Bloodlines and Betrayal

9. 🐺

Chapter Two: Game Day

As the sun climbed into the sky on a brisk Friday morning, Broken Arrow erupted in a buzz of excitement. It was the first football game of the season—a day that felt almost sacred in our small town. The air was electric with anticipation, as if the entire community was holding its breath, waiting for the action to unfold. In Broken Arrow, football isn't just a sport; it's a way of life. Everyone from the oldest to the youngest is swept up in the thrill, and the excitement is palpable as the day stretches ahead.

Our town transforms on game day. Decorations burst from every corner—banners, streamers, and painted storefront windows proclaiming the Warriors' dominance. Yard signs, fluttering with pride, dot every lawn, and bonfires glow in the distance, their warmth spreading out like an invitation for everyone to gather. It's tradition. The sense of unity, the feeling that we're all part of something bigger than ourselves, lingers in the air as people prepare for the evening's festivities. Fundraisers seem to pop up from nowhere, offering everything from homemade pies to chances to win raffle prizes—all aimed at supporting the heart of the community.

Broken Arrow High School takes football seriously. For the past decade, our team, the Warriors, has been a beacon of pride. Champions. The fact that it's become the norm to win only makes it feel more like a celebration. We may be a small town, but when the Warriors take the field, we stand tall.

I couldn't wait to be part of the action that evening—showing off my new cheerleading routines, my gymnastics tricks, and dancing alongside my best friends, Kaylie and Hazel. This year, Hazel was stepping up for the first time as a cheerleader, and I was determined to make her debut one she'd never forget.

The morning came with its usual chaos. I groggily climbed out of bed, the excitement of the day still too distant in my mind to fully take hold. But that quickly changed when I heard a little voice groan from the bottom of the stairs. Hazel, as usual, was too tired to make it up on her own. I scooped her up, wrapping my arms around her small frame as I carried her to the kitchen. She snuggled into my chest, her sleepy murmurs a comforting soundtrack to the frenzy of the morning.

Mom was already at work, expertly preparing a breakfast fit for champions. Red-dyed chocolate chip pancakes, waffles stacked high, sizzling bacon, and sausage filled the kitchen with mouth-watering aromas. The milk, dyed red to match our school colors, looked a bit like blood but tasted like magic. It was a Halloween trick turned into a game day tradition.

"Coffee?" Mom's voice broke through the haze of sleep, offering me a steaming mug. I gratefully accepted, inhaling the rich, comforting scent.

"Did someone say coffee?" Hazel murmured, blinking her eyes open in excitement, though she was far too young for the real stuff. We'd cleverly substituted hot chocolate for her. Caffeine could wait a few more years.

"Yes, darling," Mom said, a teasing smile playing on her lips. "Would you like some whipped cream on yours?"

"Yes, please! And double on the whip!" Hazel's eyes sparkled as she anticipated the sugar rush, determined to stay energized for her first day as a cheerleader. "I need all the sugar and caffeine I can get today," she said, carefully layering strawberries on her toast like she was preparing a masterpiece.

"Oh, don't worry," I reassured her, snatching the plastic knife from her small hands. "You'll do great. Just remember to have fun out there."

"Hey!" Hazel protested, kicking me playfully under the table.

"Sweetie, please keep your voice down," Mom gently admonished as she packed Hazel's cheerleading bag, ever the voice of calm amidst the chaos. "It's still early."