THE UNMARKED GEM; A Girl Nobody Desired

Chapter 1: Stray Ball

Students at the prestigious Bridgetown High School were resting in their comfort zones around the school compound, seated in their coteries, telling jokes and laughing, those in athletics had changed to their beautiful training kits, from hockey to basketball and swimming. However, what garnered more attention was the soccer team and particularly because of one single person. Most people including his coaches called him the next big thing in the world of soccer. At seventeen, he stood out in a crowd of twenty team mates, in black shorts with white stripes on the sides, white round-neck sports T-shirt matching white and pink soccer boots and a pair of black socks long enough above his knee caps.

Mason Klein, or MK 7 as drawn from the initials of his name and his favorite jersey number, was the standard of perfection for what a boy ought to have looked like at Bridgetown. Girls would compare their boyfriend's to him and for that the male folk including those in senior classes didn’t like him much for his looks and arrogance and up-close he was an eighth wonder of the world with an irresistible charm; his hair was natural jell-soaked, short and smooth strands sun-bleached to a lighter blonde, dark eye brows, almond shaped eyes with a grey iris darting his snow-white cornea, his aquiline nose perfectly slanting down to these thin curved lips with a warm smile that clicked on and off. Standing at approximately five feet six, his body was muscular, his broad chest and ribbed abs were visible from the thin fabric of the cotton T-shirt he had on. And even as he drowned in his own sweat, his smell was still ambrosial.

Despite his looks and talent, that day Mason was stuck in a rondo.

"Don't stay in there too long Mason!"

"I'm trying coach!" He shouted trying to snatch the ball away from his teammates.

Across the field was the canteen and walking from it with a bunch of books tucked under her armpits and snacks at hand was the girl no one at Bridgetown high desired. Her hair was long soot black and unkempt, dry as a nun’s cunt lacking that jelly shine and lustrous nature of normal hair. She was shabbily dressed in a baggy beige sweater and a pair of jeans, her black doll shoes almost bursting from her weight and size of her ugly feet. Stuffed-fat but somehow beautiful face with droopy cheeks, calm friendly eyes hidden behind metallic circular-framed eye glasses. She struggled to move evident from the shaky wheezing sound of air being expelled from her lungs hidden behind those layers of fat and accompanying in pursuit were insults and objects being thrown at her- the name was Audrey Miller. She was the exact opposite of Mason, no one wanted her and she was a symbol of shame with her Obesity, horrible sense of fashion and speech disorder. For that reason, she was always alone with a bag of snacks and books. You could only find her in the library even at games time reading.

On that fateful day she would get attention. She was just fine being invisible to everyone since a few who noticed her made fun of her. Back in the rondo, Mason was getting frustrated. For a talent of his stature who made even the complex of skills look easy on the field, he didn't have to struggle that much. When the frustration built to saturation he strongly tackled a teammate and kicked the ball so hard it flew across the field and knocked Audrey to the ground sprawling her books and snacks all over. A thunderous laughter filled the air and immediately as it was the norm camera phones were out recording the entire incident for i********: reels. It didn't sit well with Mason, he dashed to the scene in a bid to make things right. Deep down, he was empathetic after all.

"Are you okay?" He asked helping pick up her stuff.

"Okay…am fine" she mumbled dusting herself.

"I'm sorry, it was not intentional"

"It's okay, accidents happen. Thank you..."

"No need I owe you an apology. Bye!"

"Bye!" She walked away briskly struggling to catch her breath.

That was not the way she wanted and imagined being introduced to Mason Klein, the hottest boy in school that left most of the girls with thirst and lust despite the fact that he was a notorious playboy and party monster. He'd get into any girls pants with the power of a smile, a wink or wave alone. Audrey made her way to the library while Mason went back to training, as punishment for his actions and losing his cool he went to the rondo again, this time with focus and agility of a wild cat he didn't stay in there too long before repossessing the ball amid cheers from his team mates.

"That back there was a good shot" said one of his teammates as they ran around the field through the cones.

"It was a mistake"

"Come on you're a sniper with the ball. You dropped that ugly bag of meat right where she stood if I were you I'd be celebrating"

"That’s the problem, you’re not me"

It wasn't like him to sleep on a chance to shine and take credit or because it was training he was going to come around later. The coach ordered for a five-aside team and with the altercation behind him it was time for the star boy to shine and plant seeds of greatness early in his life if he was going to be close to his idols, Messi and Ronaldo and become the highest paid soccer player in the game. Meanwhile for Audrey, the shameful incident back there was nothing she was not used to. She was comfortable with being branded a freak of nature and being alone. In fact, it gave her more time to concentrate on her studies and realize her dream of becoming a Cardiologist in future to aid in the fight against hypertension that led to the demise of her mother.

******

At five in the evening the boys’ soccer team was back in the changing room, painted in Bridgetown colors of Red and white. It was so hot and noisy there, combined with different brands of sweat and the pungent smell of teenage feet and socks, that made it hard to breathe. Dominating the topic of discussion however was that video of Audrey falling after being knocked by a stray ball from Mason. The video was edited making it more hilarious leaving viewers vibrating from rib cracking laughter. Mason on the other hand seemed unbothered by what was going on around him, seated in recovery mode far from the bunch.

"Dude, you good?"

"Yeah am fine what's up?"

"You don't seem to be having fun. Have you seen that video? I mean imagine if that was a game and you scored such a goal that left the keeper flat face on the ground like she was..."

"There is nothing funny about that video cap"

"Come on man loosen up a little"

"For all I know she might be hurt and it was not intentional..."

"Looks to me like it was because no one in this room loves and swims in attention than you MK"

Once again, his personality as known by those around him was standing in the way of his genuine display of sympathy. He didn't intend to hit her with that ball it was an accident that came from frustration after they pushed his buttons to the limit but who would have believed him? First impressions last longer than we think and sometimes it's almost impossible to eliminate them and old habits die hard. He was known for pranking the vulnerable and laughing about it. The Captain was joined by a few of his friends on the team, also part of his boys’ club that comprised the filthy rich and spoilt brats that money allowed them to do anything they wanted to anybody.

"What am I gonna do to show you guys that am not happy about what I did?"

"Nothing dude. We know you so well man, we've been a team since the third grade and you enjoyed every bit of shame you inflicted on that b***h"

"If you know me so well as you claim then you'd know when am telling the truth and right now I am"

"Okay, this is going to sound weird" the captain said, there was authority in his voice and calmness, order whenever he spoke, "seems to me like our boy MK 7 here likes Audrey"

The entire locker room burst into laughter. That was the worst if not one of the wildest indictments every male student attending Bridgetown High was scared of. Mason was left chuckling and shaking his head in awe, he also couldn't believe the captain and his best friend just accused him of liking that shapeless mass of fat. They all knew the kind of girls he was in and she was not even an inch closer to his type, petite angels with a dress code that left men looking back and salivating, presentable with swift movements not that meaty human dragging herself from one point to another while stuffing more calories in her already bursting body.

"That's outrageous but you warned it'd be weird so am not..."

"No offence brother but you're acting like a little b***h"

"None taken. I'm still not gonna laugh about embarrassing her during my moment of weakness. The rondo was driving me nuts"

"Can you date her?" He asked amid looks of surprise around them, there was a snowballs chance in hell he could even want a picture with her leave alone drag her around claiming to be her boyfriend.

"Hell no"

"Can you at least make her fall in love with you? Like make her admit she loves you"

"That's easy you're asking Mason Klein God damn it!" One of his teammates brushed off that thought.

"I mean for the right price...yes"

Everyone was left dumb struck with amazement. God made man, man made money and money made man mad. It made them wonder just how far they were all willing to go for money.

"How much?"

"You know it can't be money. I have millions in my DNA, just give me something I can't buy with money I'll do it"

"I know just the thing you want the most"

"Hit me"

"Cristiano Ronaldo and Lionel Messi signed Jerseys. Now that's something your insurance CEO of a dad and sexy News anchor of a mum can't get you, can't they?"

"I'll ignore the fact that you sexualized my mum" Mason got back on his feet, "we have a deal"

It was sealed with a handshake, signed by a gentleman's agreement and witnessed by the entire team.