Max spins in my direction. His eyes sparkle with amusement, but then his expression turns serious. “You’ve got a good arm, Hazel, but you shouldn’t have messed with me.”
“You messed with me first.”
He yells over his shoulder. “It’s time!”
Time? Time for what?
I look to the thirty-yard sideline where percussion is keeping their water balloons and see they have a second tote. They came prepared like us, but I’m not intimidated.
“Bring it on!” I throw another balloon at him, but he dodges away. I hit Felix in the hip and Niko, a cymbal player, in the back.
The percussion players come running from different parts of the field. They all grab balloons from the same tote and make a beeline for us. I restock, ready to hit as many as possible. Brody lands the first balloon, right in my stomach.
He cackles with laughter and doesn’t stop even when I hit him in the chest.
“What the—” Callie yells out.
Devin throws up his hands. “Absolutely not. I’m out.”
A second later, Rosa yells as well. A percussion player hits me on my side and a foul smell rises up all around me. I take a second to sniff my shirt, but slowing down was a bad idea. Three more water balloons hit me in quick succession, then I get another to the back of my head.
“What is that smell?” Yori cries.
Whatisthat smell? I sniff again. It takes me a second to recognize it.
“Vinegar?!” I yell and spin to face Max. “You filled your balloons withvinegar?”
The whole percussion section bursts into laughter, but it doesn’t stop them from throwing even more balloons at us. Devin’s already jogging off the field, and the others scatter at the realization that they aren’t being hit by regular water balloons anymore. Percussion members take off after them, and now the chaos is at a different level. The girls’ screams are turning hysterical and any joy I felt is replaced with fury. I can’t believe they’re ruining one of the most fun parts of bandcamp.
I spot Max racing after Addison while Brody takes off in the opposite direction. I bean Brody in the lower back and manage to hit Max in the back of the head. I laugh in triumph.
Max twists around as a balloon from Niko bursts at my collarbones, sending vinegar splashing down my shirt and up onto my face. I scream and swipe at my mouth. Max stills, his eyes trailing down my body, and I’m reminded that I’m completely drenched. My purple T-shirt is clinging to me, and heat rises in my cheeks as I imagine how I must look.
Max puts out a cautious hand in my direction. “If you stop targeting me, then I’ll stop going after you.”
I scowl and hurl another balloon at him. He doesn’t flinch or dodge away. He just stands there and lets me hit him, soaking him all over again. I don’t allow myself to enjoy how the orange fabric perfectly defines each angle of him. My past crush is nothing compared to this present moment.
“ ‘Stop targeting’ says the guy who filled his balloons with vinegar. I can’t believe you, Max.”
Another balloon smacks into my back and I jump. Brody cackles from behind me and then comes to stand next to Max. “I’m loving this guy. He has the best ideas.”
“It was your idea?”
At least Max has the decency to look mildly shamed. “It’s a mixture of vinegar and water. Mom uses it to clean all the time.”
“See, we’re doing you a favor—it’s a way to keep your guard from stinking,” Brody says and slings his arm over Max’s shoulder. Around me, the shrieking and running is dying down. Percussion must be almost out of balloons. “Ofcourse, it won’t keep you from sucking on the field this season, but we can only do so much.”
“Did you not hear our new color guard chant? I’m pretty sure it’syouguys who suck. All. Day.”
That sets off Brody just like I knew it would. He takes his arm from Max and points a finger at me. “Donotmess with our chant, Hazel. That’s our good luck charm.”
“Good luck? No way!” I mimic and give him a bright grin. I know I’m pushing my luck with Brody, but I can’t stop myself.
Li comes up beside me. “Are you okay?”
Brody sneers at us both. “You wish guard had one ounce of our talent. You’re perpetual losers. Color guard is always bringing down the band, and from what I’ve seen, this season will be no different.”
Li falls back a step, her eyes wide. The fire inside me burns brighter until all I see is red. She’s just a baby freshman, still full of excitement and optimism, and I willnotlet Brody and Max taint the guard for her.
