Invincible Assassin by John Darryl Winston

Author:John Darryl Winston [Winston, John Darryl]
Language: eng
Format: epub
Tags: teens, teen fiction, action, adventure, Fantasy, magic, sci-fi, sciencefiction, Supernatural, Suspense, urban, YA, Young Adult
Publisher: BHC Press
Published: 2018-08-17T00:00:00+00:00

I keep icing the back of my head. The swelling has gone down, and I’m hoping it goes down even more before Coach sees it. Too bad I don’t play baseball anymore. My Monarch’s ball cap would’ve been perfect. If I can get the swelling down enough, Coach won’t notice a thing.

When I show up that evening, it isn’t Coach who questions me, but Soul. “What happened to you? Since when does the Wordsmith not show up to class?” Soul is already sitting on the sofa, playing basketball against the computer.

Luckily, I have my lame excuse ready, and I only have Soul in one of my classes this semester. “I had to see my counselor … about next year at IA.” I pick up the controller from the coffee table and make a quick decision to sit in the chair instead of the sofa. My position conveniently hides Skinny’s lucky shot on the back right side of my head.

Soul immediately peps up and puts the game in two-player mode. For the first time, I’m having trouble concentrating. I’m not sure if it’s the lump on my head or my task in general, but the game on the screen stays close for the first time. Soul is fully engaged as Coach walks in.

“Any homework, gentlemen?” Coach picks up a controller and pauses the game. It’s the only way he’ll have Soul’s full attention.

“Coach!” Soul complains. “Finished it!” Soul unpauses the game, and we continue.

“You finished the health assessment, Son?”

“Done, Coach.” Soul nods toward a piece of paper on the table. “Look! The Wordsmith is slipping.” Soul is genuinely excited. He senses I’m giving it my all, and he has a chance.

I find myself trying to look like I’m not trying, and that feels even more out of place. It’s obvious; something’s wrong, and I won’t be able to hide it from Coach if this keeps up. I wish Coach would leave, but he sits down and watches us play. I notice I’m tapping my foot—is that something I always do? I don’t think it is, so I stop. They don’t seem to be paying me any attention, but I feel compelled to initiate conversation. “Where’s that assignment, Coach, assessment?” He doesn’t answer right away. He’s on to me, maybe; I’m not myself.

“Don’t worry about it,” he finally says.

Then, it’s quiet for what feels like a long time, an uncomfortably long time. My mouth is dry, and I find that I keep trying unsuccessfully to swallow. I wanna get some water, but I don’t want to call attention to myself.

“Really!?” Soul blurts out from nowhere, and I jump.

I’m wondering what’s wrong with him, what he means.

Then, Soul mumbles, “If I don’t come to class, Coach, I don’t have to worry about the assignments either.”

I can’t tell if Soul’s asking a question or making a statement.

Coach doesn’t answer or least I don’t think he does which is weird, weird that he doesn’t answer and that I’m not sure if he did. I can feel him looking at me now.

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