Disclaimer: No, I do not own any of the characters in this story. If you for some reason believed that I did in the first place, then something is seriously wrong here :P.
I thought it would be an interesting twist to write a Hamtaro fanfic without any of the Hamtaro ham-hams involved (no, I do not own them either!). Also, I always thought there was a bit of a love triangle happening between Roberto, Travis and Laura in the series. As far as the piece between Laura and Roberto, it's a bit underemphasized. So ya. You shall see a little of that here X3.
As far as being a person x person fic, this doesn't exactly lean towards anyone being paired up. Okie, maybe it goes a little towards two of the people. But I guess you could say it's mainly up to the reader to decide on that for the moment, ne? Because I'm not about to tell you who it is! evil laughter
note: This is my first fanfic EVER, so please excuse it's cruddiness.
Now, on with the story :D.
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It was on a sunny, autumn day that Laura Haruno leaned against the windowsill of the elementary school, watching the soccer team playing below on the field. There had been extra practices lately; with the gradeschools championship coming up -despite the early timing in the year- , not one person seemed short of obsessed with improving to their best for the matches. Even those not on the teams, fellow schoolmates, were getting into the spirit. Conversation on the schoolground generally revolved around the sport.
Laura sighed. Travis and Roberto had gotten into an argument again. Standing at the far end of the field, fists balled and mouths moving in words mute to her at this distance. Though, she could figure out the basic topic; Stop hogging the ball, don't be such a team hero, quit fumbling half the time. It was a pity. Up until now, their attitudes towards each other had been fairly well mannered. Now, the pressure seemed to have reflected on their friendship the most. Though it was mainly Roberto's doing for the most part. Why did he have to be so stubborn and hot headed all the time?
The bell rang, and she started. Lunch was over. In the distance the players moved in small chatting masses towards the school, leaving Roberto and Travis behind to sort out a few more words. Hurrying she slipped back into her seat. She was, after all, supposed to be in for detention. Fortunately the teacher had left for the last ten minutes to check in about something at the office, leaving her free to wander a bit.
Her timing couldn't have been better. No sooner had she dropped into the chair than Mr.Yoshi stepped back inside. "Ah, good to see you haven't strayed from your seat while I was gone, Laura. I suppose you've thought about your little problem then?" Closing the sliding doors behind him, Mr. Yoshi crossed to his desk.
She nodded. "Yes, Mr.Yoshi..."
"Good. Then, from now on I'll be expecting your assignments in fairly earlier than they have been lately." Slowly the class filed in. All conversation was finished off as they entered, and soon the room was silent. The sound of textbooks being opened filled the air instead, and the occasional whisper about the upcoming tournament. Already writing was being scribbled across the board in pasty white chalk.
Laura yawned. The class was warm in the spring heat, and spending the whole lunch hour in the room was starting to take it's effect on her. She slumped, head balanced on the palm of one hand. Eyes strayed from the board and around the classroom. Travis was still missing...That was odd.
It was only a few minutes into class when one of the students sitting in a window seat arose, their hand on the windowsill. It was Kana, Laura's best friend. They had been close as sisters since she had moved here a year or two ago. At the moment, her eyes were wide with shock as she stared outside.
"Mr.Yoshi, look!"
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Children rose and pooled by the windows. Laura, with her desk off to the other side of the room, was one of the last to cross to the window. Kana grabbed her and pulled her in through the small crowd.
"Look!" She pointed across the green lawn.
A mild scene of chaos had broken out on the field. Children cheered and chanted as a pile of dust kicked
up, caused by - you guessed it - Travis and Roberto. Fists flew as they rolled about on the ground, each attempting to gain the upper hand. Even from this distance, she could see the expressions on their faces. A small circle of students had crowded around them. Neither looked game to give in.
Taking one glance out the window, Mr.Yoshi turned somewhat pale and ran from the room. Several of the other students by the window began to shout out words of encouragement to either of the sparring soccer players. Mainly Travis. Even though at the moment Roberto seemed to have the upper hand. Laura bit her lip. She would have willingly cheered Travis on, but she knew what that might look like...
Her cheeks turned a pale pink at the thought. She had never given up her crush on him; and at the moment, she wasn't ready to let anyone in on her little secret. Not that she was alone on her feelings. Travis, being both good-natured and good-looking, had a fair amount of the elementary girls in the palm of his hand. And without him even noticing it at that.
Mr.Yoshi wasn't the first teacher to reach the scene. Apparently they hadn't been the only class window gazing. With the excitement broken up, most of the class returned to the seats. A few moments later the teacher returned. He looked slightly red-faced, but otherwise fine.
"Okay, children, continue copying your notes." The scribbling of chalk on the board continued. However the class chatter didn't stop. It seemed at the moment nobody's minds were on work. Laura ducked her head, and continued to 'write notes'; however, ears strained to listen in on some of the conversation.
"I heard that this time, they were going to get phone calls home." Someone whispered, voice raised a little too loud. Mr.Yoshis hand froze on the board, in the middle of writing math equations.
"Now, children, I don't want to hear any more about -"
The door creaked open. Heads turned to watch as the two boys stepped in. Bumping shoulders somewhat roughly in the doorway, Roberto turned out entering first closely followed by a rather surly-looking Travis. Neither looked too happy. Stupid Roberto; thanks to him shooting off his mouth, they were both probably going to get in trouble with not only the coach, but their teachers and parents now.
No words were exchanged as they took their seats. Apparently nobody was too game to directly confront either of them about the fight in the middle of class. They would be mobbed with questions later, most likely. But at the moment the room was deathly silent.
Sighing Laura returned to her notebook. Maybe she could gather up the courage to ask Travis about the argument herself. If not that, at least about his soccer practices and how they were going. She smiled to herself. No, he wouldn't mind that..
Neither would she.
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It was another sunny day. A few fluffy clouds dotted the sky. However, Laura seemed far from noticing. She fiddled nervously with her hair ribbons as she entered the soccer field that afternoon, only a day or so after the day of the fight. She hadn't exactly bothered to dress up or anything like that; moreso what she liked to call 'dressing for the occasion'. After all, she didn't want Travis to think she was some tomboy, right? She wore instead of her usual shirt a pale violet tank top, patterned with small blue roses around the edge. She had been debating wearing her pink one, but in the end decided it looked a bit too girly. Her hair was tied up with a deep purple ribbon, too. Tightening one of the bows she glanced around nervously. Travis was nowheres in sight. But Roberto was there. Kicking the ball from knee to head, without it ever touching the ground. Typical. What a show-off. Too bad there wasn't much of an audience for him to show off to.
"Roberto?" She called out. He stumbled, kicking the ball at an awkward angle directly from his knee into his forehead and leaving it free to bounce off down the field. He muttered something under his breath. With a hand to his sore forehead he faced her.
"What?!"
"Geez, no need to get all snappish okay? It was just an accident..." She took a step back. If anything, he looked more tense than normal. A bead of sweat rolled down the side of his face, and it occurred to her how hard he must have been practising lately. Not only to keep ahead of everyone else (as he always seemed to act like he was), but because he seemed to have such an uncanny obsession with soccer. For a moment she almost felt sorry for him.
"Well sorry for telling someone off for sneaking up behind me and make me screw up!"
Okay, so much for feeling sorry for him. She glared.
"Sneaking? I was in plain sight, you bimbo! If you weren't so big-headed and narrow-minded that you can't even look up from the ball every once in a while, you might have realized that!"
He seemed about to retort but stopped. Eyes gave her a quick glance up and down. "What are you dressing up for, anyways? Meeting with your little club of friends or something?" Turning he went to fetch the ball, as it finally rolled to a stop some few metres away.
She flushed. Was it that obvious that she had dressed up? She quickly pulled out the hair ribbons. "I'm not dressing up, mister big shot. It's a thing called 'dressing decently'. Though I doubt you've ever heard of it.." She passed him and headed for the dugout. "By the way... Have you seen Travis around?"
"Travis? What would you want with him?"
She could tell from the tone of his voice she had hit a nerve. "Well, I just wanted to... Talk. You know. See how his training's going." Her ears grew hot. She turned to see him pick up the ball. If he had been annoyed before, it was nothing compared to now.
"Figures... Another one of his fan club." He sighed. "He's over by the bleachers... Taking a 'break'." He snorted, as if anyone who needed more then a few seconds rest was completely insane. "Later."
She could practically feel his eyes burning into the back of her head as she walked off. What was his deal? He was so jealous of Travis. Then again, she couldn't blame him. Travis was the one who did any good for the team. Travis was the one who had all of the friends.
Travis was the one everyone liked.
Reaching the stands, she looked around. Travis was nowheres in sight. Had Roberto just been pulling her leg? No. She stepped onto the white bleachers, climbing a few levels. Travis's things were there; His towel, a water bottle and a soccer ball. But where was Travis? She sat with a sigh, dropping her chin into her hands. Well, this was turning out differently than she had expected. Instead of meeting up with Travis, she found herself dressing up for the last person she would have wanted to see...
"Laura?" She jumped, and glanced off to her far right. Travis was walking along one of the wooden planks. She never ceased to be amazed, about how he could balance so effortlessly at such a height. Even looking tired from practise, he was...cute. Even with his hair messed up from running laps and doing drills. She felt her ears go slightly pink again, and rose to her feet.
"Oh, Travis! I was wondering where you were." She gave a small laugh, forcing a smile. He smiled back.
"I was just wondering how your soccer practise's been going.." "Not exactly great, but I can't complain." He sat down, reaching for the water bottle and popping off the top. "At least, not with says that the next time we get in a fight, we're both kicked off the team for the tournament. Maybe even the year." Lips thinned. "Though, we've been avoiding each other lately. I think we'll be able to make it. As long as he doesn't hog the ball so much in the game.." Eyes trailed down to the field, where Roberto was back to kicking the ball around. Every once in a while he would throw them a curious glance, as if wondering what they were talking about in the first place. "That, and as long as he doesn't try to play hero."
"Well, I'm sure you'll do fine. " She smiled again. "I mean, you don't even need Roberto after all. Our school team did fine before he even moved here in the first place, right?"
"Yeah..." He nodded absent-mindedly. Though, by the expression on his face he wasn't thinking what she was.
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Laura had noticed as she left the bleachers that afternoon, the glances exchanged between Travis and Roberto. She hadn't thought much of it. Not until the next morning. It was Monday. Entering the classroom, she knew immediately there was something in the air. The usual class buzz had elevated to excited chattering, like a hive of angry bees.
"Did you hear, Laura?" Kylie, another friend of hers, ran over closely followed by kana and June. It was hard to tell which one seemed the most excited; Kana looked more nervous than anything.
"No...What?"
"Travis and Roberto got in another fight!" June exclaimed. "Well, that's the rumor at least. They're saying it wasn't on school hours, so...But you should see them! Something had to have happened!"
It was Laura's turn to look anxious now. "Another fight? But...But if they did....Oh, no..." Travis's words echoed through her mind. Coach says that the next time we get in a fight, we're both kicked off the team for the tournament. Maybe even the year.. "Where's Travis? I need to talk to him!"
Kana shrugged. "No one really knows at the moment... He left this morning as soon as people starting to ask him about his bruises. But..." She indicated across the room. "Roberto's over there, if you wanted to talk to him."
Laura hesitated. She wasn't exactly game to chat with Roberto. However, her curiosity overcame her. As she passed her, Kana grabbed Laura's arm.
"Er..Laura? Can I talk to you in a little? It's important.."
"Sure, I'll just be a sec." Shrugging Kana's arm off, she crossed the room. A small crowed had gathered around poor Roberto, who oddly seemed to be handling them quite well. Even from a distance she could see the damage. One of his eyes had a large bruise over it, and she could have sworn she saw a flash of a cut on his lip as he talked. This was by far the worst he had looked yet. Watching him finally disentangle from the crowd, she followed him out into the hallway to the fountain.
After glancing over his shoulder a few times, he finally turned and faced her. "What..?" He questioned, slowly. There was a hint of sarcasm in his voice, but at the same time he sounded a bit curious. "You want to take a picture or something?"
"No!" She started, already feeling her temper begin to rise. However, she forced it down. Why did this always happen? "I just...Wanted to know...Travis told me that.. Well, if you got in another fight-"
"-That we'd be kicked off the team." He finished the sentence for her. Leaning he went to take a sip from the fountain, only succeeding in spraying himself in the face. Leaning back up he wiped the water away and muttered something under his breath.
"It doesn't matter." He said. He seemed to have noticed Laura's expression. "Because we aren't going to be getting into any more fights."
"But-"
"I didn't get this from him." He said, pointing to the eye. His voice lowered slightly. "Well, at least not as far as coach is ever going to know... The same goes for anyone else. As long as Travis doesn't rat on us, we can still hold in there." Wiping his mouth, he turned and headed back to class. Leaving Laura standing there, wondering exactly how they were going to pull this off.
Then she remembered Kana. Returning to class, she met her walking out the doorway.
"Laura! Come here..."Glancing around as if to make sure they weren't being watched, she led her over to her bookbag and pulled out a small, crimson gift box.
"...I got to class early today, and it was on your desk." she said, face turning a fair shade of pink as she passed it to her. "I knew Kylie and June would make a big deal out of it if they saw it, so I hid it in my bookbag. I hope it isn't broken or anything.."
Laura glanced down at the package. The box itself was shiny, with small flowers engraved into the papery material. There was a small card hanging off the edge; the end sealed with a thin strip of tape ("don't worry, I didn't open it" Kana reassured.). Opening it, she found a small piece of writing inside.
To Laura
Hoping this will make you day a little better.
Someone who cares
She turned the card over. Nothing else.
"Well, are you going to open it?" Kana questioned. She did, and found a small silver locket inside strung on a blue ribbon. The locket itself was oval, pointed at the top. "Hey, it looks a bit like a sunflower seed! Maybe Hamtaro sent it?" Kana commented, giggling.
Hearing a sound, Laura glanced up in time to spot Travis falling to his knees, picking up the text book he had dropped. He glanced up moment. For a brief second, their eyes met. Then he glanced away, once again preoccupied with gathering some last few stray papers.
She turned the locket over, and opened it up. It was empty. A secret admirer... Or was it? Again she glanced to Travis, already being mobbed by several classmates, and was unable to keep from wondering..
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A few days later the weather turned somewhat foul outside. Rain battered the windows, gusts of wind made the trees dance and sway. The temperature wasn't much better, either; it was easily cold enough that the rain could have very well been hail.
The worst part was that, bad weather or no bad weather, Brandy still needed to be let outside to do his business. Laura had barely opened the door when he toddled out past her, nearly being knocked off his feet by a particularly fierce gust of wind. Grabbing an umbrella and her bright yellow rain coat she followed him out into the storm.
Feet sunk into the moist earth. A car raced past, spraying up a large torrent of rainwater. She turned her back to it but was still unable to protect against a partial soaking. Great. What next... Thunder? As if answering her question, a flash of lightning crossed the sky in the distance.
Brandy toddled across the lawn, and turned the corner. What was he doing? She followed out onto the sidewalk. Her question was soon answered...Some distance away a figure stood by the road. The downpour made it impossible to see who it was, but they looked no taller than someone her age.
Either way Brandy looked pleased to see them. Trotting over, he licked the outstretched hand as it reached for him.
"Brandy? Come here boy!" She called out but he didn't move. Taking a few steps closer, she finally recognized the red hair and blue eyes; Partially obscured beneath a large, blue raincoat. "Roberto? What are you doing out in this weather?"
He glanced up. For a second he looked almost startled. "..I like the rain. So what?" He kneeled, stroking Brandy's already rain-drenched head.
"Leave him alone! Brandy, come!" Still Brandy didn't move. Muttering something under her breath, she walked over to grab him by the collar.
Roberto looked up. "Geez, what's your problem? You're acting like he might catch some sort of terrible disease or something..."'
"For all I know, he might." She mumbled a bit too loudly. She didn't really care. She was cold, she was wet, and she was grumpy. Fumbling a moment she finally snapped the leash around his collar. "There you go...Now come on. Time to go home."
Roberto rose. He looked almost hurt at her reaction. Arms hung limp at his sides. Then, he said something that surprised- and even confused- her a little. "You know, Laura...That's the big problem with you. You judge people by first impressions, and then that's all they are to you."
"What are you talking about? I'm nothing like that!"
"Oh yeah? From the second I met you, just because I snapped a little I've always 'just so happened' to get on your bad side every time we so much as cross paths. Even when I try to be nice, you treat me like the big bad wolf that is trying to steal away your perfect little life. I so much as say hi, you bite my head off! I could probably give you a million dollars and your first question would be 'how many banks did you have to rob to get this?' And then there's prettyboy Travis that you're always drooling over..."
She swelled at this comment. "I do not- how dare you say something like that!"
Eyebrows rose slightly, as if amused by this reaction. "Come off it... It's not as if half the class doesn't know it by now. Oh, don't worry," He put in quickly, as she began to move foreward, "I mean- it's not like you're alone on that one. Half the school's girls spend most their time drooling over him at the games, cheering him on and each trying to get his attention. To tell the truth, I doubt he can tell you apart from the rest of the crowd.."
She glanced to the sidewalk a moment. Of course, probably half of what he had just said was true - the stuff about Travis that was. Rarely could she go a day in school without catching sight of him being mobbed by a few female classmates, asking him to sit with them at lunch or teach them a few soccer moves. Even some of the older girls from the next grade up confronted him at times. He had to be the most popular guy in school...
A light blinked on in her head. Of course, why hadn't she thought of it before. She dug inside her raincoat, reaching around her neck. "Doesn't recognize me from the rest of the crowd, huh? Then why-" She pulled out the small, sunflower-seed shaped locket, "-Would he give me this?"
Roberto's reaction was interesting, to say the least. He took one glance at the locket. Eyebrows rose, and his expression sugguested he had just been passed a particularly bad test mark. Then, he looked up at her. "Did it say it was from him?" He challenged. This she hadn't been ready for. Her face went red again, as she tucked it away.
"Well- no, of course not. But I know he gave it to me-"
"How?"
"Be-..Because he did, alright!? Who else would have, you stupid jerk!?" Her voise was rising, and it took her a second to realize how close she was getting to explode at him. Roberto's mouth opened slightly, like a fish out of water. Then, his face turned almost as red as she was sure hers was. Voice turned low and calm, and a small but cruel smirk crossed his face.
"I don't know... Perhaps he's better at practical jokes than I thought, huh?"
She barely remembered what happened next. Only moving foreward, and her hand whipping past her. The sound seemed to echo through the rain. They stood, frozen a moment, unmoving statues in the rain. Then he took a step back, face to the side, hand rising to his cheek. Eyes were wide with surprise.
Several phrases came from her mouth that she didn't quite care to repeat. They mixed with his words, coming out equally as fast and unpleasant as her own. She was surprised her parents hadn't heard from indoors.
"You idiot! Can't you just accept the fact that something good is finally happening to me and you can't do anything about it!? Even I didn't think you were that wicked!"
"I never said I was against that! You just have to be so ignorant, and big headed! You actually think he's been bothering to give you a second glance all of this time, and put you on a pillar above the rest of the crowd!"
"I can't believe you! You really are out to ruin everything good that happens to me, aren't you!? First nearly getting Travis kicked off the team, and now being an idiot about this locket-"
"This locket, this locket, is that all you can say!? I wish-"
What he said next, she wished she could have taken back for both of their sakes. He stepped back a moment, seeming to be thinking exactly the same thing she was. Then he turned his back to her and dissapeared down the street, leaving her standing to slowly let the rain soak through her coat.
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She was surprised her parents didin't notice her slam the door as she came inside. Dropping the rain-soaked jacket by the door, she ran up to her room and closed the door.
The rain still pounded heavily against the windows. Pulling the locket out from under her shirt, she ripped the string off her neck and tossed it into the small garbage can by her desk. Suddenly, it didn't seem like such a lovely gift anymore... Roberto's words rung in her head still. Especially, those he had said last..
"I wish I never sent you that stupid locket in the first place!"
She sighed. He had to have been joking...Hadn't he? She knew Roberto; He would be too stubborn. Come to think of it...She couldn't even imagine him liking someone in the first place. She flopped back on the bed. But of all people...Why did it have to even possibly be him? Anyone else, she could have taken. Just not him...
Eyes snapped open and she sat up. Well, she still hadn't written in her diary yet. She could do that now. Considering she had some steam to blow off, why not? The lined paper rose to her eyes, and she began to write.
Dear diary,
I can't believe how unreal this week has been! Travis and Roberto are putting up an effort to get along, but it doesn't seem to be working too well...
Her stomach churned at the mention of their names. Still, she continued to write. Also, guess who has a secret admiror? Yours truly! Though...Roberto said he sent it to me. Can you believe him? What a fibber... I wish he would just move or something, make everyone happier. I think he was just doing it to take Travis out of the spotlight.
She smiled at this thought. It was slightly comforting. After all, it sounded like something Roberto could do.
Oh, and guess what! The soccer tournament starts tomorrow! Me and Kana are dressing in the school colors and are going to cheer them on during the match. I hope they enjoy the support! (I'm planning on throwing in an extra cheer for Travis!)
All in all, it hasn't been a wonderful day today. But tomorrow should be amazing!
Laura closed the diary. That felt good...And now that she thought about it, tomorrow was definitely something to look foreward to.
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Looking at the blue, cloudless sky of the next morning, you would never have guessed the weather from the day before. Laura and her friends had grabbed good seats. They were dead center, near the front. She couldn't believe their luck; then again, they had arrived half an hour early to watch the teams practice. It had been fun to watch. The team had improved noticeably; their extra practices had really paid off. Laura had been careful to avoid Roberto's eyes, off to the side practicing lifting and playing with a few others. Every once in a while, she was sure she could feel his eyes on her all the same.
Now, with the bleachers full Kana and her had finished up the last few pieces to their costumes. Their hair was up in matching pigtails, tied with large blue and white scrunchies. They matched their tops as well, along with white shorts. The school colors.
"Do you think anyone will notice?" Kana questioned with a nervous laugh.
"That's the point, isn't it?" Already, several people had given them odd glances. Laura laughed at the expression on her friend's face. "Don't worry, alright? You look fine."
Kana sighed. "Fine. If you say so..."
A whistle sounded, and the game began. Already cheers rung out from the crowd to mingle with the noise on the field. Within a few minutes, the ball was is Travis's hands. He kicked - from a fair distance, not to mention - , and scored the game's first goal. Laura jumped up and cupped her hands over her mouth.
"Go Travis! Who-" As usual at any practice or game, however, her calls were drowned out by the roar of the crowd.
It was a few minutes later they realized they weren't the only people prepared to cheer the team on. A few rows back, some fourth-graders stumbled slightly under the weight of a large hand-painted banner, which they raised at random intervals. Another pair, somewhat older, had painted their faces with the school colors. Several people, like them, wore the team colors - blue and white dotted the crowd.
Some yells pursued, followed by a whistle and a series of groans from the opposing crowed. A group of players had taken a nasty spill. Arms and legs stuck out from the tangled mass. However it was obvious one of their own players had taken the worst; jammed right at the bottom, he could only groan as the others got off of him. A quick break was called as the coach jogged out onto the field. Most of the spectators flopped back down onto the bench with a swell of small sighs. This could take a while...
"Hey, Laura! Look.." Kana had been shaking Laura's shoulder, and now her hand was raised and pointing across the field. "Please don't tell me - If they start this up now - ... Boys always have the worst timing..." Arm drew back, and she clutched her hands together nervously.
Laura glanced up from the enter of the field. Travis and Roberto were off to one corner; She didn't need the see their expressions to know they were arguing (again). Anxiously, she glanced down to the coach. He was still preoccupied, hovering around the fallen player and randomly calling off sugguestions to the other teams coach -who, at the moment, seemed to be finding his suggestions more of a hindrace than help. "What should we do?" She questioned.
Kana sat a moment, biting her lip and evidently thinking the same thing. Then she rose from her seat. Hands cupped around her mouth. Her voice seemed magnified, ringing out over the near mute buzz of the crowd.
"Travis!!!Roberto!!!" She yelled. It was a cheer. She repeated, and soon Laura joined in. A few people seemed confused at first. Then, slowly, they joined in on the chant. It was hard to tell whether Roberto really did have a few fans out there, or Travis's name seemed to work people into a frenzy. Most likely the fun of yelling was just too addictive to resist. Either way, they soon had the whole set of bleachers in an uproar.
"TRAVIS!!! ROBERTO!!! TRAVIS!!! ROBERTO!!!"
That definitely got their attention. They turned, startled at first before muttering a few things to each other and heading back to the team. Travis gave a half-friendly smile, whereas Roberto glanced off to the side and gave a somewhat agreeing nod.
Laura looked at Kana. A look of mild surprise on her face.
"How did you come up with that?"
Kana smiled. "Well, would you expect them to do anything when they thought the whole crowd's eyes were on them? With that much attention, I knew they wouldn't."
The game finally resumed. The final score was - unsurprisingly - 9 home, 3 visitors. Laura and Kana soon after found themselves caught up in a swell of chattering girls, all off to congradulate the team. The players, tired but happy, accepted the kudos and congrats they received with smiles. Mainly poor Travis, of whom was quickly swarmed by a wave of fans in blue and white. Holding up his hands in defence, it took two of his particularly more intimidating friends to hold them off. Then he did something quite unexpected. He looked out over the crowd -straight at Laura-, and began making his way through the swarm towards her.
Kana and Laura exchanged glances, and she felt her face grow hot. He didn't...Really, he couldn't have meant-
But it was. Moments later she heard that familliar voice in her ear, and her legs turned to jell-o.
"Laura?"
She turned and found herself staring the neckline of a dirt-stained soccer jersey. Travis leaned down slightly, enough that they were almost face. He smiled. "Hey. What did you think of the game?"
Seriously, eyes that brown had to be illegal. She swallowed, and replied in a small voice.
"The game? Yeah, you were great - I mean, the team was great! But, you really did good - Not that I was watching you that much or anything...But, I don't mean I was ignoring you either by that! Really, I just...uhm..." What little voice she had remaining left her, and she trailed off awkwardly.
He laughed. This, if anything, made her face turn an even deeper shade of red. "Well, I'm glad that you had fun. Listen..." He turned, notioning towards the door with his head. "You...Wanna go for a walk or something? Any more people come in, and I think we'll have some worse injuries than we had in the game itself..."
It was a miracle they escaped the crowd alive. However, once away from the fray Laura felt her nerves returning. No matter what she just couldn't bring her hands to stop shaking, nor could she force down the hint of pink she felt was in her cheeks as her and Travis circled the path outside the soccer field. There was no stop of talk... on Travis's part, at least. She mainly found herself listening as he went on about school, how the tournament was going and the upcoming match. Soon she realized how much time had passed; most the spectators had left, and only the coach and a few players remained behind. "It's sure going to be a close one, they haven't lost a match as long as we've been on the team.." He finished off, talking about one of their upcoming matches. "Hey- do you think we'll be able to finally show them who's boss this year? Laura?" She felt his hand on her shoulder, and started. It was hard to believe, she had actually began to zone out as he talked to her.
"Sorry...I'm just a little tired, that's all." She sneezed, and realized that she was feeling a little stuffy. Perhaps that walk yesterday was taking it's toll... No, don't think about yesterday. She frowned, trying to take her mind off the fiasco that had happened.
"You don't sound so good..."
She sighed. "Sorry...I was outside a bit yesterday...I guess I'm getting a bit of a cold." She smiled sheepishly.
"Well, you should probably be a little more careful." He commented. "Hey...I was wondering, do you have a computer?"
"Yeah...Well, my dad has one at least. I don't go on all that often-"
"Do you have an e-mail address?"
She glanced up at him. Why would he want her e-mail? She felt her heart skip a beat. "Yeah...Why?"
"What is it?" He questioned. "See, after the tournament dad said we could take a trip to America for a week or two."
"Really? Travis, that's great!"
She smiled, and felt a few butterflies stirring in her stomach. "That's a good idea...But I don't have any paper on me or anything..."
"That's alright. I keep some in my duffel bag back at the field."
A bubble of hope arose in her chest. He'd gone out of his way, to get her address? It sounded that way..
They were crossing the field now, the green grass fairly battered beneath their feet from the game. Most everybody had left now. Only the coach remained, packing up the last of the gear, and a small group of players helping him.
"Hey, Travis! Cleared off kind of quick, didn't ya!" The coach called out.
"Sorry, Coach...Had to clear my head. I think the crowd was a bit much." Laura heard a small laugh from the group of remaining students. Roberto was amongst them, head lowered as he tied a bag of soccer balls.
Laura glanced away. As Travis leaned over his duffel bag, however, a thought struck her.
"Travis...How many addresses do you have so far?" She questioned.
He straightened up. A small notebook in one hand, a red pencil in the other. He flipped past a few pages of what looked like scribbles and messy notes. However, after a moment she realized that they weren't his notes. They were all differently written. Some big and messy, some small and clean. One she was sure she saw was topped with a large, pink doodled heart.
He slowed to a stop, near the very back, counting off the pages of the booklet in his head. Then he passed it over for her to add her address as well. "I'm not sure....About thirty seven so far, I think.."
....................................................................................................................................................
Thirty seven? She jammed his address, a small piece of paper, into her back pocket as she walked home. Tears blurred her eyes...no, she wouldn't cry. How stupid. Getting worked up over something as dumb as an e-mail address, as if he really would have done that? Over and over in her head, images of the addresses he had already aquired flashed through her mind. Her eyes brimmed again, and she tried to take her mind off the thought. Did Kana wait around for her? She should have thought of that before running off with Travis like that.."Laura!"
"..." She glanced over her shoulder. Roberto was running up from her left, making his way up the slope that surrounded the field. Great...What did he want? Quickly she wiped her eyes on her sleeve, and turned to face him.
"Hey...You dropped this." He passed her her small blue scrunchie. Surprised, she felt the side of her head. It was hers.
"Oh...uh, thanks." She replied, feeling slightly stupid. The last time she had seen his face, she had been ready to jam a mudball up his nose. Now, here he was, playing the 'good guy'..
"No problem." He scratched the back of his neck, taking a quick glance down to the field. "Listen...I wanted to apologize for yesterday. I got a little carried away... I shouldn't have yelled at you like that."
She started. Apologize? Who the heck was this guy? She tied the scrunchy back into her hair, forcing a small laugh. "Don't worry about it.. you don't have to."
"Yeah..right."He looked slightly relieved. "Hey...are you okay? Your eyes are a bit red.."
"Yeah, I'm fine. I think I'm just getting a cold."
"Oh.. okay." A pause. Then, "Well...I got to go. Later. Say hi to Brandy for me." Turning, he jogged back into the field.
"Bye!" She gave a quick wave. Then, realizing what she was doing, she dropped her hand and continued down the sidewalk. Her eyes were dry now, least. Roberto had managed to make her feel better, instead of worse -for once. She couldn't believe, she had finally managed to talk to him for once without even raising her voice.
At home she flopped onto her bed. Then, she remembered Travis's email address. She took it out, and examined it. In the bottom corner, he had left a small note; 'wish us luck for the tournament!' Was scrawled out in red, like the rest of the address. Yeah, like that would really make a difference if she did that. Funny... when he wrote his o's, they had a little tail on the top. She sighed, and dropped it on her desk beside the card that came with the locket.
She examined the card again. Roberto couldn't have written he? And what had she done with that dumb locket? She searched around a moment, about to give up when she finally retrieved it from the garbage can. Stupid...All this commotion over a dumb piece of metal. And Roberto. Why did they always end up fighting like cats and dogs? She turned the locket over in her hands. Well, he deserved it most of the time. Like when they met in the soccer field. He yelled at her, and for what? Because he was too zoned out to even notice she was there!
Maybe the word you're looking for is 'busy'.. She sighed. Okay, so maybe it was her fault for not giving him a warning. But what about yesterday? What if Brandy had been run over by a car? Well, okay, maybe he wasn't that stupid... But then they had been yelling. Though, even she had started that... And then she had slapped him..
All this time, she had been staring absent-mindedly at the locket. Now, she glanced past it to the card. 'Hoping this will make you day a little better.' ...Heh.Well, she was still waiting for the 'better' part.. The writing on the card was in blue ink, and surprisingly neat.
Wait... She grabbed the sheet Travis had given her, and compared the two. The o's on the card were slanted, but had no tail like the ones on the small piece of crumpled paper... In fact, most of the spelling was noticeably different. She dropped the card back onto the table. Travis had to have altered his writing for the card. Though, the thought sounded laughable even in her thoughts.
So...Roberto hadn't been lying? But, just because Travis hadn't written it didn't mean it was from Roberto.. She glanced at the card again. 'Someone who cares'... Well, at least she knew now who it wasn't from...So why did she feel so sick? She turned the locket over in her hand. Well...It was a gift. The latch had been broken when she tore it off, but she tied the blue ribbon around her neck nonetheless. Then she pulled out her diary, and set Travis's address in the front, between the cover page and journal entries. She didn't want to lose it, even if it was 'address #38'..
She flipped to a new page. Pulled out her pen, and sucked on the end a moment, thoughtful. Then she began to write.
Dear diary,
Today was a very... interesting day.
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Blah, sorry for the rather smelly ending X ( . It's my first fanfic, and I guess I got a bit rushed near the finish. Should have added a little more suspense or...something :P. Will there be a continuation? I dunno... Guess that part depends on how many people actually bother to read this in the first place. Anywhoo, hope you enjoyed reading this as much as I enjoyed writing it :P.