Theo's Actual Factual Guide to the Supernatural

Chapter 2: The Elf Mound

Dear Mr. Sampson,
The National Greek Council is pleased to present you with the opportunity to talk with one of our Greek Life representatives in your town. We have reviewed your academic status and we think you would make a wonderful addition to any one of our many branches. Enclosed are details of the expected requirements of our honors programs and scholarships.

I looked over the short letter and the additional details. I qualified for most of the programs it advertised but still, I wondered if it was worth the effort. Things like fraternities tended to be fairly social, the exact opposite of my nature.

Still, last afternoon I sucked it up and called the provided number to set up a meeting.

I shifted on the bleachers uncomfortably, yesterday Jake begged me to come watch him to try out today after school and I reluctantly agreed.

He waved excitedly at me on the field, I waved back and the girls next to me giggled with amusement, I felt a flush on the back of my neck my neck. The only other people watching the tryouts were freshman boys, who weren't allowed to try out until next year, and the cheer squad who had concluded their invitation only try-outs twenty minutes earlier.

I looked at their group and the white and gold uniforms they wore were almost blinding in the afternoon sunshine. In the very center of them sat Gabriela Martin, the cheer captain, staring at the field intensely, arms folded. I suddenly felt very nervous for Jake, if she decided that his performance on the field was sub-par he was as good as gone. She had that sort of influence.

Gabriela Martin is first and foremost an athlete, her toned body attested to that. Her rich brown hair was cut practically just above her shoulders, long enough to put in a ponytail but short enough that it wouldn't get in her way as she was doing stunts. Her smooth olive skin tone was a reflection of her Mexican-American heritage and although she was a little on the short side she made up for it purely in the force of her no nonsense personality.

Last year, in her first turn as captain she lead her team to their first ever win at the state championships. Now that she was a senior she was determined to go even farther, and made it clear that she expected the same from everyone else, including the teams they cheered for.

She broke her gaze of the football try-outs and finally noticed the reason her team wasn't focused. She glared disapprovingly at me and cleared her throat, signaling the girls to settle down which they did almost immediately and her attention again returned to the field. 

So far I didn't really have anything to worry about, Jake was doing just fine, well... more than just fine really, he was doing spectacularly. He went through every exercise so far with more speed, strength, and agility that I had no idea he possessed. Had he been holding out on me in years past? No that couldn't be true, I remember a time in the ninth grade where he had trouble doing more than one push up and our gym teacher had, humiliatingly enough, used him as an example of what not to do in front of the entire class. This sudden show of athleticism was both miraculous and strange. 

The football coach blew a whistle and the boys on the field dispersed, Gabriela stood from her seat and jogged up to Wyatt and the two conversed quietly, away from the crowd. Gabriela and Wyatt's relationship had always been a subject of gossip around school. The two never confirmed whether or not they were dating although they were always together at games and at dances. Some said that one was stringing along the other (which always seemed ridiculous to to me as neither of them is the type, after all they're both pretty straightforward people) and others said they had been together since the beginning and were just keeping things hush-hush so there would be no drama. 

"Hey, Theo what did you think?"Jake huffed, running up to where I was sitting, his hair sticking up at odd angles from the practice helmet they gave him.