Invisible Monsters

Chapter 9: Football?

 I've never really been a fan of sports. So whenever the school tries to get the students into the "team spirit" and everyone starts getting excited, I just sit there wondering when can I go on with my life. So you can guess what was going through my mind when the school has an assembly in the gym so the principle can give a pep talk. I wasn't really paying attention to what he was saying. He said something about team spirit and something about our mascot Ned the owl. Also, I'm pretty sure the team we're going up against is our arch rival. Mountain Peak High School. Their team is called the Mountain Climbers. Sounds stupid, but then so does ours. Actually, I don't think any of the guys who weren't already athletes were paying attention until the cheer leaders got involved. I watched, but I didn't really pay attention. They were doing their little moves. I could see Jane and her two best friends. They're always easy to spot in a crowd. Jane is head cheer leader so she has to be open and pretty. She likes it too. You can tell by the smile on her face. She loves being the center of attention. When Jane had finished doing one of her moves, she stopped for a second and winked at someone in the crowd. Who was it? I don't know why I'm so curious, but I am. I crane my neck to try and see who it might be, but I don't want to draw attention, so I eventually give up. Finally the pep rally was over and the principle stepped up to the mike again.
"Remember, the game is this coming Saturday, so make sure to show up and give the team your full support. You may now all resume your daily schedule."
I let out a sigh of relief and get down from the bench. That really hurt my butt. I start to walk it off. Tiffany comes jogging up to me.
"Hey Sam." She greeted me.
"Hey. That took forever, didn't it?" I start to complain.
"Yeah, but at least we're out of class. You plan on going to the game?"
"No. You know I'm not into sports."
"Yeah, but you have been doing a lot of things you normally wouldn't do ever since becoming friends with you know who."
I feel my face start to turn red. Oh no, she noticed! Actually, I'm surprised she didn't say anything sooner. Wait, does she think I'm acting more social because of Zach? I mean technically I am, but that's besides the point!
"No I haven't, and don't bring him up while we're at school." I quickly whisper.
"Come on, I didn't say a name. Besides, I'm not wrong."
"How do you know it's him? Maybe it's Jack."
"Come on, Jack is a good friend, but he's not that good. Seriously though, what did he do to make you more social?"
"He didn't do anything." I try to defend myself.
This isn't good. She's asking too many questions. Where's Jack to change the subject when you need him? Just then Tiffany turned her attention to somewhere else.
"Speaking of the devil; look." Tiffany nodded her head in the direction she was looking. I looked over and was surprised by what I saw. Jane was talking to Zach and Zach said something back. Jane laughed and then hugged Zach's arm. I'm pretty sure I imagined it, but I think he stiffened a little. When Jane lets go, she smiles and winks at him. After she walks, off one of Zach's friends walks up and gives him a gentle punch in the arm. Zach rubs the spot and says something.
"Wonder what that was about?" Tiffany draws my attention back to her.
"No idea." I shrug and make sure to sound less interested than I feel.
So that's who Jane winked at. I thought Zach hated her. At least he gave me that impression.
"Maybe it is best your keep you're friendship with him secret. You don't want to get Jane's attention anymore than you have." Tiffany says.
For once she actually looks serious. All I do is nod. I remember when I saved Martha from Jane and her two goons. I figured Jane forgot about it. She hasn't approached me in a while. Maybe she thinks that in itself is punishment. If that's the case she really is stupid. Yeah, never gonna say that to her face. I just move on with my day. After school was done. I was ready to pack up and head home, but something just had to distract me. It was Zach. Normally he's gone by now, but I saw him heading down the opposite direction than the exit. Strange I thought to myself. I decided to follow him. For what dumb reason, I don't know. I followed at a distance so he wouldn't notice me. He kept walking till he walked outside to the back of the school. Surprisingly enough, he went to the Football field and sat in the bleachers. The coach was with the team getting in some more training. They weren't doing anything really tough, probably so they don't get injured before the big game. Speaking of the game, the quarterback was off his. I guess I'm not really sure what they're doing. All I know is the coach keeps yelling at him. What was his name again? Kaiden something. Just then the coach yelled at him again.
"Kaiden Rab pick up the pace already!"
Rab! That was his last name.
"Zachary Richardson what are you doing?!" The coach yells.
I nearly jump out of my skin when he looks in our direction. Guess he didn't see me. Also, why does he feel the need to say student's full names when he yells at them?
"I came here to cheer on the team of course." Zach smiles at the coach.
The coach just grumbles something and goes back to what he was doing. Not too far off, the cheerleaders are practicing their moves. Man, I don't know how they're so flexible. Makes my limbs hurt just watching it. Why is Zach here though?
"Zach, you came." I hear Jane's voice.
I step back behind the bleachers so I'm not seen. What am I doing?! This is so wrong! Maybe I should just go, but I stop before I do when I hear Zach's voice.
"Well I said I would, didn't I?"
Jane laughs. She must have walked up into the bleachers to talk to Zach cause she sounds closer.
"I was afraid you only said it to get away from me." she fakes an unsure voice that doesn't fit her at all.
"Why would you ever think that?"
Zach's voice makes me uneasy for some reason. The voice he's using reminds me of the way he sounds when he teases me.
"Well, you've been acting so distant lately, that's all. You hardly ever spend time with me." Jane says.
Why is he obligated to spend time with you?! The thought screams in my head.
"Sorry about that. I've just been busy, that's all."
Is that what he calls all that? "Just been busy" the way he said it. It's like they were just minor inconveniences. He's talking about fighting monsters and all the time he's spent with me and everyone else. Why does this hurt so much? I knew it. He's just what I thought he was. When it comes down to it, he's a popular kid and he'd rather hang out with the kids on his social level. I can't blame him, can I? I haven't actually been that open or friendly to him. He does all the effort when it comes to our "friendship." I've done nothing. I start to think of that night when Zach found me in Tiffany's kitchen. He's probably already forgotten about it. I tuned out what else they were talking about so I could drowned in my own thoughts. I didn't even realize I had closed my eyes. I slowly open them and I'm shocked by what I see. A bull. A big, scary looking Bull is standing right in front of me. Before I can act it runs straight at me. I cover my face even though I know it's useless. It's transparent after all. It goes right through me and for a second I'm scared it possessed me, but then I hear someone running down the bleachers. I turn to my left and poke my head from behind the bleachers and see the bull. It's running straight towards Kaiden who is about to throw the football.
"Kaiden, wait!" Zach yells.
"What?" Kaiden stops and gives Zach an irritated look.
The bull stops mid run when it sees Zach.
"Your shoe is untied." Zach says.
Kaiden looks down and when he sees that his shoe is fine, he looks back up at Zach and scoffs.
"Very funny."
He then throws the football and another player catches it. Jane laughs at what everyone thinks is a joke. I let out a sigh when the bull walks off. Then Zach turns around and looks at me. I think. As soon as he looks in my direction, I decide I've spied on him enough. I just run back to the front gate. I get a text from Tiffany saying she and Jack had to head home without me. I text her a reply and start my own journey home. Was Zach there because of the monster or not? I don't know. The way he was ready for it tells me yes, but the way he talked to Jane, says no.