The Elf on the Soccer Team And the Girl Hidden in Shadow

Chapter One- Girl Meets Elf

Chaaya was one of those people you just didn't notice. She wasn't ugly by any means, but throughout her 16 years of life, she had just never been the center of... well, anything. Which she quite enjoyed. She sat in the corner of the highschool's garden, which was located in its own corner of the massive courtyard that was encased by red-bricked school rooms. Next to the garden sat beside the gated back entrance, which was the way most of the cigarette-smoking anti-socials used to enter the school, having one last smoke before entering school.

The last few trickled through the gate, butting out their cigarets, unnoticing of Chaaya who sat atop a wooden bench. Her long black hair veiled her face like a shadow, and she watched through her hair as the slunk past, completely oblivious of her presence. The bell rang, signaling that anyone still outside the gates was now tardy, the chainlink fenced gates automatically sliding closed across the entryway. Chaaya had just ten minutes to get to class from this moment, but she took her time. While nothing more than a background character in the drama that was high school, she had many firm beliefs, and never rushing was one of them.

The clock continued to whittle down, leaving her six minutes to get to class, and she began to stand from her corner when she noticed a figure outside of the gate. Auris, the captain of the soccer team. She had three classes with him, and he'd never so much as glanced at her. She knew he missed many days of school, yet maintained good grades. Regardless, it was strange to see him being tardy today. He had never missed one day where a soccer game was scheduled. So it was surprising to watch him eyeing the outside of the tall chainlink fence that now sat closed before him, barring him from both school and the soccer game that would commence at six.

He wore his soccer jersey, the number 88 in blazing red upon it. He glanced to his left, then the right, as if eyeing his surroundings for someone. He continued scanning the area, pressing his face up against the chainlink fence and scanning the courtyard. Only Chaaya sat here now, every other person having headed to class long ago. She could faintly catch Auris whispering to himself, "You're good, just go for it," and Chaaya realized he meant to break in. Good luck climbing over the fence, superstar. Chaaya thought to herself, eagerly waiting to watch him climb the fence. At least once a year, somebody would attempt to climb the fence. The vast majority of attempts ended with the climber tiring before getting halfway. But upon one special occasion, a sophomore had made it to the top, froze up, and the fire department had to be dispatched to lower him back down. Chaaya's guilty pleasure was moments like those.

But his hands never reached for the winding metal. Instead, with one quick motion, and without bothering to take his hands out of his pockets on the chilly Colorado morning, he leaped into the air. It was a flawless leap, more like how a bird bats it's wings and glides through the air to a tree branch than an actual human jumping. He landed crisply atop the metal bar that ran across the top of the fence, hands still within his pockets.

Her eyes widened, "Holy shit," Chaaya announced before she'd even known the words were forming in her mouth. Auris's head snapped in her direction, freezing in his perch atop the fence. 

"Oh, no," He mumbled, and a moment later he lost his footing, plummeting the fifteen-foot fall all the way down to the cold cement path that would lead entree's past the garden area. Chaaya forgot the circumstances, rushing to her feet to check on Auris who simply sat up from the ground as if he'd gotten up out of bed instead of from a fall from crippling height.

"Are you ok?!" Chaaya cried, coming to a stop beside the bewildered Auris. 

He took a moment, realizing the situation, and, with the most comical and horrible acting Chaaya had ever seen, began moaning, "Oh, my back! You saw me fall after I climbed over the fence, right? Get the nurse!"