Lacrosse

6- Lights and Frights

Kendall

I can feel the coolness of Josh's hands on my back, but I don't do anything to cause him to move them. It just feels right some how. I've always talked to him about how I want my first time to be special and how I want it to be with him. That's why he always makes jokes about me being a prude. I always do something that changes the right time into the total wrong.

And although it being on the school's lacrosse field is probably immoral, unsanitary, and probably illegal, it's the perfect time and place. This is where it all started.

During our first practice as high school players in Freshman year, some Senior poured some of his red Powerade on me, soaking through my white t-shirt and sports bra, exposing everything. Whether this was an accident or a purposeful attempt to embarrass me and impress the new players, I still don't know. What I do know is that when all the guys were laughing, Josh came over and gave me the shirt off his back to cover up with. And ever since then, we've been in love.

Josh's hands are moving their way towards the front of my chest, when I hear the familiar sound of a professional grade camera snapping a picture. I shoot upwards, my eyes darting around to find the source of the sound.

"Did you hear that?" I ask Josh, who I can tell is inwardly groaning, thinking that I'm creating yet another diversion to keep it from happening.

"I didn't hear anything," he mumbles, pulling me by my waist back down. He puts his lips on mine and I start to kiss back, when I hear the sound again. I dart upright again, twisting my head in every direction to see if I can find where the camera is.

"You had to have heard that!" I exclaim, looking into his aquatic eyes, now tinted with frustration. I sit myself down on his legs and he sighs before sitting upright.

"What did you hear?" he questions softly, in a tone you use when telling a child that there isn't a monster under their bed.

"A camera taking a picture! The same thing I heard last night," I answer.

"You're doing it again Kend," he coos. "You can tell me if you're not ready."

"It's not that! I actually really heard something," I plead.

"There's nobody here. Everyone from school left a long time ago and I have the keys to the gate. Nobody can get in here with me letting them," he explains in a soothing tone.

Almost as if on cue, the field, which was now engulfed in darkness, is illuminated by eight bright lights.

"What the hell?" Josh asks, looking up at the stadium lights that allow us to see our surroundings. "Those aren't supposed to turn on except on game days and in order for them to go on..."

"Somebody had to turn them on," I interrupt.

We look at each other, panic in our eyes, wondering who is here and what all they saw. We can get in major trouble if anyone from the school caught us. Josh stands up slowly, placing my hand in his and pulling me up with him. I clutch on to his arm, staying as close to him as I can.

"Who's there?" Josh yells in the direction of the press box, the only area of the school that has the switch to turn the lights off and on. The snapping of another picture follows the question.

"Now did you hear it?" I ask, my voice shaking.

"I definitely heard it that time," he replies, tightening his grip on my hand.

The speaker system of the stadium crackles to life, sending static sounds through the air. "We see all," the deep voice on the other end says.

"Josh," I whisper.

"Yeah?"

"I'm scared."

"You will pay for your sins," the man's voice speaks once again.

"What do you want from us?" Josh screams.

"We want her," the voice states before the speaker system goes dead. The lights suddenly turn off, leaving the field in a grave darkness. A squeaky sob escapes my throat and Josh pulls me into his chest. I bury my face in the familiar feeling of his skin and he wraps his arms protectively around me.

"They can't hurt you," he coos. "They'll have to kill me before they get to you."

"But who is they?" I cry.

"It's probably just some freak from the Pittsburgh Hills gang that is trying to psych us out. This wouldn't be the first time they've pulled a stunt like this."

"What about the times when you're not with me? Then they'll be able to get to me," I sob.

"I won't leave your side. They won't lay a finger on you or breathe a breath of the same oxygen as you without me beating the living hell out of them," he reassures me. "Now let's get out of here."