Plan B

35

"THE HOT HOT HOTTEST MATCH BETWEEN THE OLYMPUS AND THE CHANNING TEAM IS FINALLY HERE AS THE TWO RIVALS COME FACE TO FACE TO PROCLAIM VICTORY. THERE IS A LOT OF TENSION IN THE AIR I CAN BARELY BREATHE!"

I could hear the commentator as we came in. I was really excited to be at Charlie's game. There were so many fans were screaming and there was so much energy in the stadium. It was powerful. Maybe I should watch football more often.

I found a seat just as the teams got into the field. The minute I spotted Charlie I stood and shouted his name as I waved. People looked at me awkwardly because Charlie could obviously not hear me.

"Who's Charlie?" The dude next to me asked as I sat.

"He's the Asian guy right there."

"Oh you mean Higa! He's his team's MVP."

"He's the what?"

"The Most Valuable Player."

"Oh right. I'm new to this football vocabulary," I said.

"Then get ready for the most thrilling experience of your life! I'm Archie by the way."

"I'm Kristie. I'm guessing you're a fan of The Channing Team?" I noticed his jersey which looked really familiar.

"Of course I am!" He shouted.

"Then get prepared because we're taking you down!" I shouted back. Archie laughed so hard he almost cried.

"I'm sorry, what? You're clearly new to football!" A whistle was blown and we fell silent. The game had begun.

I realized that football is actually interesting, very interesting. It makes you have strong mixed emotions; mainly excitement and pressure at the same time.

"Every time the ball was kicked to the Olympus goalpost I felt my heart weakening. It seemed to have gotten to me. Archie and I argued so many times as we agreed on so many game related incidents.

"Who is your best football player?" I asked Archie.

"It has got to be Dale. He's always in it to win it!"

"Dale?"

"Yeah. Dale Bryce. He's the one in the number 11 jersey."

I know a Dale in a number 11 jersey. He's my boyfriend! I looked to where Archie was pointing hoping he was a different person but to my utter surprise, it was Dale... MY DALE. How come I hadn't noticed him earlier? Maybe it was because my eyes were on Charlie the whole time. Plus, how could I forget Dale's football team? That's dumb!

"I've seen him. Would you believe me if I told you he's my boyfriend?" Archie looked at me suspiciously.

"You expect me to believe that?" He laughed loudly.

"I'm so serious right now."

"Right. I'm serious too and I believe you," Archie said sarcastically and he gave me a wink. I was offended but I had nothing to prove to him.

I became uneasy from that time because it dawned on me that Charlie and Dale do not know each other. I shouldn't be worried about that, right? Right. The more I watched the game the more I thought about it because I could see both of them.

"WOOHOO!! GO DALE GOO!!" I heard a voice cheering from the spectators. Of course it was expected but this voice was very familiar. I turned to see who it was and I was shocked to see PAIGE LOWSKI! I had never seen her since the previous year and her presence brought back memories I didn't want to remember. But why was she here and most importantly why was she screaming Dale's name?

"Calm down Kristie, calm down," I said to myself as I breathed deeply. The girl who had tortured me for a whole year was right here with me screaming my boyfriend's name. I lost it.

I stood and I walked towards her fast.

"Hi Paige," I said giving her a fake smile.

"The little moron from school still exists!" She couldn't hide her disgust. I didn't want to let her get to me.

"I couldn't help but notice that you were here and I am here too. Coincidental right?" I said trying to make small talk.

"Uh...yeah. Dale invited me. I never miss any of his games," she said smiling, obviously aware of the chaos she had caused in my mind.