"There's Always A Second"
All of the men came running off the football field from yet another victory against Pleasantville Catholic High, Tommy Dawkins among them, in the midst of hoots and cheers as he had made, once again, the winning touchdown. Caught between Tim and Travis he was once again in the middle of a sweaty guys sandwich, something which he had become accustomed to, especially with all the wins the team had been having. Not that Tommy was surprised, he did have a little more speed and power on his side for reasons only known to his two best friends Merton J. Dingle and Lori Baxter, who were coincidentally on the sidelines cheering their heads off.
"YEAH TOMMY! WAY TO GO INTO THE END ZONE! SHOVE THEM OUT OF THE WAY!" Lori Baxter cheered, raised onto her feet, her hands clapping together.
Merton however was much more subtle about his approval, if he even knew what he was approving of. He had a black, leather bound book opened over his black spiked head, squinting a bit from the ruckus of the stands, meanwhile trying desperately to fit in.
"Yay Tommy!" He cheered softly, nearly a squeak, from underneath the book covers. "Way to go into the 'not the beginning zone'. Way to end it... just like the zone says..."
Lori turned away from the field as the boys had walked back towards the high school locker room to get changed, and the crowd began to disperse. Her eyes focusing on Merton under his book cover with a sense of slight amusement on them. Gently bending down she lifted the book off of Merton's head, shutting it with a soft snap, causing Merton to smile sheepishly in return.
"Merton, it's only a game. You're supposed to get a bit rowdy," Lori critiqued, shaking her head as she bent down and picked up her knapsack.
"Wild, maybe... but not to the point of threatening to rip some guy you've never mets' head off!" Merton retaliated, picking up his own black; coffin shaped back pack and slinging it over his shoulder.
Lori laughed softly, shaking her short haired blonde head, closing her eyes as she took this in as a joke. "Merton," She spoke somewhat sarcastically, yet gentle. "It's a figure of speech..."
"Well, I wouldn't go making a figure of speech to them," Merton frowned as he rose to his feet, snatching the book out of Lori's hand and blowing on it to get any trace of germs off. "Besides, he has god on his side," Merton added as he slowly stepped down each silver, metal bleacher, taking his time not to trip over his black pants adorned with a silver chain and little crosses.
Lori smiled at Merton's last snip at her and began to bound down each bleacher with the metal sound upon her impact, having always been the adventurous girl. Soon passing by Merton and without meaning to, caused him to fall backwards with one last pitiful cry.
But it was too late for assistance, his rear was now stuck between two individual bleachers, which happened all too often, his coffin shaped knapsack only making it all the more difficult to become free. Lori however didn't seem to realize and had already called out "I'm going to meet up with Tommy!' and was gone, leaving poor Merton struggling to get out as two much cooler males, no doubt members of the baseball team, Yankees caps turned backwards for "the full affect", passed by with rude comments.
"What's this Dingle? Decorating for homecoming?" Teased one of the males with blonde hair Merton longed to have, especially when he ran his hands through it and a flock of females rushed to his side and to witness the scene.
"Just having a little bit of trouble..." Merton forced out, flashing yet another sheepish smile, squirming about but at the same time, trying not to make it so obvious that he was having trouble.
"You'd think you'd be acquainted right now with the floor, as you visit it so often," Announced the other male, reaching forward with muscle toned arms that Merton also longed to have, noogying Merton's black spiked hair, causing Merton to squirm even more like a helpless puppy that didn't want to be held anymore, only to hear the sounds of echoing laughter as the group left him there.
Now Merton was left alone in his predicament. Stuck between the two bleachers and his taste for clothing accessories were not assisting him in any way. Letting out a yell of frustration he began to squirm about the metal bleachers again, the clanging of metal echoing the empty field, as he struggled to free himself. His body connecting with the metal and inflicting themselves with pain Merton didn't even realize, and even if he did they would mask out the other pains that plagued him. They had left him alone... alone...
"Excuse me..." Interrupted a female, slightly younger voice from behind him, causing Merton to freeze, his knees bent up to his chin by force of the bleachers, his always pale face actually turning into a shade of red.
"Mm?" Merton's voice came out a bit high pitched, more so than usual, trying his best to turn his head towards the voice in the tight spot it was in.
First his eyes fell upon a foot, a white adidas sneaker with three red stripes on the side, laces looped. 'Very fine job', Merton noted as all he could do was watch. Slowly tilting his head upward he saw blue jeans, not too tight like the things many other girls wore, it had to be a girl though, and no boy spoke like that, except maybe himself. His eyes continued their journey upward, up a bit of a bump to see a white t-shirt, also with the adidas logo in black letters with a red check under it. And upon the face, a fair face with somewhat pink tinted cheeks, as if she didn't tan easily, maybe a bit Native American (only Merton would know that). And short brown hair, down to her chin, brown and shining in the sun, with blonde streaks to accompany it. No emotion on her face, Merton got the feeling he was being looked over, closely studied, like a white rat in a science lab. He shut his eyes tightly and prepared for it.
"You're on my physics paper," was all she said, soon reaching down and taking Merton's wrist in her own palm, and pulling him upright, freeing him from his 'prison'.
Merton let out a few gasps for breath, trying to regain what little composure he had in himself, catching his coffin knapsack as it was thrown to him by the girl, over her shoulder. Letting out a breath from the impact he frowned, she threw too hard, and she wasn't even looking. Her attention was elsewhere, focused on the metal bleachers as she dug out the papers and books, shoving them into her duffle bag, which Merton guessed she had once had over her shoulder.
"Thanks," Merton spoke softly, though his head was tilting at the girl as she straightened, books in hand.
"No problemo," she responded with a simple shrug, tucking her books under her arm with half a smile.
Merton's eyes wandered to the girl's armful of books, reading the titles, titles of a books he owned and used. AP Physics, AP Bio, Calculus, AP English, The Dark Arts... Whoah... Dark Arts? Merton's eyes widened and focused on the black bound book with the big red font that appeared to be dropping blood on the cover.
"I didn't know the library had that," Merton frowned, his pale hand beginning to reach for the book at which the girl retracted.
"They don't, it's mine..." she responded, pulling the book close to her chest, surveying the damage from Merton's earlier contact. Feeling Merton's eyes upon her she slowly lifted her head, her eyes meeting with Merton's and slowly a half smirk emerged. "It's reading material, and actually very interesting..." She began walking down the metal bleachers step by step with ease, speaking over her shoulder as she flipped through the book's browning pages. "Did you know some people see the sandman as an evil doer, stealing your dreams and manipulating you so he could be the supreme ruler of all?"
Merton pulled his coffin bag tightly over his shoulder, following her down the bleachers, soon by her side with an eager smile. "Know it! I've lived it!" The girl stopped on the bottom bleacher and stared at him for a moment with a slightly raised brow. Merton, realizing his mistake let another smile grace his face nervously and started over. "I meant... know it... I've known it!.. Cause you told me!" He smiled somewhat nervously, the paleness returning to his cheeks as he tried his best to make it seem like nothing had happened.
The girl half smiled as she tucked her books back into her duffle bag, looking back to the nervous Merton. "I'm Danielle... Danielle Wyle..." she introduced in the silence, her hand outstretched in the air for Merton to take.
"Merton J Dingle. President of the Gothic Fantasy Guild, we no longer support poetry readings," Merton announced, taking Danielle's hand in his, shaking it his grin returning.
All of the men came running off the football field from yet another victory against Pleasantville Catholic High, Tommy Dawkins among them, in the midst of hoots and cheers as he had made, once again, the winning touchdown. Caught between Tim and Travis he was once again in the middle of a sweaty guys sandwich, something which he had become accustomed to, especially with all the wins the team had been having. Not that Tommy was surprised, he did have a little more speed and power on his side for reasons only known to his two best friends Merton J. Dingle and Lori Baxter, who were coincidentally on the sidelines cheering their heads off.
"YEAH TOMMY! WAY TO GO INTO THE END ZONE! SHOVE THEM OUT OF THE WAY!" Lori Baxter cheered, raised onto her feet, her hands clapping together.
Merton however was much more subtle about his approval, if he even knew what he was approving of. He had a black, leather bound book opened over his black spiked head, squinting a bit from the ruckus of the stands, meanwhile trying desperately to fit in.
"Yay Tommy!" He cheered softly, nearly a squeak, from underneath the book covers. "Way to go into the 'not the beginning zone'. Way to end it... just like the zone says..."
Lori turned away from the field as the boys had walked back towards the high school locker room to get changed, and the crowd began to disperse. Her eyes focusing on Merton under his book cover with a sense of slight amusement on them. Gently bending down she lifted the book off of Merton's head, shutting it with a soft snap, causing Merton to smile sheepishly in return.
"Merton, it's only a game. You're supposed to get a bit rowdy," Lori critiqued, shaking her head as she bent down and picked up her knapsack.
"Wild, maybe... but not to the point of threatening to rip some guy you've never mets' head off!" Merton retaliated, picking up his own black; coffin shaped back pack and slinging it over his shoulder.
Lori laughed softly, shaking her short haired blonde head, closing her eyes as she took this in as a joke. "Merton," She spoke somewhat sarcastically, yet gentle. "It's a figure of speech..."
"Well, I wouldn't go making a figure of speech to them," Merton frowned as he rose to his feet, snatching the book out of Lori's hand and blowing on it to get any trace of germs off. "Besides, he has god on his side," Merton added as he slowly stepped down each silver, metal bleacher, taking his time not to trip over his black pants adorned with a silver chain and little crosses.
Lori smiled at Merton's last snip at her and began to bound down each bleacher with the metal sound upon her impact, having always been the adventurous girl. Soon passing by Merton and without meaning to, caused him to fall backwards with one last pitiful cry.
But it was too late for assistance, his rear was now stuck between two individual bleachers, which happened all too often, his coffin shaped knapsack only making it all the more difficult to become free. Lori however didn't seem to realize and had already called out "I'm going to meet up with Tommy!' and was gone, leaving poor Merton struggling to get out as two much cooler males, no doubt members of the baseball team, Yankees caps turned backwards for "the full affect", passed by with rude comments.
"What's this Dingle? Decorating for homecoming?" Teased one of the males with blonde hair Merton longed to have, especially when he ran his hands through it and a flock of females rushed to his side and to witness the scene.
"Just having a little bit of trouble..." Merton forced out, flashing yet another sheepish smile, squirming about but at the same time, trying not to make it so obvious that he was having trouble.
"You'd think you'd be acquainted right now with the floor, as you visit it so often," Announced the other male, reaching forward with muscle toned arms that Merton also longed to have, noogying Merton's black spiked hair, causing Merton to squirm even more like a helpless puppy that didn't want to be held anymore, only to hear the sounds of echoing laughter as the group left him there.
Now Merton was left alone in his predicament. Stuck between the two bleachers and his taste for clothing accessories were not assisting him in any way. Letting out a yell of frustration he began to squirm about the metal bleachers again, the clanging of metal echoing the empty field, as he struggled to free himself. His body connecting with the metal and inflicting themselves with pain Merton didn't even realize, and even if he did they would mask out the other pains that plagued him. They had left him alone... alone...
"Excuse me..." Interrupted a female, slightly younger voice from behind him, causing Merton to freeze, his knees bent up to his chin by force of the bleachers, his always pale face actually turning into a shade of red.
"Mm?" Merton's voice came out a bit high pitched, more so than usual, trying his best to turn his head towards the voice in the tight spot it was in.
First his eyes fell upon a foot, a white adidas sneaker with three red stripes on the side, laces looped. 'Very fine job', Merton noted as all he could do was watch. Slowly tilting his head upward he saw blue jeans, not too tight like the things many other girls wore, it had to be a girl though, and no boy spoke like that, except maybe himself. His eyes continued their journey upward, up a bit of a bump to see a white t-shirt, also with the adidas logo in black letters with a red check under it. And upon the face, a fair face with somewhat pink tinted cheeks, as if she didn't tan easily, maybe a bit Native American (only Merton would know that). And short brown hair, down to her chin, brown and shining in the sun, with blonde streaks to accompany it. No emotion on her face, Merton got the feeling he was being looked over, closely studied, like a white rat in a science lab. He shut his eyes tightly and prepared for it.
"You're on my physics paper," was all she said, soon reaching down and taking Merton's wrist in her own palm, and pulling him upright, freeing him from his 'prison'.
Merton let out a few gasps for breath, trying to regain what little composure he had in himself, catching his coffin knapsack as it was thrown to him by the girl, over her shoulder. Letting out a breath from the impact he frowned, she threw too hard, and she wasn't even looking. Her attention was elsewhere, focused on the metal bleachers as she dug out the papers and books, shoving them into her duffle bag, which Merton guessed she had once had over her shoulder.
"Thanks," Merton spoke softly, though his head was tilting at the girl as she straightened, books in hand.
"No problemo," she responded with a simple shrug, tucking her books under her arm with half a smile.
Merton's eyes wandered to the girl's armful of books, reading the titles, titles of a books he owned and used. AP Physics, AP Bio, Calculus, AP English, The Dark Arts... Whoah... Dark Arts? Merton's eyes widened and focused on the black bound book with the big red font that appeared to be dropping blood on the cover.
"I didn't know the library had that," Merton frowned, his pale hand beginning to reach for the book at which the girl retracted.
"They don't, it's mine..." she responded, pulling the book close to her chest, surveying the damage from Merton's earlier contact. Feeling Merton's eyes upon her she slowly lifted her head, her eyes meeting with Merton's and slowly a half smirk emerged. "It's reading material, and actually very interesting..." She began walking down the metal bleachers step by step with ease, speaking over her shoulder as she flipped through the book's browning pages. "Did you know some people see the sandman as an evil doer, stealing your dreams and manipulating you so he could be the supreme ruler of all?"
Merton pulled his coffin bag tightly over his shoulder, following her down the bleachers, soon by her side with an eager smile. "Know it! I've lived it!" The girl stopped on the bottom bleacher and stared at him for a moment with a slightly raised brow. Merton, realizing his mistake let another smile grace his face nervously and started over. "I meant... know it... I've known it!.. Cause you told me!" He smiled somewhat nervously, the paleness returning to his cheeks as he tried his best to make it seem like nothing had happened.
The girl half smiled as she tucked her books back into her duffle bag, looking back to the nervous Merton. "I'm Danielle... Danielle Wyle..." she introduced in the silence, her hand outstretched in the air for Merton to take.
"Merton J Dingle. President of the Gothic Fantasy Guild, we no longer support poetry readings," Merton announced, taking Danielle's hand in his, shaking it his grin returning.