I walk through the high school courtyard, my
pace quickening, my breath shallow, and my thoughts in disarray. Finally, the lacrosse field comes into view behind the main building, surrounded by old oaks and benches filled with noisy students. The team is already in the midst of a match, the shouts of players and spectators echoing in the crisp afternoon air, mixing encouragement with exclamations. The late afternoon sun casts long shadows, adding a dramatic touch to the scene.

With a quick glance, I spot James. My heart skips a beat at the sight of him, his athletic silhouette sharply outlined against the green backdrop of the field. Although his helmet conceals his blond hair, I recognize his name inscribed on the back of his gear, and even without that, I would have identified him among thousands. His way of moving, fluid and confident, is unmistakable. I immediately avert my gaze.

Not now. My goal is clear: find Principal Lexington, and apparently, he hasn't arrived yet.

I scan the crowd, desperately searching for Ruby and Lin. They should be here somewhere, among the familiar faces, but they remain elusive. A wave of anxiety washes over me, tightening my stomach. I don't like being in the middle of a crowd, alone. I survey the stands, the sidelines, every corner where they could be, but nothing.

The only things I see are the students in our school's blue and pink uniforms, the boys on the team, running past me with determined expressions. The barrier is the only thing separating us, and I can smell the freshly cut grass.

I keep moving, weaving through the bustling crowd, until I reach the end of the field where there are fewer people. There, I find a quiet spot and lean my arms over the barrier to observe the match. The cold metal against my skin contrasts with the warmth of the afternoon, and I take a moment to appreciate the clear view of the field. The players are clashing with ferocious energy, their movements quick and coordinated, capturing my attention.

However, my eyes suddenly catch Alistair advancing toward his opponent with absolute determination. Before the other player even has a chance to score, Alistair rushes at him. James's sharp cries pierce the air, and my eyes widen as I see the opponent propelled over Alistair's body, before crashing violently to the ground. The atmosphere becomes charged with tension, amplified by the referee's whistle, signaling the end of the game.

An oppressive silence descends on the stadium, broken only by the worried murmurs of the crowd. Then, like a spreading fire, chaos erupts on the field. Alistair, brimming with rage, rushes toward the boy lying on the ground, setting off a chain reaction of anger and confusion. Players from both teams grapple with each other, their voices blending into a cacophony of protests and challenges.

The audience, caught up in the action, shouts and protests. The referee and coach desperately try to restore order on the field, but their voices are lost in the growing tumult. The atmosphere is electrified with adrenaline, and I feel my own heart pounding in my chest as I stand there, helpless, watching the spectacle unfold before my eyes.

Eventually, a certain calm seems to spread among the teams, but the atmosphere remains tense. James, his face tense with frustration, violently pushes Alistair aside, abruptly removing him from the game. Their voices rise in a dispute muffled by the screams of the crowd and the surrounding commotion. Despite my efforts, I can't make out their words through the deafening noise. The coach, his eyes filled with anger, orders him sternly to leave the field immediately.

His face flushed with anger, strides resolutely toward me, an aura of fury emanating from him. My eyes widen again as I see him brutally remove his helmet, which falls with a dull thud to the ground. Without a word, he settles next to me, creating an oppressive silence that contrasts with the cheers from the field. I turn, averting my gaze, silently praying that he won't break this silence by speaking to me. I take the opportunity to search for the principal, but start involuntarily when Alistair's voice is heard.

"If you're looking for the field, it's behind you."

I turn my head toward him, hoping that the irony in his voice will fade as quickly as it appeared. Our eyes meet, and I stare at him for a moment. He meets my gaze, his eyebrows furrowed, seeming to wonder why I'm staring at him like this. It's so rare for him to speak to me.

"Are you just going to stand there and stare at me, or do you have something to say?" he finally growls, breaking the heavy silence.

I take a deep breath, trying to find my words. "I... I didn't expect to see you react like that on the field," I say, my voice weaker than I would have liked.

He sighs, running a trembling hand through his tousled hair. "It wasn't supposed to happen. But sometimes, anger takes over."

An uncomfortable silence settles between us again. I turn slightly and lean my arms back over the barrier, unsure of what to add. We remain silent for a moment.

"What did that poor guy do to deserve your wrath?"

He turns his gaze toward me and seems to hesitate before responding, probably assessing whether it's in his interest to tell me or not. I probably should have stopped asking questions and minded my own business, but to my surprise, he answers me.

"He almost broke one of my teammate's necks in the last match we played," he says. "If the referee hadn't been so quick, I could have really smashed that MacCormac."

I raise an eyebrow, trying to gauge the truth of his words. "I see. But you know, there are more creative ways to get back at someone. You could, for example, offer him dance lessons to learn how to dodge punches!"

The expression of anger on his face fades as soon as I manage to get him to crack a smile. His eyes, previously sparkling with anger, soften as a slight laughter escapes his tense lips. It's as if a weight has been lifted off his shoulders, replaced by a hint of relaxation in his gaze.

A brief, now less awkward silence settles between us as we focus on what's happening on the field. The supporters' shouts resonate around us, creating an electric atmosphere. I spot James deftly catching the ball, his face lighting up with a broad smile as he shoots a triumphant look at the opposing team. His gesture elicits enthusiastic applause from the spectators, fueling their shared excitement.

"Alastair."

I turn my head, taken aback, and observe him. Alistair extends his hand, thus breaking the last barrier of our silence. I look at him, surprised by this unexpected gesture, before grasping his hand in mine, sealing a new beginning between us.

"Olivia."

A laugh escapes his lips as he releases my hand. "I know. We're in the same class."

Of course, I was aware. Yet, despite that, our interactions had always been limited. I thought that, like everyone else in high school, he didn't know my name or face.

"That's true." I reply, the lightness of my laughter barely concealing my surprise.

Hardly have I spoken these words when the shrill sound of a whistle pierces the air, followed by a concert of shouts and applause. Our eyes instinctively turn toward the source of the commotion, discovering a jubilant crowd waving flags in the school's colors. Alistair and I exchange a knowing smile, our interrupted conversation interrupted by this unexpected celebration.

As the noise subsides slightly, he speaks again.

"Do you often come to these games?" he asks, curious.

"Oh yes." I admit. "In fact, I've been to every game. Haven't you ever seen me?" I ask, teasingly, punctuating my sentence with a playful smile.

"I guess I'm pretty busy on the field." he replies, playing along, an amused smile on his lips.

I nod exaggeratedly. "Of course. Too busy beating up the opponent."

He lets out a burst of laughter, while I struggle to hold back my own laughter. As we share this moment of camaraderie, I turn my head slightly and spot the principal heading toward the stands behind me. He is accompanied by Lin and Ruby, who enthusiastically call out to him to take a photo.

"I have to leave you." I say, turning slightly to Alistair. "I'm glad I talked to you, Alistair."

He turns his head toward me and nods, smiling, offering me a knowing wink. Then, he focuses his attention back on the game, while I head towards the girls and the principal, determined.

My heart races with apprehension as I approach my friends. Their warm smiles light up my face as I join them, feeling supported by their comforting presence. Lin stands ready with her camera, already capturing the principal striking a pose effortlessly.

I take a deep breath to calm my nerves before addressing the principal in as confident a voice as possible. "Hello, Mr. Principal." I say with a confident smile. "Could you spare a moment for me?"

The principal remains still, frozen in his pose, as Lin's camera captures a series of photos. "You can see that I'm busy, Miss Martin," he says in a calm but firm tone, emphasizing the importance of his presence on the scene.

I smile and nod, aware that I don't want to frustrate him further. "I understand, but I'll only take a minute." I reply, trying to remain respectful.

He sighs lightly, and I hear Ruby whispering to Lin to stop taking photos, to allow me to have the principal's full attention.

I take a deep breath, gathering my courage before plunging in. "Mr. Principal." I begin in a firm but respectful voice, "I would like to inquire if it would be possible for you to write a letter of recommendation for Oxford, for Ruby and me." I reach out towards Ruby to invite her to join me, thus emphasizing our joint request with determination.

The principal swiftly turns his head towards us and furrows his brows. "This is something you should have taken care of a long time ago." he replies sternly, underscoring the importance of planning such steps in advance.

Ruby and I exchange a tense look. "You are the best reference this school could have, and we thought it was crucial to ask for your support."Ruby intervenes, seeking to justify our approach.

"That you are excellent students, we know very well. But that is not enough to be admitted. Especially not to Oxford," he says, pausing. "Besides, if I think about it, over the past two years, I have heard very little about you, ladies. Do you know why?"

I turn to the girls and give them a knowing smile before gesturing towards them. "This year, I am in charge of leading the organizing committee in collaboration with Ruby and Lin." I explain proudly.

"Oh yes! That's right." he exclaims, the expression on his face relaxing slightly. "How is the school opening ceremony coming along?"

"The preparations are progressing." I reply confidently.

The principal nods, his gaze suddenly becoming very serious. "This event represents the first impression that new students and their parents will have of this school, which deducts several thousand pounds from their accounts every year," he explains, scrutinizing each of us with intimidating precision. "This year, we have some particularly important new students, so it is crucial that everything goes smoothly."

We nod silently, absorbing his words seriously.

"If it turns out that you perform well as team leaders and everything goes as planned, I see no reason why a recommendation would not be possible." he concludes with a slight smile.

A thrill of excitement runs through my body, and a broad smile lights up my face. I give Ruby a delighted look, who seems to share my enthusiasm. This news alleviates my concerns about the letter of recommendation, and I suddenly feel light, as if a weight has been lifted from my shoulders.

"Thank you." my best friend and I say simultaneously.

"Ladies." the principal adds. "Do me a favor."

We nod in acknowledgment. "Get out of my line of sight." he smiles at us.

We walk away with amused smiles, waving to Lin who remains focused on her photos. Ruby informs me that she's heading home to get ready for tonight, and I nod approvingly before heading in the opposite direction of the field. As I continue walking, lost in thought, the whistle blows, signaling our team's victory. I turn around to see Lin, still in front of the principal, expressing her excitement with her camera.

Suddenly, a brutal collision brings me back to reality. I've just bumped into a solid mass. Stumbling slightly, I turn around, ready to apologize, but my words die on my lips as I realize I've just collided with James. His blue eyes fix me with contained fury, and his face oozes nothing but contempt and anger. I stare at him, slightly frightened, unable to look away.

"What did you want with Alistair?"

I shake my head. "Nothing at all."

He approaches me, and I step back slightly.

"I know exactly what you're trying to do, but it doesn't matter. Someone like you can't reach people like us. Don't forget that now you're nobody. You live in a rotten shack. You have no money, no connections, hardly any family left. You're just a poor frustrated girl who has lost everything: your life, your father, your brother. So go ahead, give it your all, let loose. Do what you planned, but I warn you, we won't hesitate to ruin you again." he spits out, his wicked smile stretching his lips.

I remain frozen, unable to respond, as he disappears into the jubilant crowd. His words leave a bitter taste in my mouth, brutally reminding me of everything I've lost. My heart races, and I feel tears welling up. Around me, the celebration continues, but I feel more alone than ever, lost in a sea of unfamiliar faces. I knew James was a jerk, but I didn't think he was capable of such cruelty.

Yet, his words resonate within me, reminding me of another saying: "Like father, like son." And it sends shivers down my spine, because I don't know if I want to face the same cruelty as his father.