Chapter 2
I sat in the bleachers of the football stadium. It was my first football game since I started teaching, one week ago.
I watched Lizzie walk out and high five a few of her fellow cheerleaders. None of them had pom-poms so I'm guessing that the first cheer doesn't require them. Lizzie looked wonderful, in fact she looked exactly like the first day I saw her. She had the beauty of a 24 year women, the mind of a 39 year old scholar, but the innocence of the 13 year old girl she was, and that's what pained me. She was so beautiful, but she's 13 and I'm 24.
Suddenly, as if feeling my eyes on her, she turned and started up right at me. I thought she'd think of me as a pervert for staring at her, but instead, she smiled and waved at me. Then she walked over to her position and they all started to chant.
"Peaches and cream,
Peaches and cream,
what's the matter with the other team?
Nothing at all, Nothing at all,
They just can't play football!
H (pause) O-T,
We're hot so hot,
the strong, proud, Eagles,
Can't be stopped,
Our Spirit is rising, And can't be undone,
Watch out Knights we're number 1!" They chanted as they did kicks and jumps.
Then they started one called Victory.
"Victory Victory
that's our cry
Victory Victory
That's our pride
Split that V
Dot that I
Curve that C-T-O-R-Y
Superior We're #1
Heading for the top
Our spirit above the rest
Never can be stopped
Together in unity
Unbeatable and bold
Eagles strive for victory
Green and Gold," Lizzie was laughing as she chanted, and in my eyes, she just seemed to glow with happiness.
I sat at the edge of my seat as everyone waited in suspense for the winning touchdown to be played. Don't ask me how we got to down to this, because, in all truth I had no idea. I'd been watching Lizzie the entire time. Even she and her squad were watching with there breaths held.
Now let me ask you this? Why the heck are middle school cheerleaders at a High School game?
Everyone, including myself jumped up screaming and waving our arms as we made the touchdown. I saw Lizzie drop the Pom-Poms in her and run out to the team. There a boy with brown hair scooped her up in his arm and twirled her around. Then she was passed to each of the other teammates. They all kissed her forehead and twirled her around. She didn't touch the floor until the last teammate had kissed her forehead and twirled her.
Jealousy burned in my stomach as I watched them with her. She was so beautiful. I wonder if she's a Connect 3 fan.
~:~
I walked into the restaurant, grabbed my food and looked around for a place to sit. I was about to sit at a table when I spotted Lizzie sitting at the farthest table. I walked over to her and slipped into the seat across from her. Her head snapped up from the open book on the table. A smile graced her lips when she saw me.
"Afternoon Mr. Jordan," she said in that sweet, mellow, gentle, tone.
"Call me Shane, Mr. Jordan makes me feel old," I said with a smile.
"Alright then, Shane," she said with a laugh. Her laugh rang in my ears; it was so beautiful, like an angel.
"So… what are reading?" I asked as I opened my sandwich wrapper.
She held up The Voyage of the Dawn Treader. "It's a great book, I can barley put it down," she said.
I nodded, "I read it a while ago."
"Really? Someone told me the end is sad, is it?"
"Depends on how you look at it," I said with a smile. Her cheeks went a little red as she looked back down at her book.
"Hey, um, have you heard of Connect 3?" I asked, trying not to sound eager.
"Yeah, my sister is totally in love with them," she said with a laugh.
"Who's your favorite?" I asked, mentally hitting myself for asking.
"The baby of the band, Nate, I believe his name is," she said with a smile. My heart sank, her favorite Grey was Nate? Great.
"What do you think of Shane?" I asked hopefully.
"Um, I hear Shane's very self-centered and I hate self-centered people."
"Um, wow, I gotta go Lizzie, I'll see you later," I said sliding out of the chair.
"Oh, bye then," she said, she looked a bit disappointed. "If you must."
I walked out of the restaurant with a grim expression. I pulled out my cell-phone and hit speed dial 9.
Ring Ring Ri— "Hello?"
"Nate, I so hate you right now."