I sat on the bus on the way to school. It was inconceivably cold in Mosier. A small town on the border of the state of Washington and Oregon. Dull and rainy is the way I describe it although iv lived hear all my life. Its begun to get a bit to boring for me, but none the less this is were my friends are. I had just left my dads house. Richard was the inanimate, laid back type off father. He went out quite often with his friends billy and mack to watch the football games. I didn't mind. I new how to take care of myself. I stared at the water, on the window. Thinking how easy it must be to only have to fall and hit the floor. With no emotions to worry about or people. I let my eyes rest on the little puddle on the inside of the window.

" Mason, dude. Are you watching this." Dom shook my shoulder as he spoke. I took my eyes away from the water and spun my head to let it rest on the accusations going on in the row opposite me. Ron, the smallest and weakest in our year was accusing Ben, the biggest in our year of taking his lunch money.

" you took it from me. Give it back". Ron fired at the other boy.

" huh. Well I don't know what your talking about, uh do you boys". Ben had turned and motion to the large group of boys behind him. They all shook there heads in perfect symphony and Ben cracked his knuckles. I couldn't help but laugh a little to myself. How immature for a sixteen year old can you get. I watched as Ron threw back words which didn't even enter the bully's ears. Ron took a small but noticeable step forward

" five buck on Ron getting his face pummeled". Dom was too overly enthusiastic. I looked at the scene in front of me. Ron, a small five foot skinny boy and then Ben. His tall six foot one and his lean stature was sure to convince anyone. But I rose to the challenge.

" fine. Ill go with Ron". Dom shook my hand but was laughing.

" I should have bet higher". Dom muttered to himself. I let my head drift of again as I tuned out of the commotion stirring across from me. We were not far now from school. I felt the atmosphere change as everyone began to cheer around me

" yea. Unlucky Ron." I swiveled my head around to see Ron on the floor and Ben towering above him.

" that will be five bucks friend". Dom raised an eyebrow daring me to object .

" fine. I'll get your money from the bank when we get off. That is if you really need it".

" Naw, its cool man. But hey, I did predict the right winner". he trailed off.

" did you do the homework that Mr gamble gave us to do. Its due for today".

He rummaged through his bag trying to find it. " yea iv done it. Its In hear somewhere though". he had his head in his bag.

The bus came to a halt outside the school. The windows were cleaner from the rain.

" Damn, no iv not. Feel free to let me copy yours if you want". I new his game. He would say he has done it then apparently he hasn't.

" if you wish. There you go." I handed him the big fat essay meant for today and we headed off.

" mason dude, did you hear about what happened on the bus. I hear Ben broke Ron's nose and leg."

How overly exaggerated. It made me laugh. " no that didn't happen. I was there and he only made his face bruise a little."

" oh well that's great. Iv just spent the latter half of my morning spreading that. Great."

" doesn't matter. We forgive you." Dom mock punched him in the shoulder.

The rain seemed to double its attempts to drench the us.

" I think we should go inside now. times getting on and I don't want to be wet all day." Dom looked up at the clouds," its going to be long time before this decides ease off."

" if you say so. See you at break time yea."

" yea sure. Iv got tons of homework not done so I'll get a big row from my teacher. Not looking forward to it." maybe he wasn't going to enjoy today but I would. All my favorite subjects were on today. Latin, biology and PE.

I dragged myself to registration class and then to PE. I was good at PE. Not to mention that I was on the football team the "wolves", and man do the entire school body support their team. The big white buildings of the PE halls and the pitch were always a good sight. I think it was going to be training today for the big game next week. I wasn't overly enthusiastic about it, I mean it wasn't like I didn't know everything already.

" Mason. Get yourself into the locker room, suit up and play ball. Come on son get your head in the now, the games next week and I do not want you showing up late." John, our couch raised an eyebrow as I walked past him, without a word but a nod to show I had heard him. I tried to hurry as I suited up. Black and brown was a dull color for a football strip.

David walked in at that moment, already suited up and drenched from the rain.

" Mason dude. I heard what happened on the bus this morning-." I cut in to give the real story on what happened.

" It wasn't -."

" Oh no its fine. I know what really happened but it is funny that half the school now think Ron's going to hospital."

He grabbed a bottle of water form his bag and sat down. I had finished suiting up by then. I looked in the mirror, my dark brown hair was dripping with the rain and my blue eyes were bloodshot.

" what time is it." I hadn't worn a watch. David pointed up to the clock that was above me, nine twenty. " time to get going then." I suggested

" lets go then." He stood up and walked out the door back into the rain. I went as well. The rain was a lot worse when I was in my gear. Shorts weren't the type of clothing for this. I took comfort in the warm up that was jogging around the pitch. We walked in silence for a minute. The thought of losing again for the forth time in a row was a very scary thought.

" do think we will win next week. I mean I know the lions are good an all but they've been slacking for the past two weeks since there last one. Maybe if we change our formation, that will through them a little and we could have a chance." He sounded as if it could work. But even if we done that, we still wouldn't have a chance. The lions were all time champions in Oregon. We would get completely decimated. We wouldn't have a prayer of winning, let alone drawing. " No. there's no way we will win. Their so strong in there offense that it makes up for the loss of defense." I new I was right.

We had reached the pitch then and the others had already started to warm up.

" right then boys, get to it. Five laps before we start. You Mason were late so you can do twenty push ups now and at the end. Get to it then." he made a face. " and try to catch up."

We were off. I was trying to catch up to our fellow team. We were both quite fast when we wanted to be so we caught up after about seven minutes.

" Mason and David (pant). Fast as usual." Paul was one of my other close friend in my painting. He was the usual person you would go and see if you needed help with something.

" yup. You can count on that. Have you herd about the new positioning of the lions next week. Their whole strategy might change to gain the upper hand." I didn't know if we would win although we would have a shot at it. We were running in the large circle shape of the field. We only had two more laps to go

" Well there is a good chance they will do that." his lips crushed into a thin line. " but we can only give it our best shot. Its all we can do."

" I think we could win." I lied. I had already told Dom there was no chance in our victory. But being captain means upping the spirit of the team. Even if our inevitable defeat was hurtling toward us. I took a moment to think it all threw. I assessed the capability of our team and then theirs. It didn't look good. I seen the couch signaling us to come back. Fine.

" Right. I want two teams and two different colors. Mason hears the ball. I'm going to get my whistle. By the time I come back I want to teams." alright then, if you say so sir. I wanted to say it aloud but I know what would happen. Ha. He couldn't catch me if he tried.

" I call reds. Deal with it." David grabbed a red shirt and shrugged into it.

" guess I'm going with blacks then."

" seams so." David laughed. I grabbed a black shirt, put it on, and stood next to David to choose our teams. I looked at my team. Their were fifteen of us. Four substitutions and eleven of us on the field. David would choose his friend instead of the best players.

" Shaun, Matt, Stuart Charlie and Johnston. Your with me then." idiot. He's missed out that all his friends are more closely to the defense and substitutions side than the others. His loss.

" Well then." I stuck my index finger at all the names I made. Just for effect. "Dexter, Jeff, Aaron, Jerome and Jason. Come on then." They were going to be quite easy to take on, they didn't no that I had chosen the best players.

" Both teams take positions on field." John was in the game just as much as we were.

" your going to lose Mason. You know it." His lips tugged at the sides To form a massive grin.

" yea if you say so." couch got to the middle of the line then put the ball in the middle.

" HUT." we all engaged.

" don't give your sister any information on what's happening for her birthday, all right." he was very serious about this. Katie's eighteenth was a big deal to him. I didn't care really. As long as she had a good time then I didn't care.

" Dad I'm going camping this weekend with some friends." I hesitated to say were though. He like me to stay within the towns limits for most of the time. But I had a good lie rehearsed.

" oh, uh OK then. Were and which friends exactly," he grinned " Dom is one of them I'm sure and uh -" I cut him off. He was trying to be cool and guess but he just wasn't.

" Yes Dom's one and also David and Jack are coming. Iv got homework to do so I'm going up stairs." I ran up before he annoy me any more. Camping was great with friends. Marsh mallows and a toasty fire outside the tent. Nothing but the air and the stars to look at. Its tomorrow that I we leave. There was some mountains that looked like a good challenge to climb towards the west and north-west.

I decided to do some homework but go to bed early because of the day ahead. And I like my sleep.