The Alien Within

Chapter 13: Tensions on the Field

Tessa hadn't spoken to Adrian much since their conversation by the track.

Not because she didn't want to—her mind just wasn't ready to deal with the whirlwind of emotions swirling around her. And then, of course, there was James. Sweet, funny James, who seemed to always be there for her, texting her, sending cute messages, or making her laugh in ways that made her heart feel lighter.

But now, with Adrian in the picture, things were complicated—far more complicated than she could have ever imagined.

The love triangle wasn't just in her mind anymore. It had spilled over into every aspect of school life, and people had noticed. Teachers had started whispering in the corridors, watching her, James, and Adrian with curious eyes. Even Ms. Caldwell, her adoptive mother and fiercest protector, had taken notice, and her concern was obvious.

"Tessa," Ms. Caldwell said one evening, pulling her aside in the kitchen after dinner, "I'm worried about what's going on between you, James, and this new boy, Adrian."

Tessa bit her lip. "There's nothing going on, Ms. Caldwell. It's just... complicated."

Ms. Caldwell frowned, her motherly instincts kicking into high gear. "I know, darling. But boys that age—they don't always think clearly. Especially when their emotions are involved. I don't want you getting hurt, and I certainly don't want this situation getting out of control."

"I'll be fine," Tessa said, though even she wasn't sure if she believed it. How could she be fine when her whole world seemed to be spinning out of control?

---

A few days later, things took an unexpected turn on the football field. James and Adrian both played for the school's football team, and up until now, their rivalry had been more of a cold war than an actual conflict. But today was different. Today, everything boiled over.

The school was gearing up for an important match against their rivals, Northside Academy. Both teams were full of talent, but all eyes were on James and Adrian. James, the team's striker, had always been the star. He was fast, agile, and had a killer instinct in front of goal. But Adrian, who had recently joined the team, was a different kind of beast altogether.

Adrian was a football prodigy. His skills on the field were otherworldly, almost too good to be true. With his alien abilities, he moved like a god amongst men, gliding across the pitch with effortless grace and precision. His passes were pinpoint, his shots unstoppable, and his stamina endless. There was nothing he couldn't do, and it didn't take long for everyone to notice.

As the game kicked off, the tension between James and Adrian was palpable. They didn't need words to express their feelings—it was all in their eyes, their movements, their determination to outdo each other. Every time Adrian made a brilliant play, James would push himself harder, trying to prove that he was just as good. But the more James tried, the more it became clear that Adrian was on a completely different level.

It was during one particularly intense moment in the second half when everything came to a head. James had just received the ball at midfield, his eyes scanning the field for a break in Northside's defense. He saw an opening and sprinted forward, but before he could take more than a few steps, Adrian appeared out of nowhere, intercepting the ball with a smoothness that left James momentarily stunned.

The crowd roared, and James's face twisted with frustration. He wasn't about to let Adrian steal the spotlight. With a burst of speed, he charged at Adrian, determined to win the ball back. But Adrian was too fast, too skilled. He dodged James's tackle with ease, leaving him sprawling on the grass.

The two boys locked eyes for a split second, the unspoken challenge between them sparking in the air. James lunged again, this time more aggressively, but Adrian sidestepped him effortlessly, leaving James to eat his dust.

The crowd cheered again, but James wasn't listening. He was too caught up in his own anger. Adrian wasn't just beating him—he was humiliating him. And the worst part? He was doing it in front of Tessa.

Frustrated and out of control, James went in for another tackle, this time reckless and fueled by rage. He crashed into Adrian, sending both of them tumbling to the ground in a heap of limbs. The referee blew his whistle, but the damage had already been done.

Adrian jumped to his feet, his eyes blazing. "What's your problem, man?" he snapped, brushing the dirt off his shirt.

James stood up too, his chest heaving with anger. "My problem? You're the one who's been showing off this whole game!"

"Showing off?" Adrian scoffed, taking a step closer. "Maybe if you were better at football, you wouldn't have to worry about me showing you up."

James clenched his fists, his face red with fury. "You think you're so much better than everyone, don't you? Well, newsflash, you're not!"

"Oh, please," Adrian said, rolling his eyes. "Grow up, James. This isn't about football, and you know it."

The tension between them was thick, and it didn't take long for the rest of the team to notice. Players from both sides started to gather around, unsure whether they should intervene or let the boys settle it themselves.

Before things could escalate any further, Tessa burst onto the field, her heart pounding in her chest. She had been watching the whole thing from the sidelines, her stomach twisted in knots as she saw the boys collide.

"Enough!" Tessa shouted, stepping between them and putting a hand on both of their chests. "What are you two doing? This isn't about the game anymore, is it?"

James looked at her, his anger faltering for a moment. "Tessa, he's—"

"I don't care what he's doing," Tessa said firmly. "You're both acting like idiots, and you need to stop."

Adrian's eyes softened as he looked at her, but there was still a trace of smugness in his voice when he spoke. "He started it."

"I don't care who started it," Tessa said, her voice sharp. "I'm finishing it. Both of you need to calm down and act like human beings."

Adrian's gaze flickered at her words—human beings—and for a brief moment, Tessa wondered if she had said too much. But James didn't seem to notice. He was too busy glaring at Adrian, his chest still heaving with frustration.

The crowd slowly began to disperse as the referee stepped in to calm things down, but the tension between James and Adrian didn't disappear. If anything, it felt like it had only intensified, and Tessa knew that this was far from over.

---

Later that day, after the game had ended in an uneasy draw, Tessa found herself sitting with James on one of the benches outside the school. He hadn't said much since the incident, and she could tell that he was still fuming. But now, it wasn't just about Adrian. It was about everything.

"I don't get it," James said finally, his voice low. "Why do you even talk to him? He's... he's not like us, Tessa."

Tessa bit her lip, unsure of how to respond. How could she explain to James that Adrian wasn't like them in ways he couldn't even begin to understand? That Adrian was, quite literally, from another world?

"I don't know," she said softly. "There's just something about him that... I can't ignore."

James looked at her, his eyes filled with hurt. "And what about us? What about everything we've been through?"

Tessa's heart twisted. She cared about James—she really did. But Adrian's presence had complicated things in ways she hadn't anticipated. And now, with James standing there, looking at her like his whole world was falling apart, she didn't know what to do.

"I care about you, James," she said quietly, reaching out to touch his arm. "But this... this is different."

James looked down at her hand, then back up at her face. "I just don't want to lose you, Tessa."

"You're not going to lose me," she said softly. "I promise."

---

Meanwhile, in the shadows of the school, Mr. Rudbick was lurking. He had been watching Tessa closely ever since the quiz competition, his mind racing with plans of his own. The girl was more than just a prodigy—she was something else, something otherworldly. And now, he had the proof he needed to take his suspicions to the next level.

As he watched Tessa and James from a distance, a sinister smile crept across his face. He had already started laying the groundwork for his next move—a plan to kidnap Tessa and take her to the SSG headquarters. There, they would conduct experiments, study her, and finally uncover the truth about what she really was.

He had been ridiculed before, laughed at for his theories about alien life on Earth. But this time, things were different. This time, he was going to prove everyone wrong.

As he slipped away into the night, Mr. Rudbick's mind was filled with thoughts of Tessa—his ticket to redemption. And nothing, not even her new friendships or her growing fame, would stop him from getting what he wanted.