Strength

Friday

I got up and saw I had a text from Ace. One I didn't read last night.
Ace✌️: You know what, don't talk to me until you're done hiding secrets from me.
"Fuck" I said out loud and got up to get ready.
I left the house down the street towards school.
A block before school I heard someone behind me. I turned to see Nevaeh.
"Hi." She said with an evil grin on her face.
"What the hell you want?"
The back of her hand came in contact with the same cheek as before and then she disappeared into what I'm guessing her evil lair or something.
I stood there looking at the sidewalk and then it. Blood. Blood had hit the sidewalk in a splatter. I felt my cheek and blood was dripping out. I took my sweatshirt sleeve and put it up to my face.
I walked into school and headed straight to the nurses office.
The nurse looked at me,"Come on. Let's get that cleaned."
"Thank you." I said and hopped off the counter.
The bleeding stopped, I threw my stuff into my locker and went Mr. H's room, but he wasn't in there. I left his room going down the hallway towards coach's room. He wasn't in his room either. I walked out of his room to the other hallway to see if Xavier was here and, of course, he wasn't.
One place left to look. I walked out the door to the football field. I got to the fence and, yet again, absolutely no one.
Where the hell is everyone?
I went back into the building and sat up against my locker.
——
•ten minutes later•
I looked down the hallway to see Ace. I turned my gaze back to the ceiling. He approached his locker and threw his stuff inside slamming his locker shut causing me to squeeze my eyes shut.
"Skylar."
I opened my eyes to see Xavier.
"Oh thank god." I said looking at him.
He helped me up once again and I looked at him.
"What's up?"
"I need to talk to you."
"About what?"
"This,"I said pointing to my cheek,
"and basically the whole situation."
"Really?"
"Yes."
"How about study hall."
"That works and speaking of study hall have you see Mr. H or Coach?"
"They were at the other building talking to some guy about baseball."
"I need to talk to them first."
"Are you ok? You seemed almost shook earlier."
"Decisive."
"I can handle that."
"Thank you." I said giving him a hug.
"Anytime. Talk later."
——
•Study Hall•
I walked into study hall and looked at Mr. H who was luckily with Coach.
"I need to talk to you and coach and then Xavier."
"My room" Coach said.
We walked out of the room down the hall to coach's room.
"Here." I handed Mr. H my phone with the text between Ace and I from last night.
"Damn. Have you seen him today?"
"Yeah. I was sitting up against my locker and he physically threw his stuff into his locker and slammed it shut."
I explained then what happened on my way to school.
"What are you going to do?"
"The only I can do. See what happens as time passes."
They both nodded their heads.
"I'm going to tell Xavier all this."
"Question."
"What?"
"Why Xavier?"
"Because he has been a good friend to me. He has got a smile out of me plenty of times and I need someone I can call if I get one of those freaking nightmares again."
"Nightmare?"
"Oh yeah. I had a nightmare yesterday morning. I woke up in panic."
"What happened in your dream?"
"All I remembered was me laying on the track. Everyone was surrounded by Nevaeh and she was crying. I had blood come out of my face and Ace came up to me and slapped me."
"Everyone was around Nevaeh? As in like the football team?" Coach asked.
"Yeah. Everyone except Xavier."
"I better go get him then. This is important."
"Extreme."
Coach and Mr. H left and seconds later Xavier came in.
He sat down in the other chair and looked at me.
"Xavier Vince, you are my friend. I can trust you, but before I tell you, you have to promise not to tell anyone especially Ace. The only people you can talk to this about it me, Coach and Mr. H. Will you please promise me that?"
"Skylar Grayson, you're my friend. I can trust you and you can trust me."
I smiled and but my lip.
I explained everything to Xavier right up to this moment including fixing the nightmare I previously described.
His eyes were wide and had a mix of emotions from anger to hurtful to happiness.
"Come here" He said.
We both stood up and he hugged me. His hugs were welcoming and so warm.
We were like that when the door opened and Mr. H alongside coach came in.
"Go well I assume?"
"This girl has gone through a lot. I'm happy to be her for her."
"This is what you needed. A friend you know you can trust." Coach said.
"Agreed."
We all talked about another ten minutes and the bell rang.
"Good luck tonight coach."
"Yeah. Thanks."
"I'll give you ride home later."
"Thanks. I'll meet you at your locker after class."
"Gotcha." He winked.
——
The last bell rang and I went to my locker. I grabbed my stuff and went to the other hallway to find Xavier.
"Ready?" He asked.
"Yup."
In his car he has the radio on playing music in a soft volume which was pretty nice.
"You coming to the game tonight."
"Wouldn't miss it."
"Wanna go when I go? I can pick you up when I leave."
"Why don't you just go home now and get your stuff and then come to my house."
"Ask you parents?"
"Left for their business trip Tuesday morning."
"I forgot that."
"Yeah." I said he pulled into his driveway.
"You wanna come in while I grab my stuff?"
"Actually I gotta call someone so I'll just stay out here."
"Alright. You want anything?"
"No. I'm fine. Thank you."
I watched Xavier go into his and then I called one of my dads friends.
"Hello?"
"Nathan, it's Skylar."
"Skylar. How you doing?"
"Good."
"What's up?"
"I was wondering if you could make some dog tags for me and a few people."
"Yeah. How many?"
"Seven."
"Simple. I can have them done this Sunday. What would you like on the front?"
"I want one on each."
"Ok."
"Skylar, Xavier, Kelsey, Carter, Mr. H, Coach and Ace."
"Ok. What about the back?"
"We have nothing to fear but fear itself."
"I'll call you when they're done."
"Thank you." I said just as Xavier came back into the car.
"You welcome." He said jokingly.
I shook my head as he started out the drive way.
——-
We both stepped into the house and I went straight for the kitchen.
I grabbed the bag of animal crackers out of the cupboard and sat on the island.
"You have an addiction to these things." He said taking the cookie out of my hand.
"Hey."
He stuck it in his mouth and smiled.
"You know what I don't understand about these?" He asked.
"What?"
"Why they are called animal crackers. They're more like cookies to me."
"I've wondered that for years dude."
We spent about another two hours together doing random stuff around the house and talking about the most random things.
"We gotta leave in ten." He called from the other room while getting ready.
"K." I called back. I was already in my Purple and a gray Wolves T-shirt and grabbed a sweatshirt.
"You gonna tackle anyone tonight?" I asked as he came out in his shorts and T-shirt.
"Yeah." He said and ran to me tackling me to the ground.
"Not what I meant." I said looking at him.
"I know."
——
Xavier made his way to the Locker room and I went inside the gates. I was leaning on the fence when I heard a very familiar voice.
"Skylar."
I turned to see Carter, Kelsey, Mr. H and Mrs. H with baby Grayson in her arms.
"Hi little dudes." I said giving him and Kelsey a high five.
"Hi Mr. H, Mrs. H. Hi baby Grayson."
"Michelle, this is Skylar."
"The Skylar you were telling me about?"
"Yeah."
"You, Skylar, are a strong person."
"Thanks."
We talked for about five minutes and then they left for their seats. I stayed by the fence.
——-
Half time
Score 17-6
——
I was standing with Carter and Kelsey when I got a text.
It was from...Ace?
Ace✌️: Meet me on the field after the game.
I looked at the text and I became confused. He told me not talk to him.
"Skylar?"
"Yes?"
"What wrong?" Carter asked.
"Nothing. A friend just texted me."
"I have a question." Kelsey asked.
"What?"
"Do you like Ace?"
I looked at her and a slight smile came over my face.
"Actually Kelsey. I do, but he has a girlfriend."
"I think you would be better."
"Well thank you." I said laughing.
——-
00:00
Score: 28-23
Wolves won the game with a loud cheer from every wolf fan.
——
Everyone cleared out and eventually I was the only one on that field.
I was standing there eat high cars pass by on the road when I heard it.
"Well, Well, well, looks like you can actually follow directions."
Nevaeh stole his fucking phone.
"Damn it." I said loudly.
"Now listen here. I know you're putting on an act in order for Ace to come crawling back and feel sorry for you. You want him to break down so far that you have to tell b. Well FYI he doesn't like you honey, he likes me. I'm the one wearing his other football jersey. He believes the princess, not the peasant. I know how to lie right through my teeth and I always do."
I just stood there looking at her, nodding my head slowly.
I turned away to leave, but she grabbed my wrist.
I didn't even bother looking at her 12 ponds of make up she calls her face.
"Just remember. I have my ways."
She released my hand and went off to somewhere and I just stood there smiling.
I looked down at my purple converse and shook my head, laughing.
I lifted my head to see Xavier and coach.
"Why you laughing?" Xavier asked.
"Life."
"I will never understand you." He laughed.
"I intent to keep it that way."
"Wanna ride home?"
"No. I'm going stay here for a little bit then walk home."
"You sure?"
"Yeah. I'll talk to you later."
"Ok."
I watched him walk out to the parking lot and then looked at coach.
"Nice game tonight."
"Thanks. You alright?"
"Did you hear that?"
"With Nevaeh? Yeah. That's actually why I have the same question for you. Why you smiling?"
"To the fact that none of this is getting to me. I lost my crush I had since eighth grade. I literally just lost my best friend. I have Xavier, but it's nothing like that.( Xavier has a secret only I know of and we intend to keep it that way) The big point. I lost my best friend because I can't tell him that his girlfriend is an evil witch and none of it is getting to me."
"I actually think that's a good thing. Not letting that bother you is what's getting you somewhere."
I nodded my head.
"Well I better get going."
"Ok. Night."
"Night."
——-
I collapsed onto the middle of the field. I looked up at the stars shining brightly over me. I closed my eyes.
"Skylar?"
I opened my eyes to the sound of one calling my name.
I looked over to the fence and saw Ace. Great.
I sat up and looked at the bleachers.
He came over and sat next to me. I Laura back down and looked up at the stars.
"I know I told you not to talk to me so you don't have to, but I am."
I looked at him and then back at the night sky.
"Is this thing something big? Is it something that I would most likely freak out over?"
I sat up and looked at him. I nodded my head which caused him to look at the sky then.
"Oh Boy." He said and fell on his back which caused me to laugh because he used to do this all the time no reason in really funny voices.
"Finally got a smile out of you. Haven't seen one of those since Wednesday."
Silence fell for a few seconds.
"Will you at least tell me this. Do I know the person that did that?"
I nodded my head.
He put his hand behind his neck.
"Is it really this hard for you to tell me?"
I nodded my head once again.
He shook his head and stood up.
"That's what I don't understand. Why is it so hard to tell me? You had no problem apparently telling Mr. H and not to mention Coach."
"It's harder to tell you." I said standing up.
"Why? You used to tell me everything."
"It's because the person that did it."
"I'm suppose to protect you. That's what friends do. If you won't tell me then I can't protect you. I can't find the damn person that did that to you and threaten them to leave you alone or I can get people."
"I know that, but in this situation I was protecting you. I was protecting your team, your coach and the teachers."
"What are you talking about?"
"The way this all started. I heard the person that did this to me saying that this schools football team is nothing without you. The same person said the teachers at this school only teach here for the money and worst of all he called your coach, the coach of the football team, a liar and a cheater. I wasn't going to stand for that. I tried to stand up for this school and not to mention you and all this happened."
His face turned a little softer and his eyes were still filled with anger, but shock took over.
"You tried to protect me and the people I love, but ended up with that."
"Yeah and the consequences of me doing that are horrible."
"What do you mean?"
"That person doesn't have anything. This morning I was a block away from school, I heard that voice behind me and came in contact with the back of their hand. I had blood dripping out of it the time I got to school."
"Oh my god and I drove you further away when I could have been there to protect that from happening."
"That's the thing. You couldn't have stopped it from happening."
"Why is that?"
"Because is the person who did it."
"Why can't you just tell me."
"Because you'll act like you did this morning for the rest of your life when you see me."
Anger had built a little up in his eyes.
"Tell me. It's either now or never. If you don't tell me I'll act like i did this morning. I'll just watch you fall to the ground." He said really sternly which got to me.
"I would have been at the hospital getting stitches in this if it have gone any further so listen now. I didn't want to tell you cause I was protecting you. I tried to protect the people you love and call your family, but I get it now. I'm not part of your family. I've been replaced by your girlfriend who did this to me because she believes that she has to better than anyone else. I rather be part of a family that protects me, not lock me outside."
My breathing was heavy and my blood was rushing. My heart was beating fast as I walked away.
My mind was going crazy. I was shaking.
——-
I got home about midnight.
I was sitting on the island looking out the window that faces the street. A few neighbors were hanging out while the kids were running from house to house.
I went up stairs and sat on my bed. I was looking through my when I got a call from Xavier.
"Hi Xavier."
"Hi Skylar."
"What's up? It's past midnight and you're still awake."
"I was talking to Max."
"Ooo."
Yes Xavier is gay. He has been talking to a guy from Franklin for about two months.
"Stop."
"You like him."
"Shut up. Anyway what's up with you?"
"Nothing. Got home about ten minutes ago."
"Ten minutes? Did you get lost?"
"No. Ace found me."
"I'll be over in fifteen."
"Why?"
"You have to tell me what happened and I'm not letting you alone in case he text you tonight."
"Fine."
——-
I answered the door to a half sleeping zombie of Xavier.
"Dude you look dead."
"I am, but you're my friend and I'm going to help you."
"Why don't we talk about this tomorrow. You can sleep over. It's literally almost one in the morning."
"Fine, but I get the love sac."
"Figured that."
Both fell asleep shortly.