Sweat was beading and trailing down my temples, my breathing was heavy and I was getting focused.
The sound of a tennis ball bouncing echoed throughout the court. All eyes were on me.
"Are...you...READY!?" I growled, copying the opening lyrics to "Blind" by Korn. I pointed my racquet in my opponent's direction.
"Yo, Jonathan Davis. Serve the damn ball." Shouted Ezra, one of my former teammates from swimming.
My classmates giggled.
Ezra was a hilarious punk and skater who was well-known for gauging his own ears with random objects. He moved up from ballpoint pens to Sharpies. Before that, they were deck nails.
I took a deep breath and tossed the ball in the air, floating so slowly in my sight. With a mighty swing, I struck the ball, and instantly, it became a green blur streaking across the court...
"FAULT!" The coach called.
Fuck!
"SIT DOWN!" The whole class laughed and hollered.
I took my seat on the court floor with the rest of my teammates that have been beaten.
All of us who lost the rally or faulted had to sit in the play area, now becoming targets and obstacles.
Ezra was now at the serve. He bounced his ball while scouting the area for his next target.
Once the ball entered the air, my team braced themselves and used their racquets as a shield.
POP!
The ball was served successfully and the rally began.
Tabby, the player on my team, was up against Ezra. The two maneuvered around all the floored players (naturally screaming in terror) while trying to volley the ball back and defend their downed teammates.
Ezra sliced at the ball, making it flow slowly with some backspin.
Tabby lunged and swiped, sending the ball towards Manny, one of their downed teammates.
POP!
"Ahh!" Manny screamed and chuckled as the ball ricocheted off the side of his body.
"BEAMED!" Coach shouted.
"SIT DOWN!" We all hollered at Ezra and laughed.
Ezra just smirked and plopped wildly.
What kind of madman game was this? Battle Tennis?
Tennis dodgeball?
Whatever you call it—Coach is a genius!
I never had this much fun playing tennis until now.
----
After the little game, I had my dirty commission completed for Manny.
Our trade was complete —However, he made a new request.
"Hey. Do you know that one vampire girl from Darkstalkers? The one with the bat wings." He smirked.
"Umm...Morrigan?" I asked.
"Yeah." Manny nodded wildly. "I want something nice with her as long as she's got big chi-chis."
I sighed and shook my head.
"15 bucks?"
I raised my brows and thought about it.
This dude must really like big boobs on anime girls. But 15 bucks means I got 15 more dollars than before.
"Sure."
Why the hell did I agree to another dirty drawing?
He looked as happy as I did while I twirled around my acquired racquet like a short sword.
We shook on the deal and I grabbed my stuff to get to my next class.
----
With small welts now appearing on my body from where I've been hit with tennis balls, and suffering through math and chemistry, it was time to finally wind down and find out if Bear pulled it off.
On my way to the Island of Misfits, I noticed Betty wasn't there—however, Bear was.
I ran up to him, feeling excited to hear the news. I wasn't sure what answer I wanted to hear, I just had to know.
"What's going on bud?" I greeted Bear while trying to act casual.
Bear smiled and nodded as he was mid-bite into his burger. "I'm doing good."
He's in a good mood. This is a good sign.
I sat beside him. My curiosity was rampant and it was making my heart pound. "So...um...just curious. Did you ask Betty out?"
Bear snorted and almost choked. "What?! No. Why would you think that?"
"I dunno. I was just wondering. You two have been hanging out and she was kinda smiley this morning." I mumbled now feeling ridiculous.
He shook his head. "No, dude. She's cool, and you know I couldn't ask her out. I couldn't try even if I wanted to."
Fuck. If Bear didn't ask her out, who did?
I looked around frantically to see if there were any signs of Betty, and then I spotted her coming through the door where the vending machines were.
She wasn't alone.
There was a tall and chubby guy with her. He had smokey-lensed glasses, short wavy hair, tan skin, and wearing a Star Wars hoodie.
It was Seth.
In my freshman year, Seth was dating one of the band girls who was hanging around with the misfits. All I remember is he was heartbroken in the end. She ghosted him—and not in a soft way. I never got the full story, but something about it always seemed…off.
He and Betty were chatting in the distance. They decided to sit by the stairs of the west entrance in the courtyard.
Seth was really animated and excited talking to her at 100 miles a minute. Betty listened politely and laughed a little sweetly.
Bear looked over and spotted them. "Is that the guy?" He asked in a low tone.
Once again, he looked defeated.
I didn't know what to say. It was apparent that Seth was the other guy that had asked Betty out.
"I think so, bud. I think so." I answered.
Bear just moved his focus back to his burger and took a very slow bite, sighing as he chewed.
There was nothing I could really say to make this better. I was really hoping that Bear would make his move.
"Hey!"
I jolted up as I was startled by CC. She had snuck up on me again. "I swear to God, I'm going to put a cat bell on you."
CC giggled. "Let's go get some Cheeto thingies."
I smiled and nodded. "Sounds good. "Want anything from the store?" I asked Bear.
He shook his head slowly. "I'm good. Thanks."
CC and I started to walk off the school grounds towards the alley that led straight to the back of the convenience store.
"What was up with Bear back there?" CC asked.
I didn't know how to answer without putting him in the spotlight. "He's upset. He..umm ..likes Betty."
"Oh." CC looked a bit disappointed. "Was it that other guy he saw?"
"Yeah. Seth?" I responded.
CC nodded. "Yeah, him. Something about him rubs me the wrong way. I don't know. He seems off."
"He seems okay to me." I shrugged. "I know of him—but I don't know him. You know what I mean?"
"Mhmm." CC hummed.
I opened the door for CC as we made our way inside the convenience store. There was always that familiar smell that these shops had that was inviting.
CC made her way to the chip aisle to grab her bag of Cheetos, meanwhile, I was mesmerized by a new item at the check-out area.
*Wooden Power Beads*
They were these elastic band bracelets with wooden beads. The beads came in black, white, and brown, and they had Chinese characters all over them.
There was something about them that I just had to have, so I grabbed a pair.
I hurried to get my nacho cheese-covered flaming hot Cheetos to join CC outside on the patio table. We took a few bites of those hot and savory snacks before we broke the silence.
"When I heard Betty say someone asked her out, I was hoping it was Bear." I was bummed.
"No. He kinda asked her while she was hanging out with me and Ryan." She said as she was working around the bag for a good bite. "I told her not to, but Ryan said go for it." She shrugged and took a bite.
Ryan?
"I don't think I've met Ryan yet?" I started to dig around and mix the cheese into the chips.
"Oh, he's a riot. Gay, loud, proud, overdramatic and always looking for a laugh. That's Betty's buddy from choir." She giggled. "Those 2 are like Will and Grace."
"Sounds like a character." I muttered.
"Mhmm. He pretty much said give him a shot. It might grow into something."She took a bite of her cheesy Cheetos. "Guess who's advice she went with."
I sat there in silence with warm cheese stuck on my lip while chewing.
After hearing the type of ex-boyfriend Betty had before this guy, I don't think there could be anybody worse.
"I guess all we can do is hope for the best," I muttered.
"I still won't like it," CC smirked. "I'm gonna watch over that boy like a hawk. Any wrong move..."
She just sat there getting lost in her thoughts.
I just stared at her, stunned and afraid.
There's that big sister energy again. My sister did it all the time, Lilly did it on our date, and now CC is doing it before my eyes.
CC's jaw was set like stone. She wasn't joking.
If Seth slipped up even once, he'd have to answer to her.
And honestly? I felt a little bad for him already.
May God have mercy on his soul.