Last Player Standing

Chapter Sixteen

"I think I'm about to die."

I drag my feet from the girls' changing room, muscles crying out in pain as Ning and I head to lunch. Ning follows after me, pulling her ribbon out of her short hair. She fluffs the jet-black locs before putting the black tie in her backpack. "You're so dramatic Cass." she laughs. She pulls my cheek and I push her to the side as she giggles, swinging her gym bag across her shoulder.

Ning and I had just finished P.E. together, and I could already feel the bruises blooming on my body from the fierce game of dodgeball we had participated in. The two of us had been on opposing teams for the first time in a long time, and if that didn't fuel our competitive spirit, then the violent nature of the sport definitely did. I had lost to Ning's team by barely one point, mainly because one of my teammates sacrificed me to save themself.

I know.

Loyalty is hard to find these days.

We stop by Ning's locker first for her to put her P.E. bag in and get her books for her next lesson. I lean against the lockers, letting her arrange her locker in that ultra messy way of hers where everything just barely manages to fit in the tiny space. As I wait, I release my hair from my bun, massaging my temples. The soreness in my body hums, and I'm desperate to keep walking to take my mind off the ache. After my morning jog, my brief solo stunt practice, and today's game of dodgeball, I was surprised I could even walk. The slight pain in my knee certainly wasn't helping either, even though it was much better than it had been on Sunday night.

And as usual, instead of helping me, Ning was laughing at my pain.

A true friend.

I pull myself from step to step as we make our way towards my locker, our last stop before we head off to lunch. I punch in my passcode and slide out my school bag, balancing it on my non-bandaged knee as I shift stuff to make space for my gym bag.

"They have pizza today, babe. We need to hurry up." I glance over my shoulder at Ning who is showing me her texts with Mateo. He must already be in the cafeteria.

"Teo already got me some, but if you want a slice we have to go, like now."

"I'll pass, thanks." I take my time rearranging the books in my locker, putting the used ones in order, and taking out my notebooks for the rest of my afternoon classes.

"Pass on pizza? You never pass on pizza!"

"I'm not sure I can stomach anything right now. I'm so sore that I genuinely feel like throwing up." Tossing the last of my used books in the locker, I pull out my textbooks but not before I notice a certain blonde striding down the hallway towards me, looking like a man on a mission. His curls are messy, and his glasses sit perfectly on his nose. His lips are pressed into a thin line, and his severe expression sends off warning bells in my head.

He's wearing his glasses to school for the first time since we started high school...

Okay, so he definitely didn't wake up on the right side of the bed.

Whatever he's grouchy about today, I do not have the patience to deal with it. I clasp my hands together in a quick prayer, the weight of my bag pulling down on my arm. His footsteps get closer and the words spill out in my mind, as though the faster I say Amen, the faster Lucas will change course and walk past me.

"God, I thank you for my life. If you love me Lord please stop him from coming over here. Amen."

Lucas walks right up to us, parking himself beside me.

God must be ignoring my prayers.

Damn it.

He greets Ning with a slight smile, before finally turning his attention to me. I cross my arms, waiting for him to say something, anything.