Page 44 of Jockstraps & Newspapers
"Of course, what are sisters for?"Katterina beamed at her sister, offering her open arms for a hug.
Cass gladly took it, engulfing her younger sibling in a hug.
"Oh, I'll give him something, a piece of my mind!"Andromeda sneered, snatching up a handful of popcorn and shoveling it into her mouth.Cass was struck by how informal her sister was now, hair down, clothes only a smidgen wrinkled, and clearly eating wildly.It made Haylee grin from pointy ear to ear, offering the eldest sister more.
"You can't, the truce between McMatterson and Cassiopeia is tentative at best.We'd be lucky if skippy doesn't run to daddy tonight and whine that he was tossed five feet into some bushes for slapping a girl's ass.We all know how seriously McMatterson takes those allegations."Lyra shook her head, pacing the tunnel with her arms crossed under her chest."Cass needs to be prepared for McMatterson to come for her head.Likely slimeball's already told daddy moneybags all about it."
"I don't know how he found out," Cass breathed, taking the offered soda from Katterina and taking a steady sip.Then, it slowly dawned on her.Like a wash of cold shivers rolling down her back, she looked up at Lyra."The day in the locker room."
"What?"Lyra was immediately in lawyer mode, brutishly bulldozing her way across the hall to Cass."What happened?"
"Elliot and I…well we were in the shower together when Stevie burst in.I kept low and Elliot went out to face him.I was drying off and trying to get dressed but…my shoes, my fucking flats must have been visible.I mean, it's not like Elliot and I were hiding it.The whole team knows we're together, I'm over at his house every other night, we come in together…but…he thinks I'm doing this to build my career."
Lyra grabbed her by the shoulders."That doesn't give him the right, nor the go ahead, to sexually assault you.It's not even against the rules—nay, it's not even frowned upon for journalists to write about the people they're dating.No, I won't allow it.There is no fury like a Darling scorned.I'm going to take care of this."She kissed Cass on the cheek before pulling away.
Cass lurched after her, left in a swirling bafflement of what just happened.She came to a screeching halt only a few steps closer to her sister when Tens came bulldozing into the hallways leading away from concessions."There you are!Come, you don't wanna miss this, they're about to summon the teams."
She didn't have time to talk with Lyra or even ask her what she meant by take care of it.Lyra's definition of 'taking care of this' and Cassiopeia's were vastly different.While Cass agreed that Slimy Stevie needed to pay, she wasn't sure what Lyra was going to do.She was known for raining literal hellfire down on businesses.Yet, she didn't have a moment to think about it as she was tugged up through the arena and down onto the track surrounding the pitch.Tens hoisted her up and off the track, onto a tin bench as massive portals opened up.Tens, passing out field side passes to her sisters, and Lee, setting up the water station, didn't see the portal open.They'd seen it a million times.However, Cass suddenly understood why so many people thought the opening was magical.As she raised her camera to the massive, blue seam of magic that was unzipped across the air, a portal appeared.Ripping open the air, a ring of swirling, hissing magic showed deep inside the locker room.Coach Renner and Elliot came charging out first, followed swiftly by Toad and the rest of the team.The arena erupted in cheers.Music from the bands started blaring, floating wisps of glittering gold filled the air, and the team trotted out like prancing ponies with fresh ribbons.They were wrapped in purple fabric with gold accents and flowing capes.As they came out of the portal, for a moment, their uniforms flashed an illusion of heavy armor before returning to the mesh fabric.Their cleats beat the turf and sent the crowds wild.
And Cassiopeia captured all of it.Her heart slammed against the cage of her ribs seeing Elliot wave to the crowd.Shimmering horns, massive golden bullring, hooves, everything; he was spectacular.When his gaze fell to her, her stomach clenched up.
I love how pretty he is.
Cassiopeia's mouth ran dry as she snapped another picture of him.
I love his goofy smile.
He struck a pose just for her before striking it to the arena.
I love the way he is so flawlessly himself.
Elliot Bonesaw bellowed, "Who's city is this?"
A sea of people screamed back, "King's Fall!"
"And who protects King's Fall?"His voice boomed, as if transported by magic, an entire arena heard his call.
"King's Fall Knights!"It was so loud, she couldn't hear the rapid thump of her heart against her throat.
I love him…damn it…I love him so much.
Cassiopeia didn't want to handle the feeling.Using the lens to cover up her teary eyes as Elliot flounced across the field to shake the hand of the other captain.She was in love with him.Not that there was anything wrong with that.But she couldn't help…Cass glanced down to Lyra stood at the side of the bench, watching the field with a wicked curl on her lips.
No…you're not allowed…not this one…I love him too much.
And that horrible, disgusting, gnawing insecurity was back with a vengeance.
"The score is eight to eight, we're in a deadlocked tie with ten minutes left on the clock!Can our Knight's protect King's Falls honor, or will the titillating Titans from Tritus take the first win of the season?"
Cass was piggybacked on Tens' back, snapping pictures before screaming her support to the team.Tens was pacing the track, keeping her trained gaze for any weakness on the team.Lee and Renner were practically sprinting back and forth as the teams broke from their huddles and headed to the center of the fields.The time on the clock started again and it was do or die.Elliot met the other team’s captain at the center as the rest of the team set up a formation.Cass stopped screaming as a water bottle was passed up to her from Tens.Knowing better, she immediately took it, tossed back a heavy gulp, and handed it back without complaint.Tens put her drink down then lined them up for the final play.
Elliot surged forward and was caught in a deadlock with the other captain.Toad bulldozed around them, taking the other team by surprise, plowing through the sea of bodies.Their ball, a very fast dwarf in all seafoam green, bound out of the way.A flush out.With the dwarf exposed, Elliot tossed the other captain aside, clearly playing the distraction.Him and Toad blocked any of the other team’s defense from getting to their dwarf as a one of the Knights, the Fowlst, caught the dwarf in their talons.The arena roared, people standing and stomping their feet.As if the world slowed down into a stop motion picture, Cass caught the final moments of the game in flashes.The scoreboard and clock caught with every snap of the camera.One moment, they had three minutes and thirty seconds, the dwarf ball fighting for his life in the talons of a Fowlst.The next, three minutes and ten seconds, a member of the Titans bound into the air to deflect the ball.Two minutes.Elliot was tossed into the air by Toad.Mouth open, tongue stuck out to the side, goofiest look on his face, Elliot pounced on the enemy defender and dragged him to the turf.One minute.The Knights weren't putting it up to chance, they were going all the way to the post.No toss, no chance, just a solid score.The air was electric as the clock struck down to thirty seconds and the dwarf went through the hoop.Bouncing in the magic, invisible safety net along the other side, the Fowlst player dropping from the sky with exhaustion into the loving arms of Toad and Elliot.
Like an explosion, the entire field and arena broke into utter chaos.Streamers, glitter, horns, muffled sounds of the announcer, all of it swirled around Cass as Tens charged the field.The Knights huddled together, hugging and punching each other affectionately.Lee, Renner, Tens, and all the Darling sisters were on the field in a moment and screaming with the team.Elliot and Toad hoisted up their teammate, wings out and sweat pouring down his face.His uniform flashed into heavy armor as Cass captured him in his victory.
Elliot peeked away from the Fowlst propped on his shoulder to Cass.She beamed from ear to ear, reaching a hand into the thrumming bodies.He took her hand and squeezed it.Returning the butterflies to her stomach.He mouthed something to her, but she couldn't catch it with all the sweat and happy tears blurring her vision.She leaned forward but Tens surged backward, taking her from the Minotaur.
"Line up!"Renner bellowed and the team broke apart, meeting the other team on the field to shake hands.Cass took photos of Elliot giving the other team captain a high five into a strong hug.The two grinning and panting for air while they spoke to each other.Sportsmanship, they're proud of each other.She could see it in the sparkle of the other captain's eyes and the way Elliot spoke excitedly with his hands.They hugged again before moving on to the other person.The dwarf came up to the Fowlst and they got into a playful punching tussle before fist bumping it out.
