Part 22 (2/2)

”H!”

”And whattya got!” the cheerleaders sang.

Lucius groaned, holding his head in his hands. Viktor smoldered like a red toad, p.i.s.sed that The Bourg insisted they come to the game.

”Stop being so miserable,” Kaila said, poking Lucius in his back. She couldn't fathom anyone miserable when she was the happiest in her entire life.

”Misery is illusion,” Lucius said. ”We feel nothing.”

”Could have fooled me,” Kaila taunted.

”Leave them alone,” Jordyn said, squeezing her hand.

”I don't understand why we have to watch humans fight over a ball,” Lucius pondered.

”They are stupid,” Echidna said, pointing at the cheerleaders. ”Why are they here?”

”They're supposed to inspire you,” Kaila said.

”They inspire me to violence,” Echidna said, her head in her hands.

”They make me hungry,” Viktor said.

”Such false gaiety,” Lucius marveled.

”I don't get it either,” Pia called. ”Football sucks.” Antonia, beside her, smiled.

”But it is good we are together,” Antonia said. ”I appreciate you.”

”Not all of you are bad,” Pia said.

”Bad?” Antonia looked puzzled.

The crowd stood and roared as the players trotted onto the field.

”Hey, birthday girl,” Jordyn whispered in Kaila's ear. ”You want us to make Bush win?”

”No interference,” Kaila said.

He nuzzled her ear with his lips. The stadium receded. She wanted to kiss him again so badly, adored the feel of him next to her, his hand in hers. The crowd's roar matched her hunger for him.

The game was close. With each touchdown, tension mounted. Derek Mendoza, the quarterback, threw perfect pa.s.ses. Wade Stoops, defensive lineman, held Covington back. The stadium cheered.

Kaila glanced at Melissa and Toby, oblivious to the game and entranced with the other.

”You're so smart,” Melissa said.

”You are so . . . creative,” Toby said, the stadium lights reflecting on his bald head. ”You have imagination. Through your mind, you travel the span of the universe.”

Melissa gazed at Toby with her lazy eye. It was as if a light surrounded the two. They bought popcorn and hotdogs.

Kaila smiled, seeing mustard on Toby's small lips as they shared taking bites of the hot dog. They were so cute!

She spied Mrs. Bourg above, observing like a vulture. But Kaila didn't care. Nothing could spoil this perfect night.

Or so she thought.

When you're with someone you love, time pa.s.ses quickly. Hours seem like minutes. At the end of the fourth quarter, the score was tied. Everyone screamed and shook the stadium with stomping feet.

Then, in the last seconds, Derek Mendoza threw a long pa.s.s. Phyllis was gazing reverently down at the field. Kaila remembered how she crushed on Derek.

What a pa.s.s. Kaila heard Phyllis's thoughts. G.o.d, you are so hot. Phyllis propped her chin on folded hands, her gaze not following the ball, but Derek.

The receiver caught the ball and ran the length of the field for a touchdown. The stadium exploded. The scoreboard lighted with red blinking ”TOUCHDOWN!”

”Guess they didn't need help,” Jordyn said, leaning over to kiss Kaila. His warm mouth molded her lips to his.

It was a custom at Bush High that after a winning game, the football players and cheerleaders went on the public address system and made announcements.

”We are so proud of our team!” Brandy Powell's high voice echoed over the stadium. Everyone cheered.

”Our team is the winner!” Tara's deeper voice echoed over the stadium.

Kaila barely heard them. Jordyn kissed her hand. s.h.i.+vers ran up her spine.

Then Derek's voice echoed on the loudspeaker. ”We played a great game,” he self-congratulated. ”But there is one thing that spoiled my night.”

The stadium quieted.

”Hey, Phyllis Joiner,” Derek called, his voice resounding in the night air. ”I heard you have a huge crush on my a.s.s. But hear this: I would never, ever, in a thousand years be seen with a bug-eyed dork b.i.t.c.h like you. You're a loser. Hear me, loser. No guy would ever want a freak like you. So quit your pining and die.”

It was as if the hybrids put a time freeze on the stadium. But they hadn't. Kaila, and everyone in the stadium, turned toward Phyllis Joiner.

Her blue eyes bulged as usual; her mouth hung open.

Then, hot waves of Phyllis's deepest shame telepathically permeated Kaila. Kaila's eyes stung with scalding tears. She felt like an elevator whose cable had snapped. She was descending to the center of the earth, merging with its molten core.

”Block her,” Jordyn said to Kaila.

But as Phyllis began to weep, so did Kaila. She'd never felt this hurt, this betrayed, this embarra.s.sed. She was sinking, losing herself in the wave of Phyllis's all-encompa.s.sing hurt.

Worse, Viktor, Lucius, and Echidna climbed up and surrounded Phyllis. They leaned over Phyllis who lowered her head and unleashed the thousand tears that had acc.u.mulated through a lifetime.

Echidna leaned close to Phyllis and inhaled. She closed her eyes and moaned.

Viktor leaned closer, his incisors visible.

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