I was sitting in Izzy and Cathy's spot in the bleachers after practice when I noticed Coach walking across the track toward me. He didn't acknowledge me, but climbed the stairs and then sat down next to me. We sat in silence for a longtime.
"I fussed at her for being out here after dark." Coach finally said. "Yep, after what happened to Cathy, it just didn't seem safe. Oh, she gave me grief about it, said she could take care of herself, but I made her leave just the same. She's a real fighter that one."
"She is." I said.
"Now, you know how I feel about what she did for the team last year, but even before that, she showed some real spunk."
"What do you mean?"
"No one knows I saw what really happened in the hallway outside the cafeteria that day. See, that knucklehead Derrick had knocked her books out of her hands and when she knelt down to pick them up, well, she poked a hole in his soda cup. Took a lot of spunk to do that. It was all I could do to keep from bustin' out laughin'."
"I didn't know that."
He patted my knee. "You have that same fire. Oh, I'd be lying if I told you I knew everything was going to work out, but I just can't see anything separating you two. No sir, can't see it." He patted my knee again, got up and walked down the bleachers. At the bottom, he looked back up towards me. "You keep her in your prayers, it'll all work out. Don't stay too long. Goodnight."
"Night, Coach."
It was a cold night, crisp and clear and I think there were more stars visible than I'd ever seen. I relived Izzy and my entire relationship while I sat there, staring at the stars, even the part when we were kids and she was human. Finally, the cold started to get to me so I eased up to my feet.
Thump.
Startled, I turned toward the sound beside me. "Melanie!" I grabbed her in a huge hug. I could feel her tense, but I didn't care.
"I have news." she said.
I let go of her. "That's good, right?"
She hesitated for what seemed like an eternity. "Benjamin believes we have located them."
"But?"
"It seems your friend was correct, it appears to be a trap."
"What do we do?"
She smiled and patted my cheek. "So brave."
"I'd do anything for her."
"I know—we all know." she corrected. "For now, she's in no further danger and Benjamin wants to see if he can figure out how our adversary has become well, so huge."
"You said, 'she's in no further danger', what does that mean?"
She hesitated.
"Come on Melanie, what is it?"
"Oh, alright, but I wasn't supposed to tell you this part."
"Just tell me already."
"She's not herself."
"By not herself—"
"Hayley only got a brief look, but it was her assessment that our adversary has been feeding Izzy human blood."
"Why? Why would he do that?"
"I don't know—to be malicious I suppose. It will likely be sometime—if ever before she can see you again—your blood, well you understand."
"I don't care, Melanie, I'll do anything to help recue her—anything."
"Your game is tomorrow?"
"Game—the game doesn't matter."
"Yes it does—to Izzy it matters a great deal. Besides, we're not ready to act just yet."
"But you can't let him keep torturing her like that. She hates the monster she becomes—sorry, I didn't mean it like that."
"I know. We'll let you know when we're ready. Benjamin wants your input."
"Thank him for me. I'll be ready whenever you need me, day or night—game or no game."
"We'll be in touch." She turned toward the railing at the back of the bleachers. "Good luck tomorrow we're all pulling for you." She bounded over the railing and by the time I peered over the edge, she was gone. This was going to be a difficult secret to keep. Cathy—I could tell her.