Roses and Hooks /// Harry Hook

Chapter 10: Game Time

I told them that we should wait until the tourney game next week, and they decided to agree since I would know best. People wouldn't notice the change as easily. It would be less suspicious if we give him the cookie before the game and he falls for Mal instead of being with Audrey one morning and being with Mal by the afternoon. Everyone would notice the change quicker. This way, the game causes a big distraction.

Mal, Evie, and I are walking through the halls as everyone gets geared up for the game. Everyone's been hyped up all day, which is what I knew would happen. All anyone could talk about is the game, so no one would be the wiser. Except Audrey, but she bullies so many people that I know a lot of others wouldn't care too much if she was knocked down a peg or two. Ben walks over to us dressed up in his tourney uniform. 

"Evie, sister, Mal." Ben greets each of us before Evie and I walk over to Jay, who is also dressed in his tourney uniform. We stand a few lockers down, enough to give them privacy yet close enough to listen in on their conversation. I really hope this works, because if it doesn't, there isn't anything else we can do. This is kind of the final plan. After this, game over.

"Hey." Mal smiles up at him and puts her things in her locker. Ben eyes the artwork that she put there on the second day and smiles. 

"You're good. You could talk to Rose about setting up an art studio in one of her free rooms. I know she'd be happy to give you one." He tells her, motioning to the locker.

"I prefer to have my art on display for all to see." She tells him. "Hey, I made cookies. Want one?"

"I do, but I can't. I have a game starting in an hour and I don't want to overwork myself with something in my stomach." He tells her, which makes her frown. She takes a cookie out and sighs.

"I understand. Don't trust the treats the villain kids make. Oh, well. More for me I guess." She goes to take a bite and Ben snatches it out of her hand. He takes a large bite out and smiles at her.

"See? I completely trust you." I have to admit, Mal is good at manipulating people to get what she wants. Ben continues to eat the cookie before he shakes his head a little and stops chewing. "Have your eyes always have those golden little flecks in them?"

Mal takes the cookie out of his hand, throws it back in the bag, and tosses the bag in her locker. I walk up and close her locker as Evie and Jay go up to Ben. My brother has a strange look in his eye, and he can't take his eyes off Mal.

"How do you feel big brother?" I ask him and watch him smile brightly at Mal. Oh, God.

"I feel...I feel like...like singing your name! Mal! Mal." Ben starts singing her name, getting louder each time. The cookie was way too strong. My brother doesn't sing unless he's in an extremely good mood. This love spell has gone overboard. Mal rushes forward and covers his mouth, stopping him from singing any more.

Jay drags Ben to the boy's locker room and us girls start to the field. Evie giggles at how in love my brother is while Mal looks kind of freaked out. I'm more concerned about how this is going to go. I hope he gets the urge to sing out of his system during the game. Him singing to her in front of everyone would completely throw the distraction out the window and make Mal more uncomfortable in the process.

Soon, the game begins, and we all start to cheer for our team. The cheerleaders do routine after routine and hype up the crowd every time our team scores. My brother and Jay dominate the field with Carlos doing what he can to support them, like running faster than the other team. Carlos would speed to the tourney ball, pick it up with his stick, then pass it off to the other boys. The other team didn't even stand a chance as Jay makes the last score and our school wins the game. The cheering is so loud that Mal covers her ears.