Touch Football (And I mean touch)

"I hope you're ready," I jumped as someone leaned against the locker next to my open one. I had waited a few minutes after the bell ran to avoid the crowds. By the end of the day my nerves were all hyper and fried from being so nervous in the crowd.

I placed my homework in my black messenger bag and placed it over my shoulders. I lingered at the locker thinking if I forgot anything before turning to Fang, "I was born ready." With that I shut the door and let him lead the way.

In the school, with almost no one there, was quite refreshing. As the day wore on, I learned there were four floors to the high school. There were a good ten classes on each floor except for the first floor which had the cafeteria, the gymnasium, and the auditorium. Fang and I were traveling down the stairs in silence for the most part. I was going to be playing in my jeans and black tee shirt. I was all right with that. He was playing in his normal clothes as well.

"Did you like your first day?" He asked casually while holding the front door of the school for me. His dark eyes let up as I stepped into the sunlight and I wondered why. Where was Brigid? Why didn't he play touch football with her?

"Fine," I replied. "School scares me a bit." I covered my mouth. How could I admit something like that? Even my own mother didn't know that school made me nervous and twitch. I felt like running and a few times, I swear I almost stood up and opened a window while saying the words "Thanks but no thanks" and then jumping out. That off course didn't happen, otherwise I've been dead from the great fall.

"Really? Me too," Fang answered and I stopped for a moment. I raised an eyebrow. I thought I was the only and here he was saying that he was nervous in school too. Maybe he was one of those jerks that flirted with girls by pretending he was like them and then, had fun with the girl before going back to his girlfriend. Well, I wasn't one of those girls so I was safe.

We made our way to the side of the school where a group of boys were all waiting. I actually didn't mind being the only girl. It would just mean I would have to prove myself that I was better and I could do that. "Come on man! You got a girl to replace Iggy!" A tall boy with shaggy blonde hair complained. I wasn't going to question why the blind guy was playing football, let alone why replacing him with me was a bad thing.

There were a few more complaints.

"She better not cry."

"A girl, seriously man?"

Clearly, Fang was in charge and he deemed me worthy of being able to play. If he wanted me here than the guys couldn't object too much. There were a few whispers but Fang raised a hand and they were silent. Suddenly, they split up in usual teams and I stood there wondering what to do. "You're over here," said the boy with shaggy blonde hair. I ran over and I heard him yell to Fang, "I guess we're shirts then." There were a few snickers and I blushed.

Fang's team was skins now. The boys all whipped off their tee shirts and I stared at Fang. He had a few muscles not too noticeable but there. Just the way I liked it apparently, judging by my blush. "Hey, we're over here," the boy scoffed and I turned instantly to focus on them. I pulled my hair back in a ponytail realizing I didn't know football well. I knew a Hail Mary and that was about it.

Assuming I didn't know anything, the boy first, introduced himself and then told me what to do. "I'm Sam. You're going to run straight for about ten yards and then hook in unless you can run really fast. Then I want you to go straight. I'll throw to you because they won't expect it."

I nodded my head and I was told to stand on the far side of the end line. The end zones were marked by two bright orange cones for each. I listened to Sam's voice as he called out, "Blue 42, Hut Hut, Hike!" I knew then to run. I ran as hard as I could and was left unmarked as Sam hurled the ball towards the end zone.

I felt my shoulders roll back in instinct and it felt as if something had unfurled. Suddenly, the wind was carrying me as my feet moved faster. I turned around and easily felt the football hit me in the chest. I don't know about you but if you've ever been hit in the chest and you're a girl, than you know it hurts. "Ow," I moaned standing in the end zone kind of rubbing my boobs right there in front of them but I made it look like I was scratching my sides.

"Wow, Max, geez, that was- you were so fast. I didn't expect you to actually do that!" Sam was standing there. He had run at me, "Are you going to do a victory dance?" I didn't know what to do so I just handed him the ball.

A bunch of the guys laughed at me as I crossed my arms and raised an eyebrow, "So, that was a Hail Mary?" Sam seemed flabbergasted so I continued you to talk, "Oh, and I don't dance." Sam shrugged and we went back to the center line. Our field was too small to kick off.

When we huddled Sam stared at me, "You get Loretts, Ride. I want to see you block him. He's fast like you so they throw him the ball a lot." I nodded my head. So I chase Fang and make sure he doesn't catch the ball. Easy peezy, lemon squeezy. Who invented that phrase?

We clapped hands and broke off. I made sure to watch Fang. I rested on one fist ready to push forward and block him. Their quarterback hiked and I instantly watched as Fang dodged me and began to run. I caught up to him quickly but he was barely jogging even though he was going so fast. He picked up into a sprint and began moving left and right. I stuck with him and watched as the ball arched and came at us in a spiral.

He was taller than me so his fingers grasped the ball first but just as he turned to run I had my hands sweeping against his side. I felt that electric pulse that never left me whenever I touched him. Fang stopped, he couldn't run now that I had touched him. That was how this football worked. The way my hands tingled made me like this. We set up again but this time, Fang was ignored and the ball was thrown to the end zone where another player caught it.

We played like this for a good half hour. Fang, with sweat on his arms and chest, didn't look gross or ugly but like a Greek God…you know like in those movies were the guys with good abs are oiled and have tan skin. Imagine that but with dark eyes, black hair, and a silent personality. I was practically dying over it and was the only one because I was the only girl there.

We were tied up by the time that the game was supposed to finish. Our team had the ball and it was first down. "All right, Max go center if you can." I nodded but I had a slight cut over my forehead that wasn't bleeding but hurt now. Fang and I had gotten pretty rough and I had tripped a few times. I wasn't a ballerina here. I was a tall, skinny, girl trying to outrun a teen boy who was just as fast as her. I was use to leaving people in the dust but Fang kept up.

My team lined up but just as Sam screamed hike, I was falling backwards with a strong body pushing me down at my waist. I landed backwards staring up into Fang's eyes. His breathing was ragged and sharp as his bare stomach touched my tee shirt. I glared up at him even though I was melting by how close we were. My arms were up as if I was surrendering. He gave a quick smile.

"Oy Fang, no tackle man! Just cause Max is better doesn't mean you have to go rough on her!" I began laughing hysterically as Fang rolled his eyes and moved away from me. I sat up and Sam was holding out his hand. I refused it and stood up.

"Yeah, Fang. Watch out, I'm better than you." I stuck my tongue out and he gave me an arrogant smirk that I found very attractive on him. I went into my huddle watching as he strode over to his team. "Sam, let me run this one, I can lose him this time. Give me a few seconds though so everyone watch Sam's back. Wait, I have one question? Are there miscellaneous rules that might not be mentioned because people assume not to break them?" Everyone shook their head, "Then I'm good."

At the line, Fang stared at me waiting for the hike to tackle me again. This was the last play before we called the game quits at a tie. I would not accept that. "Hike!" Sam's voice rang and Fang lurched towards me. I stood up and braced for the hit. When our bodies collided, I reached towards Fang and with one swift movement, pulled down.

I began running away from him now, hearing a large thump as his body hit the ground from tripping. Sam flung the ball to me, wide open now. And I gracefully caught the ball and ran to the end zone. I smashed the ball in the ground and gave a victorious smile as Fang stood up hesitantly while pulling up his pants. That's right, I, Maximum Ride, had pants some boy in order to win a simple game of touch football.

"Hey Fang!" I called out as the boys roared in laughter while he ran over to me. "Nice boxers!"Suddenly, Fang had me in a head lock and he was rubbing my head. We were both laughing though. His laugh was deep and rich, a little bit more of a whisper. A few of the guys were still cheering me and came to give me high fives before leaving. I stood there watching them go, as Fang stood beside me.

"That little stunt, Maximum Ride, just made you one of us," he whispered in my ear.

I really, really, really liked the idea of that.