The Reapers vow

“Heads up!” was all I heard before I felt something slam into the back of my head, knocking me to the ground. Why did I bother coming today of all days? I could have stayed in my comfy bed. Oh, how beautiful the thought of you is you amazing, wonderful bed… But no, I chose to go to school, and go to cheer practice. Where did that get me? Oh yeah, sprawled across the astroturf after a freaking football nailed me.

“Holy crap! Jamie, are you okay?” Callie, yells from somewhere above me.

“Ugh… Fine.” I blinked. She extended her hand toward me, and I took it, pulling myself up to my feet. Great, I just washed this uniform last night. With both hands, I quickly brushed off my uniform and pulled it back into place.

“Collin! Watch it! You could have killed her,” Callie snapped at the quarterback as he stepped up to retrieve the ball. I see it now: Jamie Summers, death by football to the head. What a way to die.

“I said heads up,” Collin shrugged, tossing the death ball to another team member.

“Oh! And I suppose that makes it all better then, doesn’t it? Are you that dense? Apologize now!” Even when we were kids, Callie always had my back. I stood awkwardly staring at Collin. Being the jerk he is, I wouldn’t be surprised if his response was something crude.

“Yeah, yeah, I’m sorry,” Collin teased through his helmet. “I’m sorry your friend won’t be making the football team in the future. She sucks at catching things.” There it was… Callie scowled as he pranced back to his team.

“Who the hell does he think he is?” Callie growled. “Let’s see him catch my foot in his-”

“Let it go, Callie.” I cut in, “He’s not worth it.” Though, I did envision many times beating him down, stripping him to his boxers, and tying him to a stake in the fifty-yard line for a Friday night game. Collin Masters was a prick.

“I will not let it go!” Her strawberry blonde hair was coming out of her ponytail from the first workout we did. “Was he raised by monkeys? Who in their right mind just hits someone and runs away making jokes about it?”

“Clearly, he isn't sane,” I replied, pulling her back into formation as Coach T came back from the restrooms.

“Darn right he isn't sane.” She grumbled. I turned and made my way back to my spot on the other side of the formation.

After practice, the squad walked back to the girls’ changing room. Callie continued to carry on to the other girls about how horrible Collin Masters was and how badly he needed to get what was coming to him. I stood at the back of the crowd, watching the girls go in. My thumb twitched, I raised my hand feeling like I had forgotten something, and then it dawned on me, I forgot my water bottle on the practice field. I jogged back to find it.

The field was peaceful when no one was on it, just trees rustling around and the wind blowing softly through the bleachers. I stood there in meditation. After a few breaths, I remembered what I came out there for. My water bottle was still at the foot of the bleachers. I snatched it up and turned back toward the gym. Just before I reached the doors, something pulled my attention back to the stands from where I was. A guy was standing at the top, he looked like a senior, maybe? His shaggy black hair hung just slightly above his ears. He wore a blue button-up, that hung slightly over his tattered blue jeans. I hadn’t seen him on campus before. Suddenly I realized he was staring at me, probably wondering what I was looking at. Tearing my eyes away awkwardly, I shook it off and ran the rest of the way to the entrance. My toe knocked the door stopper as I tripped into the gym. I prayed he didn’t see, then again, what did I care?

“Jamie?” Callie called at the lockers. “Has anyone seen Jamie?” I sighed and turned the corner.

“Oh, there you are!” She exclaimed, back to her normal peppy self. “We have to get into homecoming prep this weekend.”

“You do know homecoming isn't for another two months, right?” I pressed my water bottle to my lips, taking long sips of water.

“Whether it’s two months or next year we need to have it planned, Jamie.” She put her hands on her hips for emphasis. “Homecoming is everything! We need to have it perfected now so nothing can go wrong later.”

“You will jinx it saying that.” I rolled my eyes. Truth was, I didn’t want to do a homecoming, and I didn’t care about the dance or the game. Heck, I didn’t even know how I feel about cheer anymore.

“What do you want to do today Jamie?” Callie asked, waking me from thought. “Want to go window shopping for a new dress?”

“Not today, I already have plans,” I replied, grabbing my backpack from my locker.

“What are you doing today? You didn’t invite me.” Callie put a hurt look over her face.

“Yeah, I planned a cleaning day for myself so that when people come over they don’t think I’m a pig,” I laughed, which was only half true. I did want to clean the house.

“Alright.” She shrugged. “Let me know if you change your mind and decide I’m better company than dirty socks and trashcans.”

“Will do.” I shook my head, fixing my bag on my shoulders, and began my walk.

Most of the school was empty except for all of its students in sports, staying for all hours of practice. I passed through the grounds without catching anyone’s eye, surprisingly. My old self would love to get the chance to talk to anyone, to go shopping for a dance that’s months away, to go to Callie’s and talk about nothing but planning for events to come, but this year that has all changed.