Temporary Goddess

Not A Team Player

        Casey, Gwyneth, and me blew through Advanced Chemistry. Then it was off to art, which seemed like it took longer than an hour. Lastly it was P.E. and I was not looking forward to it. Not because I had my friends in it, but because of Torrance. He’s seemed to be plotting something for the past couple days, and I was afraid of what he could do.

                As I opened the door, I felt that intense aura radiating from behind me. I didn’t even have to look anymore. “Hey, Mr. Bad Wolf.”

                Jacek smirked a little. Hey, dolcezza.

                “Are you ever going to tell me why you were called to the office?” I asked over my shoulder.

                He let out a sigh. I’m sure you’ll find out soon enough.

                “Jacek, what’s that supposed to mean?”

                Then my eyes found something even more stressful. On the other side of the bleachers, was the entire Darthwood football team and cheerleaders. I swallowed hard when Drax’s eyes found me, along with the three succubi. Everyone in the gym from Black Water was on edge, and in the middle, was the three coaches. The smile on Torrance’s face was alarming. Surprisingly, Jacek followed me all the way to where Casey and Gwyneth was sitting at the top. They looked nearly as surprised as I was when he sat down behind me. I nearly blushed knowing I was nestled between his long legs.

                “Why are all of them here?” I asked Casey, trying my best to avoid eye contact with Drax.

                He shrugged. “None of us are too sure, but maybe because this is the last class of the day and the gym is right next to the football stadium?”

                “It’s suspicious.” Gwyn said as her nose curled.

                I nodded. “Especially that smug ass grin on Torrance’s face. It makes me want to hurl something at him.”

                Jacek never said a word, and when I looked up he was in a stare down with Drax. I could feel Jacek’s irritation, it was almost radiating from him.

                “Can we have everyone’s attention? We would like to give a warm welcome to Darthwood Academy and their teams. Tonight’s football game is going to be a true testament of each school. I look forward to everyone’s participation.” Torrance said, glancing up to my group and as his eyes met mine he gave me a wink.

                Not caring who saw, I lifted my hand and flipped him off. “Bastard…”

                “Miss Castell! Be ready to work the football game tonight for that little stunt of insubordination!” Coach Butcher yelled as he pointed right to me.

                I rolled my eyes when he looked away. “Bloody hell. What does he mean?”

                Casey gave me a sympathetic look. “You’ll be assigned some crappy job to do at the game tonight, like water-boy, or working the concession stand. It’s usually boring meaningless jobs they can find for you.”

                “Sweet.” I whined as my shoulders fell.

                “Everyone go get ready, and for those of you in football gear up. We’re going to get in a few practice runs before the game tonight.” Coach Hugh said before turning to talk to the Darthwood people.

                “Yay, more track walking.” Casey blurted out sarcastically as we all headed to the lockers.

                I followed behind Gwyneth as we exited the locker room. Vivian and a few of the other cheerleaders were in uniform and staring down their opposing team. Suddenly Casey was at our side with a completely bewildered expression on his face. He looked like he was trying to find the right words, when me and Gwyneth say what he was trying to explain.

                There in front of us was a very angry Jacek in a football jersey and pads. I nearly laughed as I covered half my face, Gwyneth did the exact same thing, and Casey was trotting in circles trying to contain himself.

                “Jacek? Babe, why are you in that?” I asked, looking him over from head-to-toe.

                He looked like he was about to burn the school down with everyone in it. I hate my life sometimes.

                “That doesn’t explain anything.” I said, patting his chest reassuringly. “What happened?”

                “The principal drafted me.” Jacek said in a low, dangerous voice. “I wasn’t allowed to refuse.”

                I shook my head. “He can’t do that. Can he?”

                Jacek shrugged miserably. “He did. Threatened to tell my father that I’ve been hanging out with a human girl.”

                “Oh…” I pulled away from him. “This is my fault then. f**k, Jacek..”

                He reached out and caught my hand. No, it’s not. It’s his.

                Jacek gestured to Torrance and I know my face did a ‘I’m going to kill you’ look. “You’ve got to be kidding me.”

                He shook his head. Torrance told the principal that the only way we were going to win any games this year was if they made me play. Torrance was even the one that suggested they used you as a bargaining chip.

                “f*****g hell, he’s unbelievable. That’s why he’s looked so smug today. Rat bastard. I wanna go over there and kick him in his shin.” I interlocked my fingers behind my head.

                Jacek shook his head, but a small smile was on his lips. The shin? Is that as high as you can get?

                “You know it.” I said with a wink. “Have you ever even played football, Mr. Bad Wolf?”

                He shrugged.

        Casey came back over and gestured to the Darthwood football team. “I can give you a crash course in the game that way you can stand up against them.”

        “Alright.” Jacek said with a sigh.

        I gave him another wink before moving over to Gwyneth. Her face read annoyed and tired. I bumped her to get her attention. “What is it?”

        She shook her head. “It’s nothing. I’m just starting to get a really bad feeling. That’s all.”

        “Well, it’s nice to know I’m not the only one.” I said trying to ignore Torrance’s victory smile.

        Jacek was busy learning what he was supposed to do in football, Casey was doing his best to coach him when the real coaches weren’t paying attention, Gwyneth was telling me about what usually happened at the games. It sounded insane. The game was allowed to be played with your abilities, as long as you don’t teleport. That wasn’t allowed. That’s the reason Darthwood always won. Drax, their running-back could de-materialize himself and no one could touch him, no one except Jacek. Torrance was interested in Jacek’s abilities from the very beginning, maybe this was his plan the entire time?

        While I listened to Gwyneth something else caught my attention. Over to the right, the cheerleaders were practicing. On one side was Vivian and her three squad members, and on the other was the entire Darthwood cheer squad. At first it seemed like they were doing a decent job of ignoring each other, but then Coralyn had to start something.

        “You’re supposed to be the cheer captain, lizard girl?” Coralyn scoffed, unimpressed with the cheerleaders across from them.

        Vivian rolled her eyes. “Shut up, Cora-w***e. No one asked the succubus to chime in.”

        Benny giggled. “Struck a nerve, Coralyn. Look how red she’s getting already.”

        “Don’t you have some man to preoccupy yourselves with? I would have figured someone would be balls deep in you, it’s been a few hours since your last fix, right?” Vivian tilted her head to the side, a smirk on her lips and arms crossed in front of her.

        Coralyn snorted. “At least men want to be deep inside me. When was the last time you got laid, lizard girl?”

                Don’t get me wrong, I didn’t like Vivian, at all. But she was losing this verbal battle against Darthwood, and the sound of the succubus’s voices were really getting on my nerves.

                “Hey! Gargoyle! Leave the dragon lady alone, bantering like this is my job.”

                Coralyn growled. “I am not a gargoyle! You know that, Cairyn!”

                “Whatever.” I shrugged. “You Darthwood folk are so arrogant it’s astounding, and by astounding I really mean annoying.”

                Gwyneth giggled as she hid her face. Vivian looked confused as to why I came to pull the heat off her.

                Benny huffed. “What crawled up your ass and died, babe?”

                “I’m just getting really tired of all the crap today. So, leave Vivian and her people to do whatever it is that you cheer people do.” I sighed.

                Coralyn shook her head. “No way, this b***h is our competition. Throwing her off now means she’ll put out a crappy performance tonight.”

                “Is that what your daddy taught you?” I said with a smirk.

                Benny’s eyes narrowed. “I don’t get it.”

                Santina rolled her eyes. “God, your stupid, Benny.”

                “Did you just say I sleep with my father?” Coralyn took a step closer.

                I looked over to Gwyneth and put my palms out. “Was it that hard to get?”

                “No, they are just lacking in the brain department.” She said with a slight shrug.

                Coralyn growled. “Keep talking and I’ll make sure to shove something so far down your throat-“

                “Is that more references to what your daddy has said to you? I didn’t know succubus f**k their family. Pretty gross, but hey, to each their own.” I said with a reassuring smile.

                “You b***h!” Coralyn shouted as she charged for me.

                Before Gwyneth could flash us away, Vivian came out of nowhere with white hot fire dripping from her mouth.

                “Leave her alone.” She growled as Coralyn took a step back.

                “Fine, we’ll truce until tonight.” Santina said while she pulled Coralyn back farther.

                Vivian closed her mouth completely for a few seconds, extinguishing her flames. With a light sigh, she glanced over her shoulder at me. “Thanks, but this doesn’t change anything.”

                I gave her a wink, swearing I made her blush. “I didn’t think it would.”

                With that me and Gwyneth went back to doing laps around the football boys. I caught Jacek’s eye, and watched him shake his head slightly at me. I stuck my tongue out at him before I tuned into what Gwyneth was saying about another party tomorrow night.   

        “How was it”

                Jacek looked over at me and I watched him sigh. It’s worse than I thought. I’m supposed to be a team player.

                I tried to not laugh at the disappointment in his voice over the team sport. “Well, Jacek, that’s the entire idea behind a team. Why don’t you just act like you suck and have no idea what you’re doing and maybe they will kick you off the team?”

                He shook his head. I tried that out there, and ended up doing good. They want me to just catch the ball and run as far as I can with it.

                “Wait, that’s what Drax does on his team. They wanted you to be their unstoppable running-back. Smart, if it wasn’t for the fact that you can’t stand any of them. Jacek, can I ask you something?” I looked over to him with a straight face.

                “Of course.” He said while we waited for the last bell to ring.

                I swallowed hard. “You rather play football with people who treat you like you’re an outcast, for a school you hate, than tell your father that we’re friends?”

                Jacek let out a deep breath. My father…isn’t a very nice person, dolcezza. He has an idyllic mindset, and I don’t think anything will ever break him from it. I don’t want him anywhere near you, Cairyn.

                Whenever he used my first name I knew it was an intense subject for him. I nodded, but I want sure on how to approach this. “So, what are his ideas for you then? A white picket fence? Joining the military?”

                He shook his head. It’s more complicated than that. Maybe one day I will find a way to explain it to you.

                I looked over to him and wet my lips. “I’m going to be here with you that long?”

                You can be with me as long as you want, dolcezza. Jacek said before heading towards the doors.

                I knew the bell was about to ring and went back over to Gwyneth and Casey. The moment I reached them the bell rang