FIELD DAY

Zach’s voice interrupts us like a blazing siren and he places one arm on my waist pulling me with himself taking both of us to a side. I don’t even get the chance to say anything.

“Zach, what do you think you’re doing?” I ask him ferociously after shaking his hands off me.

“Chatting with Axel Cordon, seriously? What were you doing?” I squint my eyes confused and partly irritated.

“You’re making it sound like it’s such a disgusting thing. I can talk to anyone, what’s so wrong about that?”

Zach rolls his eyes and pinches the bridge of his nose in annoyance. His vein pops out on his forehead, as always when he’s angry.

I continue to hold my stance. He looks like he’s on a fine line, and he’s going to tick off any minute now.

“Alanna, he is not someone you’ll want to get involved with. Work is done, let me just drop yo-“

“No, you know what Zach? I’ll manage. I think I can tell who I want to get involved with myself.” I don’t stop to hear his reply and pace off into the crowd.

Honestly what is up with both of these boys? Why are they treating me like a kid suddenly?

“Hey, Axel. Sorry about what happe- you’re going somewhere?” He fishes out his keys and stops when he hears my voice.

“Oh, don’t worry about that. And yes, I was just going to hit town, places.”

Chatting with Axel Cordon, seriously? What were you doing?

I’m well aware you don’t which is why you got to listen sometimes when I tell you something.

I’m done being treated like a child. I make my own decisions here.

“You wouldn’t, by any chance, be crossing Lexington Apartment, would you?” I pass on a small smile and he looks surprised for a second.

“I’m sure a little diversion wouldn’t be much trouble.”

“Perfect.”

*

“So. You’re on the cheerleading team?”

Axel and I walk back to the parking lot and I hold Nathaniel’s hoodie tighter around me due to the chill, my leg almost frozen by now. For God’s sake, I’m wearing fudging shorts.

“Uh, no. Actually, I’m on the Students’ Council.”

“Oh wonderful. Which school?”

“Stephen’s.”

“Wow! So you happen to be my host, okay. What position?” He laughs casually.

“Chairperson.”

He stops midway looking at me before walking again.

“You’re the chair? Alongside Nathaniel?”

He knows Nathaniel?

“Is that so hard to believe?” Honestly.

“No I didn’t mean it like that, it’s just it would seem that Stephen’s finally managed to make fair choices.”

Right. The common answer. I’ve become used to it by now. It makes me wonder who the previous selects had been. How, rather.

“What about you? You in any team?”

“Yeah. Basketball. From Columbus.”

This time I halt in my tracks. Zach and Nate both play basketball. And Axel and Zach didn’t really bonded that well. I hate to think what would ensue on the field.

“Basketball?”

“Now is THAT so hard to believe?”

“No it’s just, I mea-“

Axel is punched back as he clutches his jaw in pain and I stand stunned.

A sudden Zach appears out of nowhere in the dark. He’s a ghost right now, and somehow I already know Axel is going to land in the infirmary.

“You haven’t breathed one night here and you’ve already started?” Zach lands another punch and he falls down.

“Zach! What are you- Zach leave him!”

“How dare you, Cordon? Get some class already.” I manage to stop him, pulling him by the arm.

“What the hell is your problem, Hayden?” Axel grunts out hatefully and Zach lunches forward again to hit him.

I hold him back by his T-shirt, but of course he slips away.

He holds him by the collar and Zach’s voice is so deadly, it makes a weird kind of scared.

“After what you did back then, you should have been in a prison cell, or a fucking grave. So hold this nauseating piece of yourself lucky you’re still waking on those two legs.”

I am stunned. And a heavy confusion clouds my mind like thick smoke. What does he mean by ‘back then'?

What did Axel do? And to think of the gravity of Zach’s threat, I feel kind of scared to be here alone with these two, really.

My head whirls a full 360 degree while Zach gives another deafening blow on his face. Axel’s face glistens with blood and Zach knees his abdomen violently. Oh God.

“Zach, stop it. Just STOP IT!” I hold his arm, with all my might and scream out louder than ever.

He stops, but doesn’t look at me. He still glares Axel down like he’s a disgusting slug. His breathing is heavy and his face is full of adrenaline caused redness.

“Alanna. We’re leaving.” Zach kicks him one last time, and before I reply he’s already dragging me to the other side by my wrist. And I am just beyond mad.

“Zach, you’ve completely lost it. Just leave my hand! Zach.”

He listens to nothing and continues to walk only stopping when we reach his car and I struggle against his hold. I twist my hand to release it from his hold but he just grips it tighter.

“Are you insane? What are you doing? Why did you punch him?” I shout out. Damn it’s so satisfying to shout.

“Alanna, that’s it. You’ve had enough control.”

“Of my life? If that is so, then it’s nowhere near enough!” I reply back venomously as I throw off his hold on my wrist. He can’t do this all the time.

“Alanna, that guy is living trouble! I can’t let you get into it.”

“And who the hell are you to decide that? What did he do?”

“Get in the car.” He looks like he’s holding down so much anger but I’m angrier right now. And this time I’m not backing down.

“Alanna get in the goddamned car or so help me God I’m going to-“

“Enough! Zach! You can’t control my life like this. You have no right to. And you, can’t go around hitting people.”

“Are you serious right now? That guy-“

“Was seemingly decent enough to just drop me home.”

“I think he had a little bit more than just dropping you off on his mind.”

“Okay even if he did so what? Why do you have to interfere? Just because we’re acting civil now, just because we kissed once, and just because he had a heart to heart, it doesn’t change who we are! Isn’t that what you said to me, yourself? I haven’t forgotten what happened last year Zach!”

I breathe out heavily through my loud yells and he clenches his jaw in response. We stand there, two angry, young, messed up people, for minutes.

I heave a sigh, run past him and he doesn’t stop me. I run to the end of the parking lot, wipe a few tears, book a cab and get home.

I need to sleep it off, if I can at all.

*

“I told you I want the final list and not bits and pieces, Brian! I get to order for the whole thing once!”

“And Tiffany, this theme is not gonna work. The colour chokes the eye. Change the whole thing.” I close my eyes in exasperation.

“Lewis, where’s the torch? It has to go for cleaning and repainting. That’s the first thing on opening day. Get your lazy ass off and fetch it.”

Brian scurries off with the paper I throw back at him almost too rudely and I rub my forehead. Stupid, stupid people. There’s hardly any time left and they think it’s all a joke.

“Hey, are you okay?” Lily puts her hand on my shoulder and I close my eyes.

Who am I kidding?

I’m still riled up from last night. The first thing I had done is get Nate’s hoodie off. And then curse Zach. Whom I hadn’t seen all day. I guess he took off. As always.

Anything goes South, and he disappears.

“Fine!” I tell her viciously and Sofia comes up to me.

“Listen, I need a place for the cheerleading practice. Field is off limits now and Collins said to consult you befo-“

“I don’t have a goddamned place for your useless booty shaking in those little skirts, okay? I’m trying to mange an event here!

And for all of you who think that this is some kind of a joke, you’re free to walk out this door.

We can do without a few idiots!”

The whole hall goes dead silent as I yell out at the top of my lungs and walk out. I sit with a thud on the bench and take deep breaths.

I overreacted. I sigh deeply.

“Hell!” I mutter to myself. And hold my head in my hands.

An empty stretch of grassland stands before me and I realise a few drops falling down my cheeks, and into my palms.

Never remind me of your worthless existence ever again by showing me that hell of a face.

“Practice sessions end today. Fields are off limits for cleaning and final trimming. So you’re going to see a bit more of me.”

I jerk up to sit straight. I wipe my tears hurriedly as I don’t want Nate of all people to see me crying. I look down at my knotted fingers in my lap, and burst my knuckles.

“That was quite a voice.”

Author's note:

Zach, should come with a fuse strip, that sends a flare into the sky, warning everyone when he’s about to blow up.

Who is Axel Cordon, though?

Well, that’s for me to know, and for you to dot, dot, dot.

** Damon smirk **