POV: Amanda Susu

“Okay, what about Frank?” Samantha asked following the boy as he ran across the field.

“Oh sure. He would be great. Too good maybe.” I answered, “Every boy after would be a let down, but I could manage.”

“You think so? What about Belen?” Samantha asked, “He's rather charming.”

“Yes, but we would have to get straight to the action.” I said making my point firm. “I can not risk sitting through a lecture on ancient Greek battle tactics.”

“Why not!?” Samantha pouted at me, “If he's passionate about it then why wouldn't you want to listen to him talk about it?”

“Because it's a distraction from the fun stuff.”

Samantha scowled at me, “Boys have more value than just being a pretty face.”

“Well I believe you Sammy girl.” I cooed at her, “I just haven't found any.”

She gasped at that before hardening her scowl again, “What about you and Jerry?”

I roared in laughter with enough flourish to sully Samantha's outrage, turning it into hateful annoyance.

“Oh, sweet, romantic, naive Samantha! You are a treat! I would sooner have an honest date with that thunderdolt Kevin before entertaining that weasel we call a team leader.”

“Kevin isn’t that bad. Is he?” Samantha asked.

“Oh no, he’s great. If you don’t have any standards.” I counted off on my fingers, “Hot headed, short tempered, dim witted, no social skills in sight, and I bet he’s a terrible kisser.”

“I can hear you, you know!” Kevin shouted from where he was sitting. We were lined up on the sideline of the soccer field. It was a field day and we were playing blitz soccer. Which was just soccer but when you scored you were out. First team to out their whole team, goalie included, won.

“Glad to know your hearing is fairing well.” I smiled at him before returning to face Samantha, “As I said, Kevin is a dog of a date, but I still would rather him over Jerry.”

“I must say Amanda, you are very harsh.” Said Jerry from where he was sitting. He was holding a pained smile on his face.

“You say harsh. I say honest.” I countered.

“Hey! You puta! Don’t think you can just ignore me!” Kevin shouted even lounder and stomped a foot on the ground.

“God, I wish you could be ignored, Kevin.” I rolled my whole body at me, “It would make my life so much easier.”

“Listen here! Don’t think just because you’re girl I won’t-” Kevin started to threaten until Coach Sarge blew his whistle.

“Team J has scored! Replace the player! Zapotec, since you’re up, you’re up!”

“Sweet Mercy, this is bull. Right Adrian.” Kevin said and looked at his friend. Adrian Priest was sitting on the bench leaned back and staring up into the sky. He had said nothing all day and continued to do so now as Kevin just huffed and ran to the field pointing at me and yelling, “This isn’t over.”

“Bye bye my sweet thunderdolt,” I waved daintily as Kevin ran off. I then turned back to Samantha again and whispered, “Does Adrian seem out of it?”

“Oh so now we’re whispering?” Samantha scolded me quietly, “You really are something. You know that?”

“Yes, now stop being difficult.” I scolded back, “You’ve noticed the meathead went from rude, crude, and more rude to being a model student all this week.”

“Yeah, I think it might be because of that tournament he’s entering.”

“You think it’s that simple? Just nerves being shaken?”

“I don’t see why not.” Samantha shrugged, “He might be a brute, but he’s still human like the rest of us.”

I leaned back to study Adrian. He was still just sitting there. He could have been asleep with his eyes hidden behind his tacky shades. Every so often he would huff a sigh, though it could have been a snore. I honestly had no way to tell.

Coach Sarge blew his whistle again announcing another score for Class J. He pointed to the bench and called “Mr Priest! You're up!”

Adrian didn't respond.

“Mr Priest! I said you're up!”

Adrian still didn't respond, but I could see his face turn into a scowl.

“Mr Priest! Do you hear me!?” Coach Sarge called again.

Jerry stood up, “I'll be happy to play, coach.”

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“No! I want to see Mr Priest on the field now!” Sarge took a deep breath and blew with all of his unusual might.

“Adrian!” Samantha cried over the piercing whale.

“What!” Adrian shouted, bolting forward.

“Get in the game now!” Sarge ordered again, “We do not have all day!”

“Fine!” Adrian shot up and marched into the field. It was filled with nearly two dozen other students from both Class J and our opponents Class H. As he approved the field was a mix of friendly excitement and worry.

“It'll be an honor to finally work beside you.” XK-88 said, giving his best grin and a thumbs up to go with it. An almost perfect display thanks to his robotic build, but Adrian just brushed past him without saying a word. XK tsked and lifted his chin, “Fine, see if I pay you any respect again.”

“Sweet Mercy,” I tsked, “what is wrong with him?”

I didn't get an answer. Instead I heard Jerry whisper to himself, “This is going to get ugly fast.”

Adrian took center guard and stood there without even asking what position the others were in. Sarge blew the whistle to begin again and the game fired off.

Students, all being demi humans, were using all sorts of various tricks to get an edge on each other. Most used physical prowess to move themselves and ball around other players. Some use mystic means to trip others up.

XK held the ball and pressed into Class H. Slipping and sliding through with a dancer's grace. A boy named Belen tried to intercept only to be stopped by a wall spell casted by Abraham, but then a boy named Luke moved with his own fae grace to slide under XK taking the ball from literally under XK.

Swiftly recovering Luke started to Class J's goal only to be stopped by a fiery explosion caused by Harrick that sent the ball up in the air for Frank to headbutt back toward Class H's goal.

Frank had a direct line of attack and took it. Lining the shot he kicked the ball and launched it through the field and to the goal, only to be stopped by the goalie extending a long bo-staff out to block it.

The goalie snapped the ball high up and jumped after it to swing his staff launching it back across the field, which was somehow a fair play. The ball slammed against Kevin’s chest who had leaped up to meet it and dropped down.

Kevin was already facing three other students when he landed and didn't seem to have a path forward. He looked around. Most of the others were blocked or out of range. Except for one, still standing at center guard. Kevin shifted his feet and readied a kick screaming, “Adrian!”

With electric sparks popping off his body Kevin kicked the ball with a thunderous boom straight to Adrian.

The ball flew over the field and stopped as Adrian snapped his hand up to grab it mid flight. Sarge blew his whistle for foul play. The field gave a collective groan.

Adrian didn't seem to notice the general attitude as he took two steps forward, wound up his arm, and threw the soccer ball directly into the face of Belen Laskaris.

“Adrian! What the hell is wrong with you!” Harrick shouted as he and XK leaped between Adrian and the downed boy.

“I can't believe this!” XK said ready to fight Adrian there and then. The rest of the field seemed to be in agreement with only one exception.

“Damn it Adrian!” Kevin shouted as he ran to Adrian's side ready to fight, “You cabron! You better have a good reason to get us into this!”

Adrian just scowled as Sarge his whistle again and shouted, “That's foul play Mr Priest.”

“Well how was I supposed to know?” Adrian asked indignantly.

“Because it's soccer, you inch skulled brute!” Luke shouted as he joined the line up, a weapon drawn.

“Oh! You want to fight, little punk!” Adrian slammed his fists together.

Luke gritted his teeth and readied his stance. Adrian did the same in turn. The air grew thick with potential violence. Adrian and his faithful friend Kevin ready to take on all of Class J and Class H.

Then Luke's nerve broke. He turned and called to the sideline, “Hey! Mutant girl! Do something about your hellape!”

Mary jumped slightly. She was off to the far side already out from scoring. She was looking for her nerve to speak when Adrian continued on in force.

“Don't think you can save yourself from me, pixie boy!” Adrian yelled, readying his fist.

Coach Sarge blew his whistle again, “Mr Priest! You are way out of line! Report to the Vice Principal office now!”

“This fairy punk is begging for a beating!” Adrian shouted back.

“I do not care young man!” Coach Sarge marched across the field up to Adrian, “Report to Vice Principal Thompson now! Or I will escort you. Manually.”

Adrian puffed out his chest. Coach Sarge squared his shoulders. Kevin kept his teeth gritted as he looked between them.

Adrian was the one back down. Huffing a breath he kicked the grass and yelled, “Whatever! I'm going.”

The soft ground muffled his stomping steps. At this point Belen had recovered and watching Adrian stomp away asked, “So, do we win?”

While Coach Sarge got the teams straight out I leaned over Samantha to Jerry, “I knew this was going to happen?”

Jerry nodded, “It was at the last minute, but yes. I tried to prevent it, but…”

“This can’t just be nerves,” said Samantha, “Adrian would have a better handle on his anger if it was just stress.”

“He would?” I asked as I rolled my eyes.

“Yes!” Samantha snapped back, “Adrian revels in conflict. A game of blitz would be just want he wanted. Something deeper is upsetting him.”

“Okay, fine,” I surrendered, “but what could it be?”

“Maybe someone could figure it out if they managed to eavesdrop into the Vice principal’s office.” Jerry noted, “They would have to be very sneaky, and very lucky to not get caught.”

“They would also have to care.” I said, understanding Jerry's meaning, “Why do we care?”

“Keeping Adrian out of trouble is good for the whole class, including us. Also, the information might be useful for other endeavors.”

“If you say so,” I rolled my eyes as I rolled back and over the bench, disappearing most people's sight.

Swiftly and nimbly I moved past the majority of Class J over hearing their concerns of Adrian. Luckily for me none of them turned their attention to me as I rounded the end of the line. Poking my head out I waited for a moment for my opportunity. I didn't know what it would be, but I knew I would know it.

And I know it I did when luckily another foul play boiled tensions over and a fight started. I didn't catch who had started it but it involved fire blasts, so I guessed Harrick was fighting with Luke.

I ran smoothly across the field trying to keep from catching any eyes. I think I succeeded as I spilled through the school's doors and stepped into an empty hallway.

I started my way deeper in. Trying to stay flat-footed to prevent noise, I headed to the Vice Principal's office.

I got to the door and examined the situation. I had two options, lean on the door itself, or try to use the air vent to get straight into the room.

I decided to just stay in the hall and cup my hands on the door.