Chapter 14: The football game

Life was so carefree when I was a teenager; being a supernatural spice it up a bit. Time passed by so quickly, and now I wish I could be forever sixteen. Izzie and I decided to go to the same High School with Chris. Although we weren’t in the same grade, we could spend the school’s breaks together and hung out with his friends.

High school was full of drama, sometimes I wondered where teenagers found so many reasons and energy to bicker, brag, or bully the ones who seemed weak. Chris was one of the most popular guys in high school because he was captain of the school’s football team, an A student, and handsome. He could be the definition of the playboy if it wasn’t for Izzie. They used to fight a lot, especially when other girls kept constantly flirting with him.

On the other hand, I went out on a couple of dates, but all of them were a disaster. I couldn’t bear to listen to horny boys rumbling about online games, football, or comics and then expect to kiss me or have sex with me. I was certain that if they challenged me on a fight in real life and not behind their computer screen, they’d get their asses kicked badly. That’s why I ended up enjoying my life without a boyfriend.

Izzie and I were sophomores, while Chris was in the 12th grade when the football team managed to go to the finals. The game would take place in our high school's field. Chris was very nervous, and I felt the same when I heard from my grandpa that a few werewolves were attending the rival high school. The game would be unfair if werewolves were to compete with humans.

Unfortunately for our team, there were indeed three werewolves among the opponents. I could sense them since the begging of the game, but there weren’t the only ones; more were watching the game. From what grandpa told me, there was an alpha’s son who wanted to experience the humans’ lifestyle before he takes over his father’s place and rules the pack. The good news is that the alpha wasn’t playing.

American football, in my opinion, can be very brutal, and that game didn’t alter my mind. The first two quarters were a disaster for us; the rivals kept tackling and throwing our players down. I noticed that the werewolves were the best at the defense. Chris was trying hard to change the score and encourage his teammates. Half time came, and I sighed with relief; I couldn’t stand watching this parody. Unless I did something to help…

I made some of the rival players ticklish; it was rather fun to watch them laugh without any reason. I made others trip over invisible obstacles and lose the ball. When an opponent passed the ball, I directed it towards our players. That gave us the advantage to take the lead on the score for the first time that night. Izzie was cheering loudly like the rest of our classmates, while our opposers seemed pissed.

The game finally came to an end, and I was exhausted. Izzie hugged me still applauding loudly, but I just wanted to go to sleep.

“Oh my, Ophelia, your nose is bleeding,” she exclaimed when she got a better look at my face.

“It’s nothing. Can you please pass me a tissue?” I asked and tried to smile at her reassuringly.

She did as I told her, and I tried to control the bleeding. “Let’s go find Christopher, I bet he wants to see us,” I told her once I felt a bit better.

We walked to Chris and everyone stepped aside to let us pass; that’s the perks of being the quarterback’s stepsister or girlfriend. Chris hugged Izzie the moment he saw her, and they shared a passionate kiss, which earned another round of applauds.

I was about to leave the crowd when a hand sneaked around my waist.

“Aren’t you going to congratulate us?” Chris asked and gave me a bear hug.

“You stink,” I muttered and scrunched up my nose in disgust.

“And you had a nosebleed again,” he remarked, completely ignoring my previous remark.

“I’m fine, just a bit tired. I think I’ll head home, but do me a favor and drink a beer for me, too,” I told him with a wink and walked away before he had the chance to retort anything.

I walked thinking that my telepathic powers came with a price; they seemed to drain all my power when I had to use them for a long time. I know it wasn’t fair to interfere in the game, but the rivals had werewolves on their team. Thus, I tried to balance the two teams.

“Are you from around here? I don’t think I’ve seen you before,” I heard someone’s voice and glanced on my right.

“Same with me. I go to this high school and pretty much know everyone here; so, I guess you came to see the game,” I said, and he looked at me surprised.

“Too bad, my team lost,” he admitted.

“Next time you should pick the right side.”

“Care to join me for a drink? I could use some company to distract myself from that match…”

I glanced at him again. He was a werewolf; to be more precise he was an alpha werewolf. “I don’t wanna be a joy killer, but I'm really tired,” I said trying to sound sincere.

“Oh, come on, darling; just a drink. I’ll take you home after that,” he countered back with a wink.

“Not interested, darling. What would your mate say if she finds out that you’re sleeping around?” I said with a smirk and watched his brows shot up with confusion and astonishment.

He walked closer to me, grabbed me bicep, and growled threateningly in my ear, “What the fuck did you just said?”

“I think the lady said no,” I heard a voice behind me, and when I turned my head to the side, I saw Chris running towards us.

Chris was about to punch the werewolf, but he dodged to the side and went straight to hit my stepbrother back. I stopped the alpha’s fist inches away from Chris’ jaw. They both looked at me astonished.

“I’m not in the mood for a fight, so why don’t we raincheck that drink?” I asked with a feigned sweet tone.

I guess I didn’t convince him, because his other fist aimed for my jaw, but I caught it mid-air, too. Before he comprehended what happened, I kicked him where the sun don’t shine. A grunt escaped his lips and he kneeled clutching his chestnuts. I elbowed him at his back, an awful crack sound filled the air, and he was flat lying on the grass.

“That was easy,” I mutter to myself, but my relief was short-lived; four werewolves were coming my way at full speed. “Run!” I yelled at Christopher and prepared myself for battle.

I dodge the first’s punch and kicked him at his stomach with such force that he landed a few feet away, I gave a series of blows and kicks on the second one, and I had the third one on a headlock in a matter of seconds. The fourth surrendered before I could lay a finger on him.

“Who the fuck are you?” the alpha asked as soon as he regained his composure.

“Forget the raincheck. I don’t want to go out with someone that I know I can kick his ass,” I said and turned around to see that a small crowd had gathered around watching us.

“You know who I am, so you know that I won’t let this disrespect pass,” the alpha said taking a few steps towards me.

With a sly smile on my face, I closed the distance between us, leaned in, and whisper to his ear, “I am a Keeper. Now get out of here before I make sure you never become alpha.”

I turned around and headed to Chris and Izzie who were looking at me dumbfounded.

“Where the hell did you learn to fight like that?” Chris inquired, and I fight the urge to roll my eyes at him.

“I attend martial arts, remember?! Now please promise me you are not going to pick up fights with were… with douchebags like these ever again,” I told Chris. I mentally curse myself; I was about to say ‘werewolves’ in front of fifty humans. I really needed to rest.

“I tried to protect you,” Chris retorted with a frown.

“I know, and thank you for that, but I can take care of myself. Now please call my mom; I need a ride home,” I said and lied down on the grass feeling worn out.