《E.C.H.O.》Stage 7 "Football"
Advertisement
Lucas placed the football on the ground. I guess there's nothing to it, he thought. He looked up at the goal where Jordan was watching him. For some reason a moment from one of his missions flashed through his mind. It had been in Cameroon when he had to snipe a rebel without hitting the hostage that was being held. I managed that. Compared to that, this should be a piece of cake.
Slowly, Lucas moved a few steps back. He looked back up at the goal as he remembered how he got ready in Cameroon to shoot. Calm your breathing, focus on the target, he told himself as he closed his eyes.
The eyes that were on him, the nervousness and everything else left as he concentrated on his breathing. His eyes shot open as he ran a few steps forward. His right leg swung back before he shot it forward at full swing, aiming straight for the ball while looking at his target; the goal.
He was careful to hit the ball as he has seen the others do before; with the side of his foot rather than with his toes. Upon impact the ball flew forward. Everyone, including Lucas himself, watched with anticipation.
The ball headed right towards the goal and Lucas held his breath. Jordan was moving, in the direction the ball was going. And then the ball curved widely and flew narrowly by the goal, right towards a group of students who were walking by.
Lucas watched in wonder as the ball smacked right into the back of one of the student's heads. There was a moment of silence. Lucas slowly turned towards the coach to see that he was scratching his head, as though trying to figure out what had happened.
Nathan and some of the other guys looked like they were trying to hold in laughter. Jordan just shook his head while the group of guys, of whom one had been hit, were laughing at their unfortunate friend who was rubbing his head.
"Your kick's a bit off," coach Duke commented.
Lucas rubbed the back of his neck while looking sheepish. "I guess I didn't really practice as much as I should have after the accident," he commented.
Coach Duke nodded, seeming to accept this. He turned to the other players. "Alright, make a line and start shooting. If Jordan saves it you run a lap. If you miss completely, you run two."
The boys did as they were told, lining up while one of the team members retrieved the ball from the group of guys Lucas had kicked it towards.
A hand landed on Lucas's shoulder. "Nice one," Rick told him.
"Right to the back of the head," another team member added with a chuckle.
"Johnson!"
Lucas turned to the coach.
"What are you doing?"
Lucas paused, not sure what was being asked.
"You missed, didn't you?" Coach Duke told him. "That's two laps."
Advertisement
"No mercy," Nathan murmured. He grinned at Lucas. "Good luck," he said before running forward.
Lucas watched him blast the ball into the goal, easily getting it past Jordan.
I guess I need to practice some, he thought as he turned and began to jog around the field.
The rest of the training consisted of shooting at the goal before the coach decided that he didn't want a scrimmage after all. Instead he had the team work on ball skills, dribbling in and out of cones. Some way or another Lucas managed to not stand out too much. If coach Duke noticed anything, such as his lacking in skill, he made no comment.
"Right. Hit the showers before class." It was the end call of practice. "And please, take a shower this time."
There were a few snickers.
"Not everyone enjoys the stench of practice," coach Duke added.
The boys left the field.
"Looks like you're out of practice," Nathan commented as he jogged up beside Lucas.
"Really?" Lucas replied casually. Before him some of the others guys were jostling each other.
"You...after the accident, you didn't practice at all, did you?" Nathan asked hesitantly.
Lucas shot him a glance out of the corner of his eyes. "No."
"I'm guessing it must have been hard to..." Nathan trailed off. "I'm just warning you for your own good. Coach Duke may be forgiving at the start, but if you don't get some serious practice in there's no way he'll let you play first string."
Lucas didn't reply. I'm not planning to be here long enough for that to be an issue.
"I can help you practice to get back in form," Nathan added.
To his own surprise Lucas felt gratitude fill him. "I could use the help," he said.
Nathan grinned as he and Lucas followed the other guys into the gym. Realizing they were headed towards the showers, Lucas paused. If he remembered correctly, the showers were community showers. Options flashed through his mind as his eyes darted around the team members.
Anyone of them could be an operative, he noted. An image of his scars rushed through his mind. There's no way they would fall for them all being from the accident. He didn't stop walking or let his body language change. This was so that if there was an operative around him they wouldn't be able to notice his sudden hesitation and so begin to question him.
He ended up following Nathan into the locker room. Some of the football guys had already pulled their shirts off and were getting ready.
"Heath, you got something there," one guy told another as he pointed to his chest.
"Where?" the guy replied as he looked down. He let out a yelp as the first guy gave him a towel whip.
The others around him laughed.
Advertisement
"Jordan, use soap this time, will you?" another guy yelled.
"I will, when you use water," Jordan replied.
The door burst open and all heads turned. Guys dressed in swimming gear stood there. There was a moment of silence.
"Why are you here?" Rick asked.
"To take a shower," came the calm reply as the guys began to file in.
Lucas watched, noting at once the tension that filled the room. He remembered all Auden had told him about the swim team when he had been given the tour.
"You don't usually have practice at this time," Jordan noted.
"We did today," came the reply as the room got fuller and fuller with guys.
"There's not enough showers for everyone," one of the football guys mentioned.
There was a moment of absolute silence.
"First come first serve!" someone yelled.
There was a sudden stampede as guys sprinted for the showers, clothes still on.
"Come on!" Nathan tried to get Lucas to come.
Lucas shook his head. "It's fine. I'll grab a shower in the dorm." He didn't show how relieved he was at being able to use the excuse.
"You'll be late for class," Nathan warned before he disappeared toward the showers.
Lucas turned away to see a guy in swim gear had sat down on one of the benches. His grey eyes were filled with boredom.
Looks like he isn't in for a fight for the showers either, Lucas noticed before he turned and headed from the room. He hurried to the dorms. Upon reaching his room he found Brian had already left.
Shooting a glance at the clock Lucas saw he only had ten minutes left. He jumped into the shower and was done in record time. Pulling on his uniform he slipped on his shoes before grabbing his backpack and sprinting for the door.
He tied his tie on the way. The bell rang just as he burst into his classroom to find the other guys were sitting down. Raymond looked up and shot Lucas a grin.
"Just made it, huh?" he asked.
Lucas nodded as he sat down.
"Man, it's completely fried!" a guy was complaining.
Lucas glanced up to see the guy holding an object. Surprise filled him as he realized it was a cellphone.
"Dude, you know the rules," another guy whispered, making the first slip the cellphone out of sight.
"I know, but still. How's this possible? It's like it just died!"
"I heard the football guys and the swim team got in a bit of a scuffle over the showers," Raymond turned Lucas' attention away.
"Dunno, I left to take one in the dorm," Lucas replied.
"Good morning class," a feminine voice spoke.
At once silence filled the classroom and all attention turned to the front.
Lucas looked up to see a woman, who could be no older than in her late twenties, had entered. Her brown hair hung down in waves and her blue eyes sparkled. All eyes were on her, and a few boys seemed to even lean forward eagerly. It looked like anyone of the opposite gender received the boy's full attention in the school.
Lucas leaned back. He learned the teacher's name was Miss Samdorth, though apparently she preferred the students call her just Miss Sam. As she taught geography, Lucas watched her.
She definitely doesn't look like a threat, Lucas noted as he watched her daintily writing on the board. Long nails, manicure, and her hair most likely styled by a hairdresser. Her hands look smooth. She's most likely nothing to worry about. But, then again, he felt a wry smile come to his lips as he remembered his mistake for thinking the same of someone before, It's her type that sometimes turn out to be a bigger threat than expected.
The morning periods went by in a blur. The break before the last period before lunch, Nathan suddenly popped his head in.
"What are you doing here?" Frank asked.
Nathan ignored him as he walked up to Lucas. "What's up?" he asked.
Lucas raised his eyebrows.
"Hey, I asked you a questi..."
"Come on Frank, I'm just visiting," Nathan told him as he turned to him.
They know each other, Lucas tucked away that piece of information at once.
"You missed quite the event," Nathan added as he turned to face Lucas once more.
Raymond leaned in.
"Thing's got crazy over the shower thing," Nathan added. He sat down on the front of Lucas' desk. Lucas made no comment.
"I heard you guys got in a fight with the swim team," Raymond spoke up. All around them ears seemed to perk.
"Yeah," Nathan muttered. "It almost ended in a fist fight. Coach was furious. Those jerks need to be taken down a peg." Seeming to realize that everyone was listening in he shut his mouth. He turned to Lucas. "I'm headed to town after classes are over. Got to grab some stuff."
"You can't just go out," Frank commented.
"Got permission," Nathan replied without looking at him. "Since you only just came you haven't been yet. Want to check it out?"
Lucas raised his eyebrows as he considered the offer.
Options
A) Lucas should stay at school and after class check to see if the bugs he placed picked up anything. Maybe he can also look around some more and see if he can figure out which buildings he can rule out of checking.
B) Go with Nathan, it would be a good idea to check out the town to get to know the area outside of school a bit.
C) Stay behind and spend the time after school practicing football.
Advertisement
Stray Cat Strut — A Young Lady's Journey to Becoming a Pop-Up Samurai
In the year 2057, the world has become a corporate-run utopia for the super-rich, and a hellhole for all the rest. Catherine 'Cat' Leblanc is an orphan that is about as far from super-rich as one can be. When the Incursion alarms start blaring and the sky starts raining hungry xenos, it's just another blemish on an already piss-poor afternoon. A cyberpunk magical-girl alien-invasion LitRPG. It’s exactly as wild as it sounds.
8 580World Shatter
Henry Miller always dreamt of being teleported to a fantasy world but he never expected that a fantasy world would be brought to him. On that day, the earth cracked open letting loose monsters and magical beasts onto the surface. A stroke of misfortune causes Henry to be incapable of leveling, and in turn, he is forced to become stronger through the power of exercise mixed with a fiery resolve and unparalleled regenerative powers. This isn't a story of candy and roses, but one of pain, struggling, and a strong reliance on community to work together in order to survive. Out of the ruins of shattered earth, many will rise to the top and many will fall at the feet of others, but there are very few truly strong enough to protect others, and of those few even less will willingly choose to do so. Therefore it is Henry's duty to carry that torch and be someone who can bear that responsibility. Through light and darkness, Henry will remain as the pin that holds together the World Shatter.
8 131The Cutest Demon Lord
One day out of nowhere, Kaede is summoned to another world. One eerily similar to New World Online with one key difference. As she treads the same path she once took, Kaede quickly figures out the differences between seasoned gamers and feudal citizens. This is a Fanfiction of Bofuri. I do not own Bofuri, it is owned by Yuumikan. Please support the original.
8 135Feed the EGO
In a world where everyone lives an everyday life, some have mastered the art of spirit manifestation. Separated from society is a school where kids with the talent to manifest these superpowers go. But the school holds secrets many seek. After the arrival of some new kids, the atmosphere becomes more chaotic. Mirik is a student of this abnormal school who finds out that his uncle died at the hands of an organization. This sets him on a revenge spree. But his path is a one full of thorns and difficulties. ..................................................................................
8 193After the End: Serenity
We all want to believe we are heroes of our own story - unless we want to be the villain, of course. At the end of everything, the Final Reaper decided he hadn’t been a hero. Driven by a desire to right the wrongs he was subjected to, he killed everyone who wronged him or his people - which turned out to be everyone that wasn’t killed by someone else first. He'd won - but it was a hollow victory. Eventually, Order’s Voice found a way out. If the only existing being would agree to give up most of his power, the Voice could reset the multiverse to an earlier time with a few minor changes. Of course, the Voice couldn't ask it that way. It could only ask if the Final Reaper was willing to start over from when Earth was first brought into Order. It was an easy decision, and yet it wasn’t. Was he willing to go through eons of pain again to not be alone? Yes. In a heartbeat. Not that his heart beat anymore. Now it would. Perhaps he could even be a hero, this time. When he landed in his old body - more or less - on Earth, the Final Reaper once again became Thomas. He was both and neither. He needed a new name for a new life. Serenity. ------------------------------------------ While this is technically a System Apocalypse story, it's a System Apocalypse that is designed to have a large percentage of the population survive and prosper. There are a lot of problems that come with the appearance of the Voice, and it's entirely possible to lose. Earth has some special opportunities, but also special challenges. The first time around, Earth won the first round and lost the second. Serenity has ten years from when the Voice arrives to prevent that from happening. It will be a group effort; Serenity can't win alone - which is difficult for someone who's been alone for as long as he has. Of course, that's only his second priority. ------------------------------------------- Updates Daily A note on the nonhuman lead tag: He isn't human, and hasn't been human for a very, very long time (or maybe not long at all, depending on how you count it). He still thinks of himself as human, either way. The content warnings are mostly to give me room to write; this fiction is not intended to be edgy, but once in a while a character will swear or someone will get seriously injured. The cover image is a Chandra/Hubble composite image of VV 340 / Arp 302 / UGC 9618. While we're not going to space itself any time soon in the story, people from elsewhere are coming to Earth and Serenity will visit other planets. Plus, I like space imagery. [participant in the Royal Road Writathon challenge]
8 505THE LOST PRINCE |MXTX CROSSOVER|
COMPLETEDLong ago,a Princess fell in love with an immortal Heavenly Martial God,they got married and blessed with a son named Xie LianXie Lian is a gifted child blessed with such strong power,a child that remains half mortal half immortal but year by year,he becomes immortal by strengthening his abilities,he can have a child on his own even if he is a manXie Lian met Hua Cheng,the Ghost King who wanted to take lver the whole mortal world but his plans failed as he fell in love with the Crown Prince of Xianle,every royalties were against of their relationship but the two still married each other with Xie Lian's both his parent's blessingsXie Lian and Hua Cheng were gifted with a child,the Young Prince was named Hua Ying courtesy name Hua Wuxian,the child has both of his father's look he was a child with a handsomely beautiful face After five years Hua Ying turned 5 years old and the Heavenly Emperor came to know about the child as the father of Hua Ying was a Ghost King while the mother was the Crown Prince of the immortal Heavenly Martial God,he knew the child would be the one who could end his schemes and reveal his real identity as it was predicted that the child would be powerful among them allHe wanted to slaughter the Hua Family but Hua Cheng protected them with all cost,Xie Lian and Hua Cheng were unarmed by Bai Wuxiang as he wanted to take away Hua Ying but Hua Cheng teleported his son away from Bai Wuxiang and didn't know where he teleported his child as Bai Wuxiang had held them and ready to kill them but gladly some Heavenly officials came to help to capture Bai WuxiangMonths has passed but they haven't found their 5 years old child while in another realm the 5 years old child was found crying in someone's backyard,Hua Ying was in the Human World where advance technologies are already inventedThe Luo Family found him and decided to keep the child as they don't know how did the child went in their backyard"Shizun, let's keep him,shall we?"
8 180