The spotlights gleamed over Elmore High's sports stadium. It wasn't the highest of quality; although the track and football field were well-kept, the bleachers leaned on the "we didn't care" half of the budget spectrum. The stadium was lively tonight. The aroma of cheap highschool food circulated in the air, mixing with the smell of rusting stands. Laughter, small talk, and other noises blended in a seamless mesh of enjoyment and activity.
"Tobias!" Coach Furgeson called on the right end of the football field. The rainbow haired boy paused drinking and looked at his coach.
"Get back into position! Break is over!" The stern man shouted. The other players were assembling back into their spots, and Coach wanted his star quarterback back his place.
"Yes, Coach!" Tobias flipped on his helmet and put down the water bottle, jogging to his position. He glanced over at the cheer team, beautifully dressed in their tight cheer skirts. He smiled under his helmet and flexed his bicep for them, hoping his favorite cheer captain would notice him.
"Penny, he is literally perfect!" Molly and Carmen squealed as they stood on their boxes, preparing to perform the second set of cheer routines. Penny shrugged at them before Masami interjected.
"Penny, like there is no reason he would reject you." The smaller asian commented. Most of the other girls gawked and nodded in agreement, with a few just rolling their eyes.
"Yeah, yeah, thanks." Penny said in obvious disregard. She sighed, placing her golden scrunchie back in her long brown hair. "It's just-"
"I'll totally set you guys up!" Carmen giddily jumped, squeezing Molly. "Ow, ow! You're killing me!" Molly joked as the cheer team giggled. Penny waited for the game to resume, so she could take her mind away from it.
They sat in boredom, occasionally coming together to cheer one of the few stances they routined. The Elmore Ducks pretty much dominated the first half of the game, leaving the cheer team to dream over football players and jerseys. It was admittedly shallow, especially for Penny. That entire culture filled her with discomfort.
Soon enough, it was time for their big stunt during halftime. Penny's slim and beautiful figure was a real standout, and the crowd in the bleachers eagerly awaited the show ahead. Their forms and gymnastics were masterfully executed, with Masami and Carmen being flung into the air. There was not a finger out of place. They both dove and fell back into the safety of the cheer team, the bleachers erupting into a wild applause. Penny's forehead gleamed with a light coat of sweat, grateful for the break ahead.
Penny didn't waste her time, running off to find-
"Penny! You forgot your box!" Carmen called out to her. The brunette turned in shock.
"I'm in a bit of a rush, sorry." Penny said, quickly moving her box to its slot. They didn't want anyone's cheer box tripping someone during halftime.
"Why?" Carmen questioned, a little fire of suspicion sparking in her chest.
Penny turned away. She felt her eyes drop and focused on her box. "Oh, nothing, I think there's something somewhere I have to do sometime, you know?" She awkwardly flustered for an excuse, her voice rising. Before the other girls could respond, she was gone.
"Tobias." Masami rolled her eyes as Molly stifled a laugh.
Penny moved with urgency. Her face gleamed, radiating light and joy, but she was too distracted to notice. Penny knew where he would be.
Gumball and Darwin were, of course, at the food stand. The pair couldn't look more different; one was average in height and had tanned white skin, the other was easily over 6 feet and had dark brown skin. The first had blue, waving hair, and the second had a buzzcut sporting an orange hoodie.
"Okay, BUT," Gumball continued, stuffing his face. "What if you were paralyzed, and tied down, and in North Korea, and the crocodile already ingested your legs and arms?"
"Guess I'll die," Darwin replied. "These hypotheticals are crazy. You're leaving me no option for escape."
"We wouldn't have gotten to this point if you just accepted the fact that a crocodile would win every time." Gumball dryly stated, knowing what he said was fact. Darwin was just about to retort when he froze, nudging his brother in the arm.
Gumball turned around to see Penny walk right in front of him. Her eyes shone like stars, reflecting light from the stadium.
"Hey, Gumball." She smiled and leaned in, her brown hair almost touching his arms before she pulled back. She nodded to Darwin, waving at him as he took a few steps back. Darwin idly stood there as Penny spun back to Gumball.
It was an unusual sight, sure. Passing students would often wonder why exactly Penny spent so much time with someone they considered below her league.
"Hey," Gumball said, his eyes lifting and shoulders relaxing. "What's up?" He casually asked her, his right eyebrow tilting up. Penny coyly shrugged. "Oh, not much. You comin' to see the rest of the game?" She crossed her arms and gave him an inquisitive look, almost jokingly.
"Possibly. Though the game itself isn't exactly my thing," Gumball scoffed. "At least the cheer team's good."
Penny giggled in response. "You can join anytime, Gumball." She teased, positioning her scrunchie. "See you then."
"Guess I will." Gumball joked, Penny walking back to the cheer team. Darwin looked at Gumball with disbelief, with a look of disgust on his face.
"You're kidding me, right?" Darwin shook his head in disappointment.
"Kidding about what?" Gumball asked lowly, his eyes blankly staring at Darwin.
"She likes you, moron." Darwin broke into laughter as his brother reeled back, his eyes wide in shock. "What?" Was all Gumball could muster.
"You're completely oblivious. Just forget it. A girl as hot as THAT-" He motioned to Penny, laughing with her friends, "-won't come around every other decade." Darwin sighed as he finished his short speech, still leaving Gumball hopelessly confused.
"What do you mean? We're just friends, Darwin," Gumball said, having thought it was true since he and Penny met.
"Sure, Gumball. Sure," Darwin mocked.
"Even if, what do you want me to do? I don't know how these things work, Darwin. I'm not you." Gumball panged with a hint of jealousy for his best friend as he muttered those last lines.
"It's alright man. Let's just watch the rest of the game," Darwin smiled as he headed back to the bleachers, with halftime almost over.
Gumball sat still, unmoving as the game progressed. Everyone would cheer as Tobias scored another touchdown, yet Gumball's brows still furrowed in concentration. His rationalization got him nowhere, and he eased up, sighing. As the last quarter drew to a close, everyone in the stadium stared at the match with rapt.
"Who knows what's gonna happen?" Darwin looked at the movements in awe, his eyes flickering between players.
"Dude, we have Tobias. I don't think we're falling behind," Gumball snorted. "Besides, I thought I was the hypothetical guy?" He laughed.
"Hey, I'm allowed to believe," Darwin smirked as he rested his hands on his head.
Gumball suddenly stopped, his eyes dropping as his smile grew smaller. "I dunno, man. It's happening so fast," he said.
Darwin nodded. "Yep, the ball sure is flying fast," he quietly snickered. Gumball's eyes lit dimly as he turned to his brother, feeling a small chill wave up his body.
"Good analogy," he said. "I'm still confused about Penny, though. What do you think?" Gumball asked Darwin, his voice soft and calm.
Darwin simply stated, "Take a step back. What happens with Penny doesn't matter. Enjoy now, Zach, because it won't be now ever again."
Gumball looked up at his brother. "Since when did you get so wise?"
"Since I took Mr. Small's summer session, don't you remember?"
"Oh, I'd love to forget…"
The pair faded in silence as the final minutes of the game ticked away. The dusk sky morphed into a deep blue, the sun below the horizon. Night winds swept the stadium as a chilly breeze laced the bleachers with cold. Gumball relaxed in his bleacher, his eyes draped by purple bags. The moment certainly was perfect.
AN: Thanks for reading the first chapter. I'll try to update regularly, but with school and all, I can't promise it. Criticism always appreciated! :D