==Hello! I am unexpectedly posting because I unexpectedly got a four-day weekend! I committed this whole day to writing, and I was able to finish. I'm sorry things have been so hectic, but I'm behind in my English class and trying to pull a B in math by December. I've been dying to write more for you guys, and I promise to do my best for Christmas break. I've also decided to pursue a soccer scholarship for college, so that's taking up more of my time. My next project is to catch up and finish the semester strong. I hope y'all have been doing well! Please review!==
Ciara - "Like A Boy"
What if I had a thing on the side? Made you cry? Would the rules change up or would they still apply? If I played you like a toy? Sometimes I wish I could act like a boy...
Haunted: Collapse into Caliginosity
Chapter 41:
Help A Brother Out
The next morning was full of pristine sunshine that suddenly entered the room. My dream was interrupted, and I squeezed my eyes shut tighter before pressing a pillow against my face.
"Rise and shine!" Jay loudly and obnoxiously announced.
Cole and I groaned in response.
"Oh, lighten up."
"I hate you sometimes," Cole bluntly stated, his bunk creaking as he shifted in it.
I went ahead and swung my feet over the edge of my bunk, rubbing sleep out of my adjusting eyes. Jay was standing next to the only window in the room with the blinds cord between his fingertips.
"Is Zane cooking again?" Cole asked. I hopped down and found Zane's bunk empty and cold.
"No," Jay replied. "Nya is. I haven't seen Zane all morning."
"He's probably looking at pictures of Macca in the bridge again," I exhaled, going into the adjoining room to change. "I'll go get him."
It was almost a crime to not go see what my sister was making for breakfast. The emitting smell was delectable, and could be noticed from the center of the upper deck. The fact that she was using our new supply of food from Ninjago City could never be mistaken, but I forced myself to continue up the stairs to get Zane like I promised a few minutes ago.
The inside of the bridge was dark when I peeked through the cracked door. Zane stood in an area of roving artificial light, staring intently with what sounded like a commentator speaking. He glanced at me for a moment when I stepped in.
"What's up, Frosty?" I asked him, making my way over.
Without meeting my eye, he asked: "Macca played soccer?"
On the screen showed a vast stadium in Ninjago City with lush grass and white lines in the center. There were twenty girls competing for the uninterrupted-moving ball, and two goalkeepers loudly communicating to their teammates. One team wore white jerseys with navy blue shorts and the other wore black jerseys with golden details making them stand out more. One goalkeeper wore a bright pink jersey while the other wore red. A close-up appeared of the goalkeeper in red. It showed Macca's profile, her skin shiny from a coat of sweat. She moved around and pointed with her gloved hands. Her commands could be heard from yards away. The camera even caught a glimpse of the bright purple bouncing around in her ponytail. At one point, she dove for a low-driven ball and snagged it before it could catch the back of her net. Her hair flew through the air, and her purple blazed like fire.
"And there's a wonderful save from Lady Mustang number twenty-five: McKenna Carson!" the commentator celebrated as she stood up and told her defensive line to push up out of the box. "What spectacular form!"
"Dang, it's been a long time since she's had purple hair," I noted.
"What happened to it?" Zane questioned.
"Oh, she just dyed it back to her natural color once the season ended. It wasn't like her whole head was purple, anyways."
The game continued, and I watched with dread because I knew what was going to happen next. The clock dwindled down to just seconds left. The score was tied up two-two. Then the defensive line broke down, and Macca was left one on one with the amazing striker. The panic in her eyes said it all as she went for her signature slide tackle, but the player read it like a book and knocked it into the goal right over her. Her attention immediately went from the girl's feet to where the ball bounced to the place of no return. Eighteen seconds was left on the clock as the other team screamed and paraded around the girl who scored. Macca sat next to them, tears welling up in her eyes and dripping down her cheeks as the knowledge that she cost her team the game ravaged in her mind.
"That wasn't her fault," Zane affirmed. "The line of defense shouldn't have let her get past them…"
"Well, no matter whose fault it was, she still quit high school after that game," I explained.
He looked at me in disbelief. "Why?"
"Think about it this way: Her team shouldn't've lost, and they should've gone further into the tournament, Macca already had a career to pursue by that time, and they lost this game on her eighteenth birthday."
"She didn't see the point in finishing what she started?"
"Yeah. Plus she could officially be released from foster care and live out on her own."
"F-Foster care?"
"She never told you?"
"N-No…Why was she in it?"
"I don't even know if it's the true story, but from what she's said in the past, her birth mother put her in it as a baby and was never heard from again. She doesn't know who her biological father is or anything."
His gaze drifted to the floor in silence.
"Have you told her about you?"
He shook his head. "I didn't think it was the right time, but we share similar backgrounds?"
"I guess. Is that a good or bad thing?"
A frown came upon his face. "I don't know."
"…You really like her, don't you?"
As if it was hard to admit it, he cautiously nodded. "She's the most beautiful human being I've ever encountered," he divulged, his expression enlightening at the thought, "but I've never experienced such feelings before. I feel trapped, and that one wrong decision can change everything between us."
I kind of laughed. "You got that right."
"I just thought that if I could know more about her, I could get a better idea as to what I should try to do."
"So you're gonna stalk her on the internet?"
"Stalk? Of course not. I'm researching general information about her."
"That's a good starting place, I guess. I can help you some if you want, too. I mean, I'm not a historian about her life or anything, but I've gotten to know some stuff time to time."
"Do you know why she dresses the way she does? It's quite peculiar, and it projects a masculine sense."
"Good. That's what she's going for."
"But why? I've never understood."
"First of all, she doesn't do it to because she feels manlier than everyone else, or because she's trying to make you feel like you're not man enough. It started because a lot of boyfriends took advantage of her and made her feel more like an object than a person. It's more like a symbol of respect; if you don't treat her right, she'll get the final laugh, but if you treat her right, she'll respect you. Her fans loved it, and she just stuck with it to increase her image. Now you can't miss her once you see her."
The door opened and Jay stuck his head in. "Breakfast is ready, fellas."
"Alright. Come on, Frosty. You can continue research later."
"But when? I only have a limited time to learn as much as possible."
"Then I'll hook you up with video chat so you can research with Macca herself."
"But you told me you could help."
"I am helping. You need to get to know her through her. Trust me. Build the friendship before trying anything new. Then hopefully you won't get stuck in the friendzone."
"Friendzone?"
"Shut up and come eat."
Shoutout to Wild Cat 214, Kai4Ever, The Mayor of Ninjago City, and Ninjagorulz for reviewing! And thank you Ninjagorulz for favoriting this fan fiction!
The Mayor of Ninjago City - Thanks for your contribution! It helped me figure out a good name! :)
Ninjagorulz - Thanks so much for enjoying everything so far! I'm excited to hear more from you :D