In two weeks the championship game was here. An air of excitement was suppressed throughout the middle school. Mary had told me the rival team was the toughest in the area, the Black Warriors. I wasn't worried though. Our team would smash them silly, so I proudly wore Louis's jersey to school that Friday.
Even though I went to the football field after school like I always did, the bleachers were already half filled!
I snagged a spot near the front and buried my nose into "The Phantom of the Opera" hoping for the next few hours to pass quickly before the big game. Occasionally, my eyes wandered from my book to number 34, Louis. He had his helmet on so I couldn't see his face but his helmet would often flash in my direction and I probably put on the most biggest, most foolish smile possible. At last, Coach Leonard blew the whistle at 4:30, signaling the end of practice. I could hear him telling the team to meet back at the field at 5:45.
Louis disappeared into the locker rooms for a few moments. I left my beloved Raoul and Erik by my backpack and ran down to the field where I saw the team come back from changing. As soon as I saw Louis I ran into his arms. We hugged for a moment and then broke apart. Louis's friends all smiled at me and I blushed. Louis waved them away and then took my hand as his friends left.
"I have something I want to show you," he said, a smile twitching on his lips. I beamed and squeezed his hand as he led me behind the bleachers.
He took a deep breath when we finally stopped. He let go of my hand and fumbled with something in his back pocket. At last, he spoke.
"You're really special to me," he whispered. "More than anyone I've ever met." My heart began beating faster. "Me too, Louis." His eyes shone brightly and he finally took out what he had in his pocket and put it in my hands.
I gasped when I saw what it was.
A silver chain, with a teardrop diamond dangling from it. My eyes prickled with tears. "Oh, Louis," I gasped.
He grinned at my astonishment and placed the chain in my hands. "It's gorgeous!" I exclaimed loudly, running my finger over the small stone. "Is it . . ." "Real?" he finished. "Yes."
My eyes grew incredibly wide for a moment and I almost dropped the necklace. Then I punched him.
"Ow!" he cried.
"Are you completely stupid?!" I yelled, holding the chain out at arms length. "Why on earth would you buy something so beautiful for me?" My arms fell by my side.
He took the silver chain and fastened it around my neck. "Because," he said casually, pulling my hair out from under the shiny metal, "I couldn't imagine giving this to anyone else."
I couldn't help but begin to cry. His words were too much for me to bear. I just twirled the chain around my fingers and leaned my head against his chest, sobbing. He stroked my hair and rested his cheek upon my head.
It was a beautiful moment, until two dark figures emerged from the shadows.
Our arms dropped to our sides and I took a step back.
Two football players wearing blue, black, and gold walked toward us.
Black Warriors.
"Well, Potts!" the biggest of the two exclaimed. "I never knew you were the one to fall for eighth graders." They both snickered loudly as Louis gritted his teeth. I grabbed his arm with both hands, too scared to move.
"What do you want, Dylans?" he growled, placing a reassuring hand over mine. Dylans, or whatever his first name was, glanced at me. His eyes narrowed but there was something in his stiff gestures that made me cower behind Louis even further. "Well, at least she's pretty Seamus." The other jock laughed and strode toward me. Louis took me in his arms, sheltering me away from them.
"Don't you touch her."
My heart was beating so loudly I was surprised Louis couldn't hear it.
Seamus and Dylans cracked their knuckles loudly.
"Wouldn't it be terrible," Seamus smirked, "If something tragic happened to the Wild Cougar's quarterback?" Dylans laughed. "Of course!"
I screamed when they pounced on us. Louis and I fought to keep hold of each other but we were torn apart. A rough pair of hands lifted me in the air. I cried out from the pain in my shoulders.
Wham!
Over and over. Into my stomach until I could hardly stay conscious. I was dropped to the ground after many years and kicked in the side.
I couldn't feel.
I couldn't breathe.
I couldn't move. Oh God, the pain!
All went black.
Then I felt a soft shaking and something wet falling onto my eyelids. Sounds of silent sobs filled my ears. It echoed through my entire body. Whoever, whatever was holding me, I gripped them tighter, never wanting to let go.
At last my eyes opened. Teardrops ran down my cheeks, but they weren't mine.
"Grace," I heard. "I'm not afraid to cry anymore . . . Oh God! Oh, Grace . . ." A sob broke the moment.
I realized it was Louis.
It was Louis!
We must've been a sight, holding each other close, crying. Almost like two weeks earlier.
I looked deep into his eyes. Images from the past few Fridays flashed before my eyes. Laughter. Tears.
Love.
We both stood up, gripping each other's arms.
Louis was still crying. "I thought I'd lost you." I gave him a small, watery smile and placed a hand on his cheek.
His healing black eyes looked into mine and filled my heart to the brim. "I'll never leave you," I heard myself say.
"You're too dear to me."
-msof57
