I practically ran to the changing rooms for fifth period. I threw my bag in my gym locker, jammed my head and arms through my P.E shirt and jumped into my shorts before shoving my feet into my running shoes.

Jason was probably outside playing football or something. I wouldn’t be able to be like near him or anything because I’m running track but, I’ll be close enough. I can just run as fast as I can so I’ll run past the football field more and slow down so I can stare. Wow. Does that sound creepy? Whatever. I don’t even care.

        “I’ll see you, later!” Emma walked in the changing room just as I was running out onto the field.

        “What? Whe-“ She tried to say but I never heard the rest of her sentence. I was already outside, the cold air hitting my face and making goose bumps appear on my arms.

        “Hey, Ms. Taylor. I think I’m going to go ahead and run some laps.” I waved and sprinted off.

        “Someone’s eager today.” She said sounding bored and started her stopwatch.

The football field is where I’m most likely to see Jason. Here’s my plan, I’ll run past and slow down, stare and wave casually so I don’t seem weird or anything. Hopefully, I won’t do something embarrassing like trip over my own feet and fall flat on my face.

But now that I’ve said that, I’m afraid that I’ve just jinxed it.

Crap.

I pushed myself harder, increasing my speed. My legs started to ache and my body felt hot as my heart raced faster and faster. Oh no. I immediately slowed down. I can’t push myself too hard because otherwise by the time I run past, I’ll be all sweaty and I’ll look gross.

I slowed down even more when I started to hear the sound of shouting and grunting from the guys playing football. I tried to casually crane my neck around trying to spot Jason but its rather hard to crane your neck and pretend to ‘casually’ just be looking when it’s quite obvious that you’re looking for someone.

I spotted someone running towards the goal and they had sandy blond hair. That must be Jason. But then, he turned around. Nope. It’s just Brad.

There!

Nope. Just Kieran.

I looked everywhere. I wasn’t even running anymore, or even jogging. I was walking. I spotted Aaron and Dylan and watched them score goal after goal but I never saw Jason. Where the hell is he?

        “Give me an E, give me an R! What does that spell? Winner!” Then all their cheers collapsed to excited squeals. I now reached the cheerleading squad. Great.

I don’t understand why girls would want to be in that ‘crowd’ so much. I mean, you’re walking around looking, dare I say it? Tramp-ish. Yeah, you’re popular and people know who you are and everything. But, after high school would it even matter if you were popular or not?

        “Hey, Em!” I waved.

Emma waved back with pom-poms still in her hand. Then she went back to her place in their formation. I watched as they threw her into the air and she performed a couple of flips in the air.

My best friend is in the cheer leading squad. She’s a flyer –you know, the one that gets thrown in the air. She’s not a bitch or even remotely cruel or mean. She’s not one of those clichéd cheerleaders. Unfortunately, about eighty percent of the squad was. I think they idolised the girls from that movie ‘Mean Girls’, I have no idea why. But, I think it’s ridiculous and completely stupid.

This is real life. It doesn’t matter how hard you try to make it into something similar to your favourite movie, it won’t happen.

People often ask why Emma is even friends with me. She’s a cheerleader, I’m not. Apparently, there is some kind of social ‘rule’ that says we’re not allowed to be friends. It’s all a whole load of crap. I can be friends with who I want. Besides, at one point, I was a cheerleader too. But, that was over a year ago and people have already forgotten. Once you take that uniform off, you suddenly become a nobody. But I didn’t mind that.

        “Day dreaming, are we?”

        I jumped, “Holy crap!” I sighed.

        “Did I scare you?” he chuckled.

        “Yeah.” I replied. “Jason, why aren’t you playing football?” I asked curiously.

        He nudged my arm, ushering me to run with him. “I’ve always been a runner. I tried football, it’s not really for me.”

Huh. Even better! Now I won’t have to embarrass myself by trying to ‘casually’ look at the football team.

        “Oh. Why not?” I asked, as evenly as possible.

        “Dunno.” He said nonchalantly. “How about you? Why aren’t you cheering with your friend?” I glanced at him in confusion. How did he know that I friends with a cheerleader? “I saw you wave at your friend.” He explained.

        “Emma. Her name is Emma.” Jason nodded, keeping his pace steady. “I tried it for a couple of years. Then, I decided to try something new.”

        “Fair enough.” He smiled and I felt my legs turn into jelly. I stumbled but quickly caught myself.

        “Avery! I see you got a new friend!” Dylan shouted from across the field. He smirked arrogantly and teasingly.

I stuck my middle finger up at him as I ran past.

        “Who was that?” Jason breathed.

        “Nobody. Just someone I have an art project with.” I said through gritted teeth.

        “PRANK WAR!” I heard Dylan and Aaron shout simultaneously before I felt a blinding flash of pain on my head and everything went black.

***   ***   ***   ***   ***

Dylan’s P.O.V

        “Shit!” I took off sprinting towards the track. Aaron hurriedly scrambled after me.

        “Avery? Can you hear me?” The new guy was on his knees, holding Avery’s head on his lap and brushing her hair away from her face.

        “Is she breathing?” Aaron questioned worriedly.

        I kneeled down next to her saw her chest rise and fall, “Yeah, I think so.”

        “What the hell, dude? What’s wrong with you?” The new guy was glaring at me.

        “Who the hell do you think you are?” I asked in annoyance and Aaron gripped my shoulder tightly.

        “I’m Jason. Avery is my friend.” He answered cockily.

        Friend? Pfft. “Yeah, well, new guy. Me and her happen to be best buddies.” I say sharply.

A crowd of people began to swarm around us and there was a lot of gasps and whispering when they saw Avery on the ground, unconscious. I felt the need to shout at them and tell them to go away.

Jason scooped an unconscious Avery from the ground and started walking towards the building. My hands balled into fists and I marched towards him.

        I blocked his path, “Where do you think you’re going?”

        “I’m taking her to the nurse.” He replied then walked around me.

I blocked his way again, “You’re new. You don’t even know where that is. I’ll take her.” I reached for Avery but he twisted around, stopping me.

The two of us were frozen in a glaring match for a few seconds before Emma came screaming towards us and Aaron chased after her.

        “Then show me.” He said arrogantly. Who does this guy think he is?

        “No. It’ll be quicker if I take her.” Then I grabbed Avery from his arms and strode off.

I didn’t even get to the main building doors before he came up from behind. He’s like a fungus. He just keeps coming back. Ugh!

        “What do you want?” I asked gruffly.

        Jason's jaw clenched tightly. “I’m coming with you. I’m not leaving my friend with some guy who just kicked a football at her head!”

        “That was an accident.” I said, gritting my teeth.

***    ***  ***   ***   ***

Avery's P.O.V

My head felt heavy, I opened my eyes only to be blinded. “Okay, ow. Bright light.” I blinked repeatedly.

Where am I?

Am I dead?

Is this heaven?

        “Avery!” Dylan jumped out of a chair on next to where I was layed down.

Nope. Not heaven.

        “Are you okay?” Jason piped up from another chair on my left. I had to turn my head the other way to face him which made me dizzy.

Oh! Maybe it is.

What is going on?

        I tried to sit up, “I feel dizzy.” I felt a hand on my shoulder, gently pushing me back down.

        “Don’t sit up.” Dylan suggested and I nodded slightly.

        I kept a hand on my head, “What happened?”

        “That nimrod kicked a football at your head.” Jason clarified.

        “It was an accident!” Dylan protested.

        “Nimrod...” I chuckled softly. “I like it.”

Then I fell asleep again.

- - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - -

{Unedited}

Thanks for reading!

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What did you think of this chapter? The prank war has been taken a bit too far, don't you think?

Nimrod - a great insult for younger siblings, by the way!