CHAPTER EIGHTEEN:
❝︎It's Only One Game ❞︎

"AS YOU ARE WELL AWARE, IT'S TIME FOR THE ANNUAL FOOTBALL MATCH WITH MYSTIC FALLS HIGHS. Groans fell from the students as the headmaster spoke. "Today, you will not be forced to lose a game so that humans can feel superior. Every one of you is special. Every one of you. And it's time you showed it." The students clapped and Harper only rolled her eyes as she crossed her arms over chest.

Josie stood up, causing Harper to look at the brunette. "How?"

"By using your powers in moderation, Ms. Saltzman." He answered her. "The goal is not exposure, merely to win." Josie slowly sat back down. "Think of it as an exercise in control."

That's when Kaleb stood, clapping his hands. "Well, I am here for it. After last year, it'll feel really good to show those Timberwolves what we're all about." Noise of agreement fell from the other students mouths, and all Harper could do was cross her arms over her chest and slouch in her seat. Josie glanced at her before reaching over and giving her a pat on the shoulder.

"And who better to lead you in this endeavor, as your quarterback, than our own Landon Kirby?" He tossed the ball and Landon attempted to catch it, fumbling with the football before firmly placing it in his lap. His eyes met Harper's, and she could see the nerves coating his face. She gave him the best reassuring smile that she could―︎though she realized it probably wasn't that reassuring seeing as she hated everything to do with sports. And then Harper was looking at Josie, watching the amused and proud smile on her lips, and suddenly that reassuring smile that she had seemed to fade, and she went back to slouching in her chair with a small frown on her face.

When the assembly was over, Harper made her way back to her room. A sigh fell from her lips as she landed face first on her bed, pillows muffling the groan that ripped from her lips. A knock came at her door and all she could do was hum, too lazy and frustrated to move even though the pillow case was starting to suffocate her. She felt her bed dip slightly, letting her know that the person had sat at the foot of it. She didn't say anything, waiting for the person to speak so that she didn't have to.

"He's making you come this year."

Harper's head snapped up from the pillow, turning to look at Josie who was sitting there with an apologetic smile. Harper glared dangerously at her. "I go only because of you, and you know that. But this year, the one year I actually decide I don't want to fucking go, I'm literally being forced. What's he going to do? Bound my hands and feet and throw me onto the bleachers?" She slammed her face back into her pillow, another groan falling from her lips.

Josie watched the brunette with a small smile, moving closer so that she was sitting at her side instead. She couldn't help but feel like Harper was upset about something, but she decided she wouldn't ask. She gently pushed Harper's shoulder, forcing her to roll onto her side. A laugh escaped her mouth when she saw Harper's hair covering her face. She reached over, pushing the hair aside, her smile still evident on her lips as she looked at the girl. Harper watched Josie as Josie watched her, their hearts pounding in their chests before Josie finally looked away, swallowing thickly before forcing herself to stand from the bed.

Josie held out her hands, motioning for Harper to grab them. "Come on, Harp. It's only one game. Besides, I think Landon would really like it if you were there. You're his only other true friend here, and he values your opinion because you're my best friend. If it's not for me, it's for Landon. Alright?" Harper narrowed her eyes before giving him, forcing herself to sit up and grab Josie's hands, allowing her to pull Harper up.

.・。.・゜✭・.・✫・゜・。.

SHE WATCHED AS JOSIE ATTEMPTED TO HELP LANDON PRACTICE, A HAND FALLING OVER HER FACE AS SHE WATCHED THE BOY MISERABLY FAIL. Harper watched as she took his hands in hers, muttering a spell before suddenly Landon was taking the football and throwing it across the field. Maybe they were actually going to win this year. She watched as the football hit the bus of the other team, cracking the glass before the doors opened and the they were all filing out. Harper glanced at Alaric, before her eyes landing on the girl he had been talking with, her hair placed into two braids, and Harper could help but notice she seemed familiar. But she wasn't sure why.

She watched the coin toss take place, their team getting the ball first. The game was quick to start, cheers from the crowd as the ball was tossed back and forth, the occasional vampire speed or wolf strength being used, along with a spell here and there. Hell, Harper had even participated once and made a girl from the other team trip, sending the ball flying right into Josie's hands. Josie had smiled at her then. She was sitting beside Lizzie who was trying to figure out who her new lover was―︎seeing as no one else could see him except for her.

She watched as the other team got a point, watching as the familiar girl was quick to limp from the field even though Harper could tell she was clearly faking. It peeked her interest. She stood up, walking away, and without anyone noticing her, she swiftly and carefully followed after the mysterious girl. She followed her to the school, and Harper was quick to sneak in, quickly muttering a spell to make herself invisible as she tiptoed after her.

She followed her up the steps, into one of the empty bedrooms that held all of Rafael's, and she saw the longing look on the girl's face. And suddenly, she felt like she was intruding. But she stayed. She watched the girl mutter words to herself before opening one of the boxes and pulling out some of Rafael's clothes, tucking them into her bag that held Alaric's crossbow. And then, just as she was dripping her blood on a map she had pulled out, Landon appeared, scaring Harper. Suddenly, Harper regretted leaving the game.

"Look, I know this looks bad." Hope told Landon.

"It looks like magic." He muttered, and with wide eyes he turned to sprint.

Hope was quick to curl her hand into a fist, "Corporis impetus." And then Landon froze.

"I'm starting to think you're not some ordinary girl." Landon said through a clenched jaw.

"Look, my name is Hope, okay? I-I'm a witch. I'm working with Dr. Saltzman. He asked me to do a locator spell to find Rafael."

"Why wouldn't he ask one of his own daughters?"

"Because they don't know about the Crescent Wolf Clan." She snapped. "Not like I do."

"Wol―︎I've read about that." Landon exclaimed. "Does that mean you can turn Raf back?"

Hope looked at him for a moment before muttering another spell to undo the one before. Landon moved to look at her. "There is a monster in the woods, and it feeds on werewolves."

"Ooh. Then I'm coming with you." Landon was quick to say.

"Sorry, but I fly solo." Hope muttered, and her heart ached. Because it was true, she did fly solo. But she used to have a partner in crime. A best friend that wouldn't stop until Hope agreed for her to tag along. Hope missed Harper so much, and she really needed her. She swallowed back her emotions and looked at Landon.

"Uh. . . but he's my best friend." Landon stuttered.

"You do realize I could freeze you again, right?"

"Would that spell last forever?"

She didn't answer. Instead, she glared at him before gathering her things and throwing her bag for Landon to hold. "Just try to keep up." And then she was moving forward, stopping briefly in the doorway and turning her head to look at Harper. But for some reason, she didn't say anything and continued forward with Landon following behind her.

.・。.・゜✭・.・✫・゜・。.

SHE WENT BACK TO HER BEDROOM, AND IF SHE USED HER WOLF HEARING SHE COULD HEAR THE CHEERS OF THE PLAYERS AS THEY CAME IN FROM FIRST HALF, AND CLEARLY THEY WERE WINNING. She listened to them all file out to the field, and she felt herself relax as she reached over and pulled open her book. A few minutes later the sound of scream made Harper jump from her bed, running over to her window and peaking out to the field to see Ethan laying on the ground with Alaric adn his mother at his side. Once night fell, and ambulance was taking Ethan to the hospital and Josie was pacing her room.

"I would've never done that if I knew it would've done that." Josie cried. Harper nodded her head in understanding. "Oh God. Oh my God. Now I know why dad says not to use magic at games." Josie placed her head in her hands and Harper sighed as she stood up, grabbing Josie's hands and holding them in hers. She met Josie's eyes and gave her a small nod.

"Jo, look at me." She looked down at Josie's hands before looking back up at her. "This was not your fault okay. You were just trying to win. And maybe you were a little aggressive for your own good, but hey, you just wanted to represent us. You weren't expecting this. Besides, the headmaster was the one to give you the spell. If anything, you should blame him."

Josie looked at her, a deep frown on her lips. "My dad's so mad at me."

"Well, mine was my whole life." Harper joked. Josie gave her a look and she shrugged. "It's how I cope. Besides, your dad will come around to understand. He always does. Just get some rest alright? And let me know how that talk with Landon goes."

Josie nodded before pulling her into a hug. "Thanks, Harp."

"Anytime, Jo." Harper softly replied before pulling away and giving her another smile, before watching as she walked out of her room, leaving Harper to stand there with a thousand thoughts running through her head.