Christian's P.O.V.-
"Alright, listen up, you pansies! To the great embarrassment of the whole school, we haven't won a game against the Chargers in almost two years. I'm not only counting but demanding that you change that at tomorrow's game. Tomorrow's our night, boys! You're gonna go out and give 'em what for! I wanna see sweat; I wanna see blood; I wanna see you give it a hundred and ten percent! Am I understood?!" "Yes, coach," we all groaned in unison. Nugh, games like this were the worst where coach got all personally invested. We were all feeling pretty miserable about the upcoming match- all except Paul. Despite everything, he seemed more relaxed than ever. "Don't worry, coach. We'll make you proud," he reassured coach Lederhosen. Paul is one of the only members on the team that coach will actually listen to. "That's the spirit! Now get a good night's sleep and get yourselves ready, men! Hustle!"
Coach left and we scattered around the men's changing room. Paul waved at me as he went into the showers. I was going to get changed into my jersey until an offensive lineman named Jack Hyde waltzed over to me. He was a tiger and fairly popular on the team; not as popular as Paul but well-regarded enough. He seemed to like me, probably because I was another strong carnivore; not as strong as Jack but still. His arm draped over my shoulder as he gave me a small, playful shake.
"What's with the gloomy look, wolf boy? Not afraid we'll lose, are ya?" "Not really," I responded truthfully; I couldn't really care less if we won or not, except for maybe the scolding we'd get from coach if we lost. "We'll win for sure. Coach has been drilling us like crazy this past week," Rod noted from the side. A few agreed with his statement. "Course we'll win. We have the best school team in ages. Besides, those Chargers are a bunch of wussies," Jack's hand went up into the air. More collective agreement to this statement. "We'll show 'em how strong we really are. There's no reason why us apex carnivores can't be in the spotlight for a change, right Christian?" Us… in the spotlight? I thought we already were whenever we stepped out onto the field. What else does he want? Isn't that enough? Why does our strength as carnivores need to be broadcasted? I just don't understand… why that's something we should be proud of.
I kept thinking about Jack told me on my way out of the changing room. It was dark out by now, but we still had half an hour before curfew. Still, I didn't doddle on my way back to the dorm house. There wasn't anything else for me to do tonight and besides… the last time I stayed out late, it didn't end well. I was on my way home before a familiar voice hollered out for me. "Christian!" I blinked to the side to see Alice rushing towards me. She was smiling and waving her hand in the air. "Alice," I greeted her friendly. "Just finishing up with football practice?" "Yeah." "Good. Wanna walk home together?" "Sure." Our feet proceeded forward again. Odd, she's an herbivore yet I don't feel so afraid of what I'll do around her. Not since the lamb have I experienced that kind of fear again….
"So much has happened this past month, huh?" Alice began. "Yes," I nodded. "I'm sure tomorrow night's game is going to be great." "You think so?" "Sure, don't you?" "I suppose so….." "Paul's an amazing quarterback, and you're amazing too!" I looked at her. She flashed me a brilliant, kind grin. "I know coach is tough on you guys; Tom used to tell me about it. But whether you're nervous or not, I know you guys will play fantastic tomorrow." "Thanks, Alice," I mirrored her gentle face. It's true, she's right. Tomorrow's just another game like any other; I don't see why I should be getting worked up.
Oh boy, how incredibly wrong I was. It was a game unlike any other, in all the worst ways imaginable.