As Monday progresses, Kevin DeSanto speaks with Derek about the upcoming game this Friday.

This chapter is a part of my ongoing Wolf on the Field series.
To read the prior chapter: http://www.furaffinity.net/view/20765988/
To start from the beginning: http://www.furaffinity.net/view/29662089/
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Four Days before the Full Moon
Monday Morning: 11:37 AM

Kevin DeSanto strolled down the empty hallway of his high school, smiling and nodding at the hall monitor as he passed her, turning into the adjacent hallway. With his hands in his pockets, Kevin felt invigorated, yet slightly self-conscious. Never before had their high school nominated a Junior to be charged with not only the school's newspaper, but its yearbook as well. It was a feat that Kevin knew would ultimately take him to the top, possibly giving him enough clout to run his own paper and reporting staff.

Part of Kevin's success stemmed in his dedication to the craft. He had sacrificed much of his social life or even the opportunity to engage in extracurricular activities. He still attended the games and observed many of the social clubs, but never once had he participated. He was always the invisible person, watching for something to strike him for the purposes of a story. He knew that the only method of providing news to the student body that would be both insightful and captivating was that he was to personally be the eyes of the school, the direct witness, which meant much of his life was put on hold.

He didn't regret making his writing and the formation of his writing staff, but he did slightly envy the chance to have the school chant his name and recognize him by only the jersey number on his back. He did discretely wonder what may have been if he hadn't embraced his passion for writing, specifically if he would have been any good at football. He felt an icy pang in his chest at the thought of the word 'football,' knowing he wanted to keep his wish for playing hidden from everyone. The school knew he lived and breathed writing, to which he found it embarrassing that he had a secret desire to play. It contradicted everything everyone ever knew about him.

Derek Tremblay. The focus of his day. The interview he would need to expand into a story. The school needed someone to specifically root for and Derek was Kevin's nominee. Due to his status as editor-in-chief, Kevin was privy to student schedules, per the main office, and had looked up Derek's itinerary for the day. At this time, until 12:15, Derek was in Chemistry, meaning his chances for a interview would be halted if they were engaged in laboratory work. He hoped it was merely instruction they were focused on.

He glanced in through the door window as he passed the classroom, relieved that the class was listening to Miss Penzi's lecture. Kevin brushed his hair back with his hands and readjusted his sweater, knowing that appearance was essential to success. He knocked on the door, waiting for Miss Penzi to answer the door, as it was locked.

She answered the door, looking to Kevin suspiciously for a fraction of a second. Her curious gaze quickly shifted to a constrained irritation. She knew who Kevin was and what his purpose was. You've come to disrupt my class, her face read, but she managed a smile and asked, "What can I do for you, Kevin?"

Knowing he had to endure the occasional outburst from a teacher, such as Mrs. Hewitt, who had slammed the door in his face once, Kevin knew to tread carefully. "If it is not too much of an interruption to your class, I was hoping to interview Derek Tremblay for the school paper, in regards to the football game this Friday."

Based upon Miss Penzi's facial expressions, Kevin knew he had checkmated her with kindness. She exhaled, shrugging her shoulders, before turning into the class and calmly said to what appeared to be the direction of the back of the classroom, "Derek? Would you care to be interviewed for the school paper? ...Come on, let's go, so we can resume in here." Kevin could hear some in the classroom mocking with sounds of "oohs" and "ahhhhs."

When Kevin saw Derek exiting the class, he was taken aback by how awkward Derek appeared. He looked uncomfortable, and desperately trying to conceal it. Even more odd was him wearing a black beanie, which he had pulled down almost too low over his head. "Be sure he's back before the end of the class period," Miss Penzi said to Kevin, before reentering her class and closing the door behind her.

Kevin extended his hand towards Derek, who hesitated for a moment before shaking it. It seemed Derek was contemplating his every move carefully, even shaking a mere hand. "I don't think we've ever met, but I'm Kevin DeSanto. I run the school newspaper." He didn't allow Derek a moment to speak, knowing the less they spoke until it became official, the better. Off-the-record material was worthless. "I figure you don't mind, since you walked out here, that you don't mind being interviewed?"

Derek shrugged. He seemed indifferent. "Great," Kevin exclaimed, slightly emphasizing his enthusiasm. "Follow me. I have access to a classroom down the hallway."

As they walked, Kevin shoved his hands into his pockets and strolled quickly. Derek was slower, seeming to walk in an angle and seemingly like his balance seemed off. He ignored it, speaking to break the silence, "When I started the paper back in August, I said to the main office that there was no way I would allow interviews to be conducted in the hallways. It's just not doable, so I insisted on getting some classroom access to allow interviews to be more private and relaxed." Derek didn't say anything, which didn't bother Kevin in the slightest.

Kevin took out his keycard and opened the door to one of the English classrooms that was unoccupied on this morning. He held the door open for Derek, allowing him to walk by him. It was odd, as Derek past him, he reeked of wet-dog. Not what he was expecting.

"So, take a seat at one of the desks and allow me to tell you how I conduct these, and honestly, this will be like five-minutes, tops." Kevin took out his cell phone, scrolling to his recorder app. Holding up his phone for Derek to see, "I learned very quickly that dialogue can be misconstrued and I'm an advocate for recording interviews. Do you mind?"

"I'm good," Derek said, carefully sitting down, almost too carefully, Kevin thought. Had he injured his tailbone during practice...maybe there was a hidden story there?

Kevin turned the recorder on, placing it on the surface of a desk that separated Derek and the desk he threw himself in. "This is Kevin DeSanto interviewing Derek Tremblay on Monday Morning. The time is 11:42 AM. And this morning I would like to start by asking you...how long have you been playing football?"

Derek sat back, contemplating for a brief moment. "I guess for as long as I can remember."

"Do you recall the appeal?"

"Honestly, and this is gonna sound stupid, I've never really liked it for the sport itself."

"Really?"

"I mean, football is life. It really is. But it's more than the ball, the field, the whatever....For me, it's about what is made from it. The friendships and what feels like a family. You play strong cause you don't want to let them down. They empower you and that's something special."

"And is that the mentality going against Griffin this week?"

"We're mentally prepared to face-off against them, but it's also about before sure we are ready for whatever plays they are planning to use against us. I don't want to say too much cause the last thing I'd want is from someone there to read what I think about their weaknesses."

"Understandable...but what are *you* doing to prepare for Friday?"

"Same as always, being one of the team and helping everyone excel. We don't win as a single person, but as a team."

"With Jack Parsons leading the helm in the QB position?"

"Sure."

"Ever see yourself as a quarterback?"

"Eventually, maybe. Right now I'm trying to do the best with what I've been given. I started the season being a Wide Receiver, but coach felt I was more appropriate as a Running Back, so now I need to master both those positions and that's a lot of work."

"And you have to work with those close to you in those positions, which I guess used to be Ethan Barrow."

Kevin observed Derek's face shift to sadness.

"You're close with Ethan, right?"

"He was - is! - my best friend..." Derek trailed off.

"I'm sure you wouldn't tell me, but I have to ask: was there any truth to Ethan and Brandon Lanskey being an item?"

"No."

"I have to ask cause it was rumored after what happened to Brandon. It seemed to many that Ethan took it hard."

Derek exhaled slowly, trying to maintain his composure. He gripped his thighs under the desk, trying to contain himself. "We all took what happened hard, equally hard with what happened to Ethan. It's been a tough year for all of us."

Kevin could sense he was losing Derek, shifting his tone immediately. "Well, I really want to make this small spotlight feature I'm working on being about you. I mean, technically, I should be talking to Jack, but I thought you might be great focus cause you're an up-and-comer, and people like you a lot." Kevin smiled. "Aside from the team mentality, what are you doing for Friday's game to get prepared."

"I guess be the best I can be on the field and hitting the gym and working out even harder."

"How often do you work out?"

"I try to go five times a week."

"Five? For how long?"

"Usually 2-3 hours at a time."

"Wow!" Kevin exclaimed. "You're essentially a beast on the field!"

Derek awkwardly laughed. "I guess so." He felt his nails extending slightly into points as he gripped his thighs and felt his ears pointing further underneath the beanie he was wearing. His tail, which he was desperately trying to conceal within his jeans, grew a half inch, pressing against the base of his jeans further. It took Derek by surprise, causing him to inadvertently growl.

To Derek's relief, he growled just as Kevin asked, "What do you think will *change* for you on Friday night? What changes should this school expect from you on Friday night when you're on the field?"

The question made Derek's stomach drop. "I guess..." He paused. "...*I* won't be changing, but I guess how things are communicated and how connections are made...We're in it to win and that doesn't change." He was distracted, terrified of wolfing out, and even worse, having it happen in front of someone.

"What do you see as the defining moment of Friday's game, if you want to predict it?"

"I'm not sure." Derek wasn't focused.

"Fair enough." Kevin glanced at his watch, knowing he didn't have much time left. "Last question cause we are running out of time: What are you going to do to not lose this game on Friday?"

Without thinking, Derek blurted out, "I'm going to be the biggest wolf on the field." Everything stopped at that moment. He couldn't believe he said that.

Kevin smiled, "Well Derek, that's all the time we have." He turned off his recorder and placed the phone in his pocket. "Can you swing by the newspaper room later today to have a picture taken to possibly go with what we whip up?"

"Ah, sure."

Kevin stood up and extended his hand. "It's been a pleasure. I'd love to interview you again Friday, after the game, for a follow-up article."

Derek awkwardly stood up. He bit his lip as he took Kevin's hand, shaking it, knowing his nails were slightly extended and sharp. He prayed Kevin didn't notice. "We'll see," he said regarding Kevin's request.

"Let me walk you back to class," Kevin said innocently. He allowed Derek to walk by him and he noticed something unusual as they walked back down the hallway...a slight bulge at the base of Derek's pants. Not that he was actively looking there...but there was something apparent. It was probably nothing. His imagination playing tricks on him.

Not was to come the hard part...taking this interview and making an article out of it for the school to read. Kevin began to recycle in his brain what was perhaps the catchiest phrase or sentence Derek said...there had to be something he could use as a headliner.