you being crazy.”

“That much is true.” Her face straightened out when she said this but then fell back into that horrible grin. “But also is what she told me the other day.”

“And what might that be?”

“Oh nothing, nothing at all.”

I jabbed her in the side.

I was shocked at the time. It was going on eleven o’clock and the game still wasn’t over. I guess it was good we decided to leave remembering I had a ton of calculus homework to cram in one night. I had been putting it off for softball practice and the boy’s game tonight. I hope this lack of effort on assignments doesn’t affect my grade or my moms going to be on me ugly.

Alex revved up her little mustang and pulled out the parking lot. We drove in silence for a while, only the radio keeping us company.

“I wonder who our softball sisters are going to be.” She said as she turned down the music.

I gagged at the thought. All the varsity girls were assigned a freshmen player to show them around and help them out. This was my first time playing on a school team rather then a city league so I didn’t think it was fair for me to be assigned someone. I’d rather tag along beside Alex and watch her to learn the rules. Unfortunately, Coach G wouldn’t allow that so I’d have one by tomorrow at practice.

I shrugged leaning father back into the leather chair. “I guess so. I don’t know very much so I wouldn’t be a great help to whoever I get.”

“You don’t have to just help them out in the game but also school work and things like that. You should be tutoring the whole team, Ms. Valedictorian.”

I grimaced. “I’m only 3rd in class and a junior.”

“So what? By your senior year you’re going to be 1st. Then I can go to your graduation and make fun of you as you do your speech.” She snickered as her mind got lost in the future graduation. “First off I’d like to congratulate the class of 2009…” She yelped a laugh.

“I doubt it.”

Alex grunted at my down behavior. “Don’t be such a pessimist, Asia.” She said sourly turning a corner much too sharp. “Anyways, I’d really like to know who I get. I hope I get Shea. She’s hilarious.” I shrugged remembering the blonde girl I sat beside today at the game. “Maybe even Yvonne. She’s smart so she could help me with my homework and I could help her on her game. It’s okay, but she’s got some work to do…”

I nodded, eyes staring out in front while Alex’s voice turned to waves in my ears. She liked to go on and on about stuff all of the time and I’d just sit there and listen or pretend to be contributing my two cents every so often when it was needed. It never bothered her that I didn’t seem interested as long as she got to run her mouth she was satisfied no matter who was listening to what she had to say.

Apparently, Alex asked a question and I didn’t catch it. This happened often because I never pay attention and I space out.

“Huh?” I asked snapping my head over to look at her.

“I said, who do you want to be assigned?” I shrugged. “I think Eva would be good for you, she’s kind of quiet, but then you two would never talk.” I nodded sorry that I even pretended I was listening. I didn’t care about the stupid assignments anyways.

“But I think you should get Candice.” A smirk played at the corner of her lips and she turned away from me before I could see it’s full spread.

My eyes narrowed on her trying to decipher where that smugness was coming from. I hated it when she’d do that. When she knows something I don’t now and she teases me about it until I give up then she starts it up again knowing it will burn me inside.

“Candice is on JV.”

“She’s still a freshmen

“I thought she was a sophomore.”

Alex shook her head accelerating through a yellow light. “Nope, freshmen.”

“Regardless, I don’t want to be assigned anyone.”

“Oh well, you’re still getting one and Candice would be perfect. She’s cool.” She shrugged nonchalantly as we pulled up in front of my house sitting cramped between two other. “Besides, she already thinks you’re pretty cool. Plus, you helped her get onto JV.”

I gapped at her. Who would think I was cool except for Alex and I question her judgment sometimes. But you can’t really break friend bonds when they’ve been tight since you were crawling around in diapers. What I wondered the most was how she seemed to know everything about everyone. She knew each and every player, their records, their ability, age, grade, and more. It was a little scary.

“She was already a good player. I didn’t even do anything.”

“Sure you didn’t.” That smirk was there again and I slammed the door before I started to drive me crazy. “I’ll be by to get you in the morning and don’t forget we’re going to Liam’s after school for the garage concert.”

“Yeah, yeah.” I called back fumbling for my keys deep in my messenger bag. Once I got the door open, I thought twice about coming home sine I hadn’t been here in five days, but before I could change my mind I heard Alex peel off down the road.

I guess it was fair enough. I was never home and I figured it was time for me to spend a while at the place I live. I watched Alex’s little two-door mustang fade into the distance and around the corner taking my good time, and happiness away. On the count of three, I breeched the threshold feeling regret swim through me. Just as I expected, Harrison was sitting up on the couch, head titled to once side snoring. I smiled. Even on days he knew I wasn’t coming home, he’d wait up till at least midnight waiting to see if I came in.

Harrison wasn’t my real dad. My mom married him a few years after dad died. So far, Harry has been a good father. His wife divorced him years ago after giving birth to their daughter Madison, my annoying stepsister, so he had the how-to-take-care-of-girls thing down. I was grateful that mom found Harrison. She spent the first year without dad in a depression that slowly let up but it never fully left. Once Harrison came, the sun shined again.

So why wouldn’t I want to come home? That’s because my mom is as strict as all get out and Madison is a pain a lot of the time. The places I’m trusted at are, Alex’s, Liam’s and School. Anywhere else I want to go it’s either go through Harry or lie about it. So I like to stay away and get to do what ever I want for a while then come back home and get the ball and chain slapped back on.

“Dad,” I whispered shaking him lightly. “Dad, wake up. Go get into bed.”

He stiffened a yawn and his green eyes fell open. “Hey there kiddo.” He smiled rubbing the back of his neck.

“You know you don’t have to wait up for me like this.”

He groaned getting off the chair with another bear like yawn and a stretch. “I know, but Samantha’s been worried about you lately since you haven’t come home. I told her I’d keep watch for you, wait around for a call or something.” I followed close behind him as he headed for the backroom.

“You know I’m at Alex’s.”

“I know, I know, but just in case.” His large hands scattered his bright blonde hair all over his head as he scratched his scalp and yawned.

“Well I’m home now, so you can go to bed. I’ll be home for the next few days.”

He nodded already starting to doze off. “Hmkay, I’ll let you’re mother know. Night kid.” He pulled me up into a hug kissing the top of my head.

“Night dad.” I wheezed in his tight arms. He shuffled my hair around then stocked into the bedroom forgetting to close the door. “Poor guy.” I frowned pulling it shut then headed up the stairs to my room.

Opposed to the rest of the house, my room was like a freezer. I liked it that way. It was a relief from the burning heat from outside. I always kept my door closed and blinds pulled to hold in as much air condition I could. Tossing my bag into a corner – I wouldn’t worry about homework right now – I stripped and found a pair of sweats and a tank for pajamas, along with undergarments, then slipped off the bathroom.

Turning on the water, I caught my reflection in the mirror and stopped to stare at it. Ugh. There was nacho cheese in the ends of my hair matting it together along with soda. Yellow and black was shoved under my fingernails, and my skin was a shade darker due to being at a baseball field around all the dust. I looked horrible.

I couldn’t take it anymore and jumped into the shower scrubbing hard to get all of the stench off until my skin was raw and tingling.

My reflection caught my attention yet again and I stared at myself. For once, under the harsh bathroom light and the works of Forest Springs Soap, my skin was shinning a wonderful olive, water-matter brown hair clinging to my face outlining each feature. For a split second, I thought of myself as pretty but the images of the other girls flashed by. I wrinkled my nose and left the restroom still dripping wet.

After drying off, I put on my pajamas and crashed into bed forgetting my calculus homework I knew I could finish in the period before the class. Sleep didn’t come easy, as usually, my mind always seemed to wonder late at night keeping me up to ungodly hours. I tried my best to drown them out with music but they continued into my sleep, my dreams playing the baseball incident over and over. It wasn’t a satisfying night.

From a dream about puppies and dinosaurs, I woke up, teeth gritting at the shrill ring of my alarm. I shut it off and swung my legs off the bed. It was 5:45 AM, two hours before school even started. I only woke up this early so I could get done and ready before Madison could take over the bathroom. There were only a few times I’d forget to turn on my alarm and I’d wake up to find her in the mirror picking at every inch of her face. Luckily, I wasn’t late this morning and had the bathroom all to myself.

The house was silent, only the hum of the air conditioner illuminated the stillness. I didn’t’ dare look into the mirror as I brushed my teeth, then did my hair putting it into two pony tails that hung loose down to the middle of my back. My mom hated me with long hair, but Harrison liked it and it was fun to swing around while playing the drums in Liam’s Band so I kept it long. Though some mornings I wake up swearing it’s a few inches shorter. Finally, I look up at myself and smile. Just the same as ever.

“Are you done yet?” Growled Madison from the doorway. She didn’t even knock.

“Almost,”

She groaned loudly and sat down on the toilet seat top leaning against the sink. Like Harrison, she had bright blonde hair, curly, and doe green eyes. All the features an innocent angel would have but don’t be fooled by her appearance. She’s a real devil sometimes and extremely cranky in the mornings and even worse towards the end of they day. With me anyways. Everyone else, she’s as nice as a tame lion.

Slumping back, her head rolled up to face me, impatience twitching on her eyebrows. “Are you done, now?”

“Yeah, Madi.” I say through my teeth grabbing the mouth wash bottle.

“What are you doing, I thought you were done.” I shot up my index finger. “Don’t tell me to wait, you’re cutting into my time.”

The sting of mouthwash led me to spite out the blue mint liquid and I rinsed out my mouth with cold water to put out the fire on my tongue.

“About time,” She sighs pushing me faster out the door and slams just barely missing my heels.

Bouncing down the stairs, I could already hear the coffee maker buzzing and the soft chatter of my parents in the kitchen. It wasn’t necessary for my mom to get up so early, but she liked to make breakfast and see Harrison off every morning. She never did that with Wesley, my dad, only Harrison. I guessed it was because it was a morning when Wesley was off to work and he didn’t and got into a wreck on the highway, which led to his death. She always felt guilty for not getting up with him and bidding him farewell thus she started now afraid the same fate my come to Harry.

I stalked over to a cabinet retrieving the cereal and a bowl. The milk was already, and I poured it in over the Grape Flakes that turned the white milk purple. Mom thought it was disgusting, but it tasted great so I didn’t care. My love struck parents were still at the table, so I leaned up against the counter crunching on my cereal glancing at the clock every so often hoping 7:15 would hurry up.

“Good morning, Asia.” Smiled Harrison dumping half eaten bacon and eggs into the trash. “You know your mom made breakfast.”

I glanced over at her but she didn’t turn my way. Of course Harrison didn’t know she only made enough for him and her and possibly a little extra for Madison. It was too early for him to notice the little things like that. Or even the fact he was the first one to acknowledge I was there.

“That’s okay. I didn’t want to eat anything too heavy in the morning. It messes with my stomach.” He nodded flipping on the sink to rinse off the plate. I saw Samantha give me a look. “You can just leave it, Harrison, I’ll wash it when I’m done.”

“Are you sure?” He looked up at me, but his hands still worked at the plate and I nodded. “Alright then.” The water turned off and he let the plate go, mom smiled in approval. “I’m off to work then. See you when I get home, honey.” He kissed mom on the forehead and I turned my back to gag. “See you when you get home kid.”

“See you, dad.” I hug him back.

“Bye, Madi.”

“Whatever, bye.” A voice called from up stairs.

Once he was gone, Samantha dropped the act and rolled her eyes in my direction. I wasn’t sure of what I had done wrong until she opened her mouth. “I wish you’d just call him dad.”

“What are you talking about, I did.”

“You called him Harrison at first.”

Oops. I did, didn’t I? I was so use to calling him Harrison before they got married that I still hadn’t kicked out the kinks. Honestly, I didn’t get why it drove my mom so crazy when I’d call him something other then dad. She’d been on my case about it since the day after their honeymoon.

“I didn’t notice.”

“Of course.” She mumbled tossing her empty coffee mug into the sink just as a horn honked outside. She cringed but said nothing. Alex knew better then to honk like that, but I figured she forgot. “Don’t worry about the dishes this morning. Do on to school but don’t forget about them afterwards.”

“Okay, but I’m going to Liam’s after practice so I won’t be home until late.” Her lips pursed but she didn’t say anything and left the room. She’s been hanging around Madison way too much in the morning. Their moods practically mirror each other’s.

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