A short while later, Autumn arrived with a muscled guy with spiky black hair and tan skin wearing a swamp-green and orange Hearst High football uniform in tow.
"Hey. Autumn said you're recruiting people," the guy, who I assumed to be Julian, said.
I started to reply, but then Autumn but in.
"Julian's a big football star at Hearst High," Autumn cooed, trying to make her squinty brown eyes big in a failed attempt at flirting. "But he's been having some problems there. You remember Max? Max joined the team a few weeks ago, and the principal insists that he gets to play Julian's position!" Finally, Autumn stopped to catch her breath.
"That's terrible," I commented.
Julian's face contorted into an expression of rage as he put his hand on his hips. "Look. I didn't sign up for a share circle where we talk about our feelings. This is my problem. No one else's."
Autumn's face turned red as she quickly realized she was losing Julian. "I just think it's unfair!" she cried. "And you don't have to be treated that way! You can join the school!" she chirped.
Julian calmed down as he looked at me. "Well, here's the big question: how's your football team?"
"We… uh… don't exactly have a football team right now. We're just starting out," I explained, as collected as Autumn was frantic.
Julian's lips drooped in a frown. "No team? Then this was a waste of time. Autumn, you don't know me very well, but I'm a football guy. What would I do here? At least at Hearst I get some time on the field."
I kept my face neutral as I smirked inwardly. Looks like Autumn's plan to recruit her crush wasn't working out. But… perhaps it would be in my best interest to keep her crush here.
"We could start a football program here," I began, widening my eyes at Julian.
Julian smiled. "Oh yeah? You know a lot about football?"
"I might," I cooed, fluttering my Lancôme Définicils-mascaraed-lashes at him. Out of the corner of my eyes, I could see Autumn's face turning pale. This was simply TFFW.
Julian grinned again. "But you're going to start a team? Well, here's something basic. Think you got anyone here who can go long?" A jock guy volunteered. He wound up and prepared to throw a football. I refrained from saying that I wished it would hit Autumn in the face.
"Ready?" Julian asked.
"So ready!" the jock guy replied.
"Then go!" Julian replied.
Julian paused for a moment as the jock guy ran, and then he threw the football in a perfect spiral.
"Nice catch…" Julian commented.
The jock guy slid to a halt, colliding with a classroom!
Julian frowned. "That last part could use some work. Sorry, guys. You don't even have enough room around here to throw a ball! I'm not crazy about Hearst, but at least they've got a field. Anyway, I've got to head back. There's a big game today, and there's even going to be a college scout there."
He looked around and smiled. "Hey, Autumn, you coming?"
Autumn looked like she was about to vomit. "Uh, I wasn't planning on it… I mean, I'm not really into football…" Her beady eyes then narrowed at me and quickly looked away. "Well, I could make an exception. I mean, maybe I could take some photos there."
"Yeah? That would be cool. I mean, if you want to. No big deal." He smiled and left.
"Sounds like he's out," I remarked.
"I think we still have a shot at recruiting Julian." Autumn insisted. "But he's right about not having enough space around here…" Her nose wrinkled as she glared at the conglomerate of nerd, prep, and jock hangouts that I (and a team of architectural specialists) had designed.
Excuse me? I resisted the urge to slap her across the face. What a bitch.
Autumn prattled on. "I guess we better buy tickets to that football game so we can watch Julian. I mean, cheer for Julian. I mean—"
I interrupted her. "I think I get what you mean," I snapped.
"I'm just trying to show that this new school will be enthusiastic about sports! We have to go. For the good of your school!" Autumn commanded. More like for your own selfish reasons, so you can check out your crush, I scowled to myself.
People were always trying to get me to add new features to the school, pay for things, or sacrifice things for them, and they always, always used the excuse "for the good of your school" just because I was the one who had founded it. I was sick and tired of being used. The preps had already demanded an on-campus latte shop and clothing store. The nerds wanted a state-of-the-art robotics club. The jocks wanted a larger swimming pool. I could do all that, but did they really have to demand from me that frequently?
I shook myself out of my thoughts. I had to concentrate on the problem at hand.
