Touch and Go

By Jacqueline Fieck

Did you enjoy playing games in high school? Not big name games like football or soccer, but something local and fun. At Bridgeway High School they play a whole different game when it comes to homecoming. The football players have to touch the back of the leg of the woman they want to take to the dance. She can only refuse him if she finds and hides his jersey. This is supposed to be a fun game, however for Maya it's not. Every day she endures bullies and tripping hazards called peers. They play jokes on her and treat her like trash just because she is different. She just wants to get through school to become a dancer on the big stage. Her spicy personality turns heads, even the most popular boy in school. Life goes in a whole other direction after drama ensues at school. Will Maya be asked to Homecoming for real? Read this roller coaster ride to find out!

• Language: English
• Publisher: Jacqueline Fieck
• Release date: Nov 15, 2022
• ISBN: 9798215949122

Book preview

TOUCH AND GO

By Jacqueline Fieck

Copyright Ⓒ 2022 Jacqueline Fieck

ALL RIGHTS RESERVED. No part of this publication may be reproduced, stored, or transmitted in any form or by any means, electronic, mechanical, photocopying, recording, scanning, or otherwise without written permission from the publisher. It is illegal to copy this book, post it to a website, or distribute it by any other means without permission. This novel is entirely a work of fiction. The names, characters and incidents portrayed in it are the work of the author's imagination. Any resemblance to actual persons, living or dead, events or localities is entirely coincidental. Jacqueline Fieck asserts the moral right to be identified as the author of this work. Designations used by companies to distinguish their products are often claimed as trademarks. All brand names and product names used in this book and on its cover are trade names, service marks, trademarks, and registered trademarks of their respective owners. The publisher and the book are not associated with any product or vendor mentioned in this book. None of the companies referenced within the book have endorsed the book.

Self-published

Dedication:

Regardless of what stage you are in life, this book will probably bring a smile to your face. I hope you are inspired to chase your dreams, no matter how big or small they are.

Much love dear reader,

Jacqueline Fieck

Table of Contents

Chapter 1

Chapter 2

Chapter 3

Chapter 4

Chapter 5

Chapter 6

Chapter 7

Chapter 8

Chapter 9

Chapter 10

Chapter 11

Chapter 12

Chapter 13

Chapter 14

Chapter 15

Chapter 16

Chapter 17

Chapter 18

Chapter 19

Chapter 20

Salvation

About the Author

Other books by Jacqueline Fieck

Chapter 1

"G et out of my way, Chica!" A rude girl knocked Maya out of the way as she barreled down the hall. Maya quickly collected herself before crouching to pick up her books and papers from hurricane tardy. The rude girl was gone by the time Maya stood upright.

I hate how these people treat me. I can’t wait to graduate in May. Sadly, it’s only October so I have a long time to go. I’ve endured three years with these jerks. I can last one more school year. Maya convinced herself.

She held her head high like her mama taught her growing up. Posture was just as important as the face she wore. Shoulders back. Maya smiled, remembering her mom’s words.

Maya continued down the hall to her last class of the day. She was so excited for dance practice after school. Unfortunately, she had to get through English class first. Her teacher was absolutely revolting and didn’t seem kind to most of her students. Maya stayed quiet and sat toward the back of the room, so she wasn’t picked for class discussions.

Each day she prayed she could get through a full day without someone calling her names or tripping her. She was already off to a bad start with hurricane tardy hitting her head on. At least Maya didn’t face a bad concussion from the collision, like the football jocks who liked to rough house throughout the day. They were immature meat heads who needed to chill.

Maya quickly copied the notes from the board. She was a great student who focused on her schoolwork and dance. She didn’t have any time for drama, including friends and especially boys. She liked to look at the boys in her school occasionally, but she never had one stand out that she was willing to take a chance on.

In middle school, she had been asked to attend the middle school ball by a boy in her class. He seemed really sweet and genuine. Maya fell for his charm and got all ready to go. He never showed because he took another girl instead. It was all a big joke.

Worst of all, the girls at school found out and laughed at her. She had told Georgia, the girl she thought was her friend, about the encounter. She wanted to be popular and fit in, so she blasted the heartbreaking event to the school. After that event, Maya stopped befriending people at school or showing who she really was inside.

Maya was always the butt of everyone’s jokes. Her beautiful features threatened the other girls at school. Her mama always said everyone was just jealous. Maya didn’t believe her. She thought if people were really jealous, then they would try to suck up to her instead of tear her down daily.

Mayflower, when did you come here again? A kid named Steven asked, nudging her naturally tan arm.

I was born here just like you, Steven. Maya eyed him down. She didn’t mind putting people in their place when needed. And my name is Maya. You know that.

Whatever, Mango. Steven laughed.

That was weak. Better luck next time.

The bell rang above her, alerting her escape. She waved to Steven like he wasn’t worth her time before leaving the room. He looked stunned and confused. Maya laughed to herself on her way to her locker. She wanted to get to practice before all the other girls so she could change without them staring at her or making rude comments about her luscious body shape. She had nice curves as most Latinas did.

Maya placed her English supplies in her locker then packed her backpack full of homework to work on when she got home after practice. She rushed to dance to beat all the social girls who were still at their lockers.

She changed in the bathroom as usual then put her backpack and clothes in her locker room locker. She always locked the door after one day the other dancers thought it was funny to ransack her backpack. It took her thirty minutes to find all her belongings before going home that day.

Maya emerged from the locker room ready to dance her butt off. She started stretching her muscles using the barre near the mirror before anyone entered the room. She liked alone time to focus on technique without hurting herself. She was applying to get a dance scholarship for college since her family couldn’t afford to pay for her future.

She started stretching in the secluded silence of the room. Maya closed her eyes and focused on breathing and relaxing. Dancing was her peace and comfort to get through life. She opened her eyes to switch positions. She noticed a boy quickly run from the doorway. He was clearly watching her stretch.

Great. I wonder who that was... I wonder what joke they are going to say this time. Ughhhh. Jerks. Maya thought to herself.

She continued stretching and drinking water as the other dancers finally started to flood into the room. They were giggling about something as if it were the funniest thing in the world. Maya rolled her eyes and started hydrating again. She stopped stretching since all her muscles were warmed up and ready to go. The other girls started stretching and laughing.

Maya wondered what it was like to have really good friends. Since childhood she didn’t have anyone to rely on for true friendship. Everyone seemed to reject her without knowing her. Her beautiful tan skin was like a forcefield to everyone she met. The small town of Bridgeway wasn’t accustomed to outsiders of different colors. They only seemed to like plain vanilla people with no flavor. Maya didn’t mind being spicy and different. She just wished someone liked her other than her Familia.

Welcome ladies! Coach Francis clapped her hands together in an effort to quiet and round the troops. Stop talking. Let’s focus! Today we are starting to practice for our halftime homecoming dance shared with the cheerleaders. Homecoming is coming up really fast, so we need to focus and nail our routine. Any questions?

Great, Homecoming. Maya thought to herself. She always sat home eating ice cream and watching movies with her siblings instead of attending any dances at school. She couldn’t bring herself to show her face after the middle school incident. She only danced for team practice and events as needed.

Okay, let’s get started! Coach clapped again.

The next two hours were full of frustration and agony. The first day of learning a new routine was typically the worst. Maya had rhythm and could catch