Chương 8: Unspoken Threat

On the fifth day, in the locker room before classes, Crimson follows Coach to discuss skipping the match due to the threat from the previous day.

"What do you mean you can't play the game tomorrow night? Do you mean you can't wait to play the game tomorrow night? Are you messing with me here" The coach asked, because he might have misheard him.

"No, I can't play the game tomorrow night. I'm having some personal issues going on at the moment." Crimson explained, leaning against his locker while the conversation was happening.

"Like what? Is it a girl problem? or Is it a guy problem? You know our goalie Danny is gay. You don't think Danny's a good looking guy?"

"I know, Coach. But that's not it. Danny's good looking. But I like girls. And that's not it anyway..."

"Is it drugs? Are you doing meth? My brother was hooked on meth. You should have seen what it did to his teeth, all rotted and cracked. It was disgusting. He was a mess. He got veneers. They look perfect now. Is that it? You're worried about getting hurt?" The coach explained and it made Crimson genuinely concerned with him.

"No. I'm just having some issues with... aggression. It's been a problem for the past few days now and I don't know how to control it."

"Well, that's exactly why you play lacrosse isn't it. Problem solved. Part of playing first line is taking on the responsibility of being the first line in the game. If you can't shoulder that responsibility then you're back on the bench until you are ready." The coach said patting him on the shoulder.

"If I don't play the game you're going to take me off first line?" The bell rings as the Coach ushers Crimson to the door.

"Play the game, Croft."

As Crimson steps back into the corridor after the confrontation with coach, he was surrounded by a flood of students moving in every direction in the hallway. He is suddenly startled when his phone rings from inside his pocket. He pulls it out and sees a text message from Aqua...

"Got the night off! I'm coming to watch you perform today! I'm so excited!!" He lets out a frustrated sigh as his phone buzzes once more, this time with a second message from Mom...

"Also, what does LMFAO mean?" He's just about to type a reply when he spots someone making her way through the corridor toward him, Willow Ash. She moves through the crowd, and it seems like every teenage boy's gaze follows her. Yet her flawless smile is directed solely at Crimson.

"Hey, are you busy right now?" She asks, gesturing toward the phone with a nod.

"No. It's only my Mom. She's nobody. I mean, it's nothing. I'm never busy. Not for you."

"I like how that sounds. I've got to hurry to French class, but I wanted to let you know I'll be there to see you play tomorrow." She says, giving him a possessive hug.

"You will?"

"And afterwards, we're all heading out. You, me, Scara, Larch. It'll be fantastic. And bring Churro along too. Save me a seat at lunch. I've got to go." Crimson barely manages to nod before she rushes off. But just as she's about to vanish into the sea of students, she flashes him another smile. This story has been unlawfully obtained without the author's consent. Report any appearances on Amazon. After a quick wave, she's gone, and he slumps back against the lockers.

"I am in so much trouble."

In the hallway that runs alongside, Willow comes to a halt at her locker, spins the combination dial with practiced speed, retrieves her French textbook, and then pauses as she catches sight of something odd inside. Gently, she takes out an object that really has no business being there... It's her jacket from the party. As she quietly closes the locker door, she becomes aware of just how isolated she is in the corridor. She looks down the hallway in one direction, then the other. There's not a single person.

There's not even a whisper of noise. That is, until the second bell rings, making her jump. Letting out a brief laugh at her own reaction, she quickly heads off to class. Over at the chalkboard, where other students are working on algebra equations, Scara speaks softly to Crimson.

"Why is there a rumour going around that you're not playing tomorrow? Is that true?"

"Because I'm kind of... not." He said, but he noticed her glaring at him.

"I think you kind of are. Especially when you crash into my boyfriend and injure him badly."

"He injured himself badly when he crashed into me." Crimson said as the math teacher walks by, checking the work on the board.

"Larch is going to play on Saturday, but he won't be in top form. I prefer my boyfriend to be at his best."

"Okay..." He said, wondering if she's still talking about lacrosse.

"You see, I'm dating the captain of a winning lacrosse team. If they start the season with a loss, then I'm dating the captain of a losing lacrosse team. I don't go out with losers. Do you understand how that works?"

"Losing one game isn't going to hurt anyone. Actually, it might help someone." Crimson tried to explain, but Scara looks at him as if she either doesn't understand or doesn't care.

"Fine. Don't play. We'll probably win anyway. We'll go out afterward like we have planned. I'll introduce Willow to all the other attractive players on the team. And while she gets the attention she deserves, Crimson Croft can stay home browsing the internet for hookers." She finishes her math problem, wipes the chalk dust from her hands, and strolls back to her desk. He turns his attention back to the equation he's working on at the board.

"Mr. Croft, you're nowhere near solving your problem." The math teacher called out.

"Tell me about it."

In the corridor, a locker bangs shut, and Crimson leans his head against it, feeling completely exhausted. Churro comes speeding around the corner and grabs hold of him.

"Come here, come here. Try to see if you can hear them." He guides his friend around the corner, where they both get a clear view down the hallway of the vice principal in conversation with Sheriff Valentine and one of his deputies. He concentrates, making an effort to tune in to the voices.

"... animal attacks... we just don't want the kids going out at all... past 9: 30pm..."

"What are they saying? Tell me, tell me" Churro asks, but Crimson hushes him.

"... put the curfew into effect...." The sheriff gave the order.

"A curfew. Because of the body." He relayed to his friend what the sheriff had said. Crimson follows a furious Churro around the corner as he said "This is seriously unbelievable. My dad is out searching for a rabid animal, while the jerk who actually killed the girl is just hanging out and doing whatever he wants."

"You can't exactly tell your dad the truth about Autzee."

"I can do something."

"Like what?" Crimson asks.

"Like find the other half of the body." Churro replies as he heads into a classroom. Crimson stops when he sees Willow shaking hands with an extremely attractive lacrosse player. Scara is wearing a big smile as she introduces them, and she's also staring right at him. She turns to see him approaching as Scara and the lax player slip away.

"So she's introducing you to everyone?"

"Yeah, she's been so unbelievably nice. Usually, when I move to a new place, the popular girls are totally mean. But she's making it really easy for me."

"I wonder why." Crimson said quietly under his breath.

"Maybe she understands how much being the new girl can suck." He's about to respond when he notices with alarm that she's carrying the jacket.

"Where did you get that?"

"My jacket? It was in my locker. I think Scara brought it back from the party. She has my combination..."

"Did she say she brought it back? Did someone give her the jacket? Someone named Autzee." Crimson asks, feeling nervous and starting to sweat a little.

"Your friend?"

"He's not my friend. How much did you talk to him when he drove you home? What did you say?" he said, shaking his head.

"Not much at all."

"Sorry, but I have to get to my next class. Can we talk later? I really have to go." Willow says, looking confused as she hurries off, leaving Crimson to ponder the jacket. But then he turns, moving with determination, faster and faster...