SAVANTS
The Chapture 12

The next few days at school, I became a little celebrity that I got from luck while playing football back then. Nelson found it funny and never lost the chance to capitalize on my fame.

"Give the residents of Wrickenridge a path, for the hottest new property in women's football!" He ran backwards in front of me as Tina, Zoe, and I headed for Science class.

"Nelson, please stop, this is embarrassing" I muttered, noticing the laughter around us.

Tina did it better, she nudged her ribs with one of her claws. "Stop, Nelson."

"You're the agent, dear Tina"

"Yes, and he won't give you an interview." Answer Tina.

"You're a hard woman."

"You're right. Now back off."

"I'm gone." Nelson turned around and ran to his class.

"That son of a bitch is really annoying" Tina said.

"He thinks he's funny" I continued.

"He— roughly at any given time," Zoe said, wrapping a bunch of her straight hair around her fingers while thinking. "I always thought she was like that to Tina because she liked her so much."

"Repeat your words and you die" Tina warned.

"He's liked you since fourth grade and you know it."

"I don't want to hear it" Tina kicked Zoe out.

Zoe assumed she had won this debate, so she paused the topic. "So, Sky, are you gonna come and watch the school baseball team today? Our team is playing in Aspen."

"If I do, will one of you explain how baseball plays?"

Zoe groaning. "Don't say—you don't know the rules of baseball. Where have you lived all your life? Under the rock?"

I laugh. "No. Richmond."

Tina elbowed Zoe to make her stop. "Of course, we'll tell you, Sky. Baseball is fun."

Zoe looked at Tina with a curvy look. "Zed's on the team, you know?"

"Additional reason to join." Said Zoe.

"What's that?" I answered casually.

"That's what they say."

"I'll take it as an excuse to miss it."

Zoe giggles. "I myself more than a cute and diligent Yves — small glasses, it makes me at all times pay attention to it. She's like a hot Harry Potter."

I laughed, as Zoe expected, but my thoughts worked from time to time. Is everyone speculating about Zed and me? Wh why? We were the most unlikely couple in school. Just because he helped me out in the field and stared at me for the rest of the afternoon ...

"Look who it is!" Tina said, slowly elbowing my ribs.

At twelve o'clock, Zed had just left the lab, chatting with another boy. I tried my commando camouflage technique, hiding behind Tina.

"Hi, Zed," Zoe said in a fake feminine voice.

I wither from shame. It makes us sound like a group of fans.

"Oh, hi." Zed's gaze traced us, then shifted back towards me, only visible between Tina and the wall. Letting his friend walk in front, he stopped in front of us. "I didn't get to congratulate you, Sky. You caught the ball amazingly."

Damn him—he mocked me?

"Yes, I think it's pretty unbelievable" I said ironically.

"I tell everyone you're lucky." Zed slipped my bag strap back on my shoulder.

My stomach is like a butterfly. The smooth movement felt almost imperceptible. And what is this? Zed Benedict was being nice to me?

"And I said, you also get a little help." I gave him my toughest look. What game? Did he really tell me what to do? It drives me crazy not knowing what is real and what I imagine?

"You're kidding, Zed, we all know you don't bend the ball like you always do." Tina gave me a worried smile. He didn't miss the casual way when the guy touched my bag strap.

Zed raised his hand to surrender. "I'm just making Sky comfortable in a sense of security, is that wrong?  Next time I won't be so easy on him."

zoe shouted, enjoying the flirtatious undercurrent in the conversation even though Tina and I had no idea. "Cannot be. Zed Benedict, you built the image of the meanest man of the year and now we know you're a sucker for that little blonde girl who looks blue eyed and helpless."