Lost Opportunity

Zack sat across from Gavin at the lunch table and watched his friend eat in silence. He wanted to ask him what happened last night but there were just too many people around so he would have to wait till later while they waited for the ride home. Meanwhile... they had to listen to the girls talking at their table.

"So you going to try out for the team?" Bonnie asked Meagan. Bonnie Schmidt was a tall, model thin brunette who liked to wear her light brown hair not only braided but also tied into a ponytail. She had small breast that were still growing and a firm ass. Bonnie was on the soccer team along with Chloe and Sylvie and loved to hear about all the gossip there was going around and right now she trying to get all the background she could out of Meagan.

"I'm going to make the team." Meagan said confidently while she munched on her fourth pretzel.

"Yeah! You hear that boys?" Bonnie said "4 on 2! Go Girls!"

"We still win" Zack playfully tossed the challenge back to her and waited for her comeback when he saw her look up and behind him.

"Your turn guys" Sylvie said pointing with her chin. Sylvie Starr was the other girl that played soccer with Chloe in the half-back position. A svelte blonde with small breast and a tight ass, she was much tougher than she seemed.

"Hi Guys" a smiling Vicky said standing at the head of the table with her spiral notebook. "Could I ask you a few questions for the Busybear? It's about yesterday."

Zack caught his breath for a moment before looking nervously around to the others and then back at Vicky. "I guess so." he said. "take a seat." Gavin quickly stood up, giving his seat to Vicky and moved to the other end of the table leaving Zack alone to talk to Vicky. He was surprised that this pretty girl wanted to talk to him, he even felt a little embarrassed by the bruises on his face. 'She wants to talk to me?' he wondered.

Vicky questioned Zack about the fight, who was in it and what did each one do, etc. The rest of the group just stayed quiet, content to let Zack answer all the question and stay out of the spotlight. He could barely hear the girls whispering has they filled in Meagan on the Busybear and Vicky's and Sylvie's role in the school newspaper.

When Vicky was finally wrapping up her questions Zack spotted his friend Ashley walking towards him in her cheerleader uniform follow by her other friends.

"UUHH!" Bonnie cooed has she elbowed Meagan. "Those are the guys I was talking to you about. The tall stud is Logan Ravers and the brunette next to his is his cousin Heather. Can you believe it they almost have the same birthday? He's just two weeks older..." Bonnie droned one about others in Logan clique and how they were the most popular kids in school.

"Hey Zack" Ashley said placing a hand on his shoulder. "How you doing?"

"Ehh, Ok I guess." Zack shrugged his answer.

"Does it hurt?" Ashley asked as she tenderly touched the bruised cheek under his black eye.

Zack knew she was honestly worried about him but just shrugged "Just a little."

Logan walked up to stand next to him and the rest of his friend, Heather, Shannon, Charlie and Dustin surrounded the table and Zack started to feel a little uneasy even though Ashley placed a comforting hand on his shoulder. He knew and trusted Ashley and didn't think her friends had any bad intentions still....

"Hi Bishop." Logan said smiling down to Zack.

"Ravers" he answered back while he looked up at him.

"Sooo," Logan started, "Emm, I heard about the fight you had yesterday and I wanted to ask you if we could team up against Dylan, you know make an alliance or something."

"The fight yesterday was with Brandon not Dylan." Zack said after a moment. For a moment he thought Logan must have been confused yesterday's fight with Dylan making fun of Chloe on Monday. 'What does he want' Zack thought while the wheels in his mind started spinning.

"Yeah I know but... I just know that Dylan put him up to it. I saw Dylan and Shawn gloating while you guys got into the fight. I Don't know how but I'm sure he put Brandon up to it." Logan paused for a moment has he looked around the table. "Look, I've been having problems with Dylan for a long time. I know he's a sneaky bully, and now I see him picking on you and your friends and... Well... all I'm saying is that if we team up we can stop him. What do you say? Want to be partners?" Logan said extending his hand.

Zack tensed up a bit. He looked around the table at his friends. Gavin was scared, yesterday had really hit him hard. Chloe was wishing she could be invisible. He could see she didn't like the idea but also that she would back him up. Across from Chloe he saw that Sylvie, the wanna be cop, was up to the challenge and he knew that Bonnie would just love to rub elbows with the cool kids but he also saw that Meagan's face had turned pale, like she had just been asked to eat vomit or something just as disgusting.

All of them were looking at him to make a decision. 'Damm it! Why is it always me?' he thought. His felt it in his gut, his instinct told him this was the right thing to do, they should work together but... but he couldn't drag them into it. He didn't know about Meagan but he knew that Chloe, Gavin and Sylvie were on scholarships. He just couldn't drag them into this and hurt them, not after yesterday.

Zack looked back at Logan and then at Ashley. "Sorry." He said softly to Ashley, "I... we can't..." he said and it seemed like a he could suddenly breathe easier, "Look, we don't like Dylan and his group but... I'm sorry but... we just can't help you... it's... complicated and well.... good luck, maybe... maybe some other time."

"Yeah I understand." Logan said a bit disappointed "Still If you change your mind... call me."

"Sure." Zack said.

"Ok, so... see you later then." Logan said.

Zack watched Logan turn around and leave with his friends. Ashley followed a bit and then glanced back to wave good-bye.

"Thanks" he heard someone whisper.