Free Battlefield by J. F. Jenkins

invisible. If I keep ignoring him, he'll go away.
    He tossed the fry back at the alien so he could play with it if he so chose. “Nope, never. I live under a rock obviously.”
    â€œHey, you know what?” Peyton interjected quickly. “You should come to the football game tonight.”
    He raised an eyebrow, trying to decide if this guy was serious or not. “You want me to come to a game?”
    In the past, he’d always idolized the football team. Growing up, they were the coolest guys he could ever aspire to be. He’d been fairly decent at it in middle school even, and upon making the JV team his freshman year at Morningtide, he’d learned more than he ever wanted to about the team. Still, he enjoyed the sport. It’d be a good chance for him to go out and maybe even live a little.
    â€œSure, why not? We usually check out this shop called Nan’s afterwards. They’ve got awesome malts and pie. It’d be a good chance for you to get to know some more people.” The smile on Peyton’s face suggested he was being genuine enough, but that didn’t change one minor detail about Orlando’s current situation.
    â€œI’m supposed to be grounded. Who knows though, maybe she’ll be so shocked I actually want to go that I’ll be allowed out of the house,” he said.
    â€œMom got you on a tight leash?”
    â€œYeah, something like that. So you might see me there, you might not. I’m not going to make any promises.” He shifted in his seat, glad the whole school didn’t know everything about him. It was too soon for the grapevine to know details about his home life.
    â€œI won’t hold my breath,” Tait said.
    Just for that, he had to find a way to come and prove her wrong, or he felt like he had to for some reason. He wasn’t sure why, but he was determined not to meet whatever mental image she had of him. Sneaking out wouldn’t be hard to do. Lyssa would never notice he was gone. She barely noticed when he was there.
    Alan added more of his own commentary. “Wouldn’t it be wise to join your comrades tonight if you are able to leave? You do have a task to perform. Wait, ask if this...game...is going to be played here?”
    This was a question he didn’t mind asking for his alien boss. “Is it a home game?”
    â€œYup, just make something up. I mean, you gotta mesh and meet people here. They can’t punish you forever,” Peyton said.
    â€œI like the way you think,” Orlando said with a small laugh. Was he actually cracking out of his shell? This Peyton kid was good at getting him to relax and drop his guard.
    â€œIf you bust out, I’ll buy you pie. I imagine your house is like Fort Knox. I mean, if you can believe everything you hear,” Tait added.
    â€œYeah, I’ve got about five dogs set to kill,” he said.
    â€œItty bitty miniature poodles that fit in a purse, right?”
    â€œIt saves money on paying for a bodyguard.”
    â€œCute. Well, if I see you, I see you. If not, there’s always Monday.” She gave the boys a soft, playful salute before picking up her lunch and leaving the table. She went around the room on what Orlando could only assume was official cheerleader business because she stopped wherever there was another girl in uniform.
    Peyton watched his twin sister leave and then shook his head. “No comment, man, so—” He started to ramble on about something, but whatever it was Orlando missed completely because Alan started to talk over him, and loudly. It was like his voice was projecting right into Orlando’s head with every word he spoke, and it was headache-inducing.
    â€œI am sensing something strange here. It’s familiar. I need to investigate this, but I will find you later tonight to help you with your infiltration at this...” he paused. “Game, football, yes? I will find you then.” He frowned when