And now, an excerpt from Dodgy Pitch: Popularity is Fleeing 🏈
Chapter 1
The Good, the Brad and the Pretty
Get the hell out of Dodge.
That was about all Skyler Specker had ever heard of Dodge City, Kansas. Nothing but a quote from an old-ass movie. Yet now, he was living in it.
Dodge City, that is.
Straight outta Newport, Rhode Island, Skyler wasn't altogether sure how exactly he'd fit in with the "cowboy capital of the world." Though he'd been so unpopular at his last school, such an absolute punching bag, that he hadn't exactly fit in there either.
Naturally, he hoped this new chapter would be the exact opposite as the last. The freshest of fresh-water starts for this fresh fish out of water. Perhaps I should demand they call me the fresh fish of Dodge City! he thought excitedly.
Sitting at his new desk in his new school, he could feel his new classmates' eyes scanning his frizzy ginger hair, his thick glasses, his yellow polo shirt, hell, even his thin frame. He could hear the whispering. Probably trying to suss him out. Hopefully they wouldn't come to the conclusion he was suss.
But why would they? He hadn’t even been introduced to the class yet. They had no idea who the heck he even was, what he was even doing there.
Mr. Willard, balder than bald itself, heaved himself up from behind his desk with great effort. His spine cracked like an entire row of firecrackers.
“Well, as you can all clearly tell, we have a new student among us today. Skyler, would you like to come up and introduce yourself?”
Skyler didn't want to do that absolutely whatsoever. But yet, if he didn’t… surely then would they think he's a sussy baka.
He took a quick puff from his inhaler. Show time… ready or not.
Trying to keep his legs from trembling, he shuffled to the front of the room. An intimidating teenage wasteland of judgmental faces stared back. A group of pretty girls seemed to be more glaring at him than anything.
Unbelievable.
He hadn’t even done anything yet. But it looked like he was already off to a bad start.
He licked his braces nervously. “My name is Skyler Specker, and — and I just moved here f-from Newport."
His slight lisp made every “s” sound stand out painfully.
“Rhode Island,” he added after an awkward pause.
Someone coughed.
Another sneezed.
A hiccup soon followed.
Skyler pushed his thick glasses all the way up his large nose and looked helplessly at Mr. Willard.
“Thank you, Skyler. You may take your seat,” the teacher said, fingering his bald spot, which was his entire head.
Skyler trudged back to his desk, disappointment welling up inside him like a stormy cloud.
So much for a dazzling debut of majestic wonders.
So much for being worshipped as the eighth wonder of the world.
All he had wanted to do was some stand-up. Maybe make a speech or two. But instead he'd been about as exciting as a piece of toast.
Hell, not even toast. Bread.
Suddenly, he pitched forward and hit the floor with a thud. He just managed to keep his face from smashing the floor, with his arms.
The class broke their solemn silence at once, erupting into raucous laughter.
“Bad Brad!" Mr. Willard said at once. The way he said it made it sound like that was his nickname. "That’s detention!”
“But I have football practice tonight!” the one called Bad Brad protested, drawing his Nike-clad foot back. Skyler got up to see a stocky Neanderthal who wore a flat-rimmed baseball hat on his short, dark brown hair, a green Dodge City Hellions football jersey, and black shorts. Jock-wear deluxe.
Skyler pulled his chair up and managed to actually sit in it this time, while he stewed in his humiliation.
Mr. Willard pursed his walrus-like brow and gazed down at Brad in thought. “Alright, fine," he said heavily. "Take your practice then. We all want the Hellions to beat the Bisons, after all.”
“Yeah! Garden City sucks!” a black-haired boy hissed with venom.
“But this is your final warning!” the teacher added.
Brad grinned. “Sure thing, Mr. Dubya.”
Skyler pursed his lips. So… this "Bad" Brad character could get out of trouble just by being on the football team, huh? Typical, typical, TYPICAL!
A gentle pat on his shoulder startled him. The guy sitting next to him — tall, tan, and good-looking enough to be on a series of ads promoting the green gym shorts and t-shirt combo he was wearing — gave him a sympathetic smile. His caramel skin seemed to glow under the fluorescent lights. And his hazel eyes seemed genuinely kind.
Skyler managed a weak smile back.
After class, he hurried to catch up with him. “Hey, uh, what’s your name?”
Before he could answer, the same group of gorgeous girls who’d glared at Skyler for no reason earlier sauntered past, sing-songingly going, “Hiiiii, Roddyyyyy!” in unison. They dissolved into giggles and side-glances as they went, nearly walking into a wall.
Skyler frowned. “Roddy, huh?” he said, voice tightening with jealousy he hoped wouldn't be the slightest bit evident even though it obviously was.
Roddy laughed. “No, no — Rodrigo.”
“You’re so lucky,” Skyler muttered as they reached the lockers.
Rodrigo shook his head. “Nah. It’s more of a curse.”
“Excuse me?”
“Girls," Rodrigo said seriously. “Huge distractions. And yeah, it can be hard to ignore them — but I HAVE to.”
“Why?” Skyler asked in something resembling outrage.
“I have a goal,” Rodrigo said clearly, twisting the dial on his lock. Three down from Skyler’s. “And let's just say it’s a lofty one.”
As the lock clicked open, he looked Skyler right in the face. “I’m going to be an Olympic marathon runner someday. Represent the U.S. of A. And I’m going to WIN.”
Skyler stacked his binder precariously on top of his binder tower, and shut his locker door. “Well… how fast are you?”
Rodrigo grinned, revealing his perfect teeth, with a steely glint in his eye. “I’ll show you. ”
End of excerpt. 🗡
Thanks for reading, final girls (and final guys.) 😀 This sneak preview is a work in progress and shall surely differ from the final version. Follow The Daily Honker for future Dodgy Pitch updates. 📰
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