Free Heart on a Chain by Cindy C Bennett

some of his friends. I recognize a few who sit with us at lunch, and I wave back, surprised, when they call out a hello to me.
    We head toward the entrance to the field. I see a couple of the girls who are on the Spirit Squad sitting at a table, checking student ID’s or taking money for tickets. They both gape when they see me walking up to the table. Their eyes nearly bug out of their heads when Henry grabs my hand, twining his fingers with mine and pulling me to him, making it obvious that I’m with him.
    “ Hey Celia, Amber. How you guys doing?” Henry says. I might have smiled as I watch Celia pull off two tickets and hand them to Henry without asking for his student ID, her eyes darting back and forth between us, except that I’m beginning to feel like this is a mistake; I should have stayed away as I always have. A cold pit forms in my stomach.
    Henry doesn’t let go of my hand, keeping me firmly by his side as we enter the gate, giving his tickets to yet another Spirit Squad girl who gapes as openly as the first two. He just keeps on smiling, greeting everyone, acting as if there isn’t anything unusual about being there with the schools biggest loser.
    There’s a feeling of heightened excitement inside the stadium, students milling about everywhere. Students, parents and school faculty are all dressed in their own school colors depending on which team they’re here to support. Even Henry is wearing our school colors. I look down at my yellow shirt which represents neither. Appropriate somehow; an island unto myself.
    I’m very conscious of the feel of his hand pressed against mine. I know this isn’t a date, just friends hanging out. Knowing that doesn’t change the speeding of my heart—I haven’t had my hand held since...well, since I held hands with Henry in sixth grade. We walk over to the stands, teeming with a writhing mass of over-excited humanity and I’m doubly glad he’s holding onto me, because it would be a simple thing to get lost in all these people.
    He pulls me behind him up the bleachers in a place where there doesn’t seem to be a path, and finds us seats among a group of kids who I know by name, several of whom have been my tormentors at one time or another in the past. He high-fives the guys, says hi to the girls and I stand behind him, wishing that a big hole will open beneath and swallow me up. I keep my head down, even as Henry brings me in front of him, letting go of my hand and placing both hands on my shoulders.
    “ You guys all know Kate, right?” he asks with a cheerful, positive tone, shaming them into acknowledging me and saying hello. I peek up at each face, nodding slightly in reply, seeing they’re clearly as uncomfortable as me, the knowledge of our histories between us, only Henry unaware.
    Though it doesn’t seem as if there’s room for one more person where we stand, Ian and Kaden, our lunch companions, push their way in and start a loud, laughing banter with Henry and the others standing here. I’m thankful for their exuberance since it takes the edgy focus off of me.
    The football teams make their way onto the field and the crowd grows frenzied. In spite of my anxiety, I feel myself caught up in the excitement. I don’t go so far as to scream and yell like the others, but I find myself grinning. Henry’s whistling loudly next to me, and he shoots me an impish smirk that causes me to laugh aloud. Even those surrounding us seem to have come to terms with my presence and are no longer shooting me sidelong looks, ignoring me now to join in the cheering.
    There’s a coin toss, though I could only tell that it was in our favor by the cheering that erupted all around me. After that, the teams line up at opposite ends of the field and someone from the other team kicks the ball towards our team. To my surprise, everyone running toward him suddenly stop when he kneels down. I’m confused; my limited knowledge at least knows there’s supposed to be tackling