Sorry for the lateness, but at last here it is.

Danise Nowak

Ch.4 An Unlucky Day

How had I ended up like this? I didn't know. I somehow ended up in a fucking closet. I didn't want to remember why I was in this situation. It'd just make me mad again. I was just locked in here. In a fucking dark and humid closet, probably with rats, cockroaches, and other multiple insects. But I couldn't stop remembering why because it all started with that stupid decision. Yeah, I had to have the great idea of skipping my damn classes. It would have been easier to go and be punched by Marcus than all the things that had happened today.

First, my grandfather, that filthy old man, had the great idea of waking me up earlier than I did on a normal school day. I think he thought I would be escaping again today. But no, today I'd planned to stay in bed until mid-day. And I was awake since fucking five in the morning! Five in the morning! But that was not the worse. It was HOW he did it. He threw a fucking bucket of cold water at me. That's definitely the worst way to wake up. Then I had to listen to him screaming at me for half an hour until he noticed that I was shaking in my pajama and too fucking cold to pay attention.

Next was the shower. As I was freezing, I turned on only the hot water. Bad idea though, because in the instant I put my body under the water it burned my skin. I jumped, slipped and fell. Now I had a bump in the back of my head, where I hit with the wall. My head hurt all day because of that stupid accident.

After that, it was the breakfast. It was all okay, until Feliciano noticed the broken glasses in the kitchen table. The old man, not satisfied with waking me up and causing my stupid accident, told my fratello why they were like that. Feliciano looked at me with big eyes full of surprise and hurt and started to cry like a fucking baby. And he cried and cried and cried until we arrived to the bus stop. I couldn't stand it for more time so I ran far away from there, leaving my crying brother at the stop.

Afterwards, I went to a library, not for reading of course. I wanted to sleep since I hadn't been able to because of my grandfather. So, I went to the farthest corner in the library and sat in a puffy armchair and fell asleep. The next thing I remember was a girl shaking my shoulder to wake me up. She was nice to me considering that I was sleeping and had no book near me as an excuse. She just laughed and told me that a lot of people did the same. The library was nice, comfortable and quiet. It was a good place to return on another occasion.

Okay, I accepted it. Not everything in this day went wrong. The library was okay, but only the library, because then I came to the school. After all, classes had ended and I was sure no one would be in the hallway because of the game. Well, I was wrong.

Marcus and his friends were waiting for me in front of my locker, where my football things were. They saw me and I tried to run, but they'd surrounded me already. Next thing I knew, I was inside of this fucking closet unable to go out.

Wonderful, isn't it?

I'd banged and kicked the closet door with no results. I'd screamed and apparently no one heard. So, I was stuck in there. I'd given up. Funny, I was doing that a lot lately. I was sitting on the dirty floor, watching the little light that passed under the door and trying to guess the reaction of the coach. Well, one good thing was that he wouldn't have any doubt that my words about his request were real.

He was going to be disappointed.

I shook my head trying to erase the thought. I didn't care if the coach was disappointed or not. Why would I? He had twelve other players to use in the game. I was not needed.

But dammit! I wanted to go!

I kicked the door frustrated. I felt so helpless.

"Hey, someone there?"

The voice made me stand up in a second.

"Yes!"

"Why…?"

"Open the damn door!"

The door opened seconds after and I looked at the face of my savior. He was the janitor, a surprised janitor, in fact. God bless the janitors.

"I guess I should say thanks," I murmured not being sure if he heard.

"Yeah."

I didn't wait for another minute and started running to my locker to get my football things. I changed my clothes and then ran to the football field. I think I ran like never before in my life. When I got near the field, I could hear the screams, the whistle of the referee and the angry voice of the coach.

I approached the benches where my teammates and the coach were. My heart was beating quickly knowing that the coach was going to be mad. The first ones to see me were my teammates. Their eyes went from hopeless to shiny in an instant. Then the coach turned. When our eyes met I swear I saw how he sighed with relief. What the hell? Was the game that bad? I turned to see the score and my eyes opened. 3-0. We were losing, and the first half was not over yet!

"What the…?"

"Lovino! Where were you?" The coach said with an angry tone, even though the expression in this face was of relief. "Warm up this instant and get ready, lazy boy!"

I nodded and did as I was told.

"Lovino to the field!" The coach screamed after a loud whistle form the referee indicating the change.

I nodded again and ran to the field. I was received with the furious gaze of Marcus. I could guess he wanted to kill me that instant, but didn't because he would have witnesses. I approached him slowly preparing my words.

"Marcus, let's just try to win the game. I swear, I'll pass everything to you. I won't do a thing," I murmured.

"Fuck off Vargas. I don't need your help."

As he passed me, his shoulder hit mine making me take a step back. No one seemed to notice this little exchange. I sighed, knowing that after the game I was dead meat. The referee's whistle sounded again and the game continued.

Okay, I must admit that these guys from FC Royal were good. They weren't like our team, a group of disorganized and egotistic players, but a real team that supported each other in a really organized way. I could see why we were losing. But there was no way in hell I'd allow this team to lose with such a great difference. After all, my own pride was at stake.

Stealing the ball from the other team was easy, now the difficult part would be reaching the goal. Marcus ran besides me, another one of my team ran to my left. I was about to pass the ball to the guy who was nearer the goal, when Marcus pushed me and stole the ball from my feet.

"What are you doing, Marcus?" I screamed, but he ignored me and shot. Obviously, the goalkeeper stopped the ball. I wanted to punch Marcus in the face so much, but after some deep breaths I reconsidered. The next ten minutes were the most stressful, difficult, and frustrating of my life. I know, it's really easy to make me angry, but right then I was three levels over my normal anger. And I was not the only one. I could see the coach's frustration and hear it. His screams could be heard from my house. The other teammates also glared at Marcus now and then. And Marcus only smirked. In the last ten minutes, he had been keeping the ball from reaching me with all his might. He pushed me, ignored me, and stole the ball from me. We couldn't even score one point because of that!

The whistle that indicated the end of the first half sounded. The moment I heard it, I walked directly towards Marcus. Fuck the rules, I was pissed.

"Marcus!" I screamed.

He ignored me and walked to our goal. I followed him. It wasn't until we reached the first pole that he turned with a smirk in his lips. That made me uneasy. Why was he smiling? He was fucking sick.

"Vargas, I told you not to come. Why are you here?"

"I told you I wouldn't, scum," I said.

Immediately he grabbed the neck of my shirt and pulled until our faces were close enough for him.

"Don't you care about your brother? The poor little guy is so weak."

It was my turn to grab his shirt.

"You touch one single hair on Feliciano's head and …."

Before I could finish the coach was between us. With one hand on each of our chests and a dangerous frown in his face; it was almost as if a bear was growling at us. He was really strong, because he easily pushed us apart.

"He started it," Marcus said.

"Silence Marcus, because we all know who started it," The coach said surprising us. "You're expelled from the team Marcus."

Even I was surprised with the words of the coach. Expelled? I'd never heard of someone that was expelled from the team. Well, of course, not everyone was Marcus. Wait, if Marcus was expelled because of this, then my life in school was going to be ten times worse.

"No."

The coach and Marcus turned to see me when I talked. Fuck, I was doing this for myself, not to save Marcus's sorry ass.

"It was not a question, Vargas."

"Don't do it. Marcus is a necessary player in the team."

"Do you want to follow him, Vargas?"

What? Of course not, but I had no option. Stupid coach.

"Don't expel him," I repeated.

"Fine, consider this the last game for you two. I'll not tolerate aggressive and egoistic behavior in my team."

He released us and walked to the benches. Expelled. I was expelled. My only dream crushed with a few words. I realized that even when I tried not to, I still had hope, but now it was all gone. I looked to the sky when the familiar numb feeling started to fill me. Great. Feliciano had to fucking start practicing a martial art because it was the last time I was doing something for him. And the last time I'd get involved with something I liked. After all, it always ended in a disaster. Always.

I turned, showing my back to Marcus, and waited. I didn't care if he hit or punched me. I didn't care, but Marcus didn't move. I guess he was too shocked with the news to do it. So, I started to walk to the benches and sat down in the grass next to them.

Why did I even bother to come? I could have stayed in that dirty closet until the end of the game. I sat there until the second half was about to begin.

"Vargas to the field." The coach ordered with a cold voice. I stood up and walked to the field. Marcus was not called. I guess the coach was still angry because of his behavior in the first half.

One last game. I could consider it the last time I would have freedom. When the old man heard that I was expelled from the team, I will be officially dead. It would be the final blow to his patience.

The rest of the game was as if I was in autopilot. I ran, I kicked the ball and I played against the other team, but I was not there. We lost. Even so, FC Royal was not able to score another point. Should I have celebrated? No. I was not part of the team anymore. So, when the whistle of the end of the game sounded I stared to the sky feeling numb. Subconsciously, I walked to the back of the bleachers where no one could see me. I wanted to be alone and sulk alone.

I received the punch when I least expected it. It was directed to my eye and it hurt like hell.

"Thought you were saved, Vargas? You reached the limit and you are going to pay for it."

I only smiled bitterly, waiting for the next blow. Marcus grabbed me from the neck of my shirt and bended down to face me.

"You're so disgusting, Lovino Vargas," Marcus said into my ear. The next blow was in my stomach. "You can't even defend yourself, how can you defend your brother? Pathetic." Another punch in the stomach. "Maybe that's why your…."

I wanted to hear Marcus's words so much, but he was interrupted.

"Hey stop!"

Someone grabbed me and pulled me away from Marcus. I guess he wasn't alone because Marcus chose to run instead of ignoring the order. I sighed frustrated. I couldn't hear what Marcus wanted to say.

"Hey, you okay, amigo?"

No, please tell me it's not…

"Do you remember me? I saved you the other day!"

That happy tone and the use of strange words. It was the guy that had pulled me into a classroom yesterday.

"Oye…"

"Shut up," I muttered as I laid down in the grass with closed eyes. Now that I was lying in the grass I could feel the effect of Marcus' punches. My stomach hurt like hell. I started to cough. Even so, I knew it was nothing serious or I'd be coughing blood.

"We need to check those wounds, Lovino. ¿Te duelen mucho?"

How did he know my name? I tried to ask that but I only could spit a weak "what?"

He laughed.

"Lo siento. I tend to speak in Spanish when I'm nervous. Do the wounds hurt?"

"Why would you be nervous? You're not the one injured. Strange bastard."

"Come on, Lovi! You're injured, that's reason enough."

"Don't call me that! Why do you know my name? Why are you here? Why the hell do you care?"

"Well, after all, you're the new integrant of my team. I'm happy!" he chuckled.

What? I opened my eyes. Two shiny green orbs were above my face watching me carefully. I jumped, scared by the short distance between me and the strange boy. By a miracle I didn't hit his nose.

"What are you talking about? I'm not in anyone's team."

"Of course you're!"

"Enlighten me, oh marvelous genius, to what team do I supposedly belong?"

The two green emeralds looked at me in a funny way.

"To the best team por supuesto, FC Royal."

What?

Translations

Spanish

Amigo friend

Oye Hey

¿Te duele mucho? Does it hurt?

Lo siento I am sorry

Por supuesto Of course

Edition: Abby Keeper