Rue & Hue

The Game

Lol time skipping

The Football season was underway and the school and students showed pride in all its sports teams. Announcements and spirit weeks were held whenever big games were to take place. This was supposed to encourage good sportsmanship and team spirit between teammates in preparation of their games.

One of these games was the team's game against their unofficial official rivals, The Western Whales. A stupid name, yes, and it was something that the Cardinals constantly made fun of. The reason they were rivals no one knew, not the students, not the teachers or staff. Just that they were 45 minutes away from each other and that the students were very competitive whenever against the other team whenever they faced off. Bleachers and stands were full, concession stands were overrun with customers. This led to many small time businesses to partner up with these schools so when the time came; they both could make a profit.

Ink was planning to go with Error but he wasn't able to go as he had family matters to attend to. His younger brother was in the orchestra and his family went there to support. He didn't know why the concert was so late but it was something that his brother took great interest in. Also he was dragged there against his will so that was his excuse.

He doesn't really care for football, but it would be nice to go to a few school related festivities.

Ink was dropped off at the front of the school where many cars were parked and the stands were already full with students from each team. The teams were on the field, warming up to music that was supposed to hype up both schools. Ink stood in line to get a chicken sandwich, not wanting to risk missing the entire game because he couldn't take a bit of cheese pizza. It took a while before he got to the stand, ordering a meal before making his way to the stands filled with students. The game was just about starting, with captains being called and the teams huddling to encourage their fellow team members to give it their all.

Even though this wasn't the state championship or a tournament. The teams still went all out.

Ink was looking for a good spot to sit when he saw Swap on his phone, wearing the school's colors and sitting largely by himself. "Oh hey Swap!"

Swap looked up from his phone and recognized the artist, waving happily and watching as Ink took a seat next to him. "You here to watch the game?"

"No"

Swap looked confused, "oh, what are–?"

"No I'm kidding!" Ink laughed and Swap laughed with him. They made small talk before the game's announcement began, naming the opposing team's starters of which the opposing team's crowd was loud and furious, before moving on to the Cardinal's football team. The crowd went wild, Ink and Swap included. The far side of the stands began a chant that continued to the rest of the crowd, the Whales also began their own chant as both teams made it onto the field and the game began

The game wasn't tight, the Cardinals were up by a lot, making the crowd loud for the majority of the game. Swap and Ink mostly watched the game, being supportive when the team celebrated and arguing when the crowd booed at the refs. None of them were really football fanatics, just showing their support for their school against other kids their age.

"I think number 98 is cool"

"Yeah he is running a lot of the yards"

"Would you date him?"

"...What???"  Swap looked at him in disgust. Ink did take a leap of faith, trying to see if he was maybe gay or something of a man lover. Maybe it was a bit much though.

"Y'know, if the guy came up to you and asked you out, would you tap that?" Ink shrugged as if he was asking about the weather. Swap looked at him then to the field where he tried to find number 98. The player was a Human who was pretty big, a healthy amount maybe. Mostly humans were in sports and monster sports were more recreational, although monsters still could be found on both teams, both on the field and in the stands.

"Probably not. He's not really my type"

"Oh, what is your type?"

"Ehh, just... someone who is nice and...maybe I mean. I haven't...well..." Swap was stuttering which is something Ink hasn't heard from the usually confident and put together skeleton. A small blue blush dusted his checks as he looked away.

"Huh" ink made a note in his head. At Least until he could write it down somewhere. Probably in his phone.

"So... you came here alone right? Error was busy or...?" Swap looked at Ink, swerving the conversation to a different topic as the teams called a timeout to regroup. The Whales had seemed to catch up, one of their players having made a full on sprint from the Cardinals' side to their side which garnered a loud uproar from both sides.

"Oh, yeah he couldn't make it. Something else came up"

"Oh, shame. Think he'll come to the next game?"

"If its a home game maybe. Not sure. Why ask?"

"Well, figured he could join in some school spirit. He's not the outgoing type unless I drag him out somewhere"

"That is true. Dude's a shut in" Swap chuckled, Error really wasn't a social person. He was shy as a child, which Swap could confirm, and just as introverted while he was in high school, which both could agree on and confirm.

"Tell me about it! He probably wouldn't have tried out for the basketball team if I didn't convince him to"

"Why'd you try out? You don't seem like the type to play sports. Eh, no offense" Ink looked at Swap apologetically.

"Nah don't worry about it. I just wanted to try out a sport so I had something to do. I wanted some else to try with me and, Error was the first to come to mind"

"Really? How long have you guys been friends?"

"Since fourth grade. More than a decade now" Swap was proud of his friendship with Error, despite the lapse in them seeing each other during late elementary and all of middle school until they saw each other again in freshman year of highschool. Despite their lapse, they were quick to reconnect and become near inseparable, becoming a recognizable duo throughout the school year.

Ink looked at Swap with a type of fondness. Swap was always a bright force in everyone's eyes, talking and befriending anyone and everyone, monster, human, ghost, anyone! He could see how Error could like such an open-minded skeleton.

Back to the game which didn't stop for their conversation, they continued watching and cheering up until Ink's phone rang, vibrations going off in his pocket which was the only reason he knew someone was calling. The crowd was so loud and he was just talking to Swap about the game and their favorite players so far. He saw the caller ID and saw that it was Error, not thinking it was a big deal he answered.

Error seemed to be in the hallway, considering he didn't look to be focusing on anything else and there were conversations going about instead of music "Hey, how's the game going?"

"What, you can't hear it from there?"

"No dumbass, obviously not"

"How's the orchestra doing?"

"Pretty good. He got a solo so that sounded nice. Other than that nothing's happening"

"That sounds more fun than what's happening here"

"What are we losing?"

"No, we're winning but football isn't really fun" Swap seemed to nod in agreement, being next to Ink he could hear the conversation. He tore his eyes from the game and looked at who had called Ink. He saw it was Error and his sockets lit up. "Oh yeah, and Swap's here!"

Error didn't respond, probably short circutting or lagging. Even though Error didn't outwardly show it like Ink did, he liked his close friend a lot. It was more his reserved nature that made him doubt himself. At least he seemed almost always shy and nervous so it was less obvious to his crush than it was Ink's outward liking towards Nightmare.

"Okay well it seems like you're busy so imma hang up now!"

"WAIT INK NO–!" Ink hung up, with a sly grin plastered on his face. Swap held back his laughter as the game went into halftime. The crowd cheering for the players exiting the field and they themselves walking from the stands to the restrooms or to the concessions stand who looked to have more orders of burgers and pizza for the crowd to indulge in.