Sailing with Dale

Thursday, I followed the student body into the gymnasium for a pep rally. A stream of bodies flowed around me as I stood frozen in my tracks and my eyes roamed the room. Posters of Dale mixed with banners for the game were everywhere. Varsity cheerleaders' chests proudly displayed buttons of Dale souring through the air as they passed out flyers to the student body.

Jasper shuffled past with his arm draped over Alice's shoulders, and I called, "Jasper-Alice, do you know anything about this?"

Jasper looked around, "Naw, but I can guess who does," and nodded toward Emmett bouncing on the Varsity bench like a hyper St. Bernard.

I made my way to the staff's seats and spent the next forty minutes of music and noise with a stupid grin on my face.

As the rally wound down, the Varsity cheerleaders surrounded Rose as she shouted, "We have another battle to cheer on next week."

The Varsity players shouted, "Who?" from their bench.

"Our very own Mr. Cullen has partnered with the Fling King to break the record."

Rose pushed her chest out and flipped her glossy hair, and shouted, "Now all you that FIGHT, FIGHT, FIGHT for the Morton Bulldogs, make us proud and visit the JV girls' table tomorrow night and get your shirts and pins. We need everyone to "SAIL WITH DALE."

The JV cheerleaders joined the Varsity in a 'Sail with Dale' pom-pom routine.

After the pep rally, Emmett found me and threw his beefy arm over my shoulder. A group of underclassmen yelled, "We sail with Dale," as we passed, and Emmett chuckled. I moved out from under his arm and said, "How'd you do it. Goodnight, man, this is amazing."

Emmett smacked me on the back, "Aww, hell, it was easy. The JV guys worship us, if you know what I mean. They recruited the JV cheerleaders to help and put all the decorations up. Rose's uncle is working as we speak to crank out the stuff for the game tomorrow night, and it should cover the costs and maybe pay for a second printing."

I looked at the grinning jock and knew I had misjudged him. He was brilliant.

~o0o~

I found that Friday night high school football was close to a religion in Morton.

Walking up the steps of the bleachers, I saw Esme waving. Seeing Bella sitting next to her had me quickening my pace.

"There you are, Edward. We saved you a seat," Esme said as she turned her attention back to my uncle. I surveyed the crowded bench and looked to Bella for help.

Bella laughed so hard she had trouble saying, "Ben—Ben can you move down a bit. My friend is blocking rows nine, ten, and eleven's view."

"Sure, Bella," Ben said as he slid closer to a cute brunette.

I wedged my lanky frame into the space made for me and heard a "fuck this" at the end of the row. I leaned forward to see Carlisle pulling Esme to sit between his legs, freeing up room on the bench.

Bella scooted over, and I slid to find free space. "I feel like I owe Ben a dinner or something for how close we've become," I whispered to Bella as the crowd cheered around us.

Bella grinned and leaned her popcorn box towards me. "I think he's in your debt. He's still snuggled up with Angela."

I mirrored her grin and took some popcorn before I turned my attention to the field, "So, what's the score?"

She pointed to the giant board at the end of the field, and I smirked, "Yeah, okay, I'm trying here."

She cocked her head to study me. "You don't need to try. You're doing fine."

I caught her eye and looked away, "Thanks."

She popped some popcorn in her mouth. "You're welcome."

Everyone surged to their feet as number forty-nine crossed into the end zone and spiked the ball before dancing.

"Forty-nine? That's Emmett McCarty. He's in my Biology class."

I cupped my hands around my mouth and cheered with the rest of the crowd. I could get behind this football thing.

At half-time, Bella and I decided to divide and conquer. She ran to check on the JV table sales, and I was assigned snack duty. I came around the fence line with drinks in hand when I saw none other than Mike Newton heading for Bella.

Mike Newton stepped left as Bella stepped right. He angled to block again and laughed when she stopped dead in her tracks.

"Move," Bella said and pushed past him, bristling as his laughter followed her. When she reached me, she punched my arm.

"Ow, what was that for?"

"Where were you?"

My smile faded. "I'm sorry, Bella, long lines, but you handled him like a pro." I handed her a drink and said, "So what's your history with Mike Newton. I mean, new guy here."

"Oh, well, let's see, he's been a first-class creep since he hit puberty, and apparently, I'm the town's creep magnet," she said and blew her hair out of her eyes.

I wrapped my arm around her tense shoulders and leaned down. "You're not a creep magnet. I like you, and I'm a nice guy." I gave her a toothy grin, and she returned a reluctant smile.

Better.

She moved from under my arm, causing me to frown, but hugged my bicep and began walking.

"Thanks, and I like you too."

I nudged her with my shoulder. "Now see that's a glass half full."

She hip-checked me and said, "Maybe my luck is looking up."

I couldn't help but smile to myself as she towed me back to the stands. "You and me both," I whispered.