GUN IN MY HAND

CHAPTER 30: THE BEST TEAM

'Lately I don't even know ya

Too many devils on your shoulder, shoulder

Oh my God

Baby, if it's what you want

I just wanna see you happy'

It wasn't that hard actually because they were heading towards each other, and Spencer threw him the ball. We could see clearly the ball about to take off in the air again, and we were definitely seen as both looked in our direction and didn't watch what they were doing.

Before I could exhale, the inevitable happened, and from the 'no!' I heard beside me, everyone probably saw it coming, contrary to what came next as I even surprised myself.

Something must have been short-circuited in my brain. Was it the wooden toy I'd been gripping too tightly in my pocket until it sparked? The wide brown eyes staring at me? The ball flying in my direction? Or just a wild instinct?

When the question appeared, I was already jumping in the air to catch the ball, and I couldn't think of the answer as I ran as fast as I could towards the end of the field.

I was a shooting star, and the boys standing in my way didn't get to stop me. Okay, they were maybe a little dumbstruck, but the few who tried to catch me stumbled with my zigzag movements.

It was like I was flying before I, of course, crashed, though it was behind the delimitated white lines, and I didn't even try to catch myself, closing my eyes and letting my body glide forward, with the ball hugged to my chest.

When I reopened my eyes, every sensation rushed to me as if I was coming back to consciousness, even though my body was perfectly fine. I would have some bruises, but I hadn't blacked out technically. I just had a lot to process with the surge of adrenaline coming down, and with the shouts of my name, claps, and howling gasps echoing around, my head lifted to peek at my surroundings while my smile stretched.

I had caught a Hail Mary pass and done a touchdown, an extraordinary good one. The victory rushing in my veins wasn't like anything I'd felt in years, and maybe coming back to consciousness, coming back to life, was really the best way to describe it as I inhaled deep breaths of air filled with sweat, turf, and success, and my muscles were buzzing.

"Unreal! The great Dorothy Duncan is back?!"

"She's still as good!"

Some boys with whom I'd played many hours, many years ago shouted, though whether they were gaping at me like a ghost coming back from the past or just like an alien, they were all wide-eyed. All except one, who had this bright, knowing grin, and it didn't dim the sensations going through my body. On the contrary, my heart was taking up stronger, and I may have returned Spencer's smile for a second or more.

"Well done! I didn't think someone would catch this throw! That's way out! I owe you one." Gordon appeared in front of me, his extended hand reminding me that I was still crashed on the ground. "We're playing to know who will clean the locker room, so it's serious."

Oh right, it was their tradition after the end of the championship every year: playing for fun and great stakes. Boys and their stupid bets!

"You can ask me anything if we win."

"Um... can I play?"

"What?" His eyes grew larger while he looked around my head as if checking for any concussion.