American Football: King of the Bay Area

She studied her reflection in the mirror, tugging at the hem of her voluminous skirt. It had a black lace top and a red silk bottom, which she had paired with fiery red lipstick and a black magic staff. She spun around as if casting a spell, the skirt flaring out around her. But the effect wasn’t that of a celestial fairy; instead, she radiated a dark, evil aura, looking more like a witch standing at Satan’s side.

”Ugh!” Julia Newman sighed in frustration, stomping her foot.

Today was the homecoming dance, kicking off senior year. It was a costume party, and all the students would carefully select their outfits to attend in style. At the end of the night, they would vote for a homecoming king and queen. It was the most important event of the entire semester.

The plan was for Julia to go as an evil witch, while Mark Cotez would be a dark knight. They would be a dark duo, attending the dance together.

Mark was the point guard for the school’s basketball team. He and Julia were in the same math class. They got to know each other after a chance conversation, and eventually, Mark asked her to the homecoming dance. She’d agreed, and then the two of them came up with their unique costume idea.

It was a perfect plan. At the dance, everyone else would be dressed up as boring characters like princes and princesses. Their unconventional choice was bound to make jaws drop and put them in the spotlight. There was no better way to make a grand entrance for their final year of high school.

But the plan fell apart. And it was all because of Jenny Donnagen.

Jenny was the captain of the school’s cheerleading squad. Gorgeous, with a killer figure, she was also the head of her sorority. She was absolutely one of the most popular girls in school and the frontrunner for homecoming queen.

Just two days before homecoming, Jenny had a falling out with her boyfriend. The next thing anyone knew, she had asked Mark to be her date. And Mark had agreed, becoming Jenny’s partner for the dance.

And so, Julia was left all alone, standing forlornly in front of the mirror in her evil witch costume, looking like a villain about to destroy the world. And at that moment, she really did want to destroy the world. ’Damn Jenny, damn Mark, damn all of them.’ But more than anger, she felt frustration and regret.

For a moment, Julia just wanted to run away. ’Maybe I should just skip the dance tonight. Even if I go, I’ll be all by myself. It’ll be pathetic and miserable.’

It had all happened so suddenly, catching her completely off guard. Even if she wanted to find a new date, there wasn’t enough time.

She had actually considered asking Lu Ke. She knew he would never refuse if she asked for help. But she also knew the tough spot he was in right now. The game this week was right around the corner, and his starting position still wasn’t guaranteed. On top of that, he had been focusing on strength training recently, working incredibly hard every single day.

After thinking it over, she decided not to ask him.

But Julia had never been the timid, shrinking type. She put on the costume, finished her makeup, and mustered the courage to go to the dance. She would brave that lion’s den, even if she had to do it alone. She absolutely would not let Jenny and Mark look down on her. But now, looking at herself in the mirror, she hesitated once more.

”Julia? What are you still doing in there? You’re not getting cold feet, are you?” Logan’s teasing voice, incredibly annoying, came through the thin door. ”How about this? If you beg me nicely, maybe I’ll agree to help you out.”

”No way. I wouldn’t want your help even if you offered it,” Julia retorted fiercely, refusing to show any weakness. She straightened her skirt and clenched her fists, giving herself a silent pep talk. ’You can do this! You can!’

She turned, strode to the door, and yanked it open. And there was Logan, standing right outside with that familiar, punchable smirk on his face. She raised her right hand and pointed a finger at him. ”Shut up!” ’I look totally evil right now,’ she thought, ’so I might as well use it.’

Logan raised his right hand and pantomimed zipping his lips shut, but the laughter sparkling in his eyes told her exactly what he was thinking.

Julia rolled her eyes in exasperation, gathered her skirt, and headed down the stairs.

Austin and Tiffany were standing at the foot of the stairs. They were smiling, but the slight tension in their faces betrayed their concern.

”I’m fine.” Julia looked up at the ceiling with a long-suffering sigh. ”Dad, Mom, I’m seventeen. I’m not a kid. Trust me, I can handle one dance. It’s just a dance, not some expedition into one of Indiana Jones’s lost tombs,” she grumbled. ”Don’t worry. I’ll be fine.”

But the heavy THUD THUD of her stomping feet betrayed her irritation as she marched down the rest of the stairs. She threw open the front door, calling out, ”I’m fine on my own! You don’t need to worry about—”

”Are you sure about that?” A voice from the doorway cut her off. Julia stopped short and turned her head. A tall, powerful figure stood in the entrance, blocking her path like a solid wall. It was so sudden and unexpected that she instinctively took a half-step back. When she recognized the person before her, she froze, her face a mask of astonishment.

It was Lu Ke. For a professional football player, his build still needed some work, but to an ordinary person, Lu Ke’s strength was undeniable. Today, however, he looked so different he was almost unrecognizable.

He was dressed in traditional French court attire: a pearl-white shirt, a black suede tailcoat, a red sash, a ceremonial sword at his hip, and tall riding boots. He exuded an air of elegant, old-world dignity, like… like a Prince, or perhaps a Royal Knight. She had never seen him look like this before.

”I heard you might be in need of a little chivalry tonight, so I volunteered my services. Or has the plan changed?” Lu Ke asked, a warm, friendly smile on his face.

Julia’s mouth fell open and her eyes went wide. Her mind felt like mush, and she stumbled over her words. ”Uh… you, don’t you have to train? I thought you didn’t have any free time. There’s not much time left to prepare for this week’s game.”

”Training for today is already over. At least, I still have time to be a knight and rescue a damsel in distress.” Lu Ke tugged at his costume, which still felt a little awkward. ’Costume parties. I’ve heard of them, even seen them, but I’ve never actually been to one. Tonight’s a first.’

Julia still couldn’t process it. She frowned. ”But how did you know? Mom? Was it you? Did you ask Lu Ke?”

Lu Ke chuckled softly and explained, ”No, it wasn’t her. It was Logan. He found out you were worried and upset, so he asked me for help. He would have gladly been your date himself, if not for the fear that it would just make things worse.” For a high schooler, having no date was one thing, but having to go with your own brother was a true social catastrophe.

Julia turned to look at Logan, who was still standing on the stairs. He was making a face, his mouth clamped shut. He mumbled something unintelligible and then rolled his eyes dramatically, as if to say, ’You told me to shut up, so I’m shutting up.’

His childish antics made her want to laugh and get angry at the same time. A wave of gratitude washed over her, but she didn’t know how to express it.

”So, may I have the honor of being your partner for the evening? It would give me a chance to display my chivalry, which I’ve been looking forward to for a long time,” Lu Ke said, placing his left hand on his right shoulder and giving a formal, knightly bow.

Julia extended her right hand and placed it in Lu Ke’s, giving a ladylike curtsy. ”Of course. The honor is all mine.”

Lu Ke straightened up and smiled at the Newmans. ”Austin, Tiffany, I’ll be escorting Julia to the homecoming dance tonight. I’ll have her back before curfew.”

”A prince and a witch! Now that’s a good combination!” Austin pumped his fist and cheered, but when no one else in the room joined in, the moment became awkward. He sheepishly lowered his fist and said hesitantly, ”Go, 49ers?” This time, everyone couldn’t help but chuckle.

Julia took Lu Ke’s arm, and the two of them left the house. When she reached the front steps, she suddenly stopped, turned her head, and called out, ”Thanks!” The word was clearly meant for Logan, but she didn’t wait for a reply. She turned back and continued walking with Lu Ke toward the car parked at the curb.

”Are you sure this pairing of ours is normal?” Julia looked at Lu Ke’s magnificent court attire, tilted her head, and giggled. ”I kind of feel like the evil witch who stole the prince away from Snow White.”

’Deep down, she was still a little insecure. Ever since her plan for the night had gone off the rails, Julia felt like everything was just… off.’

Lu Ke opened the passenger door for her like a gentleman. After she was settled, he closed it, walked briskly around to the driver’s side, and got in. ”Fairy tales are just stories. In real life, there’s no rule that says the prince has to end up with the princess. Witches and evil queens deserve to be loved, too. I think a witch and a prince might have even more chemistry, don’t you? Besides, does anyone really care about fairy tales these days?”

In spite of herself, a smile spread across Julia’s lips.

By the time they arrived at the school, there were hardly any empty spaces left in the parking lot. The sheer number of cars was a testament to how grand and important the dance was. After circling the lot twice, Lu Ke finally found a spot. Once parked, he gallantly opened the passenger door and extended an invitation. ”My dear witch, are you ready?”

Julia placed her hand in his and said confidently, ”Let’s go scare some princesses.”