Truman bought his lunch and waded through the crowd to get to their regular table. He frowned significantly when he saw Drake and Morrigan sitting there, Morrigan feeding grapes to Drake. He sat his tray down.
"Hey Tru," Morrigan said, barely glancing at him.
"Hey Truman," Drake mumbled with a mouthful of grapes.
Truman merely raised an eyebrow as greeting. "So, what's up with you guys?"
"Not much," Morrigan answered, still not making eye contact.
"You know, you could stop throwing yourself at him for like two seconds to carry on a freaking conversation."
Morrigan stopped and looked at Truman. "I'm sorry. Is something up?"
"No, just don't want to watch your foreplay, that's all," Truman replied airily.
"Is it that time of the month Tru?" Drake asked mockingly.
"No, actually I don't go through menstrual cycles at any time of the month. I'm afraid I don't have the organs for that."
Drake blinked in confusion. He shook himself off and returned an icy glare. "I thought gay guys were supposed to be nice."
"I'm not gay," Truman cringed malevolently.
"Whatever you say," Drake said sarcastically.
Truman stuck his fork in his still steaming, dripping with fat Salisbury steak and flailed it on Drake's crotch. Drake's eyes widened in pain. He got up and pushed the Salisbury steak off.
Half of the cafeteria was laughing at him.
"You faggot! These are new pair of leather pants!" Drake screamed.
"Um Drake, it's really no big deal. They're imitation anyway, aren't they?" Brystol interjected as she walked up to them.
Truman laughed along with the rest of the cafeteria.
Drake looked around madly. He then stormed out.
"Drake!" Morrigan called feebly. She slouched. "What has gotten into you Truman?"
"Nothing," he said getting up and leaving with Brystol. They sat down at a table not far away with Johnny and the rest of the hockey squad minus Allora.
"What was that about?" Allora asked Morrigan, sitting down with her lunch.
"I don't know," Morrigan said, looking at Truman strangely. "I don't know."
*****
Drake kicked a few lockers as he left the cafeteria in frustration. "Stupid fag," he roared.
In his anger Drake didn't even notice Trey as he knocked him over turning a corner.
"God, watch where your going you stupid—" Drake growled. "Oh it's you Trey," Drake calmed down, straightening his pants.
Trey looked at Drake strangely. "What happened to your pants?"
"That faggot Truman threw a Salisbury steak on my crotch."
Trey began to laugh hysterically, rolling on the floor.
Drake folded his arms. "I'm glad you find it funny. But I, however, didn't find the fact that my designer leather pants have been ruined."
Trey had regained control of himself and had stood up. But at this comment he chuckled again. "Drake, you got those off the clearance rack. I was with you when you bought those."
Drake became red with a mixture of rage and embarrassment. "What is this? Is everyone an expert on fashion or something?"
"Anyway," Trey began. "I have to get to the bathroom and back to English, I'm getting extra help." Trey shuddered slightly.
"Yeah, I'll see ya," Drake said, walking away.
Drake decided to skip out for the rest of the day. He had done it numerous times back in Las Vegas, and he really didn't feel like going to French and Biology anyway. He reached the lobby and looked around for anyone. It was totally empty. He walked to the front doors and left. He wasn't three feet away when he heard the familiar voice of Principal Eggert behind him.
"Leaving early today, Mr. Grey?"
Drake winced. "No. Just wanted a breath of fresh air, that's all," Drake turned around and walked back to the doors.
"I think this is grounds for a Saturday detention," Eggert decided.
Drake sighed heavily. He walked into the school and headed immediately for Eggert's office.
*****
"Okay everyone, let's try this one more time," Bunnie instructed in a squeaky voice. "Brystol, you're on the top of the pyramid, and Elaine, Jenny, Marie, Ashley B., Ashley C, and Ashley G. are on the bottom. Sara, Kim, Tiffany L., Tiffany D. and Tiffany C are the middle," Bunnie ran to the middle of the gym and picked up a horn.
"Okay, bottom!" she bellowed.
Elaine, Jenny, Marie, and the Ashleys walked over and crouched down in the middle of the gym.
"Alright, middle!"
Sara, Kim, and the Tiffanys walked over and climbed on the girls below them.
"Okay, top!"
Only Brystol didn't walk over.
"Where's Brystol?" Bunnie asked, thoroughly agitated.
"Maybe she went to the bathroom or something," the Tiffanys offered lamely.
Bunnie tapped her foot on the gym floor loudly. "She better get here in the next like second."
Only Brystol wasn't even near the school now. She was in Morrigan's room with everyone else. She wasn't even confused by the sudden transfer. She merely blew her bangs out of her eyes and put her hands on her hips in frustration.
"What is this about Lydia?" she asked.
Lydia appeared. "I need to speak to all of you."
"Make it quick. I am missing cheerleading practice," Brystol began. "I'm the top of the pyramid," she added importantly.
"Hey, we're missing hockey practice," Johnny and Allora fumed.
"And I'm supposed to be working on plays," Truman whined.
"And I'm missing ballet," Morrigan said, grabbing a bathrobe to cover herself. She was always slightly embarrassed in her tutu.
"Yeah, why aren't you at hockey. Coach Ryder was pissed," Johnny said.
Morrigan began to answer but Lydia spoke first. "That's why you're all here. I think you guys have too many extracurricular activities."
"Um, demon fighting doesn't exactly look good on college applications," Brystol said.
Lydia ignored her. "I can't keep bailing you guys out. It's important you try to fit in some training. The world depends on it."
Brystol dug her foot into the carpet while Johnny and Allora exchanged shameful looks. But Truman and Morrigan didn't seem to be buying it.
"Didn't you say there are other groups like us?" Truman asked.
"Yes," Lydia answered. "But…"
"So you don't have to put all that pressure on us if there are others too," Morrigan said.
"Actually I do. If you guys turn out to be the Chosen Ones, you have to be prepared… Oh yes, the Chosen Ones… well I'll explain that later."
"Hey wait a minute!" Johnny questioned. "Where's Trey and Drake?"
They all just now noticed that Trey and Drake weren't there.
Lydia blushed. "My power isn't strong enough to transport you all."
"Oh," Brystol said. "Then maybe you should do some training as well."
"Brystol," Allora whispered harshly.
"No, it's alright. I will train. But that isn't the issue right now. Please promise me you'll train. That clearing is the perfect place."
"How about on Sundays around four. That alright with everyone?" Allora suggested.
Begrudgingly, they all agreed.
"Thank you," Lydia said and with a wave of her hand they were brought back.
*****
Allora sat in the nearly empty girls' locker room vaguely brushing her rosy red hair into a ponytail. She tucked the ponytail inside her hockey helmet, and proceeded to begin to put her pads on. Next to her was Morrigan. Morrigan was putting her helmet over her long blonde hair with purple streaks, not bothering to put it into a ponytail. They were unusually quiet as they suited up. Just then Brystol walked in, smiling. "What's with the uniform?" Allora asked, seeing Brystol wearing her blue and gold cheerleading uniform. "Tryouts today. The squad and I have to pick Elaine's replacement," Brystol said happily, beaming at them. "Who's Jane?" Morrigan asked, though her tone led to believe she could care less."She hurt her leg the other day in practice. She'll be out for the rest of the season," Brystol explained.
"There's a cheerleading season? I thought you just jumped up and down at football games and stuff," Morrigan mocked.
Brystol scowled. "The football games are just a small part of it. That's basically a warm up for us. The season is national championships. We won a few years back, but last year Granger won, of course," Brystol explained, as if it was very hard to talk about.
"Oh," Morrigan said, a little surprised. "Good luck trying people out and stuff."
"Yeah, thanks. I just wanted to wish you guys luck with the scrimmage. Hope you win!"
'Thanks," Allora replied.
Brystol left and Morrigan and Allora went up to the cold ice rink. Today the Jefferson Memorial Ice Demons was facing their arch rival, the division leading Granger High Wizards. The Wizards were led by a tough, speedy senior center Colin Trent. Allora had met him numerous times at All-Star games and found it very hard to play against him. On top of the fact he was the hardest center in the state to play because of his hard-hitting checks, he was also extremely rude and arrogant. Allora always seemed to have her worst games against Granger, and was especially dreading today's scrimmage. Allora and Morrigan glided over to the rest of their team. They reached their team.
"What's up?" Drake asked, looking worriedly at Morrigan.
""Nothing," Morrigan replied shortly, skating over to her defensive post.
"What I say?"
The horn to signify the start of the game blew. The players skated quickly to their positions. Allora glided to the center. Colin smiled at her devilishly. They both got in position to gain the face off. Colin then whispered something to Allora that made her clench her stick, almost to the point of breaking it. The referee blew his whistle and dropped the puck. Allora slapped it quickly to her left wingmen, Trey, and proceeded to knock Colin to the ice. Trey was slightly taken aback by the quick pass, but quickly passed it to Drake, who was streaking down the center of the ice toward the goal. Colin tried to check Drake when he received the puck, but Johnny got to Colin first, checking him hard to the ice. Colin swore loudly as Drake scored an easy goal.
The rest of the period was very physical. Morrigan was being thrown around even more than usual and seemed to be feeling the effects, as she hobbled to the bench when the whistle to end the period rang. Trey and the other wingman, Drake, were both unable to get the puck because of Granger's tight defense. Allora continued to win face offs, but was unable to do much with any of them. As they made their way to the locker room, they definitely were glad to have gotten the early goal. When the team had assembled in the boys locker room the coach began his intermission pep talk, though he seemed to be too nervous to speak. He paced around the players, opening his mouth every once in awhile, but never saying any tangible words. After the fifteen minutes, he simply pointed toward the door and they all went back to the ice. On the other side of the rink the Granger team came out, all of them looking a little too smug than a losing team should. Colin Trent sniggered at them. Allora didn't like his behavior at all. She thought something might be up, but decided best to keep her mind on the game, or at least try.
The second period started rather uneventfully. Each team seemed wary to advance too much on the other. Finally Johnny became restless with the safe passes and decided to start pressuring for a goal. He descended upon the Granger side, and looked to have clear path to goal, until two Granger defensemen began hurtling toward him at opposite sides. They collided into him, as Johnny fell to the ice, limp. The referee blew his whistle and the trainers skated quickly onto the ice. Allora and Morrigan skated quickly over, but were pushed back by the trainers. Drake, Mike and Trey were a little back from the others, looking slightly dumbstruck. The rest of the team was looking malevolently at the Granger squad. They all looked very happy with themselves, especially Colin Trent. The trainers were now placing Johnny on a stretcher. Allora skated to Johnny's side. He looked up at her and smiled stupidly.
"I'll be okay. I'll be back for the third period, I promise. Honestly. I'm a quick healer."
"Don't worry about it, Johnny. Just get better," Allora said, fighting back tears.
The referee blew his whistle again and the players all went back to their positions. Allora had never been more determined to win a game in her life. She won the face off and passed it quickly to Drake. Drake barreled down the ice, flinging a puck across the ice to Trey who hit a hard slap shot right at goal. The puck soared through the air, hitting the back of the net as the siren to signify the goal blew. The team raised their hands in celebration, more for vindication than elation. This seemed to make Granger very mad as they all looked almost murderous as they returned to their positions. This time Trent won the face off. He passed it to one of the Granger girls who was immediately floored by Drake. He took handle of the puck and passed it to Allora. Allora smiled as she saw a clear path to goal. She shot the puck, but as soon as the puck had left her stick she was checked hard by Colin Trent. She fell to the ice. Before she lost consciousness she made sure she got the goal. She did.
*****
Allora opened her eyes to find herself in the school nurse's office. Next to her, sat Johnny, staring at her intently. She rubbed her arm and sat up, which brought a ringing to her ears and a banging to her head.
"Careful!" Johnny warned. "You have a mild concussion." He let out a sigh as he touched his own injured head gingerly. "I happen to have one, too."
"Damn that Colin Trent!" Allora cursed, but then regretted that, as a sharp pain seemed to stab her brain. "Anyways, Johnny, how'd the game go?" she asked in a slightly less violent manner.
"Well, actually you haven't been out for all that long. It's the beginning of third period and we're down by four." Then he lifted a finger to point at a small TV screen in the corner of the room on which the game was being played. "The meds put it on for me."
Allora watched in awe as she noticed who had taken over her position as center. "Jeremy Baliff? They used Jeremy Baliff as my substitute? He's too scrawny to stand up to Trent! He's going to be pulverized!"
Johnny swallowed. "Well, you see, Jeremy wasn't your original substitute. Mikwoski was, and then Boznic. It seems no one can stand up to Colin Trent's heat. Not even you. Hey, but that's nothing to be ashamed of, you're considered to be the forth best center in our area by the local scouts."
Allora folded her arms and raised an eyebrow at Johnny. "Forth best? That's it?"
"What do you mean? That's really good!"
"Well what are you ranked?" Allora enquired, arms still folded, and eyebrow still raised.
"Uh…I don't remember…" Johnny mumbled, obviously trying to lie.
"Spill it!" she snarled.
"Okay, okay, number one."
Allora huffed, feeling hurt. "Okay, we both know Colin Trent has the number one spot, and Guy, well although his team isn't as good as us, is also pretty good, but other then those two, whose better than me?"
Johnny scratched his head. "I believe it's Maurice Abdul of the Georgetown Rats."
"Abdul! They think Abdul is better than me? Well, I'll show them!" Allora spotted her gear in the corner of the room and grabbed it and proceeded to leave the nurse's office.
"What are you doing? You can't leave in your condition. Trust me, I tried. The paramedics are drinking coffee right outside the door."
Allora turned around and leaned in the doorway. "Then try again." She walked over to the window in the back of the room and carefully opened it, trying not to make any sounds.
Johnny grabbed his gear and headed over the window. "Well I certainly can't let you take all the glory."
"I knew you'd go," said Allora. "But there's something you should know, I don't care if we win or loose. I'm getting my revenge."
"On Colin Trent?"
"No. On those damned know-it-alls who seem to think Abdul is better that me." And with that, Allora slid out the window.