Hey I am so sorry for not updating in a while. I am in the middle of moving and last week I caught a bad bug and wasn't really up for writing that much. I hope you like the chapter and sorry for any mistakes.
i do not own the Host
Chapter 5
Wanderer POV
I hate to admit it, but I am really glad the guys made me join them at school. It has only beeen a week but I like it here. Besides meeting Jared, Melanie and Ian I managed to make some other friends. I talk to this cute guy in my literature class third period, he is so smart it's unbelieveable.
In history I met two girls, Kellan and Sunny. Kellan is a sophomore like me and Sunny is a senior, although I thought she was a freshman at first. She is almost smaller than me and that is small. Both are really nice and funny. I don't know why but i feel comfortable around them, same goes to the guy in my literature class Ty.
Then there is Ian. Never in a million years did I think we would end up in a class together let alone being lab partners for the year. I was so nervous about it being awkward with us but he was so relaxed about the whole 'making out in the hallway with a stranger' thing. After we cleard the air we got along well. I can talk about the most random of things with him. I know burns said I shouldn't get close to him but he is nice plus I don't think that will be a problem.
Yesterday I saw him with his arm around a blonde's waist. They were talking with Kyle and Jodie. The girl giggled as Ian whispered into her ear. At first I thought she was just a friend. I had seen him like that with his friend Lily at lunch one day but when she stood on her tiptoes to kiss him, I knew they were something more especially when he kissed her back. It took Kyle smacking his arm to break them apart.
In a way I guess it is a good thing. Now I won't get attached to him. He is nothing more than a friend. The same goes for Jared, even though I know he would never go for a girl like me. Plus Melanie is totally into him. I wonder if I can set them up.
Burns POV
I am so glad to have Wanda here. It means I can spend more time with her. We don't have any classes together but I see her almost after every one. Aleyc keeps giving me a hard time about telling her how i feel but I just don't want to ruin our close friendship. And I guess I really don't want to know her exact feelings toward me, especially if she doesn't feel the same.
"Burns will you please give it a rest" Wanda whines snapping me out of my thought. I look down at her and she is already walking away. The schools having tryouts for the soccer team and I want her to see she is good. Plus if she is on the team we will spend a lot more time together.
"No, not until you try out" I call to her as I catch up. It doesn't take much since her perfectly toned legs are so short.
"What's the point you know even in the slightest chance i get asked to be on the team that i'll turn it down" she asks me. I shake my head. Sometimes I just want to pick her up and shake some sense into her beautiful head.
"Because I want you to finally see you are good. Good enough to play on the school team" I tell her. She rolls those pools of blue-grey eyes that make you want to swim in.
"But I don't want to play" she whines. Yeah right!
"You LOVE to play" I say grabbing her shoulders. She looks up at me from her long lashes and I have to restrain myself from kissing her.
"Yes for fun. Not for competition. There is enough of that around here as it is with you and Aleyc's testosterone" she says poking me in the chest at the end.
"Please. All I want for you to do is go to try outs and play" I beg her ignoring her last comment. I feel her shoulders muscles move as she crosses her arms. I push out my bottom lip in the best pouty face I can muster.
"Ugh! You are insufferable sometimes" she tells me looking away. She sounds like Aleyc. I lift her chin so she looks at me.
"You know you love me" I tease.
"I wouldn't bet on it now" she snaps pushing my hand away. I laugh at her childishness.
"When are try outs?" she finally asks running a hand through chocolate curls.
"Yes! They are today after school" I shout pulling her in for a hug. She pushes me away quickly.
"What? Burns that gives me no time to practice" she snaps again. I laugh at her.
"Wanda you practice everyday at the park" I remind her.
"Ugh I hate you"
"I love you too" She rolls her eyes at the comment. You will never know how much.
The bell then rings and I can hear her groan. I pull her my side and guide her to the girls locker room. She shoots me a glare as she walks in. I laugh and text Aleyc to meet me on the field.
"Burns man what are we doing here? Guys tryouts aren't till tomorrow" Aleyc asks standing a row below me on the bleachers.
"Look and see" I tell him. I point down to the field. He turns around to look over his shoulder. I smile as he turns back to me with a shocked expression.
Walking on to the field with the rest of the girls is Wanda in her black shorts, grey shirt and blue cleats. Her hair in a high ponytail. She sees me and I wave to her. She tries to hide a smile but gives up and waves back.
"How did you convince her to tryout?" Aleyc asks as he sits down next to me. I shrug.
"A lot of begging" is all I say. He laughs.
The girls soccer coach, Coach Heidi, then stands in front of the girls. She talks to each one before telling them the stretch. I can tell Wanda is nervous so Aleyc and I make an effort to cheer her up while she stretches. It does earn her glares from the other girls but she shrugs it off like a champ.
She is laughing at Aleyc standing up and lifting his shirt, causing all the girls to stop in whatever position they are in, some funnier than others. Wanda's face then goes slack and she turns around. I look to where she was looking.
Jared and his friends are sitting a few rows above us. I didn't even notice them come. What are they doing here anyway? I hit Aleyc on the stomach and her drops his shirt and sits down. He gestures at Wanda and I tip my head back. He casually looks around and notices them too.
"Mel is the captain. They are probably here to support her" he tells me. I nod and turn back to the field. Coach Heidi splits up the girls into two teams and they head to the field. (A/N I don't know much about soccer so sorry for the lack of details)
Two girls head for the halfway line for the kickoff. Wanda takes her position as striker on the right field. Coach blows the whistle and they are off with the other team having the ball.
"Wanda's got skills" Jared comments after Wanda steals the ball.
"In more than just soccer" Kyle says slyly nudging Ian in his arm. Ian pushes his brother away not taking his eyes off the field. I tune my ears to their conversation. Wanda thinks its rude to use my super hearing but I know for a fact Aleyc uses it way more than I do.
"Jessica will be ticked. Or...want her to join" Kyle then remarks. Jessica? That must be Ian's girlfriend. Good. So that means he will stay away from my Wanda. Whoa did i just think my Wanda? Man I need to get a grip on my feelings.
"Shut up Kyle" he tells him as Kyle wiggles his black eyebrows up and down.
"Am I missing something?" Jared ask looking at the brothers. The other guys give questioning looks at him too.
"Remember when Ian said he kissed a girl on the first day?" Kyle asks. Jared and the others nod.
"Yeah..." Jared says trailing off.
"Well..." Kyle says pointing. Jared follows his finger to the petite brunette on the field. I tense knowing who he is talking about. Aleyc doesn't look to happy to hear them talking about her either but loves her in a sibling kind of way, not like me.
"No way!" Jared exclaims. The others join in this revelation. Kyle laughs.
"Yup. Full liplock and almost tongue" he tells them.
"Almost?" Heath then asks. Everyone turns to Ian who is intently looking at the field.
"She pulled away and took off" he finally says. Woof calls and shouts are heard. The guys nudge and slap his back.
"Is she as good a kisser as she looks?" Aaron then asks. I feel the anger boiling in me. Aleyc shoots me a displeasing look.
"I don't kiss and tell" Ian tells him smiling.
"That means hell yes" Brandt shouts.
"Looks like Mel has some competition" Wes adds.
"In soccer or for Jared?" Heath asks him.
"Both" Wes laughs as he says this.
"Shut up" Jared shouts at them but you can hear a smile in his voice. I've heard Mel has a thing for Jared but he either doesn't know or ignores it.
The game has been going on for about twenty minutes. Coach Heidi doesn't do your typical tryouts. She starts off with a game to see how you deal with the pressure. Those who catch her attention then get to show off their skills.
The game is getting intense as the teams are tied up. You can see the sheen of the sweat rolling off the girls. Wanda is still in the right field waiting to get the ball. She wipes her sweat on her shirt but it is completely soaked. I know she is playing hard because she hardly ever sweats. The she does the unthinkable.
Standing up straight from her crouch she lifts her shirt from her head and tosses it to the side, revealing her grey soaked sports bra over a blue lacey one. I feel my mouth drop. The once routy guys fall silent for a minute then burst out in woof calls and cheers. All eyes are on her taught stomach as she bends back into her position. If she bends anymore people on the bleaches will be able to see her breasts. Even that damn blue belly button ring shines in the sun.
"I'm going to kill her" I mutter. Aleyc laughs.
"Yeah later. Just enjoy they view Burns" Aleyc tell me. I look over my shoulder. All eyes stare hungrily at Wanda. I focus on Ian, he has a different look. His face is blank but his eyes have lust and...longing to them.
Other girls, stop to notice the guys cheering. Some throw Wanda dirty looks but she is too focused on the game to notice. She did it for her not for anyone else. Not wanting to be shown up the other girls begin shedding their tops. The field is left with sweaty girls in their sports bras and shorts.
The game continues as I watch Wanda take off towards the ball with such aggressiveness. Her stomach muscles contract as she fight for the ball, successfully pulling of a Cruffy.
"Who is this girl?" a different voice asks. I turn to see a younger boy sitting next to Jared. his eyes wide and mouth in a large smile. He looks familiar but I can't place him.
"No way a freshman can play like that" Aaron says aloud.
"She's only fifteen" Ian tells him. Jared's eyes widen a little. Ian nods his head to confirm Jared's shocked look.
"Sorry Jared, she's too young for you" Kyle remarks. Jared snaps out of his state of awe.
"Whatever. She is...mature for her age" he tells him thinking of the right word. I turn to look at him. He catches my eye and focuses back to the field.
The coach blows her whistle for half time. I jog down the steps as Wanda approaches. I toss her a bottle of water that she gracefully snatches throwing me a smile as she chugs it down.
"You're doing great" I tell her.
"Thanks" she says panting slightly. I have never heard anything sound so...hot. Cool it man, she is your friend.
"You know we should really be the one getting credit. I mean we did teach you everything you know" a sultry voice calls out from behind me. Wanda laughs. I turn to see Aleyc smirking at her.
"Not everyting" she says slyly.
"You've been holding out on us?" i ask her. She throws me a grin and her eyes twinkle. Ugh there goes those feelings again. Not the place.
"You'll just have to see like everyone else" she tells us, her voice low. Is she trying to kill me here?
"Aleyc! Jason! Over here!" a couple of girls call out from the side. We all look. They wave and bat their eyelashes at us.
"Hello ladies" Aleyc calls out. He winks at Wanda and strolls over to the girls. I roll my eyes and so does Wanda. She laughs, drinking more water and runs back to her team. As she runs she turns back and winks at me. What does she have up her sleeve?
The coach blows the whistle to start the second half of the game. This time Wanda is at the halfway line. It is only when Wanda steals the ball that I notice the redhead that tripped her on the first day. Her and her bug eyed friend are on the opposite team. The red head glares and goes after her.
"Whoa!" I shout in encouragement. She does a perfect bicycle kick.
"Wanda! Wanda!" Aleyc chants.
"Not bad" Coach Heidi mutters to herself. She looks at her clipboard and writes something down.
"Mel!" Coach Heidi calls out. I see Melanie stand up from the bench and jog over to her.
"Yeah coach?" Melanie asks her. Coach Heidi leans in.
"I want you to go in. Challenge Wanda. I want to see what she does against you" she tells her. Melanie has a unknown expression, maybe jealousy, but it soon fades.
"Okay coach" she says smiling.
"Lacey come in" Coach Heidi yells. I see the redheads bug eyed friend come in angrily bumping shoulders with Melanie as she goes out.
"Yeah Mel!" the younger boy shouts standing up. Melanie turns and smiles at him as she takes her place on the field.
"Go Mel!" Jared shouts. Wanda comes in for a quick drink. I hop down to the ground to her.
"Hey they are bringing Mel. She is the captain so watch out. She is coming for you" I whisper to her. She gulps down some water.
"Thanks Burns" she tells me smiling. She runs back into the field.
"Look, her personal cheer squad" Aaron jokes as I walk back up the steps.
"What's up with her and them? Does she have a thing for them...or both?" Kyle asks smiling eviliy.
"Ask Ian" Brandt tells him.
"Shut up Brandt. She says they are best friends, that's it" Ian tells him. I feel a pain in my chest that she told him that. She said she wouldn't get close to him or Jared.
"Hey best friends can turn into something more. Some say it is the best way to form a serious relationship" Brandt says looking off to the field. All the guys stare at him like he grew another head.
"What? My mother was going on about something with my sister" he exclaims. They laugh at him. I turn my attention back to Wanda. She sets herself up for a move. I immediately recognize it but worry if she can do it. Like if she can read my mind, both of her feet go ont the sides of the ball as one leg rolls up the ball as the other flicks it over her apponent. A perfect Rainbow kick.
"Did you see that?" Aleyc asks me "She said she could do it. I just never believed her" He is jumping up and down like a kid. I laugh at him as people scream her name. She looks over at us and winks at me. So that is what she was hiding. I toss a glance behind my shoulder to see Ian giving me a glare. I smile and turn back around. I then look down to the coach and see she is also smiling.
A Rainbow kick is extremely hard and is never used in a real game. When did she have the time to learn that? She is definitely holding out on us. I focus back to the game to see Wanda and Melanie face off.
"I can't believe Mel just fell for Wanda's fake shot" the boy shouts.
"She is going to be ticked" Jared says aloud.
"Good luck Jamie" Wes tells the kid, I am assuming is Jamie.
"Thanks" Jamie says sarcastically. Maybe that is her younger brother. They do look alike.
The game finishes with Wanda's team winning 12 to 10. Everyone in the bleachers head down. As soon as Aleyc and I hit the floor we are ambushed by sweaty soccer girls in sports bras. We hang back while Wanda is talking to some of the girls. I see the redhead walking towards her holding a bucket. I get a bad feeling as she gets closer. Before I can react the bucket is dumped over Wanda. She shrieks as the cold water runs down her body. She is soaked. Everyone looks. Aleyc and I rush over to her. I am about to say something to her when water comes flying from different directions at her.
I look to see Melanie and others girls holding empty water bottles laughing.
"Beat it Sharon. It's tar and feathers next time" Melanie tells her. Sharon throws a hissy fit and leaves with Lacey. Melanie turns to Wanda who is looking at her confused.
"She's my cousin, unfortunately" Melanie tells her. Wanda laughs and Melanie joins in.
"Thanks" Wanda tells her, while squeezing out the water from her hair.
"No problem. You're good by the way" Melanie tells her. Wanda looks over at me and i giver a told-you-so smile. She sticks her tongue out at me. Melanie looks between us and laughs.
"You too" Wanda tells her. Melanie shrugs like she already knows it. The coach walks over to them.
"How would you like to be on our team?" she asks Wanda.
"I'm sorry I can't right now" Wanda tells her. Melanie shakes her head is disbelief. It is the second thing so far Wanda has turned down.
"Shame we could have used you. If you changed your mind"
"You turned her down didn't you?" Aleyc says as she walks up.
"Eavesdrop much?" she asks him. She tries to act mad but we can see she is hiding a smile.
"I don't need super hearing to know. I know you too well" he tells her. Aleyc takes off his top shirt and tosses it to her. Girls in the back ground make upset noises. She smiles and puts it on. I wrap my arm around her waist and begin walking.
"Let's go home" I say.
"Sounds good" she tells me. Aleyc takes me bag when she retrieves it from the locker room. We walk past Melanie and her friends. She nods to Wanda who returns the gesture. I keep my arm around her waist as we walk by Jared and Ian. Jared smiles widely at her, which she returns.
Ian is standing with a tall blonde girl basically pinning him to the wall. His smile fades as we walk by. Wanda doesn't even look at him and I can't help but smile. I glance over my shoulder to see Ian sending glares my way but I just smile at him as we continue to walk to the parking lot.
We make it to my bike and Aleyc hops in the side car holding Wanda's bag.
"Yo Burns! Hey this baby is yours?" Jared calls out. I turn around. I see their group also entering the parking lot. Ian's eyes fixed on us. What is his problem? He has a pretty girl hanging off of him and he is still staring at Wanda.
"Yeah. Fixed her up myself" I tell him. He walks closer and inspects the bike.
"Men and calling their things 'her'" Wanda mutters to herself. Melanie lightly laughs. Wanda blushes at being caught but laughs too.
"Nice man" Jared tells me. I nod my head.
"Thanks" i tell him. I grab the two helmets and hand one to Wanda.
"Let's go. I'm hungry" Aleyc calls from the side car.
"When aren't you hungry?" Wanda asks him.
"Never. So what are you going to make me when we get home?" he asks her. I see questioning looks from the others. Leave it to big mouth Aleyc.
"Really?" I ask him. He just shrugs.
"I just worked my ass off and you expect me to cook for you. I don't think so. I'm going to take a shower when we get home" Wanda snaps at him.
"Awe come on" he begs.
"No" she says firmly leaning on my bike.
"Hey how about you sit up front" I tell her. Her face lights up.
"Really?" she asks me.
"Yeah" i tell her.
"Can I drive?" she then asks me.
"No" I say immediately.
"Come on" now she is the one begging. She has her hands on my upper arm, squeezing the muscle.
"This is my baby. I don't let anyone but me drive her"
"Please" she asks. She pushes out her full bottom lip and gives me the impossible adorable doe eyes. I don't know if it is because she is drenched in sweat or it is those shorts but she looks really hot. I have to stay strong.
"Sorry sweet cheeks" I tell her stroking her cheek with my finger. She drops her pout and fastens her hair up.
"Fine. Let's go" she tells me throwing her helmet on.
We can tell whose is whose by the designs on them. True to my nickname my helmet has flames on it, thanks to Wanda. Aleyc's sports a British flag across the back and his team number. Wanda's is creative. I really don't know how to describe it. It has some kind of bright glowing thing on it. At first i thought it was a worm but she told me it wasn't. She said she really didn't know what it was but she liked the idea of this creature that glowed silver and had hundreds of feathery attachments (A/N just like the souls :))
I jump on the bike and start the engine. It purrs to life. I see the guys giving me thumbs up as I slide my helmet on. True to my word I pick up Wanda and place her in between my legs on the bike. I feel her small hands on my thighs for support. i throw a glance at Ian who has a pissed expression. I laugh as I kick up the kick stand. The others wave as we ride off onto the streets.