Chapter 4!
Here goes nothing... *Flees from readers*
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We stood facing each other and for a second, I had a proper look his face. I realised that he was kind of- “TWEET!” The whistle blew and the soccer ball was flung in our direction for us to snatch. I cursed under my breath when I recovered too slowly to react to the whistle. Alex had the ball and he wove past me, scoring an easy goal. I could hear the football team howling with laughter.
Now the ball was in my possession, I wasn’t going to lose it. I kicked it to the side, away from Alex and scored with a banana kick.
This went on for the whole match. We were both strikers, trained to score, not defend. We would not cover our goal, but try to intercept the ball and score. One after another we scored. The scored was eventually tied at nine points each, and Alex was currently in possession of the ball.
He was getting close to the goal and I had to either intercept the ball now, or play goalkeeper. I saw my chance, I spotted him preparing to dodge to the left. I jammed my foot between his and the ball, causing it to bounce up… at the perfect height. In a split second I launched myself into air and performed a bicycle kick, sending the ball towards Alex’s goal. He was too far from the goal to reach it in time.
Coach Keel extended a hand a pulled me up, patting my back, “Congratulations kid. I’ll see you for your first training session this coming Saturday morning.”
I had made it. I did it.
I stumbled back to my room, and Miranda was already at the door.
“Please tell me you made it, Liz!” She asked excitedly.
I was still trying to register the fact that I had. I just nodded numbly.
“I knew it!” She squealed.
We went to dinner, celebrating with the basketballers and accumulating dirty looks from the footballers, especially Alex. After he had stopped marveling at the fact that I had performed a bicycle kick, he stormed off, swearing all the way and glaring at every object as if it was the one that had conspired to rob him of his happiness.
That night, I slept peacefully, thinking that it would be smooth sailing from then on. How wrong I was.
On Friday, the day after the third tryout, I was sitting in my seat, randomly doodling in my notebook when I noticed Alex taking his seat beside me, his face all gloomy. I suddenly felt a pang of guilt for embarrassing him yesterday.
“Alex?”
“What do you want, Elizabeth? To rub it in my face?”
“No. I wanted to… I wanted to say I’m sorry.”
“You’re sorry?” He quoted flatly.
“For my behaviour the other day, when you apologised. I was in a bad mood but I shouldn’t have treated you that way and-”
“Whatever. Just leave me alone, Pearson.” He interrupted.
“But-” I started
“Go away and stop bothering me.”
“But-”
“Why are you so stupid?! Shut the hell up and get LOST!” He exploded.
Usually I did not let these things get to me, but when he said it, I felt like someone had stabbed me in the heart repeatedly.
“I’m s-sorry,” I whispered, dashing out of the room before the tears spilled over.
Training sessions were… dull. The rest of the team ignored me, only passing the ball to me when it was truly necessary. At least they would glare at me. Alex wouldn’t even look me in the eye.
It was still unbelievable how he managed to avoid my gaze, even when we were practicing together, considering how the centre forward had to work closely with me, the striker. Yes, in the course of the weeks I had replaced Alex as striker, and he was appointed the centre forward. Finally, one day I got fed with him acting as if I didn’t exist and asked him immediately after practice.
“Alex, can we talk?”
“No. There is nothing to talk about.” And with that, he walked backed into school without another word or glance.
Two weeks later, we were up for a match with Glendale High School.
We were two points down, and there was only twenty minutes left in the game. Alex had just managed to get in one goal, so we needed more two points to win the game. Daniel had managed to fake a kick and the goalkeeper, thinking that the ball had gone airborne, carelessly looked up for a fraction of a second, but it was enough time for Daniel. The crowd went wild and we were neck and neck with Glendale. There was only three minutes left now.
A minute was left with no further goals scored. Everfield was in possession of the ball with Alex crossing the centre line and heading for the opponent’s goal, but at the same time, Glendale players were closing in on him. He searched for someone, and his gaze fell on me. I was open, the most leniently guarded player. I sprinted forward to escape from the defender that was nearby and prepared to receive the ball, expecting it to roll to me any moment.
I saw Alex kick the ball, but it didn’t roll over to me, the ball was much too high for a normal pass. It soared into the air and seemed to be aiming for my head. Realisation dawned on me as I understood what he wanted me to do.
The score changed; Glendale – 14, Everfield – 15
The whistle sounded, and the match was over, with Everfield emerging as the victors.
We won!!!!!
The roar from the Everfield supporters was deafening. Alex unexpectedly scooped me into his arms, then hoisted me onto his shoulder, the rest of my team mates surrounding us, punching our fists into the air and cheering along with the crowd. I looked down at Alex, who was already looking up at me.
“Thanks for trusting me, Alex.” I mumbled, smiling tentatively.
Even through the ear-splitting cheers, he heard me, and grinned. “Anytime …Liz.” That was the first time I heard him called me by my nickname.
***
That night, a Saturday, the football team went to the nearby diner to celebrate, and I was included. The whole team, even Daniel, congratulated me, slapping hands, patting backs, and knocking fists. For once, I felt like they had finally accepted me. That was when someone decided to spoil the party. The door open and a gigantic boy who would easily tower over me, strode in pompously with a group of guys close behind.
“Oh shit. Westgreen High.” Jackson, our goalie, scowled and eyed the new customers.
“Dammit.” Daniel cursed.
The whole team except me, starting muttering the entire vocabulary of profanities, while I remained in the dark, wondering what was going on.
The gigantic boy walked up to us and sneered, “Well, well. What do we have here? A couple of good-for-nothing Everfielders. Ooh, and what do we have here? There’s a lady in our midst, boys. Has Coach Keel become a softie?”
“Shut up, Trevor.” Daniel retorted.
“I hope you know who you’re talking to, Pattson, but I suggest you watch your tongue, ‘cause you’ll be licking our boots when we win the finals next month.”
I snorted, “Wishful thinking.”
Trevor’s attention reverted back to me. “What did you say, Missy?”
I looked at him innocently, “I just meant to point out that you’ll be the one doing the boot-licking.” Behind me, my team sniggered.
“It seems this girl is in need of learning a lesson. Boys, do you feel like having fun tonight?” He motioned for his cronies to join him as they advanced towards me, leering.
“Don’t even think about it.”
It was Alex who spoke, in a dangerous tone, as he stood up and put himself in front of me. The rest of my team mates, as if on cue, backed him up and formed a protective wall around me, blocking me from Trevor’s view. Wow. Since when did they become so protective of me? I suddenly had an idea.
I tapped on Alex’s shoulder and he turned to face me.
“Yeah?”
“Alex, let me meet Trevor. I want to greet him.”
“What?!”
“Just trust me on this, Alex.” I winked.
“Are you sure?” He looked into my eyes with his gorgeous, concerned green ones and I momentarily forgot what I had planned to do.
“Watch.”
I pushed myself forward so that I was standing in front, face to face with Trevor.
He smirked and waggled in his eyebrows in a fashion which I assumed he had meant to be attractive, but just repulsed me.
“Hey, babe. What’s your name?” He attempted to sound husky, but it came out sounding like he was suffering from a sore throat. I could hear my team mates ground their teeth as Trevor referred to me as ‘babe’. Haha, they’re already acting like overprotective brothers.
“Hi! I’m Elizabeth, nice to meet you.” I smiled with false sweetness, then aimed a kick at his nether region, smirking when I heard the satisfying yelp from Trevor as I my foot met his member.
Then I pranced out of the diner, signaling for my team mates to join me. They were all laughing insanely when we exited the diner.
“I can’t believe you did that!” Alex guffawed, his face red with laughter. I hi-fived him and he casually slung his arm around my shoulder, making me feel very warm all of a sudden.
We continued our celebration back at school, in the lounge. Throngs of students filed in to congratulate us, including the basketball team.
***
“Great job, Liz. I knew you had skill.” Sean said, more to the guys than me.
“Yeah. She proved us wrong. You were right, Sean. Forgive us?” Alex mumbled apologetically.
“Dude, I wasn’t the one whose feelings got hurt.”
“Right.” Alex turned to face me, “I think the entire football team has something to say to you, Liz. Guys?”
“We’re sorry, Liz. Forgive us?” They said in unison, humbly and sincerely.
I didn’t know what to say. I could feel tears brimming in my eyes, and then the dam broke loose, tears gushed down, wetting my jersey. They were tears of joy, because their apology was an offer of acceptance and friendship.
“Oh God, she’s leaking! Liz is leaking! Someone fetch the plumber!” Alex gasped in mock horror. I lightly smacked the back of his head.
“Forgive us, Liz?” Alex murmured into my ear.
I nodded, and the football team rejoiced. Alex enveloped me into a tight embrace, bursting with brotherly affection. I couldn’t quite put my finger on why that made me sad somehow.
“Hey! Don’t hog our sister, Alex! Share!” Daniel playfully shoved Alex away and hugged me.
“Sorry about that time I kicked you, Dan.” I mumbled remorsefully.
“Nah, I deserved it. I was being a jerk. Which reminds me,” He raised his head and looked at Sean, “Sean! Sorry about the punch, buddy. I was being an asshole.”
“Yeah, you were. But I forgive you, loser.”
“Thanks, dumbo.”
“Anytime, idiot.”
“Guys, cut it out with the name calling already!” Miranda sighed exasperatedly, shaking her head.
“Who’s the one hoggin’ our sister now, Dan?” Alex smirked.
“Shut up.”
“GROUP HUG!!!” Alex yelled. Alex hugged me from behind and I could feel the temperature rising and more and more people followed to hug me until the Miranda, the footballers and the basketballers had all joined in. We couldn’t balance anymore and the next thing I knew, we crashed to the floor in a pile, with me right at the bottom.
“GUYS!!! Get off me before I suffocate!” I tried to push them off. They got up and Alex offered me his hand to help me up.
“I thought you guys were supposed to protect me. Some brothers you are.” I pretended to be mad, folding my arms and looking cross.
“We are protecting you, little sister. Any guy who dares to be mean to you, will have to answer to us.” Jackson laughed, puffing out his chest to look intimidating.
“Though I have to say, you had no problem protecting yourself against Trevor just now.” Alex chipped in.
“Speaking of which, what’s deal with Trevor, Westgreen High and us?” I asked.
A hush descended upon the room and the footballers became stony faced.
“Shit. I totally killed the happy atmosphere.” I sighed.
“It’s not your fault.” Alex answered, giving me a brief grin. “Sean, you know the story from us, you mind telling her?”
“No problem.”
“Thanks dude. I owe you one.”
Sean turned to me, seating himself on the sofa with Miranda. I placed myself on the carpeted floor in front of him, and my ‘brothers’ automatically sat around me, Alex on my right and Daniel on my left, the rest behind me. One moment they avoid me like the plague, the next moment they stick to me like bees to honey.
“I think Miranda has mentioned to you before that our soccer team holds the title of champion in the state?” I nodded.
“Last year’s title was a hard earned one. You should be aware that Alex is co-captain. That means that there is another captain. His name is Bradley. Bradley is Alex’s cousin.” I could feel Alex stiffen a bit by my side.
“Last year during the state finals, Everfield were neck and neck with Westgreen, led by Trevor. Bradley was our striker, and Alex our centre forward. During the last five minutes of the game, Bradley had attempted a bicycle kick, like you Liz, but he was kicked on the head by Trevor, the toad claimed it was an accident, the landing broke his neck. But whatever the case, Bradley ended up in the hospital, and gradually fell into a coma, which he hasn’t woken up from since the incident a year back. The only thing that kept the team, and Alex from shredding Trevor into pieces, is that Bradley made the team promise, before he lapsed into the coma, that they would not do anything rash and violent. In other words, he didn’t want them to seek revenge.”
I could feel Alex shaking beside me. “Oh my gosh. I’m so sorry. I shouldn’t have brought it up, I-”
“No, it’s not your fault. You didn’t know.” Then he smiled half-heartedly, “At least we didn’t break our promise because you didn’t know about this earlier. I’ll relish that moment forever.”
I looked at the clock, it was roughly half past eleven and there was school tomorrow. “Dudes, it’s late. We should get some sleep. Go to bed!” I hopped up and gestured for the boys to return to their rooms.
“Night, Liz! We love you, little sister!” The footballers chorused.
I tried to hide my amusement, but failed. “Night, dear brothers.” Amazing how I formed a friendship with them after only one day.
Alex was the last to leave. Boldly, I walked up to him and hugged him, whispering into his ear, “Don’t worry about it, Alex. We’ll make sure we beat the crap out of them.” His only response was to hug me tighter.
ever. Like, seriously, never. Ever. Wait.... no.
