Echo
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A few weeks since the greenhouse incident, His Majesty is being distant from me. Well, I guess he was just busy because of the upcoming first game. The football team is giving it their all to crush the other school that they were competing against. According to Cadaver, their first game is like a tradition to go all out even if they can get a sure win without practicing.

I have never gotten football in my entire life. Are these men just tackling each other and running after a ball? Not my cup of tea. I had enough boys roughhousing back then. Charles and the other agents would spend the whole day in our loft to watch the Super Bowl. I am surrounded by fistfights my entire adult life.

"You should try out sometime, Echo." I think I was lost in thought. A couple of girls was in front of me with their pom-poms. I stared at them with confusion. Are they talking to me? Me? in cheerleading? Please.....

"Echo?" The head cheerleader called my name. They were waiting for an answer.

"Why me?" Do I pass their vibe check?

"Have you seen yourself? You are a grade-A babe. You look like a cheerleader." the girl beside the cheer captain spoke. Should I be offended? I DO NOT look like a cheerleader. I remember the cheerleaders who used to bully students back when I was in high school. They don't look like bullies to me but I wouldn't take the chance.

"Thank you for the offer but no thanks. I can't even do stunts" I lied. I can do stunts because of my agent training and I shouldn't be distracted by school activities. I have a job to do.

"Are you sure? It's really a good offer." the cheer captain said. I gave them an apologetic smile so they walked away. I bid them farewell.

"Are you nuts?!" I received a heavy slap on my back. I groaned in pain. The hell?! How could this person have such a heavy hand? I turn to see who it was and it was Khalili. She was carrying her books and behind her is Cadaver with her bag. I sense something with these two but I will keep quiet.

"Did you just turn down an offer from THE cheer captain?" She sat beside me and put her books between us. They were just here a second ago?

"Kim is the most powerful girl in this school. She is not only the cheer captain but the vice president of the school committee. She knows everything about anyone by just calling her dad. I heard her dad was the richest politician but then somehow he stepped down from the Office and became the leader of a powerful cartel." Cadaver shared. Being close with Kim would help to get information about the underworld.

Imagine me in a cheerleading uniform. It defeats the purpose of laying low.

"I won't wave pom-poms. That is final."

"Come on! You can tell us all the things they say and-"

"Let me cut you off Khalili before this situation turns into Mean Girls. No, I will not participate in cheerleading. Please change the topic." I pleaded. All these cheer talks will make my head hurt.

"Take pity in Khalili. She didn't get into the squad last year." Cadaver teased. She didn't make it? I wonder why.

"Shut up, Dev! Change of subject. Why are you here? Aren't you suppose to be on the field? Where Griff suppose to be?" Khalili asked. I didn't want to admit it but I got lost and the map was no help. Everything was in Danish so I couldn't understand. I was wandering around the campus when I finally asked a fellow where the football team practices. He told me it was here. Cadaver and Khalili shouldn't know about what happened because they would make fun of me.

"Really? I don't know his schedule yet." was the excuse that I made. I do have his schedule because that was the first thing I acquired when I planned this mission.

"Give me a paper." Khalili demanded. I pulled one page from my notebook and gave it to her. She wrote something on the paper for some time. Cadaver and I exchanged confused looks while she was writing. When she was done, she handed me back the paper.

I stared at the paper with complete awe. It was His Majesty's schedule. A very detailed one. It was much more detailed than what my intel gave. She even wrote about his shower time after practice. I saw some of the suggestions where he would be after every class. Cadaver gave her a weird look.

"Stalker alert!" Cadaver pointed to the now smiling creepily Khalili. She really really really knows him.

"Whatever. It is just based on observation." She shrugged and looked through her phone. She handed me her phone and I saw the contacts were open.

"Give me your number so I can contact you if I see something suspicious." As soon as she said that the bell rang which means the next period will begin. She picked up her books and stood up. Cadaver gave her bag and moved next to me. We bid farewell as she walked away.

"She had the biggest crush on Griff since we were kids. She would follow him everywhere when we were in elementary. They briefly dated in High School but Griff really looked at her as his friend." Cadaver reminisced their past. I didn't know they all grew together. I figured they were just friends in High School. I looked at him with stern eyes.

"And you?" stunned by my question, he looked at me giving me the what-are-you-talking-about look.

"Do you have a crush on Khalili?" His face looked like he was offended by my question. He began laughing out loud. I saw people looking at us and then whispering. I kept telling him to stop laughing so loud but he couldn't stop. He wiped a tear away before he stopped and looked at me. He stopped for a couple of seconds and then starts laughing again.

I feel so embarrassed because of him. I swatted his arm so he would stop.

"I am more fixated on Griff's fashion choices than Griff himself." he said. I knew what he was trying to imply but I want him to say something more clearly than to assume all the way so I gave him the more-details-please look.

"I'm gay if that is what you what to hear." There he said it. My face formed a big O as a reaction. He laughed again. I looked at his face and Charles' face came into mind. I think they look good together if they meet. Maybe I can set this up in another lifetime.

Cadaver and I decided to go to the school's field to enjoy the sun and also to watch His Majesty's football practice.

When we arrived there, we sat at the top of the bleachers and in front of us are the football team's things. The team is gathered in the field and practicing some play. I searched for His Majesty but I don't know his jersey number.

"Cadaver, what is his jersey number?" All of them are wearing helmets so it is hard to recognize his figure. He pointed out the person who is holding a ball in his hand and shouting some lingo I don't know.

Number 08

That was his jersey number. Why 8? His birthday nor birth month is not 8. I guess 8 means something for him.

Cadaver tried to explain the game to me. As a fast learner, I absorbed the things he was saying to me. I understood the play, positions, and rules in the game. His Majesty was the Quarterback on this team and based on Cadaver it seems to be a big deal for people.

The practice ended at 5 in the afternoon. I can't believe we spent 3 hours watching them wrestle on the field. The team headed to the showers and I noticed His Majesty saw me in the bleachers because he waved in our direction. I couldn't confirm that he was waving at us because if not and I waved back that would be embarrassing.

Cadaver suggested that we wait for them to get changed and he would introduce me to the team. I told him over and over again that I didn't need to meet them. He won't change his mind so in defeat I stayed there.

After thirty minutes, all of them were out of the shower room. Cadaver basically dragged me down the bleachers and rushed to the place where they were. I swear if he wasn't helping me get close to His Majesty, I would snap his arm out like a twig.

"Hi guys!! You did well there." They all faced us. I was hiding behind Cadaver's back when he pushed me upfront.

"This is Echo, the new student. She said earlier that all of you guys played so well." My eyes widen when he said that. That was a lie, I have never said anything. A tall guy reached out for my hand. I looked at Cadaver with disbelief that he would do that to me.

"James, madam." He had that Texas accent. I screamed internally when I learned his from the same country.

"Texan? I love Texas! What part?" I reached for his hand and gave it an exciting shake. I was relieved to know that I wasn't the only one here that is American.

"Houston. Born and raised." he flashed a big smile which made me blush. I have a weakness for southern charm. Sue me.

"Blake, at your service." a big hunk guy interrupted us. He was wearing no shirt and making a move to hug me when somebody stopped him.

"Easy there Blake put a shirt on first." Thankfully Cadaver stopped him. Blake rolled his eyes but obeyed Cadaver. While he struggles to find his extra shirt, everyone introduced themselves. I know it sounds bad but I feel they were all looking at me weirdly. Like they have some evil plan on me or something. They all told me a little bit about themself and their role in the game.

"Griffin, come over here!" His Majesty was arranging his cleats to fit his bag. He looked over at me and rushed over with his stuff. He looked shocked to see me standing here, surrounded by hunky men.

"Hey." His Majesty greeted. He was standing in front of me, blocking my sight of all of his teammates.

"Uhm...hi."

"You watched me?" I saw some glimmer in his eyes like he was hoping that I would say yes to his question. I opened my mouth to speak but got interrupted.

"Us. She watched us, Griff." Lucas, their left-wing, if I remember correctly. His Majesty turned around in annoyance. He gave a face and turn backed around.

"Cadaver practically dragged me here to watch you guys. I had a free period so I figured, what the hell." I couldn't tell him the real reason why I was here. He still had the oh-so-charming smile on his face.

"Well...what do you think?"

"about?"

"me"

I heard a fake cough behind us. Right. Anyone is seeing us. I forgot about that.

"I want to share what I think about you Griff." Finn has a sinister smile on his face. He was their defensive tackle. His Majesty glared at him and gave him a don't-you-dare look. I masked a laugh with a cough.

"Yeah me too." Cadaver commented.

"Me three." Klaus and Huge said in unison causing everyone to burst out of laughter. I can see His Majesty was about to pop a vein. I don't know why everyone is picking on him but he seemed pissed.

"Well...sorry guys but Fifth and I need to go home now. Our ride is waiting for us outside." Everyone exchanged looks like something I said was wrong. They all stared at His Majesty and were like waiting for something but his face remained serious.

"Nice meeting you guys!" I bid farewell.

"Bye, Fifth." They all weirdly said in unison. Cadaver decided to stay a little bit to chat with the boys. I faced His Majesty and signaled to him that we should go.

We were walking to the parking lot where Jonathan is waiting for us. His Majesty was putting his stuff in the trunk of the car when my phone started buzzing. I saw His Majesty notice the buzzing. The buzzing transferred to my watch and I quickly opened the message.

Conan

911. COME HERE QUICKLY!

sent an attachment

My hand froze when I saw what was attached file was.

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Thank you very waiting! I promise to update as quickly as I can. If you are still there and waiting for me to finish this, don't hesitate to comment on stuff, vote, or anything. HAVE A NICE WEEK!

Warning!

Super long chapter ahead.

-confused_scientian