New Girl on the Block

Chapter Thirteen: Helena

"Come on, H!" Lyra calls, pulling me through the stands by my hand. "I'm coming, besides, we're already late, there's really no point, Lyra!" I call after her, yelling over the roaring crowd. Lyra and I make our way to our seats in the student section and sit down for about two seconds before we're shouting and jumping back up.

Lyra is smiling as we sit back down. "Isn't this great, H?" She asks, looking quickly from me back to the game. I can't hear the band playing loudly on the other side of the stadium, and some fans are still shouting and cheering. The entire environment would usually make me want to cry, but right now all I'm capable of doing is smiling. "Yeah, but why are we having a football game in December?" I ask her, but she acts like the answer is obvious. "It's tradition to do one more game after Christmas break! I don't think we've ever skipped a freeze game," she says, and the only reason I know what a "freeze game" is, is because she told me on the way here that that's what these games are called because it's so freaking cold. 

Throughout the entire second half of the game, Lyra is telling me a multitude of different football terms I don't understand. I just smile and nod at most of them. I think Lyra is about to confront me on my pretend understanding when the crowd erupts into angry shouts and yelling.

I look to the field to find one of the opposing teammates running at one of our players from behind. The opposing teammate slams into our player, sending him flying across the field. I don't realize who it is until his helmet flies off his head, tumbling into several other players as he makes contact with the ground.

Ben.

Everything seems to be a blur. Sound seems to dull around me. My legs develop a mind of their own as I feel myself rising and walking, jogging, running, sprinting to the gate. A security guard stands on the opposite side of the gate from me, stopping me from getting onto the track.

"Excuse me, miss. I cannot allow you past the gate at this time. Please return to your seat," the plump guard tells me. I look from his eyes to Ben being hauled over to the athletic trainers' benches by two full-grown men. "Please, sir, I just need to–"

"Sorry, ma'am. Unless you're close family, I cannot let you through," the guard says, and almost as if on cue, a woman comes running up behind me. "Let me through, that boy is my son!" She shouts at the guard, and he nods, clearly not wanting to argue with a mom on a mission. The guard shoots me a look, warning me not to move past the gate. I step back, allowing the woman to pass.

I watch for a moment as the trainers and a medic somehow show up with me barely noticing. Ben barely looks conscious, but they've got an icepack pressed to his head and his hip, so I think he'll be okay.

I hope he'll be okay. I turn away, my heart racing, my head pounding. I'm almost to the metal stadium steps when I hear him scream, "HELENA!" I turn around immediately watching as he hobbles to the gate. I run back to the guard as I hear Ben saying, "Let her through!" The guard doesn't hesitate as Ben hobbles over. I practically jump over the gate, but thankfully the guard opens it before I do.

Before Ben makes it to me, I run into his arms, almost toppling him over. "Are you okay?" I say, pushing away and looking him over. I feel so close to him even though we basically just met. "Yeah, I'm alright, my love," he whispers into my ear, pulling me closer to him. The announcer guy tells everyone that because of the serious, purposeful injury, the Tigers forfeit the game and the Bulldogs, us, win.

I don't even care what Ben just called me. He could've gone into a coma or something. "Okay, lovebirds, break it up," the guard from earlier says. I pull away, Ben's hands falling down the length of my arms and into my hands. "I'll see you tomorrow, okay?" He says to me, and all I can do is nod and say, "Promise?" I feel like I shouldn't be saying these things, but I can't stop myself. Ben smiles and says, "Promise."