An Exchange

Chapter Eleven - Football

Ryan

We lined up to run out onto the field as the band played. Through the bleachers, the coyote mascot ran around in front of the home crowd trying to get them worked up, while the cheerleaders chanted behind him. I loved home games, they always gave me a rush and I always played better.

The opposing team ran onto the field. My team mates jostled excitedly around me, causing Jonas to bump into me. “Sorry,” he mumbled.

I grabbed his shoulder. “You’re first home game you get to play in, right?”

“Yup.”

The show choir started their performance, and Penny’s voice came through with a solo. I couldn’t help smiling.

Jonas punched my shoulder. “What was that?”

“Nothing. Just focus. This is a big night for you.”

Penny and Maria were having a great time together. It was the first time I'd seen Maria smile sober. The pair took to each other after the party, and Maria met up with her at lunchtimes to play football with us. Maria was a different person to the girl who had haunted the hallways since our sophomore year, and I was happier to see Penny with Maria than with Dylan’s group. I continued to watch Penny while they sang, impressed by her talent.

“What are you going to do with her tonight?” Jonas asked in a barely audible voice.

“I was thinking a movie at the dollar theater and ice-cream afterward,” I answered in a low voice so as not to attract any of the coaching staff’s attention.

“Have her back before midnight or I’ll beat you up.”

I looked at him, surprised. I saw a twinkle in his eye. He was playing with me. “Sure, big daddy.”

“That’s right, she’s my girl.”

I laughed, surprised to find him quite amusing. Spencer glanced over, but didn’t have time to speak as the cheerleaders lined up and we moved out. We jogged passed the band and show choir. Penny smiled at Ray, then Jonas, then Spencer, and finally me. I reached my hand out to her. She slapped it, grinning. Her giggling filled my mind.

I knew Dylan was watching furiously, even before I saw her as we passed through the cheer squad. Ahead of me, Jonas glared at Dylan. She curled her lip as their gaze met, then discreetly gave him the finger.

I sped up and caught him as he slowed, turning to her. “Hey, cool it. Don’t blow tonight on a stupid cheerleader.”

We warmed up, then formed a line to shake hands with the other team. I stepped in to do the coin toss. Then, the game began.

Our teams were evenly matched, and both needed the win to keep our perfect season running. We went off at halftime, muddy from the light sporadic drizzle, and exhausted. As we grabbed drinks and headed to the locker room, Marty snuck over to talk to Jonas. Unable to hear, I watched. Jonas dug into his bag and handed Marty a CD. Marty waved the CD at him with a smile, then disappeared.

I crept over to Jonas. “What was that about?”

“You’ll see.”

As we made our way to the locker room, the speakers boomed the announcement for the halftime entertainment. The first song was a duet with Marty and Penny. I spun to look at her. She hadn’t mentioned that! She stared ahead wide eyed, her jaw hanging. I looked to Jonas who nodded with a huge grin.

*

Penny

I could have killed Marty. But apparently everyone had conspired against me, because the rest of the choir stood to back us up. Jonas pointed at me, laughing. I shook my head. He had been in on it, too, and had provided them with my backing CD.