Wednesday, The Next Day.

Rylan sat in the front row of the empty school auditorium processing everything. As of last night Maya and Leif moved in with Chloe and him. And the dangerous lady Anya is now his science teacher.

Seriously, this is all ridiculous and unbelievable! But I gotta keep Chloe safe for two weeks before that gate opens and those twins and that crazy lady Anya can leave! Then maybe my life can go back to normal.

The school’s last period was for club activities. Rylan, as president of the drama club, watched his two fellow club members operate a red painted dragon they’d built from wood and paper mache.

“Raaaah!” roared the dragon on the empty stage as it lumbered forth flapping it’s wings.

“Yes! That dragon is awesome!” shouted Rylan with a script in his hand. “Joanna, Miguel, you guys did a great job!”

The dragon pulled itself apart as Joanna and Miguel emerged from underneath, happy to be praised for their work. Joanna spoke first.

“Thanks, we knew you’d like it ..but..”

Rylan expected the ‘but.’

“But what Jo? You’re gonna ask me about the financing for the costumes and stuff, right?” replied Rylan, his head down.

“Hey Rylan man, missing the budgeting deadline for the festival wasn’t your fault. But the science club has a budget surplus man,” said Miguel.

The truth comes out.

Rylan raised his head to respond when the rear auditorium door opened. Rylan spun in surprise when the beautiful sophomore Rebecca Li, stepped in.

“Well, if it isn’t the president of the science club. Hello Rebecca, we were sort of talking about you!” said Rylan, greeting her.

“Really? Good things I hope!” said Rebecca with a smile. “Do you have a minute?”

“Uh? Sure!” said Rylan stepping to the side with the brown eyed Rebecca, who moved close to him.

“So, I’m sure you know by now that my club can help you with your drama club’s lack of financing for the festival,” said Rebecca.

“Is that so?" he asked, rhetorically.

“Yes, for as president of the science club, I can authorize you some money from our budget surplus to make sure your play goes on in the festival,” said Rebecca.

She stood so close to Rylan he felt her body heat, and smelled her shampoo.

Is she seducing me or insulting me..Damn she smells good!

“I always knew you could authorize the money, Becca...but I never asked you because, you know...I don’t want to have to owe you anything. That’s your club’s money,” said Rylan.

Rebecca stepped back surprised at Rylan’s response.

“Wow, I didn’t know you were so principled Rylan, how cute!” she giggled, and touched his face.

Eh? So I am being seduced

“Listen hero, I understand you need an actress to play the main character in your play, the princess. Plus you need financing for sets and costumes before the festival. So I say one hand washes the other and, you know, I get the princess part and I approve some financing from the science club for you. A win-win for both of us, right?”

Damn..

“You know, Becca, you’re probably right, but...can I ask you something?”

“Yes?”

“Did you even read my script?”

She backed off.

“Uh, I will read it..”

Rylan’s heart sank. He liked the idea of pretty Rebecca Li playing his princess, and was certain she would do well, but.

“...Bec..um..A lot of girls, boys too actually, expressed interest in the ‘princess’ role..and I promised them I would let them audition..”

Rebecca squinted.

“Audition? For what? Rylan, you don’t have the financing to get the play up!”

“Oh..well I-”

“Rylan, look at me. This is what’s gonna happen. You're going to give me that script and I’m going to rehearse to be the best princess you ever directed, so you don’t need to waste your time auditioning all those girls or boys for the princess part-”

“I think you’d make a better villain if you asked me!” shot a voice from the sidelines.

Rylan spun left and there stood Maya with her arms crossed and an evil smirk, glaring at Rebecca.

“How long have you been standing there?” asked Rylan.

“Long enough,” she growled and walked toward them.

Rebecca crossed her arms and rolled her eyes.

“Maya? So you’re the new girl I’ve heard about, and rude at that.”

“Oh? I’m being called rude by the girl who demands the lead role in Rylan’s performance?” snapped Maya.

“Excuse me?” Rebecca glared at Maya. “You need to mind your own business!”

“Why? Are you Rylan’s girlfriend?” Maya smirked.

“What? No!” said Rebecca.

“Oh, is he that repulsive to you? I mean the way you just said no-”

“Maya, enough!” yelled Rylan, stopping Maya’s outburst.

“Hello, my conversation and relationship with Rylan are none of your business, new girl! And I’d watch my step if I were you!” barked Rebecca.

“So you two do have a relationship-”

Yikes!

Rylan jumped in and separated the cat-girls who damn near hissed at each other.

“Rylan, are you friends with this girl?” growled Rebecca, pointing at Maya.

“Uhh! Friends is a stretch,” he nudged her toward the exit, “And I’ll get back to you about the princess character-”

“What do you mean you’ll get back to me? The festival is in ten days and you still don’t have a princess, costumes or a set!” said Rebecca.

“And he said he’d get back to you, didn’t he?” interrupted Maya.

Rebecca planted her foot and faced Maya.

“Excuse you, who do you think you ar-?”

“Maya Alexander, but you know that already!”

Rebecca threw the hand at Maya. “What I know is I won’t let a nobody like you rile me up!”

She turned to Rylan.

“Rylan, you don’t have forever to think about this, and I will be the best princess for your play, so call me tonight when you're not distracted by loud mouths who don’t know you!”

Rebecca kissed Rylan dead on his lips and shot a last glare at Maya before diva walking to the exit. As Rebecca left, Rylan watched all of her. Her hair, her legs, her red ponytail scrunchy.

“So, spoiled princesses are your type, hunh?” said Maya, staring at Rylan.

“Uh?..Well..You didn’t have to talk to her that way, that was rude.”

“Oh get over her!” Maya scowled and grabbed his face, “Lust is a stoic passion, Rylan. Remember that.”

“I will," he smirked.

After a moment Maya released him and took in the full sight of the school’s auditorium.

“So this is a performance hall?” she asked.

Her innocent question threw Rylan off.

“Oh, yes it is, and I’m the drama club president. Even though there are only three of us..in the drama club,” said Rylan, still red.

Maya looked up at Joanna and Miguel flying the paper mache dragon on a string and pully across the stage.

“..Oh wow, how pretty~” she whispered.

“Yes it is!” agreed Rylan.

Maya turned to him.

“Rylan, I need a club activity for last period. I would like to join your drama club. I don’t need authorization do I?” she asked, squinting her sharp green eyes.

Oh my..

“No, don’t worry I’ll take care of it,” said Rylan.

“Good, see that you do. Now, I understand you have a ‘script’ for a story about a princess and a knight?” asked Maya.

“Yes,” Rylan dug in his pocket and pulled out a folded script, “It’s the story we want to show in the school fest-”

“Very well, I’d like to read it!”

Cleats

The school dismissal bell finally rang and Rylan and Maya went to pick up Chloe, while Leif hustled to the football field for tryouts. Leif watched a full game last night online and understood most of the rules, but now was the real deal.

“Hey Leif, over here!” shouted Carlos, waving Leif over.

As a lineman, Carlos wore the crimson team jersey and Leif, seeing the uniform for the first time, wanted it.

“Wow, your shirt is lovely, where do I get one?” asked Leif, bright eyed.

“If you can catch the ball maybe you can earn one!” A deep voice shouted behind him.

Leif turned and faced two students, a tall player in full uniform who made the statement, and a blue eyed muscular student wearing a manager’s uniform. The manager student greeted him.

“You’re the new kid, Leif?”

“Yes I am!”

“My name is Evan, I’m one of the student managers and this is the team quarterback, Taylor.”

“Quarterback? Right! I understand, nice to meet you both. If you like I can quarterback as well!” said Leif, too innocent.

“What motherfucker? Just run out there and catch the ball you idiot!” snapped the quarterback, Taylor.

“Oh, sorry!” said Leif, who ran out onto the field waiting for the ball to fly his way.

Taylor rolled his eyes, “New kid’s a fuckin idiot,” he muttered to Evan.

“Yeah, well that may be, but you’re sounding like a sensitive little girl right now, so just throw him the ball!” growled Evan, scolding Taylor.

“Tch- Whatever yo~”

As Leif ran straight and pulled a button hook, Taylor threw the ball to the other side of the field, away from Leif.

“Whoops, my bad dude! Now go and fetch it!” yelled Taylor at Leif on the field.

Evan, standing near Taylor let him have it.

“You’ve been an asshole since practice started, get off the field!” he yelled at Taylor.

Taylor looked Evan dead in his face.

“Fuck you Evan, I’m the quarter on this team, you can’t te- OOOF!”

The perfectly spiraled football that flew into Taylor’s gut, knocked the wind out of him and keeled him over. Evan, startled, gazed out into the field where Leif, over fifty yards out, stood by the goal post, shouting.

“Hey! How come he didn’t catch it? Did I throw it wrong?” yelled Leif.

The football players, those practicing and those trying out, stopped and stared at Leif. The team coach ran over to Taylor and Evan, asking the burning question.

“Evan...did that kid kick the ball...or throw it?” asked the coach.

Evan paused before answering.

“I didn’t see him do anything, but I saw the ball fly...and coach.”

“Yeah?”

“....Kicked balls don’t spiral like that.”

The coach took his hat off and stared out at the smiling Leif, way out yonder.

“...No son, they certainly don’t...wow!”

From the field Leif saw all the players staring at him, so he politely yelled, “Do you want me to throw it again?”

Sportsmanship

After practice all of the players and tryouts headed for the lockers to change. Today the boys were exceptionally rowdy after watching the athletic prowess Leif performed on the field.

“Ho-lee-shit, bro! You run, jump, throw, knock mothafuckas out! Yo, you must be the truth bro!” cheered Carlos and a bunch of other players who quickly gravitated to Leif’s amazing skill, and innocent charm.

Not everyone was impressed.

“Ya’ll need to shut up with all of that! That pretty boy ain’t the second coming of Tom Brady!” barked Taylor from his locker glaring at Leif.

“Yo Taylor, you sounding like the second coming of a little bitch, making all that noise over there, bro!” yelled Carlos, defending Leif.

This only fired Taylor up, as he stepped in Carlos’ face.

“Yo Carlos don’t think I won’t knock you out-”

“What? Try it bitch! See if I don’t slap fire out of you!” Carlos pushed Taylor back.

Taylor, furious, threw a cross punch at Carlos’ face, only to have it blocked and a punch thrown in Taylor’s gut, knocking him back.

“Uggh!” cried Taylor, absorbing the blow and raising his head, only to see Leif, completing the combo with a roundhouse kick to his face, “Oh shit!”

As Leif’s foot neared Taylor’s face, student manager Evan stepped between Taylor and Leif and blocked the kick with his elbow. After blocking, Evan thrust a forward kick at Leif’s gut, but Leif blocked the kick.

Not done, Evan dropped down, spun and swept Leif’s leg, flooring the green eyed athlete.

“Ow!” cried Leif knocked on his ass and glancing up at, “Hey! You’re Evan the manager!”

Evan, ignoring Leif, grabbed Taylor and scolded him about sportsmanship. Taylor tried to argue back to save face, but being totally in the wrong he fled the locker room.

The players, boys being boys, all recovered and continued joking and yelling in the locker room as if the fight never happened. Leif joined the rowdiness, relishing the team camaraderie, but his curiosity overcame him.

Leif watched Evan change by his locker and stepped away from the crowd to talk to him.

“Hi! I’ve never seen an earth person fight like you! Do you train?” asked Leif.

Evan, hesitant, paused before answering.

“Um..a little, it’s no big deal,” he muttered, closing his locker and walking away.

Leif’s curiosity peaked. He grabbed Evan’s shoulder, spun him around, and threw a lightning fast three punch combo at his chest.

“The fuck?” muttered Evan, who in three smooth blocks, parried all of Leif’s strikes, and locked his body in position to fight.

All the boys in the locker room stopped and yelled, “Whoah, Whoah! Wassup ya’ll? Knock that shit off!”

Leif stared intently at Evan’s fighting stance, and smiled, “Manager Evan, you’re amazing!” he said.

Evan’s face moved from anger to puzzlement.

“What?..Dude are you fucking with me? That’s not cool-”

“Eh? No, I’m not teasing you I’m serious. We should hang out. I bet I can show you moves to enhance your style..and..you can teach me football!” smiled Leif.

“..I don't know” said Evan, sincerely not sure of Leif.

“Oh, why don’t I see you in class?” asked Leif.

“Because I’m a junior and you're a sophomore.”

“Right!” Leif blushed, embarrassed, “Well, do you have a car? I need a ride home, and If we ride together we can discuss technique!” he said throwing a shadow box combo in front of Evan.

Evan, although suspicious of Leif’s intent, couldn’t help his own curiosity.

“Are you asking me for a ride home so we can talk about football and fighting?” asked Evan.

“Yes!...And we should play pop music really loud!” said Leif smiling.

“Pop music? Ha ha, you’re a weirdo Leif!” said Evan, turning and walking away from Leif. “But it’s cool, I’ll give you a ride home.”

“Nice, what a great day today. I made the football team and I’m making friends with a fellow warrior!” said Leif placing his hand on Evan’s shoulder.

“Dude you’re definitely a weirdo!” said Evan, still smiling.

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