CHAPTER III – THE NEW CAPTAIN
The school year started with all the usual pomposity and full-scale celebration which Lily and her friends remembered well from their previous year. The Headmaster, Professor Jennings gave a heart-felt speech which managed to melt even the toughest veterans of the ritual. Then, all class supervisors led their respective classes to their classrooms for a smaller opening and introduced them to whatever novelties there were around the school.
Professor Brittle Bravery was the class supervisor of Lily's year, that was the second, and all the second-years were under her, irrespective of their Houses. She led the second-years to the greenhouse where her office was and made them sit around on improvised seats of crates and buckets, or some piles of objects of unclear nature.
In short, the greatest news was that the football team needed a new captain, as the old one had finished school the year before. The election for a captain was to take place just before the try-outs for the new players on Saturday morning. The election was to be democratic and secret. Each one of the already included players was supposed to cast a vote on a sheet of paper (called "ballot", "What a funny word," the entire group giggled.) and put it inside a box. Then, before the try-outs for new players begin, Professor Baramova was to open the box in the presence of all players and read out the results.
The cheerleading try-out was to coincide with the football team try-out, was the other piece of news Lily heard passing by her ears. She remembered that had been the case the previous year, too. Another second-year was rather enthusiastic with the news, though, and that drew Lily's attention. Juliet Clarence, from the House of Stars, was especially obsessed with the cheerleading squad. She had tried out in vain the previous year and, seeing an opportunity to make it to participating in contests, had entered the synchronized swimming trio suggested by professor Baramova. In fact, Juliet Clarence turned out the best synchronized swimmer that school had seen for years, but her heart lay with cheerleading. She would sometimes attend the cheerleaders' practices, tried to learn their routines and really hoped to make it to the squad this year.
Another item of the agenda of the second-years was discipline and order in the dining room, the necessity, no, but the obligation to observe the rules and regulations of the school and the overall topic of "behaving themselves".
Having heard the football-team news, Lily beginning to get bored. Her passion was football, and that was it. She had practiced all summer with her father. The year before she had not even known the exact rules of the game for sure. Yet, having made it to the team and having played several matches, and especially having practiced and won for a whole year, now Lily knew that was her sport and her passion. She remembered why and how she had decided to take part in the try-outs at all, and she felt grateful to destiny in the face of two students for arising her curiosity. She had overheard a boy speak of football and how tough you need to be to play it, what tenacity you need in order to not simply survive on the field, but to score the goal, too. Then, after ninety minutes of intensive and exhausting run, still to be in a condition fit for taking applause, kissing girls who gave you flowers, or tossed their underwear at you, giving interviews to reporter, and so much other "social" stuff, that invariably accompanied winning a game. Lily had listened to the whole thing, not daring to turn around and see the boy who was talking, for fear she might interrupt him. The "underwear" moment was too much for her, and yet, she waited patiently to sense he had finished. The moment he finished, she looked at him and saw Buster Jenkins – a sturdy, manly teenager of the House of Suns.
Lily asked him, "Where can one play this football? Is it available here? Are girls allowed?"
Buster looked at her in numb dismay. "Is it available here?" he repeated and paused.
Lily nodded affirmatively, "Yes, is it?"
Buster did not answer, and said, "Are girls allowed?"
Lily thought that boy was not particularly smart, but in the interest of the information she needed, she decided to keep that opinion to herself only. At least, for present. She just snapped at him, "Are you going to repeat every word I say? Aren't you going to answer my questions?"
Buster's expression changed from slightly derisive to downright cold. The student he had been talking to, a brazen dark girl, laughed out, "Well, Buster, it's not like this young lady has no questions for you. You'd better get to that before she gets to something more drastic."
Lily honoured the brazen girl with a slighting look. She tried to look as if it was below her to respond to such kind of talk. Instead, she turned back to the boy and persisted in her questions.
"But of course it is available here," said Buster. "My brother is the captain of the team. He has been a captain since his second year here. I am trying for the team this Saturday. If you want to, you may come too. It's open for boys and girls alike." Buster finished curtly.
The girl with him said, "I am going to try out, as well. If you DARE, come!"
Then the two went away from Lily. Suddenly, the boy turned and said, "By the way, this is Padrina Perkins and my name is Buster Jenkins. We are from the House of Suns – the best house in the school." Buster winked playfully while Padrina gave up an artificial smile.
And so, Lily's curiosity was awakened and she was so angry with those two, that she decided to "try this out" and see if she could make it. All three made it. That was how Lily got into the football team, met Buster and Padrina and fell in love for the first time during her teenage. With football, of course, what did you think?
That was in their first year. Now, Buster's brother – Carl, who was the captain, was no longer available and a new captain was to be elected. It was believed by everybody that Buster would follow naturally in the "office". Of course, that could not be so certain, as Buster was not half the boy his brother was. It was true that Buster was very strong and a powerful player, yet he lacked leader's qualities.
Lily could hardly wait till Saturday. Having heard that, she tended to ignore everything else, even the message regarding the school trips and camps which were her other passion. She cast a look at Buster and saw him chewing over the same idea. He felt Lily's eyes on him and turned around. They looked at each other for a while like two animals stalking, stepping aside in circles, growling. Then Lily thought a flick of something passed between them. Before she could recognize the kind of "something", though, Padrina Perkins who was sitting next to Buster turned, too, and seeing the direction of Buster's gaze, pulled his arm, so he moved his look away to Padrina.
"He is going to try it, then?" asked a voice close to Lily's ear.
"Try what?" startled Lily.
"Become a captain, of course. Get elected."
"Violet, are you living in the clouds? Didn't you listen to the professor? We cannot TRY. There will be secret elections."
Here Lily hissed just a little bit louder than needed and Professor Bravery shht-ed in the girls' direction in reproach.
Soon, the small school-year opening was over and Lily left the greenhouse surrounded by her friends. Germina giggled to herself. Everybody looked at her, "What?"
"What 'what'?" she echoed.
"What made you giggle?" asked Simona sharply.
"Oh, that. I just imagined Professor Bravery at the football field, taking Professor Baramova's place. You know, wearing a tight-fitting track suit, a whistle in her mouth. What would you say?"
Since Professor Bravery was a small, chubby lady with a funny face having similarity to a dried apple, the image Germina drew was ridiculous. They snickered, but not very enthusiastically.
Simona said, "I like Professor Bravery."
Erin added, "Yeah, me too. She's a nice lady."
"And a good teacher," said Violet.
Germina's smile froze on her face. She looked a bit irritated, "OK. That was a joke. I didn't actually mean to laugh at her." Her look was sullen.
"Yet that's exactly what you did, in fact." murmured Lily.
"What's wrong with you all? Are we going to sta
rt this year like this? I remember you all used to know how to have fun, young ladies." said Germina still irritated.
Violet said, "Yeah, but that was last year. We were different then."
"How?" exclaimed Germina. "Have you grown too old and tired to laugh and make merry, or what? Have you got too many worries and cares, or what?" Germina's voice escalated nearly to a crescendo.
"Yeah, what did you mean, Violet? How are we different? I don't feel any different." said Simona.
"That's right. Me neither." said the others.
"OK now, come at me, all of you, at the same time." Violet was getting irritated now.
Erin said, "Wait! Girls, something is wrong with us. This is not like us. We never do that. We love one another." She looked frantically around, afraid that maybe the others will not share her sentiment.
"Oh, maybe we are different, that's why." someone grunted. But all in all, they agreed with Erin.
Suddenly, Germina sobbed, "Please, forget about it. I don't know what's got into me. Perhaps I'm taking Eric's wedding too seriously. After all," she said in an unsuccessful attempt to sound light-hearted, "I just saw him for a couple of hours. We never even really talked. I bet, he didn't even take a notice of me. After all, I'm simply his young sister's friend. One of her friend, in fact." And Germina waited. Her tears sparkled in her eyes. They all knew what she was waiting for. Erin also knew what Germina was waiting for. Yet, she could not give it to her. She could not deny what Germina had just said. Eric really did not mention Germina even once to his sister after they saw her off to her coach. It was very likely that he had taken Germina for just what she had said – Erin's school friend who had to wait for her next transport. Eric was polite to take his sister's friends to lunch, and Germina was the only available. Then he just saw her off. Erin even remembered what she and Eric had talked about when Germina disappeared out of sight, taken away on the coach – they had talked about their own parents, about Daisy whom Eric had just met and was dying to invite over for Christmas (out of the question, whatsoever), about the party their parents were about to ruin for their children, and stuff like that. Erin, however, was not too quick to shoot all that out to Germina and stood in hesitation what to say, so as not to hurt her friend too much, without, at the same time, lying to her.
Erin was thinking something they have learned at Professor Jubesc's classes, "Don't tell a lie, just withhold some of the truth, and put more stress to that part of it which will draw the other person's attention away. Instead of hurting the other person and wonder how to sympathize with them, make it sound in such a way that THEY would sympathize with you and forget all (or almost all) about their worries." That was crossing Erin's mind. Actually, "crossing" was not exact enough. That was zigzagging through Erin's mind. Sadly, this movement, whether crossing or zigzagging, took so long that Germina got her answer. She pressed her jaw tighter, bit her lips and said, "Ah, well, love hurts." And, because Erin did not get her chance to say something soothing to Germina before, now she was tossed to the other extreme by Germina's words and said curtly, "Love happens to be a two-direction process." Germina lost all colour of her face. She took a step in Erin's direction. Lily intervened, "Wait!" she looked first at Germina, and then at Erin. "Germina, stand back! Erin, you take it back!" Violet and Simona just looked on, in sheer shock and not understanding what was going on.
Finally, Simona whispered, "Oh, my God! What had got into us?"
"Let's split up and not meet till bedtime." suggested Violet in hesitation. Everybody, along with Germina and Erin, nodded fervently in agreement.
Veronica joined Lily in the library where she hid in the afternoon and said, "Germina told me there was something the matter. May I ask about it?" Veronica was always very polite and extremely careful how she spoke. Having in mind what had happened just a few hours before that, Lily could not help thinking what Veronica would have said or done in Erin's place, or in Germina's one. Veronica was permanently cool and reliable. You could always trust her to calm people down. That was how, in fact, she was such an excellent defender, too. It was as if she managed to make the ball calm down and surrender its fervour.
"Yeah, you might ask. The problem is I don't know what to tell you. I have no explanation. And surely, I don't know how to put it together. What REALLY happened evades me. As if we were all possessed. Even I, though I didn't get any chance to show it."
"Hm," said Veronica. "You know, you may be right. I remember something Professor Humbledeen told us in class. It was a story of a group of children who were taken to a forest and told to find a certain place. They had a map, supplies and good instruction, but somehow they lost all and finally got lost themselves. In the meantime, they quarreled with one another and that disruption cost them their lives. I believe according to the professor that was witches' interference, because unawares the children had crossed some forbidden territory."
"So, do you mean something like a curse was put over some place we crossed, to keep people away from it?" asked Lily, not believing her ears.
"That's exactly what I mean. Maybe you were all some place special. Think of it. Try to remember."
Lily thought hard. "I don't know. What time?"
"It might have been before you came to the school. Sometimes these things do not start doing their work before the object is far away, for fear he or she will identify the reason and destroy it."
"Well, before coming to the school, we were together on the train. You were there, too. Before the train," she continued rewinding "we were at the station, on the bus, at home. At least I was." Lily sighed, "I don't remember anything unusual."
Veronica's face darkened. She lowered her voice, "Lily, if it wasn't unusual, then maybe it was INTENTIONAL. Are you suspecting anybody? It could be the work of some beginner, somewhere here, in the school."
"Hm, OK. In that case what would be the timing?"
"In that case it may be immediate. Normally, the one who does it, wants to observe the result. Was there anyone around while you were quarreling?"
Lily tried to remember. "I don't know. I was too worried about Saturday and the captain election to notice anything around."
"What! Captain? But of course!" Veronica was triumphant. "OK. Listen to me. If your football friends fight or argue each other, they may cast their vote for somebody else, and not you. Maybe they will choose another aspirant. And maybe another aspiring captain did this."
"Why, this sounds too far-fetched, Vero."
Veronica did not answer. She made a gesture to Lily asking her to follow her eyes. And Veronica's eyes went to a couple of students entering the library smiling and shining with delight. Those were Padrina Perkins and Buster Jenkins.
"What about them?" asked Veronica. Lily was out of breath. She was shocked and could not say a word for about a minute. Finally, she said, "It is possible."
"Possible? The question, as I see it, is 'Is it PROBABLE?'" accentuated Veronica.
"I believe it is." said Lily slowly. "OK, that must be it. When will it wear away?"
"Maybe it won't. At least not until Saturday. In that sense, what Violet suggested – the thing about you all keeping away from each other, is your best option."
"Wait! How come you are not in it with us?"
"I wasn't there, remember? And it's not contagious, if that's your next question." smiled Veronica.
Lily looked furtively, "My next question now will be, since you already answered my 'original' next one, so my next question, as I said," and she paused smiling to see Veronica's reaction. Veronica just smiled and pinched Lily by the arm. Lily continued, "How do you know these things?"
"We study these things under Professor Humbledeen in History and geography of this world and the other. These are not simply 'stories'. This is history. That put me on the track, so to speak. The rest was reasoning." Veronica looked at Lily, "Why? What did you think?"
"Oh," said Lily quite taken by surprise, "It's rather curious, I know, but I believe I was not th
inking. Neither while we were quarreling, nor after that."
"Then I am most probably right in my guess. Germina told me just the same. I'll speak to the others, too. For the time being, avoid them." And she turned to go, but remembering something, she came back and leaned to Lily's ear, "Avoid Padrina and Buster, as well. Until well after Saturday. Now, they have some power over you all. You should be careful."
Lily shrank in her chair and looked around in apprehension. The two friends from the House of Suns were nowhere around, but one could not be too sure. She put her nose close to the textbook she had opened at the table in front of her and pretended to be reading. That was a great way to spend some quiet time thinking, speculating, analyzing, and musing. All of a sudden, she felt she was annoying even herself with that incessant enumeration of synonymous attributes. Was it possible (it was highly probable, she had established that already) that whatever it was Padrina and Buster gave them or did to them, could make her fight herself? She wanted to rush after Veronica and ask, but knew that would arise some suspicions. Besides, Lily Lemonpie was not so easily intimidated by hocus-pocus, even when that particular hocus-pocus was proven science and duly documented and made it to the textbooks. Textbooks tended to validate things. So, Lily straightened up her back again, looked around the library to check what was going on. Nothing caught her interest. A couple of nerds from the first year, impatient to check questionnaires and bibliographies, were already there, randomly perusing various books from piles at the point of crashing down. Mrs. June, the sweet librarian, was at her desk, sorting cards and files of the freshers. So, Lily could go back to thinking (analyzing, speculating, musing). She smiled having thought that again. Well, she was also a bit arrogant. Thus, Lily continued thinking nice things to herself, and smiling at them until she grew bored with that. Yawning, Lily raised her look and saw Buster Jenkins at the library door. True, Lily Lemonpie was not to intimidated by hocus-pocus, but she had not forgotten Veronica's advice to keep away from Padrina and Buster and meant to keep it. That was why Lily pretended to lean down to pick something up from the floor and saw which way Buster was going. "Phew," she thought relieved, he was going another direction. She sat up and Buster Jenkins was in front of her table, looking her in the eyes.
"Lemonpie," Buster began, "I have a proposition for you." Seeing the suprise i her eyes, Buster said, "It's just a business proposition."
Still, remembering Veronica's advice, Lily did not know whether it was recommendable to speak. She thought it was not. After all, if you needed to be completely "away", speaking would be incompatible with good, recommendable behaviour. She remembered also that negative forces never dared come to you, but always asked or waited for permission, or invitation to enter. So, Lily waited for Buster to ask and then to refuse him. Buster Jenkins, however, did not ask, but directly sat down of a chair which he pulled from the nearby table.
"Listen, Lemonpie, I want to back you up for a captain." he said out of the blue. Lily swallowed in dismay.
"You do, do you?" she managed to say.
"I do, yes." he answered.
Lily considered that for a while. "But you said it was some business proposition that you had. What is the business? What do you expect in exchange? And why, the hack, would you do that? After all, you are Carl's brother. You will get elected most probably."
"Lemonpie, I will help you become captain, if you help me with a girl."
Lily simply could not believe. Buster Jenkins, Carl Jenkin's brother was willing to trade the captain armband for "help with a girl"! What girl was worth that sacrifice? Instead of asking this, Lily said, "How can you back me up?"
"I will convince all my supporters to cast their votes for you. I myself will do that." Lily could not help it, "What about Padrina?"
Buster said honestly, "I don't believe I can influence her. But that is only one vote. All the rest will be with you. All your friends, too."
"Wait! All my friends, you say? What if they don't love anymore and don't vote for me? We don't have any agreements on that, in fact. We never had a chance to discuss the elections." stated Lily with some bitterness.
"I thought they would vote for you because they love you." Buster repeated his main idea. That guy was really not especially smart, thought Lily in irritation.
"Yeah, but maybe they plan to vote for themselves. There is a chance on that, you know."
Lily began to wonder whether Buster really knew anything about what happened this morning, and what was the degree of his involvement into this, if there was any at all. Now was the time for the other hot question, though. What girl was worth the sacrifice? Buster looked her in the eyes and said simply, "You." Then he blushed, obviously felt stupid, stood up, almost tumbled the chair and hurried out. Well! Lily did not know where she was. "Me? Worth it?" she thought and nearly laughed. But then she only smiled. "He would do that for me?"
"No chance. That's some dirty trick and don't you fall for it, you hear me?" said Veronica when Lily went to her with the story later the same day.
"But what's the point?" asked Lily.
"I don't know," Veronica admitted. "I must think it over. And you are right. Things are suspicious. The fact he never asked you to invite him means that either he is under a very strong protection, which is not very likely, or that he is not involved to the full. We have to check which option is correct. But you will do exactly as I say, and not take any initiatives."
"What initiatives? You told me to avoid them, you didn't say anything about their coming round. Should I have run away?"
"Lily, please, don't get mad, but speaking to that boy was hardly any decent degree of 'avoidance'." smiled Veronica.
"You are right. I'm sorry. I know you are trying to help. Do you think you could find out more about such cases? Perhaps speak to Professor Humbledeen?"
"I've been thinking of that. The professor and the library – those are my reference sources now. And I'd better hurry." And Veronica left.
And so, strictly following Veronica's advice, Lily avoided her friends as much as possible. It was not very hard, as Veronica had spoken to them all and they were in a way "united" in their separation. That was a lonely week. As there were no announcements for the Clubs yet, Lily used to go to the library every day after classes and spend time there, reflecting what she was to do. And because it was still so early in the school year, no one was receiving any mail from home, which would have been a nice distraction. In addition, this being the first week of classes, there was not much to read and study, so Lily's plentiful of time could not be filled with any useful work.
She enjoyed the meeting with Professor Magistra Magpie. She was the teacher in Physics and Kinetics, Lily's favorite subject. Then, she enjoyed Chemistry and Alchemy, although she was particularly poor at that subject, which she adored because of the teacher – Professor Sentenelus Suthern. He was a peculiar man in his middle thirties. She knew that because her aunt Leonora used to go to school with him and they were close friends. Aunt Leonora was 35, which made the calculation very easy. The professor was not very approachable and was often hostile, yet Lily loved his occasional sarcasm and never got offended. It was a pity she did not do better in his subject for she would really love to shine in class and become his favorite and favoured student. "Dreams." she thought in despair. Instead, she was good at Physics where the teacher, although great, was a lady, oldish at that. On Friday night, after dinner, Lily went to the library again and checked her list for school. It was amazing! She had all homework assignments fulfilled and ready for next week. The feeling was so nice - no worries for the weekend, no apprehension as to work left unfinished.
So, Lily Lemonpie was prepared to vote for her new captain on the next day. She had not spoken to her friends for a whole week, but through Veronica and she had avoided Padrina very carefully. As Padrina was always in Buster's company, Lily avoided him, too. Buster's exclamation "YOU ARE!" still rang in her memory, and she did not know what to make of it. Veronica had told h
er to sweep it out of her mind as part of the bad influence the Suns couple was putting onto the girls. Yet, Lily found herself wanting to know more and uneasy that she could not talk to Buster, or rather must not. Even like that, Lily's first thought was the captain's position. She had been dreaming of it ever since she knew the sweetness of victory. The previous year their team had become a champion on a regional level, defeating all schools they played with. The George Reader's team did not, of course, win all the games, but finally they were the champions. And then Lily saw the amazing rapture and exaltation when each of the players raised the Cup one by one. Their captain, Carl Jenkins had helped the team a lot. He was an excellent strategist and knew how to motivate the players. He was the most loved person in the entire universe. Lily was secretly in love with him. She knew he was leaving and a hope arose in her, that she might be the next captain. She was not sure if she had what it took. Maybe she did. Why would she want it so much?
And Saturday came, of course, and the whole school was buzzing at breakfast with the gossip of who was going to get elected. All the Suns supported their boy, Buster. Padrina was his staunch champion and even at the last breakfast she had not tired to applaud, repeat, remind and insist that each and every one of the football team was to cast their vote for Buster. He was humbler than usual and looked almost shy. Lily looked at him and caught his look. She sharply turned around just to see Germina's sullen look from another table over in the Stars sector. Although the girls had not talked to each other, they had to see one another at the meals, and some of them even had to sit together. Germina had not looked good for the whole week. Maybe she was suffering because of Erin's brother, or because of Erin's words, or lack of such. Erin herself did not look much better. She had received a letter from home, but could not show it as yet. Lily felt the tension build up and wondered how they had managed to endure this unnatural behaviour for so many days, as it seemed to her, and found it so hard to stand now. Obviously, the fact that only a little time remained before the end of this, made it more difficult now. She saw Violet and Simona, seated next to each other, trying to look different sides, just to withhold talking to each other. Erin and Simona were not going to vote, as they were not part of the team, yet Veronica had warned them all against communication. Meanwhile, she had found out that the spell cast on them was not especially powerful, or skillfully-made, yet recommended they protect themselves as before.
Of the team of twelve players, only seven positions were taken, as the other five were to be tried-out-for in the afternoon. Phillip Sommerville from Flowers, Germina and Veronica from Starts, Violet and Lily from Moons and Padrina and Buster from Suns – those were the voters. Lily trembled as they approached the changing rooms of the stadium where the vote was to take place. Professor Baramova was already there, and so were the Professors Jubesc who was present at all events related to rules and regulations, Bravery who was the class-supervisor for the second year, as there were many representatives, and Suthern who was the class-supervisor for the third years. The Headmaster, Professor Jennings was to appear at the reading of the votes.
They had prepared a bowl and ballots. Each of the seven players went up to a table, took an empty ballot and wrote a name on it. The students used the invisible ink prepared by Professor Suthern which had the additional characteristic that it smelled divine. The younger students were first, and so Phillip, Germina, Violet and Lily dropped their ballots in the bowl and stepped back to the bench to wait for the rest. Veronica, Padrina and Buster did the same and Buster came up and sat next to Lily. Because the bench turned out to be somewhat short to hold all seven, Buster had to press himself tightly between Padrina and Lily. Padrina puffed in irritation, but that was not the time to object.
A minute later Professor Jennings came and the ballots were taken out of the bowl and opened. Then the ink appeared and all styles of handwriting appeared identical. Professor Jubesc started counting aloud. " Lily Lemonpie - one time, Germina Hermione - one time, Padrina Perkins - one time, Lily Lemonpie - two times, Lily Lemonpie – three times, Lily Lemonpie – four times, Lily Lemonpie – five times. By a majority of five to two, your new captain is Lily Lemonpie."
Buster put his arms around her in a tight hug. He raised her from the bench, so that all could hug Lily. "I believe we did the right choice." he said looking at the teachers. Professor Baramova smiled and said, "I hope you did." All teachers came to greet Lily, wished the whole team wisdom at choosing their new players and tenacity for the coming season. Then they left. The seven students remained by themselves in the changing room. Lily's friends' joy was coming through the mist of the spell that was dispelling already. Veronica turned to Padrina and said, "You know, Padrina, I may decide to tell the Headmaster what you did to them, it is not too late."
Padrina went pale, but kept her indifferent tone, "I don't know what you are alluding to. I did nothing to nobody." Then she looked at Buster with derision and said, "Well, Buster, your brother will be happy to hear the news."
Buster flushed and hurriedly said, "Yeah, about what? That my best friend did not vote for me on this? Who voted for you, Padrina? I thought you were going to support me." Padrina phewed him away, formally approached Lily and shook her hand, "Lemonpie, you know a captain is not elected forever. Be sure you make a good one."
Buster did not calm down, "Oh, yeah? Is that so? Were YOU the better option? You can't even stay in the same room with us, how would you 'captain' us? Please, Padrina, calm yourself and be reasonable."
Padrina reddened with anger. She looked around and, finding no support in the others, softened. Lily stepped in, "Padrina, I'm sorry if you do not approve of me as a captain. I promise you that I will do my best to be the captain you all deserve. You may rely on me to serve your best interest. We are a team, and the champions at that. Let us not waste what we achieved under Carl." Lily turned to Buster and said with a mellow voice, "And, Buster, thanks a lot. I really appreciate it that you voted for me."
Padrina apologized and they started discussing the try-outs that were going to take place in the afternoon. Having decided on the routine, they all went to lunch.
In the school building, Erin and Simona were waiting. They were standing near the entrance door, on the outside, not talking. When they saw the football team appear, they exchanged uncertain looks and ran towards their friends. The spell no longer worked, yet the girls had got so used to avoiding one another, that they felt awkward at the necessity to speak up and even touch the other. For a few moments, it was really ridiculous, especially as Erin and Simona did not actually know who was the new captain. Seeing them, Padrina lost temper again and stormed past into the entrance hall.
"So?" started Simona, "Who's the new captain?"
"She is," said Buster shaking his head in Lily's direction. At that movement Lily frowned, but she was so delighted that just decided to let go. "Yes, I am," she said smiling and opening her arms to hold Erin and Simona. In the turmoil of girls hugging and kissing one another, Buster and Phillip took their goodbye and followed Padrina inside. She had not gone far, but had been waiting in the hall, just because she was unsure what to do next. Just as the boys disappeared inside, Lily tore herself from Erin and shouted, "Hey, Buster, wait." Her tone was that of a captain. Everybody could hear that. She felt ashamed, but seeing the adoration she evoked, decided to live up to her rank. "Buster," she repeated in a milder tone, smiling, "is Padrina to be seen anywhere around? I would like to discuss the celebration tonight, so will you tell her what we have decided?"
"Yeah, I'm here," mumbled Padrina and she came out in the sun together with the two boys. "I say we do it in the dining room. I may speak to Professor Baramova for the arrangement. We can take some delis from the kitchen, some drinks. I don't know, would we like anything else?"
"The dining room will be perfect. Please, do so – if you can, arrange it with the professor. Shall we say eight o'clock? And we will invite the new players, too. Can anybody think of anything else?" aske
d Lily.
"Yeah, I want to have dances, too." said Buster to everybody's surprise.
"We didn't have dances last year at the team inauguration," reminded Violet.
"Yeah, but I have heard that dances are typical of that." added Germina.
"Really?" gaped Lily. She looked towards the three third-years – Veronica, Buster and Padrina for confirmation. "Is that so? Has it been like that?"
Padrina said, "I don't know. I was not admitted in the team the first year."
Veronica and Buster agreed that in their first year, when they had made it into the football team, there had been dances at the so-called inauguration party. "Party" was rather an overstatement, since the event held just the twelve. That was a bit annoying for all friends of the players who were outside the team. However, that was a tradition that could not be changed. Oddly enough, the footballers' friends were never annoyed by not having to play a match, they only seemed to get irritated when their "friendly" access to parties was denied. That is a curious side of human nature, for sure.
Lily looked at Simona and Erin. She said, "Girls, you know."
"Yeah, we do. It's OK. It's your opening day. We'll be waiting for you at the dormitory to hear all about it."
"OK, then," said Veronica. "Let's go to lunch. I'm starving, I don't know about you."
With everybody agreeing and saying something to the same effect, the group entered the school building for the last time this noon and set their course directly towards the dining room.
There, a whole crowd was waiting in silence to hear the news. Padrina, Buster and Veronica, as the senior players came in first and announced solemnly, "Ladies and gentlemen, Lily Lemonpie – our football team new captain!"
There was a storm of applause and whistling, encouraging yells and funny lines. Lily felt elated, she hardly believed it. Not that she had ever suffered any deficiency of other people's attention or adoration, but this time it was very special. This time she had earned it by herself, and she had made it consciously, she had achieved something that she wanted and something that was given to one person only. In the past, she had been the centre of attention as part of a group, or when she had succeeded at something without any effort or purpose. Now she knew. Success, individual success, at that, was sweet and biting, it was exciting and invigorating. For several seconds Lily felt she was walking through a dense sticky fog of dizziness and fairiness. Then it all cleared in front of her and she saw Violet waving to her to come to their usual table. Meanwhile, Lily was hugged, squeezed and kissed by numerous boys and girls. The last kiss was the one which awakened her. She turned sharp to see the kisser and saw a boy with a beautiful white face, red full lips, straight nose and glasses.
"Who are you?" asked Lily.
"Mark. Mark Hopfler." As Lily was still standing in amazement before him, not taking her eyes from him, he added, "I'm in my fourth year. House of Flowers. I sing in the choir." His last words were very hesitant and got drowned in laughter. Suddenly, Lily got enraged. How dared they laugh at that beautiful, beautiful boy? Especially when SHE graced him? She looked around in poorly-hidden anger and slowly, so that everybody would see it, she took Mark's hand in hers, drew him very close to her and kissed him on the cheek. Although Mark had just done the same, he was not as brave as that. In fact, he had dared kiss this amazing and brilliant girl only under the cover of the crowd. Now that he was being publicly kissed, he simply did not know what to do. A friend of Mark's, a fellow choir-boy, pushed him from behind towards Lily. So, Mark closed his eyes and did what his instincts told him to – he put his arms around Lily's waist and held her very tight.
A moment of magic! Until Professor Baramova's shrill voice was heard above the crowd, "Well, well, well. I want to know what love is. Is that so, Hopfler? Is that so?" She reached the couple in less than a second and held Lily back from Mark by her ponytail. "Miss Lemonpie, the school has never been cruel to young people's feelings, yet we are determined to maintain decency."
Students took their seats in silence and astonishment. Not less Lily. She felt intoxicated with that brand new feeling of superiority and potency. As if she was a very famous film star, or an international celebrity and her fans were all around, giving her all she needed. And all that was for granted.
Lily was not even hungry, but Violet coaxed her to eat something, lest she should faint at the field during the try-outs. After lunch, when the students filed out of the dining room in small groups and in couples, all of them casting a loving look towards her and waving their hands in appreciation, Lily started to feel exhausted. Erin and Simona left, along with Veronica and it was only Germina and Violet who remained by Lily's side at the table. She felt as if she could fall asleep right then and there, all smile and pomposity vanished from her and she shrank on the table powerless.
"We still have the try-outs, Lily. Brazen up and let's go. After that we can go take a nap before the inauguration party." And they exited the dining room to go and see the try-outs.