The Match, The full moon, And The Rufus

After the little pep talk that the coach always gives before each match, he turned to Howie who wasn't listening to him, he was in a bubble floating on a threatening cloud.

He is afraid of slipping or succumbing to those feelings that are trying to overwhelm him like when he fought against his inner to keep him under control.

Everything is painful to him, the sound of his voice, the beating of his heart, his breathing, his smell, the sound of his footsteps.

Love is not his thing and he wants to get away from it as far as possible. How can something that you can't touch, that you can't smell can cause so much pain, so much damage?

While no one is spared by his lightning regardless of your age, race, and species. Whether you are strong or weak, human, demon, angel, or god.

When he knocks on the door and you had the misfortune to answer his call you should accept all the consequences that come with it. Love is ruthless and wonderful, Love is cruel and charitable.

You cry and smile at the same time, It can crush your heart like a steamroller, while at the same time throwing you into a mind-numbing trance, giving you some wings, telling you you're the king of the world.

Love is beautiful, love has no equal but it is for the brave, the adventurers, the dreamers. Love is for those who are not afraid to bare themselves in front of someone without fear that this someone one day will use their weakness against them. Love is for heroes.

I'm not one, I'm just a kid who may have a future and a life that looks like a hero but I'm not one, I am just a toddler as my da like to say.

I'm just a kid who just wants to live a normal life. I don't want to experience things that could forever change the course of my life, that could submit me to a power that I couldn't circumvent, I don't want to love a person so much that I lose myself. I don't want this bondage of soul, body, and spirit to be my downfall it's too much.

Mr. Hucklebury? This is the third time he's called him while he's lost in thought, horrible thoughts. Indeed, he often plays with the twins, rather sensual games to tell the truth, but he didn't see himself so involved in such an affair that could be his downfall.

Love requires attention, understanding, tolerance, and time and he does not give too much of his time to others. But that was long before the twins showed up at his house, right? Because others can testify that he has changed but he does not see it yet.

The coach never forgot the arrogance he showed in declining his offer, when he wanted to make him pay he was always taken aback by him, it's as if he was always one or two steps ahead of him.

Until he drops his little personal revenge, it's a kid game and he is too old for this since it's not like he hates the toddler, he just wanted to show him who's the boss here but it was in vain since Howie didn't carry him in his heart like the rest of his burdens.

After all, he is one of the best parts of his team that make life hard for him, he was mostly scared that the other would leave the team forever because he's doing it for fun. When he hears the other teachers talking about his abilities, he understood that was not an option for him.

It was Raphael who touched Howie to bring him out of his thoughts. He turned to him with a question mark in his eyes by taking his time. Take your time, thinks Raphael, what's the rush buddy, hm.

The coach, calls you but you seem to be lost in thought, ends up saying to him, by the way, sorry for touching you, man. Raphael explained.

He looked around the room, he crossed the stare of the twins, he lingers on them for a moment then he continues towards the coach who watches him take his time when he has been waiting for him for an eternity to come back among them.

Mr. Hucklebury raged to the coach, are you with us? If it wasn't for the fact that he was a brilliant student, a charming young boy, and a super sports boy too he would have already been fired from the team since the day he declined the captaincy boldly.

He dared to challenge the coach in front of the others by refusing an honor that he gave him when he is not even part of this bourgeois society for which the latter is working his ass off for so long.

He saw his potential and so he wanted him to always be in the spotlight but he didn't expect the toddler to decline his offer out of hand like it wasn't the best thing that could happen to him in his life other than being accepted here.

Sir! Howie replied calmly, looking the coach straight in the eye. Are you with us? Could you tell me, what I was talking about?

I'm with you sir, but I don't think I must repeat your boring little speech. It's the only one you've had since what? Your whole life I can say. Their parents and grandparents were all entitled to this speech. So there's no need for me to start over, they will eventually lose their minds.

Purrs of stifled laughter are heard, but they're afraid that the Coach will charge them so they try as best they can to stifle their laughter.

Hands still on his hips, the coach glared at them, before ordering Howie to remove his earrings. No no jewelry during the match so takes those accessories off before I do it myself for you.

I'd like to see that Howie muttered through his teeth. Oleck and Raphael nudge him at the same time, trying to stifle their urge to laugh harder this time.

We should not piss him off even more man, if we lose this match he will make us pay for it with our lives. Raphael intervenes with a little seriousness.

Yes, sir answers Howie ironically but he makes no move to remove the earrings.

You're not going to take them off, asks Oleck, whispering very low next to him.

No way am I taking anything off. The other responded with a grimace. But, it's a matter of security, replies Raphael who was listening.

I'm head over all of you, unless you want to hurt me on purpose none of you can hit me or yank them out of where they are. And I warn anyone who has such a twisted idea in their head to be careful, to be honest guys I'm not in the mood and you had no idea how bad I am now.

The coach had left the room since he had the answer he wanted leaving the boys to finish preparing. He's known for a long time that he shouldn't attach too much importance to Howie's actions if he wants to stay sane for much longer, this boy is going to drive me nuts one day.

The boys from Saint August entered the other part reserved for the invited teams with bursts of laughter while singing the anthem of their school cheerfully and with pride.

Those of Wood Hill without exception had the same reaction as if they were programmed on the same frequency to the minute. They all rolled their eyes hearing them sing that cocky anthem with such pride and prowess.

We will see what they will sing when we have massacred them on the ground commented one of them, I hope they also have a song for defeat. And they burst out laughing happily while trying to drown out the Augustinian chant.

They on their side increase in power which creates a real cacophony. Howie shook his head miserably without moving from the place he had been sitting all along.

Raphael and Oleck have joined the small group that has formed a circle at the end of the room to lend their support in the mission to drown out the silly singing of the others.

Ayke and Aike took advantage of this little confrontation between these males who want to show their power to join Howie who has been avoiding them since this morning.

He opened his eyes when he felt their presence near him, he let out a sigh that said yeah, I was expecting to see you both while glaring at them...

Without giving him time to say or make any unpleasant comment Aike leaned toward him and removed his arrow-shaped earring from his industrial piercing.

The gesture surprised him, he couldn't even move or ask him to leave him alone, then the latter pulled his hair back into a ponytail which he tied with a black rubber band that he wore on his wrist.

It was only when he was done that Howie looked up at him, meeting the hard gaze of Aike who was already waiting for him with firm feet ready to retaliate at any comment from him.

What's happening to him Howie grumbled under his breath, a little embarrassed by the other's sudden gesture of attention. Seeing the surprise on his face Aike seized the opportunity to put on the headband he had for him. They both order branded headbands from their favorite player.

The silly smile that appears on Aike's pretty face makes him smile for the first time during the day. And when he returned it, his heart began to gallop frantically in his chest, he abruptly washed out of his seat which startled Aike who instinctively backed away from him.

Ayke on the other side grabbed his wrist in his tracks and forced him to sit down as suddenly as he had stood up.

But what's gotten into you two? Howie asked them, glaring at them one after the other.

Aike shrugged, while the other managed to put on a wristband of the same color. You're going to play for us, Ayke told him, sighing that he had finally been able to adjust the wristband correctly. You know that you move a lot, Ayke told him, and you're very strong too, people must avoid dueling with you.

Howie rolled his eyes, he looked at the basketball strap on his wrist and then looked at them despite himself, he found himself saying thank you. While he thought he was going to rip them out and throw them away but that's not what happened.

Did you finish? He asked them. Yeah, more or less they answer with one voice. So what are you waiting for now, you can go away? We don't want to leave, we stay close to you until the game starts. And there's no way you're taking them off.

You two are boring, Howie told them in a smooth, controlled voice. Yeah, for you, we are and that's not going to change today. They leaned their heads against the wall behind them like Howie and crossed their feet all three at the same time, without them noticing it.

Cheers of laughter and respective songs from each of the schools are broadcast throughout the school grounds. It's always like that when they discuss an important match, after the annual festival, it's the moment they love the most.

Colored signs and the colors of the two teams were tied in the stands. There are so many cheerleading accessories that the girls won't even have to do their dance.

But at Wood Hill, everything is done 100%, with no question of neglecting the slightest thing. And the girls started the evening with the most magnificent show.

Like the boys, they have worked hard and their coach is proud of them. Their show arouses much more excitement and when the two teams enter the field, it looked like an earthquake as the building shook under the wave of shouts of joy that accompanies each team indiscriminately.

Parents, friends, boyfriends, and girlfriends are present to watch this legendary match between these two teams who are also fierce opponents. Everyone hoping to see the team they come cheering up tonight win, but they also know it won't be easy.

The first period goes like a turtle, with Howie just chewing on his gumshield like a puppy completely forgetting he was on the pitch. His teammates want to twist his neck and the twins can't watch him behaving like a toddler.

When Todd noticed that he doesn't plan to put himself in the game like the other four. He went to meet him, cursing each step that brought him back to him. What are you doing? Do you think it's time to be stupid, Huckleberry?

But he doesn't answer, pretending not to hear him. He only has one thing on his mind, why did this thing fall on me? Despite the noise covering the room, he had in mind only this music, which changes tempo concerning the emotions that cross the one to whom it belongs, Aike's heartbeat.

What are you doing? Aike whispered to him as if he knew he could hear him. To his astonishment, Howie looked up at him.

Shit! the latter exclaimed, crossing the deep and shaded gaze of the teenager who makes them all lose their heads and their sanity whether in a good way or in a bad way.

This Huckleberry, I'm going to kill him with my own hands, I swear it on the head of my… the coach was enraged on his side when he saw him letting the ball pass.

Don't do that, Aike begged him, batting his lips without letting out a sound as Ayke watches them tenderly. Hey coach, this idiot needs to be replaced before he makes us look like jerks. shouted a voice in the bleacher.

Huckleberry now is not the time. The coach continues to pester, he knows he is talented and respects his talent, but there, he is going very far even too far for his taste.

The full moon, the people screaming, and the memories that overwhelm him, do nothing to help the shitty situation in which he finds himself and which he tries with all his being to fight.

It is easier to face ten thousand men in a fight than to face emotions that have love, disappointment, and betrayal as factors. But the worst part of it all is those who relate to love that bother him the most. They're the only ones he can't understand why they hurt so damn much.

Hey son, you're not going to give up now, you've sacrificed enough to give up today, a voice whispers to him that he recognizes all too well.

He searched the assembly for that familiar and comforting face and he found his smiling father with two batons of their color in hand who smiled at him as he struck them together.

Then a jovial smile appeared on his lips when he saw his father encouraging him. and someone else shouted in the room, too bad he is so handsome but it's for nothing, I had started to be afraid of his stall figure and his appearance and a burst of laughter followed his words.

He must be new, Howie thinks, before that mischievous, ominous old smile makes its way onto his pretty red lips.

He caught the ball that was thrown at his head on purpose to knock him out, with one hand without even looking at the ball. Like a feline, he begins to move on the ground as if he were made of air.

What just happened? asked the coach, when he saw the scoreboard indicated twelve points for the invited team and three points for Wood Hill. The twins smile as they follow his every move and the Wood Hill audience regains confidence. They start screaming with all their might, for them the match has just begun.

The dribblers are not lacking, the match takes another turn all of a sudden, and the players regain their confidence by listening to the public shouting so much, it was only the first period and they were all down.

That's it, my boy, I know you wouldn't disappoint me, give them a good Howie show, shouted the coach, jumping up and down. The other of his teammates watch him play as if he were alone on the field.

When the referee ended the period, the score was twenty-four to twelve. Weirdly, the Augustins didn't have time to score a single point until the end of the period.

Huckleberry come over here, the coach ordered him grabbing his arm, now is not the time for antics on the pitch. the match is important, and there are plenty of scouts present tonight, so stop these absences and antics that could cost us both our careers.

Yes coach, replies the latter, for the first time in his life. He responds in such a conciliatory way with the latter, that the coach was surprised at his behavior and asked him nicely, are you okay?

What is happening to him the coach asks staring at him in disbelief, Ayke brings him a bottle of water and a towel to get him out of the coach's grip.

This boy, I'll never understand him, he's a real enigma to me, the latter whispers while Howie walks away from him with Ayke.

Listen to me all, it's a good job you did there, and I'm counting on you all to keep this same rhythm until the end of this meeting, so back to work. The second period took place with the same determination on the part of the players.

Howie is on fire at the start of the quarter and uses the screens that his teammates offer him, he wins almost everything from a distance by turning four out of seven from a distance.

Faced with this problem, the adversaries are forced to stick to him completely without giving him space, and sometimes they even take him in twos. This forces the coach to take a timeout when he finds himself without a solution because of the marking.

Thanks to a well-rehearsed game plan, he managed to free himself from his marking, to put himself against his opponent, whom he managed to eliminate thanks to a double cross over to penetrate the racket to be able to score on a Lay -up, at that moment the public was on fire watching such a beautiful show, very nice assists, 3-point shots, Lay-ups without forgetting a few counterattacks in stride.

When the last quarter arrived the score was unbeatable for the Augustins, they lost the flame with which they stepped onto the playing ground, they have never seen such an extraordinary and impressive level of play. People were quick to take down the disrespectful words they threw about Howie.

When suddenly he felt the weight of the full moon, he looked for his father, he was no longer in the public but what worries him the most are the howls he hears from afar and the tension that weighs on the room suddenly. The air was heavy and the breaths around were panting as if they were running a sprint.

He looked for Bravael whom he can't find anywhere, but he didn't come to attend the meeting what could be more important to do since he doesn't know anyone here, asking Howie not to mention that he refuses to take personal development classes as if they were an option.

He scored twenty-four more points by making eight three-pointers before losing interest in the game. he is already the best player in the match, it is not to say that the match rested on his shoulders but he has this light in him which pushes the others to follow when he is motivated.

He let two teammates from the opposing team snatch him from the ground before sending him rolling in the air, in a shrill noise he lands at the feet of the twins, and the coach who almost got on the field like a madman forgeting about his career for a split second.

He pretended not to be able to move, which made even more rage rise in the pit of the coach's stomach and his head turned red as a tomato as he tried to contain himself.

Tonight is important for him, he must not let his demons get the better of him. Rewards and merits are at stake if he lets himself be guided by his impulses he will ruin all this good job he did already.

The coach is not mean and the boys even call him Tsundere a name they take from the girls, he is much more of a threat and talks in the air without taking big actions.

Howie was substituted on the pitch and then he looked for a way out of the room discreetly. He needs to know what's going on. Ran down the hallway following footsteps, he heard the voice of Bravael calling for help. Ah now he needs help, he must be kidding me huh?

His footsteps lead him into the backyard of the school almost to where he finds some shade and peace of mind when he wants to draw in peace or distance himself from others.

As he gets closer he feels a drastic change in the atmosphere that could get rid of an alpha but he's not just any alpha him. But what is happening, why are there so many?

His senses begin to suddenly become sensitive, it's as if they have their own will, his ears begin to whistle, and his sense of smell burns. He distinguishes every smell and every noise with such efficiency that he chuckled sarcastically.

He walked close to the wall, lowering his back, he perceived the soothing smell of El, almost insignificant in the middle of this multitude of acrid and bitter scents.

How could they manage to mix their pheromone to the point of making something so repulsive? A few steps away from him a pack of enraged Rufus surrounds El who tries in vain to calm them down. That's what he does best to calm things down before starting hostilities if he has no choice.

But there were far too many of them to keep them at a distance while he took care of them one by one or two by two. He was just taken by surprise when they realized he was neither wolf nor human, they used their weapon against him almost paralyzing him.

Howie laughs seeing them, it's finally time to have your real first fight H he said smiling like a psycho.

The others were so focused on their prey, that they didn't have the presence of mind to detect the other presence lurking in the shadows, they weren't the predators anymore but they haven't realized that fact yet.

Howie released his pheromone into the air which was already unbearable, El cried out in pain when he felt his lungs on fire, and the wolves surrounding him began to plod on their stomachs, lowering their guard which gave Bravael the possibility of escaping their vigilance.

He crawled to the foot of the wall where he leaned patiently waiting for the other to decide to show up and free him. Let the game begin, H whispered with a bitter laugh. His eyes start to shine, then he leaps toward the small pack, disoriented by the surprise.

Come on guys show me what you got, he said… but his charm doesn't last long, with the full moon they're a bit more resistant against his pheromone and he doesn't know how to use his full potential yet.

When the moon appeared on the horizon in its majestic form, the one who seems to be their alpha was the first to come to his senses and without waiting he rushed towards this insolent little moron who dared to disturb them.

His whole being cries out to him to flee but he doesn't listen, he doesn't like to be disturbed when he has prey in sight. The Rufus are relentless hunters who like to play with their prey but only kill to defend themselves.

They like to stalk their prey until they drive them mad with fear until feeling the meat is appetizing enough. And they don't live in crowded areas so finding them right in the heart of New York is incomprehensible.

Fear is a survival mechanism that is triggered when our body is confronted with a source of stress that our brain may perceive as a threat. In this case, it triggers a whole series of reactions that allow us to flee, or to remain motionless in the face of this imminent danger.

Our body is activated: the production of hormones and neurotransmitters causes a multitude of responses. Thus, breathing and heart rate increase while blood flow to the small intestine will be reduced since part of it will be redirected to the muscles.

Thus, the body prepares to fight or to flee, but in any case, all this is due to the famous hormone of fear, including adrenaline, which makes meat delectable for their taste buds. If the prey does not come to them they will come looking for it, but they do not kill humans.

He charged at Howie who dodged him with agility, disoriented the alpha charged again but this time Howie was waiting for him. He puts a violent punch between his eyes which sent him to the ground. The wolf got up painfully after two good attempts.

He hits very hard, this little rascal! thinks the latter he understands why his instinct told him to flee away. Who could be this pretentious little runt who wants to make me eat dust in front of my pack?

The others start to regain their balance, and in groups of three, they start attacking Howie. A violent fight begins to unfold before his eyes, but he is more eager to teach his young wolves a lesson instead of killing them. And his eyes didn't shine since he launched himself towards them, apart from the pheromone he used against them, nothing proves that he is also a werewolf.

And, El who can't stop smiling seeing him do it so well, has always been like this, ready to protect and give others time to understand their mistakes to redeem themselves.

He never killed until that famous day they snatched from him the only being with whom he did not need to be the one on whom we can count, with him, he was only a living being among all the others.

Despite the full moon's effect on them, the Rufus was no match for him, he was fast way too fast for them if he was another wolf they wouldn't have taken that long to fight him and he wasn't even in his animal form, he's just a teenager having fun kicking their ass with an evil smile plastered all over his face.

This boy is sick, says the alpha who calls back his pack otherwise they risk not getting out of here if they continue to persist restlessly to attack him giving him a free punching ball to exercise.

He sees very well that the other takes them for a punching bag, not as potential adversaries and if they annoy him he will end up killing some of them.

But he promises to come back because he must meet him in his human form at all costs.

Broken legs, and cracked ribs they drag their legs before launching into the dark, the alpha took one last look at the two boys to be sure he recorded them correctly.

The next time! he said to himself, glaring at them, then he launched himself into the dark, Howie scanned the darkness to be sure that they were all gone then he walked towards El whom he helped to stand.