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I glance at the clock high to my left.Eight-nineteen.
We have to be there by nine.
I pull on the change of clothes, some clean sneakers, and my black varsity jacket that I love, because it has orange and black stripes around the cuffs and around the trim at the waist and collar. They’re our school colors and no one else has this jacket. I scored it at a thrift shop when I was ten, and I’ve saved it all this time, waiting to fit into it.
Sticking my keys in my pocket and my phone in the back of my jeans, I brush out my hair and swipe it up into a ponytail. Wrapping my muddy gear in a towel, I stuff the bundle in my locker—which Aro won’t appreciate when she opens it for gym class in the morning, but I can’t risk my dad seeing it.
I start to head out, but instead, I veer through the coach’s office, peering out her windows and down to the stadium below.
Everyone’s still there.Good.I don’t try to find my dad in the stands, I’ll just tell him I was here the whole time. He can’t prove I wasn’t.
I push up the sleeves of my jacket and gaze down at the pep rally, confetti and the remnants of the massive broken banner that the football team crashes through when they burst onto the field scattered all over the turf. The marching band twists and turns in formation behind the cheer team flashing and shaking their pom poms high above their heads.
The football players stand on a platform, dressed in their jeans and jerseys as the head coach speaks at the podium. Kade Caruthers, as always, stands in the center of the lineup, chin raised, and I can almost see the ghost of the smile that always plays on his lips.
But…his green eyes are zoned in and sharp, which I know even if I can’t see them clearly from here, because I’ve known him my whole life. And this? Being awesome and alpha and feeding a crowd? This is his fucking job.
I assume I’ve missed most of the festivities for the night, but I’ve seen it before. Every year. Always the same Sunday in October that kicks off Rivalry Week.
Which technically laststwoweeks.
The second week is the official story. Parade, pranks, football, dance… Yay, fun. Looks great on the school’s Instagram page.
But the first week is just as exciting. Like a pre-game. Something to warm our blood, so it’s nice and hot for the showdown on the field. Parties,illegalpranks, and the prisoner exchange. One of my favorite parts.
For the next two weeks, the Shelburne Falls Pirates, the St. Matthew’s Knights, and the Weston Rebels will exchange one student. House them, feed them, take them to school…
At the end of the two weeks, we release the prisoners back to their respective student bodies, usually unharmed.
Sometimes they do a lot of damage while they’re here, though.
The guy Weston sent us last year got two girls pregnant during his two weeks here, so that was interesting.
This year promises to be no less exciting, because more than a year ago, one of our own turned on us—switched schools. He’ll be standing opposite of the team he once played for on this field very soon. Kade can’t wait to face him.
It’s all he thinks about. And talks about.
I watch as the coach invites Kade up to the podium. He gives his dynamite smile that he gets from his dad, and that makes all the girls feel like their hearts are filled with bubbles, but I can’t hear what he’s saying. By the way the crowd cheers, though, I can guess.
Kill!
Kill some more.
Kill everything and kill everyone.
Roar.
It laces all of his words and actions, because Kade’s pride is at stake. His brother is the turncoat who enrolled at St. Matthew’s, one of our rivals.
Kade has to win.
Pulling out my phone, I scroll the same text thread I’ve reread a hundred times.
I wish you would’ve stayed. Are you up?
He never responded.
Hunter.
