I threw the ball aiming at Big J's chest hoping this would be the strike to off the big guy. Big J didn't even try dodging the ball. He only gawked at it with a wicked grin on his face.
Just when I thought the ball would hit, Cedric Henshaw, rumored to be Big J's most loyal follower took the hit. I mean he practically jumped in the way.
"Out! Haha!" Coach Hughes yelled clearly enjoying the turn out of the game.
I needed a plan. I picked up two balls this time; aiming one for Big J and the other for a girl in the other team. This time, Ben Johnson took Big J's hit. As for the girl, she wasn't so lucky. She unlike everyone else was surprised by the turnout of events. The ball hit her in the face and she fell badly on her left arm. She was taken to the nurse immediately.
I threw two more balls at Big J while unbelievably dodging two balls simultaneously from Colin Guarez and Sizzly Porto.
There had to be some sort of loyalty test before one became a follower, because these guys didn't seem to hesitate before standing in for Big J.
We were down to three. I could easily picture us in a cowboy movie; wearing cowboy hats with our hands ready for our guns. Only in this case we held balls.
Michael, the last guy on the other team looked periodically between me and Big J, waiting for one of us to make a move. Coach Hughes made a grunting noise that distracted Michael.
There was my chance; for a split second I forgot about Big J to take Michael out but that was my mistake. Looking back at Big J, I saw a ball already heading for my face. There was definitely no way I could dodge it.
~It's over.~
I used my hand to try and protect my face.
~I finally lose.~
It seemed like forever but the ball still hadn't hit. Maybe Big J missed. But that was impossible. I dropped my hand and opened my eyes but what I saw surprised even me.
Big J looked like he had seen a ghost and he was staring at the floor about a foot from where I stood. I looked down searching for what could make Big J scared. There lay the ball that should have ended the game. Big J hadn't missed.
It was more like, the ball had a mind of its own and stopped midair; just before it hit me. I looked back at Big J who apparently was putting his brain under serious stress, trying to process what had happened.
That poor brain.
Anyway I did the most logical thing in that situation; I threw a ball at Big J who noticed too late and got knocked out.
I had won, but I couldn't hear any victory song. Instead…
Everyone stood still. Their faces were like masks of confusion and horror. I didn't need anyone to tell me what they were thinking. It probably went something like: "What? How? Did he just…no that's impossible…mum was right, I watch too much cartoons."
Even Coach Hughes lost his usual disgruntled nature for a second. He declared me winner and was obviously glad when the bell echoed for change of period.
I wanted to run out of gym class I even wanted to run out of school since everyone must think I'm some sort of freak now. And I would have run, but one thing stopped me. I promised my mum that I wouldn't get expelled this time.
It was a silver high policy that anyone who commits two criminal offences in one day stands a seventy five percent chance of getting expelled. I had already committed one: insulting a teacher. So if I ran away from school now, I'll definitely get expelled.
Without speaking to anyone I strode to the locker room, changed, and strode to class desperately trying to avoid everyone's eyes. Math was my next and final class; and Miss Susan the Math teacher was already in class when I arrived.
She had brown eyes that complimented her really light brown skin. She wore a sky blue dress and silver stiletto heels to compensate for her lack of height.
"Good day, Miss Susan." I greeted
"A really lovely day isn't it Dylan? How are you?....All right everyone take your seats. We have already done a bit of differential calculus. So today…"
My thoughts drifted. I just couldn't concentrate. I knew my life was a bit weird but today had to be the weirdest. First of all while I bumped into umm (oops I didn't get her name. Know what, I'll just call her cute girl). Anyway, when I bumped into cute girl earlier today and met her eyes, I suddenly felt different.
No, eww, I wasn't in love. I actually felt confused. Then almost as soon as the feeling came it disappeared. I wanted to think my mind was playing tricks but the more I thought about it, the more I… you know what never mind. You'll probably think I'm crazy.
Secondly; the whole dodge ball situation. I still couldn't explain what exactly had happened, but it was harder to convince myself I imagined it, because everyone had seen it.
There were some other times in the
past two years where it felt like time had paused or something. I had always tagged them as some sort of mind deception. But could they have been real? Had I really stopped time?
I didn't get to convince myself I was crazy because my train of thought was interrupted by a shrill voice.
"…Dylan."
"Yeah? I mean Yes Miss Susan."
"Seems you weren't listening." She said in a calmer voice. "I asked for the integral of Sinx."
I hated times like this. She had obviously noticed I wasn't paying attention and asked me the question. Expecting me to try and fail or worse, be tongue tied. Luckily for me though, that was a very easy question.
"That would be umm…minus cosx?"
"Correct." Miss Susan said and it surprised me she didn't seem disappointed in me. Infact she seemed a little proud. "After class."
I clearly understood what she meant. This wouldn't be the first time Miss Susan had called me to have a little chat about my personal life.
I admitted she was by far the nicest teacher I had known in all my life. Which was why I had the feeling she had a bigger game. No teacher should be that nice. Especially to a student she knows nothing about.
(Ring, Ring, Ring.)
"All right, class dismissed." Said Miss Susan after the bell. "You wouldn't be getting any homework today. I heard Mr. Gill's is tasking enough."
After most of the students had left, she continued. "Dylan please come over."
I lifted my school bag and walked up to Miss Susan.
"How are you feeling Dylan?"
"I'm okay. Just a little tired."
Miss Susan's expression faltered like she was going to tell me something important. But she just sighed.
"Just remember that if…"
"If I am in trouble, or if anything weird happens, I should call you." I completed.
Like I said she was too nice. She had even given me save her cellphone number in case of emergencies. Not that I plan to ever give my Math teacher a phone call, but it only strengthened my suspicions that she had a hidden agenda.
Miss Susan nodded satisfactorily. "Okay well run along now—and oh Dylan, I do hope you get a nice date to prom."
"I'll get a date miss Susan." I said. Anything to get out of there. "Thanks for everything. Bye!" I said as I slipped out the door.
I strode out the school building pondering on Miss Susan's attitude and surprisingly considering what Miss Susan had said.
~Maybe I should try out this prom thing.~
I just got out the lecture grounds when I heard my name from behind. Then I turned only to meet her. It was cute girl. But now that I looked I noticed she was even prettier under the sun.
She had really light brown skin. She wore a pair of gold-rimmed glasses that complimented her caramel-colored eyes.She ad a perfect set of white teeth and dimples, although she seemed like she hardly ever smiled.
"Hi." She said handing a blue textbook over to Dylan. "I found it amongst my books. You're Dylan right?"
"Hey—thanks—yeah I am." I said trying to remember where I had dropped the book.
"You're welcome." She said as she turned around to leave. Then I had a crazy idea.
"Wait." I said before I could stop myself. "I was on my way home and umm…I was wondering if we could…walk together?"
She smiled "Give me a minute let me get my bag."
She walked into the school and reappeared five minutes later with a grey bag over her right shoulder.
"Alright, I've got my bag, let's go."