Crimson Nightmares (#WATTYS2016)

Chapter Four

This is a bad idea.

I'm making my way to the sports field the next afternoon, dragging my hockey stick behind me. Natalie and Kathy have somehow managed in convincing me to participate in sport, though blackmail would be a better description. I have never been athletic, except for the occasional runs I take to clear my head. In middle school I tried out for a few things, but got rejected every time – mostly due to my clumsiness. There really isn't anything I'm able to achieve in, so I normally don't see the point in trying.

I hear someone shouting and turn around to see a guy in the distance waving wildly. Although I can't make out what he's yelling, I do manage to see the ball flying directly towards my head in slow motion. Since it's so close already, I see don't even try to dodge it, closing my eyes and waiting for the inevitable impact instead.

And then I fall. Again...

The ball hits me with such force, knocking me over, and I hit the ground hard. For the second time in as many days, I'm horizontal in public.

I squint my eyes against the harsh sun, which is almost directly above me, somewhat amazed at my knack for self-inflicted public humiliation. A shadow falls over me, and I see someone move in to block the worst of the sun's rays.

Oh just kill me now.

"You're either the most accident-prone girl I've ever seen, or you must really like falling..."

It was Joshua, of course. It had to be him.

He's holding his hand out to me again. This time I recover faster, and avoiding his hand, I push myself up off the ground. I try to think of something witty to reply, but come up empty. Apparently my brain fell out when the Rugby ball struck my face. So I just dust myself off, avoiding his eyes. I know I'm blushing again and inwardly curse myself.

"You don't talk much, do you?" His voice is filled with laughter, and I feel the heat creep down my neck.

He reaches for my bag just as I do, and our hands touch again for a brief moment. 'Stupid spark', I think as I jerk my hand back with lightning speed. Seemingly unaffected by our contact, he proceeds in picking up my bag, throwing it over his shoulder with ease.

"Come on, I'll walk with you." His eyes lower towards the hockey stick I'm somehow still holding onto, even after the fall. "Hockey? Do you think that's safe?"

I just stare at him, my lips pursed, and my brows drawn into a frown. Joshua gives an exasperated sigh and takes my hand. Leading me across the field, he mumbles something about a death wish, and shakes his head as he walks.

This is a completely new experience for me, so I have no clue on how to react. I watch the back of his dark-haired head as he drags me further. We pass a group of girls and I see sneers contort their otherwise attractive features as they gape at our joined hands.

Finally I'm able to form coherent words. Unfortunately, my self-directed anger for being a total idiot flows over towards him the moment I open my mouth.

"Let go of me!" I hiss as I attempt to free my hand from his tight grip.

Joshua stops abruptly, spinning around to face me. His eyes lighten a shade with shock. They promptly become hard and cold. He stands there for a few seconds, just staring into my eyes, and I see a strange red glint pass over his pupils. It's gone again in an instant, and before I can make anything of it, he lets go of my hand.

He holds my bag towards me and I take it, after which he grunts something before proceeding to walk past me, back in the direction he came from. And then he's gone, leaving me shocked at my own reactions, with a hand that feels empty and cold.