Mod High

Sparks Fly (CyBee Insert)

The whistle blew, releasing a thundering herd of jocks from their huddle. Victor's heart raced so much he could swear his teammates could see the padding of his uniform shaking. Normally he would head straight for the locker room right after practice let out. But today was different.

"Today's the day," he muttered under his breath.

"Did you say something, Vic?" Richard already removed his helmet and was wearing his signature shades.

"Nah, dude," Victor smiled sheepishly. "Go on without me, I'll catch up with you in a few."

"You got it!"

With that, Richard morphed into the sea of blue uniforms until all Victor could see was the spikes of his jet-black hair. He mentally psyched himself up as he turned on his heels in the opposite direction.

The cheer team trained for the duration of the football team's practice, but they usually had a pep talk after the football team left the field just to keep up the spirit. If he hurried, he could make it before they all started grouping up and heading out...

Victor approached just as Karen, the head cheerleader, dismissed her crew. They scattered away like bees under the instruction of their queen.

She is just as beautiful as a queen, Victor thought. I must be out of my mind.

He considered heading back now. Every fiber of his body signaled that certain (social) death was awaiting him. Moisture began to build up in his palms. His throat suddenly felt dry. He became devastatingly aware that he had onions in his burger during lunch today.

"What brings you to this side of the stadium, Stone?"

Karen sauntered up to the suited up athlete. The glitter of her lipgloss attracted his attention. He was mesmerized by the fullness of her mouth and the way her deep brown eyes fleeted and focused as she took in every detail around her.

"I, uh, well, I-"

Karen laughed. The sweet bells chimed in his ears and settled into his soul.

"Did ya hit your head too hard during practice," she teased.

"Um," he pondered for a moment, "probably just one time too many."

A smirk appeared as he joked with her. He and Karen had been friends since they were kids. She was there when he first made tryouts as the new quarterback. She was there for his first serious relationship with the one and only Jinx.

She was there for the breakup, too.

After Victor's accident, Karen was the only one who never treated him different. She never saw him as fragile. Instead she challenged him. By turning physical therapy into a betting game, he got his competitive streak back. She made him feel...human. Completely human.

In between the new experiences, the wins and the losses, she could be found. Now it was the end of Sophomore year. Even though they were still young, he knew there was no one else he could depend on like her. He found himself daydreaming about her in class, listening for her cheers in the audience during games, and hoping she'd sit next to him in the cafeteria.

"I've been thinking-"

"Uh-oh," Karen feigned shock. "That can't be good."

He laughed, "I'm serious, Karen."

He patted the bench for her to sit next to him. She set her cheer bag down beside her as she plopped onto the spot beside him.

"Alright, Vic, you've got my attention."