Chapter 2: The Game

The first few days had been rough for Suo. On her first day she hit some senior guy in the face with a ball, missed one of her classes by five minutes, and fell down the stairs in front of everyone. On the plus side it was a big school, so by the time she was convinced she would be the laughing stock of the school two other kids were caught getting it on in the bathroom. Somebody was always doing something to get in trouble, so the mornings events would always be yesterday's news by the time the afternoon came around. Eventually days turned to weeks, and weeks to months. She had made a few friends while at school. She met a small boy named July (why anyone would name their kid after a month she couldn't figure out) and made friends with Amber from gym. She had others too, but those two stuck out the most, and somehow they would always wind up hanging out together.

It was the end of November and the school was throwing a weeklong celebration. Next week was homecoming week and everyone was going all out. "I don't get it, I thought homecoming was supposed to be in the beginning of the school year" said Suo. "It's done differently here" said Amber. "We always wait till the week of our rival school football game, it's like a tradition here" she said with a smile. "A rather pointless tradition" said July. "How's it work?" Suo asked curiously. "Well" began Amber, "Basically it's a week to do whatever you want, everyone shows off their school spirit somehow, they all do it differently but the big days are Friday and Saturday." "Friday and Saturday" said Suo. "What's so special about those days?" "Friday is the game, Saturdays the Dance" Replied July in a rather monotone voice. "Dance?" "Yea" said amber, "girls go with their boyfriends and they have lots of fun all night dancing and stuff." "Oh" said Suo. She had never really had a boyfriend, and besides July she had never really gotten to know any of them very well. "Maybe next year" she thought to herself, feeling a little depressed.

Friday night was here. Everyone from both schools were crowded into that high school stadium. Hei walked through the crowds carrying a hot dog in one hand and a pretzel in the other. "Thanks for saving my seat Yin" he said as he sat down next to her. "No problem" she said. "What is this, your fourth trip?" she smiled. Over the past few months she had slowly become more outgoing towards Hei. He hadn't noticed it at first, but he soon saw that she was speaking and showing more emotion than she had used too. "Here, I brought this for you" he said and handed her a pretzel. She took a small bite, "thank you Hei" she smiled. Something about her seemed especially happy today. It wasn't the game, she had been to these before with him, they never quite been her thing. Well whatever it was, he didn't think too much into it. "Hey Hei?" she asked. "Yes Yin?", "After the game, do you want to walk me home?" It was an unusual question; Hei always seemed to walk with her wherever she went. "Umm, sure Yin". "Thanks" she replied.

"YEA! WHOHOO!" Cheered Suo. It was the first time she had ever been to a high school game. There were plenty of opportunities before this one, but it had taken some convincing from Amber to give it a go. Their team had just made a touchdown and was in the lead 23 to 3. It was slaughter. As the team got ready for the kick she saw July take the field. She would have never guessed he actually played football, in fact she felt guilty for not knowing that about him despite being his friend. While it was true he didn't have an actual position, every team needed a kicker she guessed. At the snap of the ball she saw him run forward and kick a field goal right through the middle as if it were nothing. 24-3. The crowd cheered, but July still had that same monotone expression as always. "Howd he learn to kick so good?" Suo asked Amber. Earlier in the game their team had gotten pushed back, that was when the coach told July to take the field. Everyone in the stands thought it was a last ditch effort to move the ball, but they erupted in surprise when he made a field goal from the 70 yard line. "I don't know exactly, I know him just as well as you do, He must be from Europe or something." It wouldn't have surprised Suo. She decided they had a safe enough lead to take her eyes off the game and get some food. As she walked to the snack stands, she heard a laugh. "Back again?" "Yea, I guess I just can't resist" said a familiar voice. She looked over and saw Hei, holding an entire pizza and two cartons of nachos in his hands. "Well your money's always good here son" said the stand manager. He must be here with friends she thought. Nobody can eat that much by themselves. As she was walking back with her food, the crowd cheered again as the scoreboard displayed 27-3. July had scored another field goal, this time from the 80 yard line. "Geez" said Suo.

It was 22:30, and there was a full moon. Hei was washing up and getting ready for bed, still confused over what had happened after the game. He had walked Yin home when it happened. As he was about to leave her at the door she grabbed his hand and thrust a piece of paper in his pocket. Confused, he took it out and opened it up, Yin just standing there with her eyes averted slightly down. Hei stared at the paper. It was a flyer for homecoming week. At the bottom was a piece of notebook paper folded in half with two tickets stapled behind it. Hei opened the note. 'Do you want to?' it said. He looked at the tickets, they were two homecoming tickets. Hei stared in disbelief at Yin, who was still staring down. "Yin… what are…" Hei started, but didn't finish. He was staring at Yin, and for the first time he noticed how beautiful she looked. Her scarlet eyes looked more purple than red in the moon light, her pale skin contrasted against her dark clothes. "Do you… not want to Hei?" she said, looking disappointed. He didn't know what to do, and before he could think he acted on instinct. "No, its fine Yin, we can go" he said with a slight smile. Yin brightened up "So I'll see you tomorrow then?" she asked. "Yea, I'll see you tomorrow." She gave him one last smile before she went inside. "Goodnight Hei", "Night Yin".