Chapter 14

Football

Anne, Sasha, Marcy, and Matt all walked out of the school as the day ended.

"So, I've got a football game I have to go to, today," said Sasha. "As captain of the Cheer Squad I have to be there."

"We know," said Matt. "Funny thing is, I've got a Track game today as well."

"What time?" asked Marcy.

"6PM," I replied.

"Weird, same for the football game," said Sasha. "Well, looks like you can't go to that Track game."

"I'm sorry, what?" asked Matt.

"You heard me," Sasha replied. "You're gonna have to miss the Track game."

"Sasha, you know that's mandatory, right?" asked Marcy.

Sasha put her finger on Marcy's mouth. "This is between us, Mar-Mar. Stay out of this."

Not wanting to risk ruining her friendship, Marcy quieted down.

"She's right, you know," said Matt.

"Oh, boo-hoo," Sasha mocked. "I can't be there for my friend because I have to do my own thing." Sasha then scoffed. "I thought we were friends."

"We are friends," Matt defended.

"Then why not be there for me?" asked Sasha.

Matt thought about it for a moment thinking, he could get kicked off the team if he doesn't attend the Track game, but he could get kicked out of the friend group if he doesn't be at the Football game for Sasha. He eventually decided that his friendship with the girls mattered more.

"You were right," he said. "I don't know what I was thinking. I should've thought about my friends first."

"Now you're getting it," said Sasha.

6:00 PM

Matt, Marcy, and Anne all arrived at the Football game to see Sasha performing. Sasha appeared in her Cheerleader uniform.

"We can't have your parents finding out about you being here," said Sasha. "It will get us all in trouble. I advise that you hide under the bleachers."

"Okay," said Matt, as he headed for the bleachers and found a good place to hide where he could see everything.

As the game begins, Sasha and the Squad do their opening performance.

The girls swing their bleachers around as Sasha chants "Kicking Butt and Taking Names, We're the School they call Saint James" before the girls all make a pyramid out of themselves, with Sasha standing on top.

I saw as the Saint James Football team started easily overpowering the team from the visiting School, Presidio.

After the end of the Second Quarter, Matt heard someone.

"I know someone's under those bleachers," they said. "Get out of there before I come in and get you."

Matt quickly ran out, ready to face the music for not attending the Track game.

That's when he sees Sasha.

"Ha, fooled you," she said. "Just wanted to ask you how the game is so far."

"While I feel weird seeing this school have such an advantage against the other school," said Matt. "I think it was worth seeing you perform."

"Aw, shucks," said Sasha, blushing. "You didn't have to go that far."

"I might as well get back to the bleachers," said Matt.

"About that," said Sasha. "There's a huge risk I exposed that you were hiding there to other people so hiding there isn't the best idea. Don't worry, I'll find another spot."

After a while of searching, Sasha found a perfect spot where Matt could see the field and not be seen by anyone. Behind the bathrooms.

Matt spent the rest of the game watching as the Saint James team continued to beat the Presidio team, and while he couldn't hear what Sasha and her Squad were chanting, he could still see their dances and thought they were awesome.

Once the game ended, Matt, Anne, and Marcy waited for Sasha to come out of the changing room.

"I know this sounds weird and unrealistic," said Matt. "But what if our school's team only won because they were on our school's field?"

"Many people think that," said Marcy. "It's called the Home Field Advantage, or HFA for short."

That's when Sasha comes out.

"What did you think of the game?" asked Sasha.

"I think it was okay," Anne replied.

"Same," said Marcy.

"I was only here for you," said Matt. "And your performance was the only good thing I can say. Seeing Saint James kids beating up Presidio just gave me a weird feeling in my stomach."

"I get it," said Sasha. "Looks like your hatred for Christians is finally coming in."

"Like I said before, Sash," said Matt. "I'll only hate Christians when Pigs Fly."

"What happened to 'when you meet Imagine Dragons'?" asked Sasha.

"It'd be unoriginal if I said the same thing," Matt replied.

"Makes sense," said Sasha.

Later, Matt returned to his house and entered. He saw that no one was around. He just assumed his parents and sister were asleep in their rooms and made his way to his own.

Once Matt reached his room, he saw his dad standing there.

"Where were you?" he asked. "You weren't at the Track game. Where were you?"

Matt at first thought about coming up with a lie, but decided there was no point in doing that.

"I decided to ditch the game for a Football game," he said. "My friend, Sasha, was Cheerleading and I decided it was better to support her."

"Here's my advice," said Daniel. "While it is good to support people you care about, it doesn't mean it should involve skipping school related stuff or illegal activity. Think about that."

"Alright, I will," Matt replied before Daniel left his room.