Free The Clique by Valerie Thomas Page A

the next thirty minutes are scoreless. Five minutes before the end of the half, the Rams get another goal, bringing the score to two-one.
                  “Aaaaand it’s half time!” the announcer says. “Everyone feel free to get up and move around. We’ll resume play in ten minutes.”
                  Aude stands. “I think I’m gonna get a water. You want anything?”
                  Kate shakes her head. “No thanks.”
                  The refreshments stand is below the announcer’s booth, about thirty feet away from the bleachers. Aude makes the trek alone, passes through a small river of green, and joins a short line. Someone taps her on the shoulder.
                  “Hey,” the boy—who looks at least college-age—says. “Did you get a sunburn, or were you always this hot?”
                  Um, what? Audrey only needs a second to realize that he’s trying to use a pick-up line. I’m wearing my boyfriend’s letter jacket, how much more obvious do I have to be? She smiles. There’s a perfect solution to this. “Arrf arrf arrf!” she claps the extra-long sleeves together like a seal.
                  The boy looks seriously weirded out. “What the fuck?”
                  “Arrf! Arrf arrf!”
                  “Uh, okay.” He walks away, muttering something about “fucking crazy”.
                  Aude gets her water and sits back down next to Kate. “I have the best story to tell you! This guy just tried to hit on me in line and I—well, I sorta chased him away by making seal noises. It was awesome!” she chortles.
                  Kate laughs. “You can be so weird sometimes.”
                  “I know, but I have fun with it. Like if I were in an asylum, I wouldn’t be one of those creepy people who just stares at everyone. I’d be the woman laughing maniacally in the corner. Besides, I’m not that —“
                  “Oh, hey, you speak human!” Aude groans; the college boy works his way out of a group of green-jackets. “So, did you get a sunburn or—“
                  “I’m not interested,” Aude says flatly. I already have a boyfriend, and a creepy stalker. We don’t have any openings at this time, thank you. Please reapply next fall.
                  “Yeah, but what I’m asking is—“
                  “Jesus!” Kate exclaims. “Sorry, Aude. Take a freaking hint, dude. She doesn’t want you.”
                  “Well, what about you?”
                  “No thank you.”
                  The boy’s grin falls; he marches back to his friends.
                  “See?” Kate says, in a joking tone. “This is why we use people words to chase away boys we don’t like.”
                  “Yeah, but the seal thing was funnier.”
                  Kate giggles. “Yes, the seal thing was funnier.”
                  Aude watches the boy, noting his dejected expression. “I think we hurt his feelings.”
                  “Not our fault. He shouldn’t have hit on us. I mean, you’re wearing Gabe’s jacket...”
                  “Yeah, but—“ Aude glances at the boy, frowning at how lonely he looks “ —I dunno, whatever. What’s the score?”
                  “Um, three to one.”
                  “Whoa, when did that happen?”
                  “Right after half time.”
                  The Rams slowly pull away, decimating the Patriots five to two. “Well, that could’ve been better,” Aude says.
                  “Yeah.”
                  “Gabe’s not gonna be happy. He was talking all about how they were gonna win in Advisory yesterday, and how winning was a sign that they