My dead Orpheus. The awakening

Chapter three

As I expected, the school parking lot is packed with cars. On the side driveway, they've set up a fan merchandise stand. There's even a small booth for the opposing team, and the guy running it doesn't look too happy.

After all, he's in enemy territory.

Everywhere I turn, our team's colors fill my vision. There are scarves, masks, t-shirts, and even socks, all striped in yellow and black with the Campbell Bees logo proudly displayed.

I'm about to head towards the football field when I have second thoughts. I turn back and buy one of the masks on display. It's yellow and black, like everything else, and has small antennae sticking out from the temples. It only covers the upper half of my face.

I put it on right away, smiling like a total idiot.

The atmosphere is so festive that it takes me a while to notice that I'm the only one here alone. The girls are walking arm in arm with their friends, giggling and glancing flirtatiously toward the locker rooms, while the guys are devouring hot dogs, patting each other on the back.

Then, I see him.

Off to the side, leaning against the white railing near the bleachers, stands a guy. He's facing the field, so I can only see his dark hair. He's wearing a plain black t-shirt and seems to be the only one who hasn't raided the merchandise stands. He doesn't seem uncomfortable being alone, but maybe he's not really alone. Maybe his friends are about to join him.

When he turns, though, I nearly jump from surprise.

It's Nes McCollum, and it's so strange to see him without his sister that I didn't even recognize him. He meets my gaze, and his dark eyes widen in surprise.

Embarrassed for being caught staring at him – even though he does it all the time, shamelessly – I shift my eyes to the bleachers and walk past him quickly to find a seat. I hope the Campbell Bees mask is enough to keep him from realizing who I am. I'm already nervous enough without his piercing gaze making things worse.

Soon, the stands are full, and even the opposing team's bleachers are packed with screaming students and painted faces. Nes McCollum sits a couple of rows below me, and I let out a sigh of relief.

The excitement is palpable. The bleachers tremble under the fans' feet, and when the cheerleaders come out of the locker room, everyone screams and whistles.

The routine is short but effective. Afterward, the loudspeakers crackle with the names of our players, and I scream and clap along with everyone else.

The guys parade along the sidelines, thanking the fans. When it's Cedric's turn, he scans the bleachers more carefully than the others. His eyes finally land on me, and he smiles. More than that, he winks at me. He recognized me despite the mask. Then he raises his fist in the air and runs back to his teammates.

During the game, I pay more attention to him than to the game itself.

I don't understand anything about football. This is the first Campbell Bees game I've ever attended, but when it comes to gawking at Cedric, I'm in a league of my own.

Every now and then, I glance at Nes McCollum to make sure he hasn't noticed me, but luckily, our eyes never meet.

I clap when the others clap, shout when everyone shouts. It's not hard. I'm even having fun.

As the game nears its end, I'm on edge. The smell of hot dogs and fries makes my mouth water, but I don't eat anything. I'm afraid that if I do, I'll show up to my date with my braces full of sausage bits.

That definitely wouldn't be sexy.

In the end, we win.

Well, the Campbell team wins. I've always hated people who include themselves in things they didn't do. But maybe that's the beauty of being a fan: it makes you feel part of something, even if you're on the sidelines.