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the ball and I were one. I scored nine goals, surprising everyone in my class, including the teacher who happened to be the varsity soccer coach. She begged me to try out, insisting she’d never seen anything like the way I played. Neither had I. It just came so easy. My body moved faster than ever before, and my movements were precise. It was an incredible feeling.
    Because of my sudden, amazing soccer skills, some of the older girls invited me to a movie that night. Feeling on top of the world, I accepted without question, something I normally didn’t do. But on that day I didn’t analyze. I embraced my decision even to the point of suggesting we go rock climbing before the movie. They seemed surprised as I’m sure they thought me a weak, shy freshman who bent at the slightest breeze. Not that day, though. Like I said, I was on fire.
    At the community rec center, I schooled the girls on rock climbing and afterwards engaged in a conversation with a much older boy. I could see awe in the eyes of the girls. I wasn’t used to being looked at with admiration. It was a good feeling.
    During the movie, I couldn’t sit still. My body refused to be motionless. Without saying good-bye, I rushed from the theater and away from my new friends. As soon as my feet hit the pavement, I ran.
    I felt the full moon rise behind me. Its light tingled my skin, but I didn’t stop to wonder how that was possible. Instead, I ran harder and faster, my eyes on the forest ahead. The muscles in my body began to vibrate and pulse with new life. It was the life my mother had told me to prepare for: the day I became one with Light.
    But I wish she would’ve told me how much the moon would affect my body. When the moon was full it wreaked havoc on my muscles and only exercise helped relieve the painful sensation. That’s why I played every sport I could. Of course, the vast amount of energy and heightened abilities came with a price. After the full moon disappeared, my body was useless. My teammates couldn’t make sense of my strange behavior. Half the month they loved me, the other half they wished I were dead.
    “When are tryouts?” May asked, bringing me back to the present.
    “Um, in a few weeks, I think.”
    “I’ll have to come to the basketball games this year. I heard you were something else to watch.” She turned left into a Burger King.
    “Whatever. I’m sure you heard a lot more than that.”
    She glanced at me sideways. “I heard you were either sick a lot, or angry and wouldn’t play.” May turned off the ignition and jumped out of the car. The rusted metal door vibrated when she slammed it shut.
    “What do you think the reason was?” I asked, trying to close my door.
    “You have to slam it, remember?”
    I slammed it.
    “I think,” May began, “that it was a combination of both.”
    “Do explain?”
    “I think sometimes you get sick of everybody’s crap. Sure they love you when you play great, but the second you mess up, they offer no sympathies. I’d probably miss some games too, just to make them mad. Show them how much they need me.”
    I laughed as I opened the glass door leading into the restaurant; a breath of air conditioning ruffled my hair. “I would never deliberately miss a game, and I would never play a game unless I was giving it my all, which I admit doesn’t look that great sometimes.”
    “I saw you play soccer a couple of times last year. You were incredible one game: fast, shifty, but then another game you just stood there. You wouldn’t even run. What was that all about?”
    I shook my head. “I didn’t feel good.”
    We moved to the front of the line. A pimple-faced cashier with red curly hair stared at us expectantly.
    “You didn’t look sick,” May said, staring up at the menu.
    I was about to order but turned around, suddenly defensive. “I don’t lie. I don’t pretend, and I’m not spiteful. I didn’t ask you to be my friend, May. If you really feel the same as others you can