Darkness Light

Payback

New Chapter

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The last three of Ani's classes passed in a blur. All too soon David lead her to the small boys locker room and told her to wait for him there. The rain was a light drizzle, but the longer she stood in it the wetter she got. She still hadn’t really dried out from all her puddle sloshing.

Ani covered her nose with her sleeve; even standing outside in the rain didn't stop the smell from reaching her nose. The smell of sweat and dirty gym socks. She shivered as she thought of what other smells were in the mix.

Coach Rick came out of the room. "Hey what are you doing here? Shouldn't you be waiting for the team and I on the field?"

Ani gave a small smile. "David told me to wait for him here. He said he wanted to show me to the field. Something about a secret path that bypasses the worst of all this mud." Her mom would kill her if she was muddy on top of wet.

Coach laughed. "Alright, well you be careful." He walked back into the locker room.

Ani closed her eyes as the rain stopped. Though as she did Jake appeared in her mind. Why was he watching her? Was he really or had she imagined it? She shook her head, it didn't matter. She'd be moving again soon anyway.

"Hey you waited." She opened her eyes as she heard David’s voice. He stood in front of her wearing a black and white football outfit. He was number 26.

Ani nodded. "You told me to wait so I waited." She shrugged. "Besides you promised a way through the mud. I don't need my clothes any worse then they are."

He chuckled. "Yeah, yeah. Come on. Follow me." He started walking around the side of the locker room. Ani followed right behind him.

Ani blinked in shock as she saw the football field. It looked nothing like one. Yes it had the field goal on either side, and it looked long enough. But it was basically one giant mud puddle with a drowned, muddy track around it.

David groaned. "This is why I skip practice on rainy days. Dry cleaning costs are through the roof these days." He shook his head. "To late to back out now." He pointed to a row of wet, rusty bleachers. "You can sit there; Coach normally sits there so you can sit with him."

Ani nodded and headed over to them, carefully avoiding the deeper mud puddles. Once she reached the bleacher though she didn't want to sit on them. They were wet and looked like they were falling apart. With a sigh she pulled off her jacket and laid it on the bleachers. Goose bumps covered her arms as the cold hit her, but she ignored it and sat down. She’d rather be cold then wet.

Absently she pulled on the edges of her bandages; it was a flash of white against the black of her gloves. She didn't care if people saw, it was her life. If she wanted to hurt herself she could. No one had any right to say anything.

She watched the rest of the football players trudge their way through the mud, none of them looking very happy about being there. Coach came out last.

Slowly he walked over and sat down next to her. Ani felt his gaze on her wrists, but thankfully he stayed silent. After a moment he looked at her. "Push ups or laps?" He asked suddenly.

Ani stared at him slightly shocked. He wasn't going to make her do those things, was he? "Wh-what do you mean Uncle Rick?

Her uncle smiled. "Lets just say I heard two of my boys talking about you, and lets just say the topic was of how rude they were to you on the bus this morning. So let’s say that I'm putting you in charge of todays practice. So, push ups or laps?" he tilted his head slightly.

Ani gave an evil grin. "How long would they have to run?" He smiled back. "As long as you want them to." Ani grinned; maybe this day wasn't as bad as she thought.