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Chapter 5

Oct. 14, 2015 Wed.
Jacob

  "I'm sorry Jacob, because of the size of our school, we don't have football," The sports director of Aevelly High, Mr. Garcia, told him.
  "That's impossible! What's a highschool without FOOTBALL!?" Jacob exclaimed in sheer disbelief.
"I mean what's the point of having the football goals up on the field if you don't have the sport!?"
  A heavy weight plunged into the core of his heart, shattering his spirit.
  "We have lacrosse in the spring, which is kind of like football. If you're looking for a contact sport for the fall, we have Basketball. That one is also for the spring semester as well," Mr. Garcia told him.
  "It's fine sir..." Jacob said. He got up, his head weighed down, and walked out of the room with less energy than he had when he walked in.

After school

  The group met up in Harris' class for writing club. The aura of the room was more depressing however. Audrey tried to talk to the members but all were too distracted by Jacob who was just sitting at his desk with his head down. Natalie tried to talk to him but couldn't get one word out of him.
  "Umm, Jacob is everything alright?" Audrey asked. She walked up to him and gently nudged his head. Sour groans emanated from him without moving his position.
  "Is that a yes?" Adrian asked.
  "There's no football here and I give up on life!" He cried out in a muffled voice.
  "There there," Sam said. She eased in closer to pat his back, a gesture she always did when her friends felt sad. "I'm sure there's other sports you can join."
  "Yeah J, just join basketball or lacrosse like all the other poor chumps who were upset about our school not having football," Looz said.
  "I've never been good at basketball, and never EVEN heard of lacrosse until this morning."
  "Lacrosse is a pretty cool sport," Natalie said to him, rubbing his shoulder.
  Jacob blew a razzberry, his cheeks blushed, "yeah, but even then, it's a spring sport. I was really looking forward to being a football champion here, you know, show the school what I'm made of."
  "Well why not join cross country, it's not as much of a contact sport like the others but I feel it's even more fun," Danielle said.
  "Cross Country? You mean like running?" Jacob said, "be serious Dani, it can't get any more easier than that."
  "Yeah, it's easy but fun, nothing like the feeling of running until it feels like you're flying." she said. Passion radiated from her very being. The group was in utter confusion how anyone could find running easy.
  "I'm not sure, it just doesn't seem challenging enough to me," Jacob said, "no offense to you or your team."
  "What, you don't think I can give you enough of a challenge Jacob?" Danielle asked defensively.
  "If you're implying it's a gender thing, it's not, I just know I'm a fast runner and my long legs give me an advantage." Jacob said, leaning back in his chair with a cocky expression, his hand waving away the comment.
  "I can definitely beat you in a race, easy," Danielle said with a confidence rivaling Jacobs.
  The rest of the group just sat back and witnessed as the two rambled on. Looz passed a sheet around to the group that said "Danielle vs Jacob Race!! Cast your votes." By the time it reached Audrey there had been 2 votes for Jacob, and 3 for Danielle. Audrey let out a half laugh at the note.
  "Alright," Jacob announced, "I've never been one to reject a challenge, how about we have a race right now!" Jacob said confidently.
  "NAH NAH NAH, I'll decide." Danielle said, standing up to meet his height, but ultimately falling short.
  "Alright then, name your time and your place, but don't say I didn't warn you."
  "Tomorrow. The track. After practice."
  "Woah woah woah! Hang on a moment, that's not fair, you'll be tired from practice, I asked for a race not a slaughter."
  "Please, practice is the warm up."
  "Have it your way then, I'll see you tomorrow!" he got up, leaving with his head held high, A new fire burning in his heart.
"Wait jacob!" Audrey called out.
  "Don't worry Dri, I'm still as fast as I was back then. I won't lose!" he said. He raised a thumbs up to her proudly.
  "That's nice Jacob, but the club activities are still going on." Audrey said.
  "Oh... oh yeah, sorry."