The Girl

Chapter 6: Jason Burrow - The Game

The crowd gathered on the field bench. Most of them were singing the team’s march song, it echoed in the entire field.

“Go Stallion Go!” It said.

The cheerleaders were flipping and dancing at the running track, cheering together with the crowd. It’s an ordinary gather up before the game, to make sure that the student will come and support their school’s football team.

My Coach was standing at the podium, holding the microphone in front of his mouth.

“Go Stallion!” He spiritedly said. The crowd went nuts with cheers after they heard that then went to silence in just a split second.

“It’s a big game tonight,” he said, dramatizing the event. “If we win this game tonight, we'll be heading to the quarter-final of the state championship, but I’m not the one who assured you guys that we’ll win this game,” his look fell to me, who’s standing beside the podium. “I think to let our new football captain do that for you. Jason Burrow!”

The crowd cheered even more, vociferously yelling my name. I walked up and took the mike from his hand. My heart was beating so fast as if it wanted to jump out any minutes now. I looked over the people on the bench and saw the Manor’s girls were sitting among them. Reinn was waving at me, smiling. Rae – on the other hand – not smiling, but only looking at me. I suddenly felt the burden on my shoulder lifted, that I have my confidence back to win tonight’s game.

Everything will be okay Jazz, I said to myself.

I took a deep breath and looked back to the crowd, who’s waiting for my speech. “I won’t promise anything to you, but I do know that my teammates and I will play our best.” They were still silent.

“As Coach Wesley said before, if we won the game tonight, we will head to the quarter-final. Then again I don’t know if we win or not, all I know we will give The Warriors one hell of a game, that they will remember for the rest of their history!” The crowd cheered. “Go Stallion!” I echoed.

The cheerleaders were dancing some more when I stepped down from the podium. All my mates gave me a high five in the air, smiling worriedly just like me. But I know we’ll win. It’s just my hunch.

“So you’re coming to the game tonight?” I asked Rae when we walked together to my car.

Oh, God! Please say yes.

“Yep, my Mom will drop us off tonight,” she said.

I was so happy to hear that, I wrapped my arm over her shoulder – I wanted to leap and hugged her and kissed her but then again, only in my head, just keep that as my imagination.

“You’ll be my Fortuna tonight,” I said, winking my eyes. She elbowed me, shyly.

“Then you better win boy!” She said, smiling.

I wrapped my hand around her waist. I didn’t intend to do that, it sort of reflexed to feel her close to me. Our eyes met. My face was getting closer to hers. Oops! I almost kissed her.

Get down, boy! Hold your horse.

Instead, I said in her ear, softly, “I’ll win this game for you Rae,” and smiled. I could feel that her body shivered over my gesture. She looked at my face, blankly.

“Did I interrupt anything?” Alex suddenly asked, from my side. “Just don’t think that I’m here, just do what you guys want to do, I’m not here.”

It’s obviously hard not just to pretend that he’s not here, with us. Rae shied her face away from my eyes.

Damn you! Ghost! – I cursed. Didn’t you see I almost had my good luck kiss?

“Let’s go home,” I said. And so I drove her back to her house.

                                                                                                          ******

I was in the locker room, getting ready for the game. I put on my jocks and my protective gears. Alex's new ability was really becoming handy, he helped me by handing over things to me.

“Remember our strategy Jazz,” he said to me when he gave me my shoulder pads. “Don’t be a one-man show. This is a team play okay!” He sounded just like my coach.

“Yeah I know,” lazily replied.

“If you can’t run over their field just pass the ball to someone free.”

And it’s on and on and on. He kept advising me about things that I already knew.

He gave me my red shirt when I heard somebody open the door. Oli’s eyes were widened with fear, looking at a shirt that was flying in the air.

Oh my God! He saw it. 

Well, I didn’t know what he saw, obviously, he didn’t see Alex. However, looking at a shirt flying in the air wasn’t sort of a normal thing.

“What was that?” He asked me with eyes still big, gazing back and forth from the shirt to me.

“It’s not what you think,” I said, a little crouching in defense towards him. Anticipating if he would’ve leaped to me and attacked.

“How do you know what I think?” His eyes were looking at me suspiciously. “Can you see the shirt is flying?”

“Yes, I can.” I wouldn’t lie to him – to my best friend and my field guard.

“What?!” He shoved his hair with his fingers.

“Look, Oli! I can explain,” I said, slowly stepped in his direction. He was moving back, away from me and looked at me like I was a freak. I deserved that – I thought.

“What? You now have sort of ESP power?” His eyes fixed into mine. “What can you explain about what I see? Huh!”

“It’s a ghost, Oli,” I said, hoping that he would understand, but he’s not.

He frowned. “A ghost?! You’re a freak Jazz!”

He ran away from me before I could catch him out from the locker room. I bumped into Reinn, who’s with Rae, they were looking for me. They were puzzled to see us.

“Oli saw when Alex was…” before I could finish my sentence, Reinn was darting away to catch Oli.

“I’m sorry Jazz…” Alex said.

“It’s not your fault, he will find out sooner or later,” but I never think that this soon. Not that I need a drama on the night of the game.

I wore my shirt and looked for them - Reinn and Oli - with Rae behind me, trying to catch up with me.

I saw them talking on the corner of the field bench. He was shaking his head, waving his hand in the air, depressed. She tried to reach for his hand, when he jerked off from her and walked away, head down to see the ground. Reinn was coming over to us, she’s crying. 

“He hates me now…” she sobbed. “He thinks that I’m a freak,” she hugged her sister and cried some more.

It’s breaking my heart to see her like that. She’s so lively and cheery, but now she drowned in her tears. Rae tried to calm her down, whispering soothing words in her ear.

“How can this be?” she said, looking at me. “I love him Jazz, I do! I don’t want us to end like this,” her tears falling like rain – kind of rhyme with her name, Reinn. “He hates me now,” and she hugged Rae again, still sobbing.

I brushed her back, “I’ll talk to him.” I will make him talk for sure. “I’ll straighten things for you Reinn.”

I was off to the field, to where my teammates already gathered up. I saw Oli standing near the water table, drinking.

“Oli,” I called. He turned around and ready to run away from me again. I ran faster and caught his arm; I locked his neck with my arms, pulled his face close to mine, forehead to forehead. He’s breathing hard.

“If you need somebody to blame, then blame me, angry with me, hate me but not Reinn. Keep her out of this,” I said, firmly.

He pushed me off him. “How long has she known?”

“Since her second day in this school,” I won’t lie to him again - he got enough of the hiding-from-his-back things.

He shook his head. “How long do you think you can cut me from that?” He echoed in anger. “My God, Jazz! She’s my girl…I don’t need a…” he sighed.

I don’t need a freak – that’s what he’s going to say? Thank God that he didn’t say that, otherwise this field will be our battleground.

“And you! You’re my best friend! How?!” He brushed his hair again, looking depressed.

“I can explain…” I said. He shook his head again.

“Are we alright boys?” Coach asked from my back. I was quite surprised.

“We’re fine, aren’t we Oli?” I gave him my firm look, my captain look. He nodded, unwillingly agreeing with me.

“Let’s start the game!”

We’re on the field now, standing together over our opponent, The Warriors. I glanced at Oli, who’s crouching in defense on my back. I hoped the problem wouldn’t affect our play, but maybe I hoped too much – Did I?

I yelled our strategy out loud so that my teammates could hear. The ball was in my hand, I tried to run over to The Warriors’ gate when suddenly I felt somebody hit me and made me fall on the ground.

I got up and saw Oli was looking at me with guilt. He didn’t watch my back like he was supposed to.

“Are you alright Jazz?” Alex asked.

So he was in the field with me – I thought. At least somebody guarding my back, or a ghost did.

“I’m fine,” I said and stood up straight.

I yelled the code again, bending over the ball in front of me. I will be faster this time. If he didn’t want to be my defense it’s okay, I’ll be a one-man show – even though Alex and my coach disagree. I don’t need him, Oli, well actually I need him but since he’s being so stubborn like that, I don’t.

The game went on well – with my one-man show. Our scores were neck to neck with The Warriors. They were targeting me, my body was aching with many impacts that I had. I heard my coach yelling for the others to protect me, and I heard Alex yelling that I need to pass the ball. It’s hard to concentrate when your coach and a ghost were yelling at you at the same time.

My gaze fell to Rae, on the bench. I could see that she’s worrying. My Gypsy girl. My Fortuna. I remembered that I promised her that I’ll win this game for her, that’s not going to change now.

“Oliver! Cover him!” My coach yelled in stress. We’re losing one point over The Warriors.

I held the ball now, running much faster than before. I was a few feet away from the goal when somebody struck me from my left. The impact threw me out of the field and hit the lamp tower.

Ouch! That’s so painful.

I grimaced in pain, trying to get up from the ground, but I failed.

Everybody was standing now, looking at me. Then I saw some sparks of electricity above me, I looked up and saw one of the lamps burst some sort of firework. By then, only in a few seconds, I saw the big field’s lamp falling. To me. Everybody was screaming in horror.

My body was numb. I could only see the lamp falling fast upon me with terror.

You know when people used to say that; when you’re dying all pictures of your life passing through in your head? Well, it was like that. I saw my Mom, I saw Rae, I saw my dad and I saw Rae again.

I’m dead now. I’m doomed. I’ll be the first QB who died in the field, crushed by the field lamp. Then I saw the lamp was getting slower – contrary to any gravitation law in this planet – as if somebody slowed down the fall.

I have to move now! I have to move!

I jumped over the side, a few inches away from where I sat before. Then the lamp fell to the ground, crushed. I leaned down to the ground, my face against the damp dirt below me, and I covered my head with both hands.

I heard footsteps running towards me. Somebody pulled me hard from the ground. “Are you alright, Jason?” My Coach asked - his eyes filled with fear.

“I’m fine,” looking at the crushed lamp over my side. It would’ve been my head, bled out, and brain scattered all over the ground. Thank God it wasn’t.

The referee came over to my coach, discussing something. My head was still spinning; I was bending over and tried to focus on my breath when Oli ran and hugged me – in some sort of jock way, not some romantic embrace okay! Don’t think of some perverted thing in your head. 

“I’m sorry Jazz…” He said - his eyes were full of guilt. “I’m so sorry Jazz.” I shook my head. “I saw the lamp was slower…” He said in a low voice, not wanting everyone to hear.

“Was it you Alex?” I asked my ghost friend.

“Yes,” he replied, his voice was a little bit shaky on the edge.

“What the ghost said?” Oli asked me. I felt his grip tightened on my arm.

“He saved me,” I replied.

The coach came to us. “Do you want to sit down? I could get somebody to replace you?”

I stood straight, facing the crowd on the bench. My Fortuna still stood there looking at me.

“I’m fine coach, let’s start the game again.” I walked to the field, with Oli behind me, like a knight walking to the battlefield. The crowd cheered over me.

“Go Jazz!” Somebody yelled to support me. I waved my hand.

I signaled my teammates to gather up in the center of the field. We’re bending down, helmet to helmet.

“Your captain was attacked,” I said, firmly to my team.

“Sorry Jazz,” they murmured.

“We have to pay them back,” I gazed deeply at them. “We have to win this game. I almost got killed! Don’t you guys want to help me get my revenge?!” I want to get even with The Warriors.

“Yeah!” They replied to me.

“I have my eyes locked on him, Jazz,” Oli said, looking at the guard who struck me before. I felt sorry for that guy already, Oli can be mean sometimes.

“We’re losing one point behind; let’s give them the real game!” I encouraged them.

We stood up, focused, and determined. We’re not playing this time, we’re fighting. Fighting over our pride – well my pride actually, but then again they were my friend; my pride is their pride too - sort of.

The referee blew his whistle. I had the ball in my hand again. I could sense that they’re ready to crush me, but my teams were protecting me now. I heard thumping sounds, and one by one The Warriors fell to the ground. The guy – who attacked me before – was lying on the ground with Oli on top of him, pressing him hard so he couldn’t move.

I was out in clear, the crowd echoing my name, cheering me. I could feel my heart beating fast, my adrenaline rushing through my vein, giving me a boost of power. I ran like a wild mustang – not mustang my car but mustang as in the horse. I’m a free stallion in the green field, just like our team name - The Stallion. I slid on the ground when The Warriors’ QB tried to grab my waist. Then I ran some more, faster than before, heading toward the goal. I threw the ball on the ground, when the whistle blew, marking the game’s end. I made a touchdown. We won!

My teammates running towards me swarmed like a bee. They lifted me in the air and cheered in happiness. I cheered with them too.

I looked over the bench and saw Rae was standing, clapping her hand with joy. I took off my helmet and dropped it on the ground, I ran towards her.

I still remembered how it felt to be just a foot away from death and realizing that you haven’t done anything to the person that you love the most – not showing how you want them in your life.

I didn’t want to waste my time again. Screw with the ‘what if’…I love her and I want her, if she doesn't think or feel the way I feel for her, then at least I tried to show her that I care. All I wanted now, just to feel her in my arms, to kiss her will be a benefit, but hey! Just being with her made me realize how lucky I am to be alive.

I jumped over the bench, it’s hard to move when many people wanted to greet you but I managed. I wrapped my hands around her waist and pulled her closer to me, looking deep into those big green eyes that I love the most. 

I didn’t care how the butterflies in my stomach dancing, I didn’t care that my heart was sinking and fluttering at the same time, I didn’t care how the air seemed sucked out from my lungs. All I care about was to feel her warmth in my skin, to see her bright and beautiful smile, or sense the scent of her sweet fruity perfume.

“Hey,” I said softly.

“Hey, my hero,” she replied, with those big green eyes gazed back into mine. I moved my face closer and kissed her lips, slowly and gently. 

I felt the tingling sensation in my skin and my head was blank. I could not think of anything…just feeling happy.

I kissed her. I kissed her! This was more than a trophy, more than knowing the fact your team headed to the quarter-final.

She let go of my lips, blushing.

Oh! She’s so pretty like that.

“Now, why haven’t we done this before?” I teased.

“Because you didn’t have the courage to,” she replied. Her eyes rolled.

My feisty girl. I kissed her some more.