Ever After

In The Spotlight

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This chapter is in Mark's perspective.

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For once, I felt important. According to Killian, this was a "big day," my time to shine, my moment – figuratively speaking, I was the center of attention, "trapped in the spotlight" as Mrs. Jefferson would say. All eyes would be on me, spectating my every move, meaning one small, fatal slip could end up meaning the end of my costume-wearing, furry-frenzying, messily-cartwheeling career.

I couldn't wait to get out there, to show the entire school my capability to be the mascot the Blackwell Bulldogs needed to push us forward and into the championships. I would give them a fierce roar, waving my paws crazily as the crowd went just as wild, screaming my name at the top of their lungs. They would all be so excited, so raved by my bursts of energy and splurges of excitement, my "I can't hear you!"s, my screeches and howls muffled behind my mask – and, best of all, they wouldn't know the person behind it.

Killian clapped a hand on my upper back, telling me to "go get 'em." I beamed, although he couldn't see it, as I put my mask on, hearing a few excited hollers erupt from the crowd of B.O.-scented basketball boys as we emptied the change room, flooding out and into the hallway, entering the gym but seconds later. I made sure to cradle Tim in my hands, hesitating as to where to rest him whilst the show's opening took place – Felix, who'd decided to sit out from the game due to a leg injury, offered to hold onto him for me, forcing me into making a difficult decision I didn't have time for.

I plopped the egg down and into his hands just as the music started to blare over the gym's speakers, the crackling sound of static kissing my eardrums behind the sound of loud trumpets and the heavy booming of a drum. This meant that it was my turn to take center stage, time for me to enter the spotlight and show the world that Mark Edward Fischbach isn't a complete nerd (despite what the permanent marker on my locker said). I had style, swagger, and superior skills, all of which the school had yet to see – they would all scream and holler my name, chanting that I take off the mask to reveal the charismatic hunk hidden behind it. And, once they realize it's me, they won't groan in disgust or whisper of my bedhead; no, they'll love it, clapping, screaming, and begging for more.

I handed out a few quick fist-bumps and high-fives to the rest of my teammates, allowing them to sit back and on the bench as the opening unveiled itself.

It was going perfectly according to plan; Killian and his team were seated on the benches, and the cheerleaders were beaming in their fake fashion, running up and taking position at my sides and behind me. I heard the audience start to catch on, unenthusiastically clapping to the beat thundering in my ears; they wouldn't be so unenthusiastic once I started to get them riled up.

"What's up, Blackwell Bulldogs!?" I bellowed, uncertain of how muffled my voice sounded behind the head of the costume.

A response came from the audience, one just as muffled as my own (or maybe even more so) – I dramatically pressed a hand up and against my ear, leaning forward.

"I can't hear you!" I hollered, giving encouraging nods with every word.

A groaning sound arose, a sound as if they'd blended all of their voices together and ended up with a shitty smoothie. Still, I was clapping, happy to be in the heat of the moment – I grabbed at the microphone (offered to me by the coach himself!), bringing it close to my puppy tongue.

"We're gonna need a little more energy than that!" I cheered.

A small increase in loudness crept up from the crowd, and yet it wasn't nearly enough to keep the charade going. I let out a few "come on, guys!", but it felt as if every attempt I made was to no avail – the students weren't catching on, and I definitely didn't blame them, for I certainly wouldn't want to embarrass myself in front of any of my friends. Actually, that was a lie – I'd love to wear a Blackwell Bulldogs t-shirt whilst screaming at the top of my lungs – seeing as Jack was my only friend, I loved to embarrass myself around my peers.