16 | Straight For the Kill

Seaside, California October 14, 2012

Celesta

LIFE seemed to return to normal. Well as normal as we could get. It had been just a little over a month since the fight with Seana. It seemed like she vanished altogether, though I knew she was here. I caught glimpses of her with Isabel. However, it seemed like Maggie became the forgotten third wheel, I barely saw her with Isabel anymore. Like I cared, they were both self-absorbed airheads.

I did care, however, that Seana compelled them. Those two were the queens of the school and to follow some new girl around within the first week of school mindlessly was not normal.

Lily, Scott, Zach, and I were sitting outside on the patio. It was our lunch hour, a time when I was able to divulge myself on our school's mashed potatoes. I didn't care that everyone else said they tasted like cardboard. Mrs. Kirby, the lunch lady who looked 1000 years old, made them.

Lily was to my right, talking to Scott about their project for their economics class. The two of them did seem to get along easily. I did notice, however, that he kept a slight distance from her whenever they were sitting close together. He didn't avoid her like the plague, he acted reserved. He acted that way around everyone.

I was also glad Lily's mother was giving her lessons on how to use her magic. Despite her appearance of control, I knew her magic was still a ticking time bomb. It was deeply linked to her emotions, so I hope her mother was focusing on that. My father was teaching me stricter disciplines lately as well, though it was no trouble to learn.

I've been learning about it since I was a child.

As I was happily stabbing my mashed potatoes, I heard Lily whisper into my ear. "So when are you and Zach going on a date?"

I almost choked on my food. I haven't told anyone!

"What?" I asked, clearing my throat.

Zach glanced at me bug-eyed.

"Oh, come on! All week you two have been acting weird! You two make it so obvious. Both of you just sit there and stare at each other during gym class!" Lily exclaimed.

Everyone except me and Zach laughed.

They all thought we were dating. Of course, we texted one another constantly, but we haven't actually started to officially date.

"No, we don't," I muttered. "Besides we get to play volleyball today. Ready to lose again to the Queen Bees?"

"Isabel and Maggie will not win this time, I know it!" Lily replied happily. "Don't change the subject, I know you two are secretly dating. Just admit it already!"

"I was planning on asking Cel out on a date tomorrow night," Zach admitted.

"What?!" Lily and I shouted simultaneously, though she sounded more excited than anything.

I knew Zach wanted to go on a date with me, I wanted the same thing. That night when I was leaving Zach's house after our fight with Seana, we talked. But I told him that we should probably wait for a bit, just until things with Seana simmered.

They have for now anyway.

"I'd like that very much," I murmured to Zach.

His whole face became elated.

"Hey, guys!" I heard Amberly say, she and Elle strode over to the table. "Lily, why do you look like you are about to piss yourself?"

"Because! I am so happy Cel has a date!" Lily beamed.

I'm glad she was back to her happy, jittery, and slightly annoying self.

"A date?" Elle smirked. "It's about time you found someone Cel."

"Says the girl who's never had a boyfriend," I remarked.

"I rather focus on graduating than wasting my time on boys," Elle grinned.

Amberly sighed then turned to us, "There are cheerleader tryouts after school today, you guys want to go?"

"HA! And fall flat on our asses again?" Lily snickered. "I'll pass, only you can do that stuff."

"Hey! It is not my fault none of you are flexible!" Amberly giggled.

She was right, Amberly had been on the cheerleading squad since freshman year, along with Maggie and Isabel, who was the captain of the squad. The bitch squad I mean; not including Amberly of course. Though she sometimes could be a bitch. I am going to destroy them today in volleyball...

"Cel?" Zach asked, I turned my head towards him, "Are you okay? You are staring off into space."

"I'm fine!" I chuckled, "I'm just forming a plan to eradicate the bitch squad in our lovely volleyball game!"

"You have fun with that," said Elle. "Anyway, Lily are you coming with us to the gym? The decorating committee is having a meeting on the theme we want to do."

Ah yes, my cousin was the head of the decorating committee for this year's homecoming. I'd almost forgotten about that damn dance.

Lily quickly stood up. "Yes, and we are not doing any decade themes. The 70's theme last year was horrible."

I saw Scott grin at that.

After the three of them left, Zach and Scott talked while I inhaled the rest of the mashed potatoes Lily and Zach gave to me.

I loved this shit.

Soon lunch came to a close without anyone dying, so I could say this day hasn't been bad so far.

Tossing my tray into the garbage, I turned to see Eddie walking towards our table with Brandon on his heels. I knew those two idiots were going to try and recruit Zach onto the team. He looked every bit the part of someone who could excel in sports.

I quickly made my way back to the table, only to hear Zach say, "Sure, I'll try out but don't I need cleats or something?"

"Nah man, Coach Jennings has a whole bunch of used stuff you can use for tryouts," Brandon replied.

"Yeah, we are in desperate need of receivers this season, they all graduated last year," Eddie sighed. "Derek Newman was a beast, man. That guy could run."

"I'll be there after school then," Zach beamed.

Meanwhile, I had a fake smile plastered on my face. For all the new football players that would join the team, Isabel would always try and throw herself at them, especially if they were upperclassmen. It happened to Lily when she was with Brandon, and they broke up because of her.

Eddie and Brandon turned their attention to Scott, who was glaring at Zach. I suppose I wasn't the only one against Zach trying out. But hey, if he wanted to be on the team, then that was his choice. I just might have to murder an evil redhead though.

"Hey, Scott right?" Brandon began, "Do you want to try out after school too?"

"I think I'll have to pass," Scott replied, looking directly at Brandon. "Football isn't my thing."

"You aren't into anything Scott," Zach remarked, then snapped his attention to Eddie. "I'll be there."

THE day flew by fast, and throughout it, Zach had been nervous about trying out. We all planned to go after school and watch him try out for the team. I knew he was going to make it because why would Eddie and Brandon even bother to come over and speak to us? Sure, Eddie was a friend of ours, but he normally just hung with the jocks. However, he was a nerd to the extreme, his entire schedule was nothing but AP or honors classes.

Gym class had just started, and thankfully the four of us were on the same team. I was positioned towards the back with Scott. Zach and Lily were closest to the net, the height difference between them was hilarious, he almost was a foot taller than her.

Isabel and Maggie were in the back behind the net, and the four other members of their team were spread around behind them.

The other two members of our team weren't helping much. Garret was the geekiest kid in our grade, he still looked like a 9th grader. Amanda was too busy on her phone to even pay attention to anything. She might pay attention if Isabel serves the ball right into her face.

Coach Jennings strode up towards the net and blew his whistle. "Okay everyone, you know the drill," he eyed Maggie and Isabel, turning back to us he shouted, "Moone, it's your serve!

I caught the volleyball as he tossed it to me.

"Here goes nothing," I muttered.

I threw the ball up in the air, then smacked it as hard as I could, sending it flying over the net. However, the other team was quick to send it back flying our way. Zach moved to hit it back over. It went back and forth like that till Lily hit the ball towards Isabel, who for the first time in history, missed.

After I served again, Maggie and Isabel upped their game and targeted the side where Garret, Lily, and Amanda were on more than anything. Even when we switched positions. Scott had barely done anything, though when the volleyball was just about to smack into Amanda's face, he blocked it and sent it flying over the net scoring us a point.

"Everyone!" Coach Jennings shouted, "Take a timeout break, I gotta go uh, somewhere."

Yeah probably to go drink some of that whiskey he hides in his office. After the coach walked out, all of us gathered together in a huddle.

"Guys, we need to win this!" Lily exclaimed, "For once!"

"Who cares, it's just a game," Amanda muttered, took out her phone, and turned away from our huddle.

"Look, they are only beating us by one fucking point, we need to destroy them," I spat, "Scott, you need to hit the ball more! Zach just keep doing what you're doing! Garret, stop being scared of your damn shadow, if the ball is coming towards you, hit it!"

"Alright..." Garret mumbled.

"Look, Scott and I will take the two back-end positions," said Zach.

"Cel and I will take the front ends, Garret and Amanda can be in the middle; we can cover for them," Lily asserted.

We broke our huddle.

The coach walked back into the gym finally. We all got into our positions.

I looked directly at Isabel through the net. She gave me a smirk. I smirked right back.

"Celly, you ready for this?" Lily shouted.

I could feel my skin heating up, "You know I hate that nickname!" I hissed. People haven't called me that since I was a damn five-year-old.

"Okay everyone, this is the last set," Coach Jennings shouted, "Make it count!"

He threw the ball to Isabel, and that ball was targeted right at Amanda, who for once put her phone away during the game. Scott dove for it and hit the ball so hard that no one even had the chance to save it from hitting the floor.

Now we were tied.

Zach never missed a pass or a hit; I could see the frustration on Isabel's face. I couldn't help but be smug.

"Yes!" Lily cheered.

Zach and I laughed. Even Scott had a smile on his face.

In the end, I was the one to make the last hit over the net, it bounced onto the ground on the far edge of their side of the court. Something I had never done before, I guess the magic flowing through my veins made me feel stronger, more powerful.

Then I realized, I may have used maybe just a little magic to make it go that far. Before I knew it, I had Lily wrapping her arms around me as she jumped up and down in excitement.

"We won! We finally did it, guys!" Lily squealed, everyone else really didn't give a shit. I did though.

"Finally," I sighed.

Coach Jennings blew the whistle, ending the class.

"We'll meet you guys at the field," said Zach as he and Scott walked toward the boy's locker room.

"We'll be there!" replied Lily, she was still giddy from winning. We went to the locker room and changed back into our normal clothing. I saw Maggie and Isabel at the other end of the locker room, Isabel looked all pissed off. It was only Isabel who was the real bitch, Maggie was just one of her lackeys.

"Hey, I have to run to my locker right quick, I'll meet you at the field okay?" Lily muttered, closing her gym locker in a haste. "I forgot my economics book; I need it tonight for my project."

"Okay Lil," I grinned.

She frowned at me. Only Brandon ever called her that, so she hated it with a passion. She flipped me off as she left.

I finished changing and put my uniform and sneakers into the locker. After latching the lock onto it, I made my way towards the door.

"Next time I see you Celesta, you won't be so lucky then," Isabel quipped as I walked by them. Seriously, what was with her?

"Isabel, what is your fucking problem?" I remarked, "Honestly, ever since middle school you've become such a bitch."

"Says the perky bitch," Maggie shot back in response.

I glared at her with malice. She looked away quickly. She was all bark with no bite.

"You know what, forget it," I spat.

Isabel was about to say something back but I was already rushing out the door.