Chapter -2
Quite a few months later, it's the harvest season. On this special occasion, the school holds a function with much grandeur. The school hosts a inter-stream soccer competition and this year, for the first time the Computer stream had a team. On this occasion, Mary being the good speaker she was, was given the task of a welcome speech for the competition. She had no interest in soccer, "Why am I doing this?".
Candice was one of the managers of her class's team along with another girl Nancy. Apparently the new guy had already fallen heels over backwards for her and was only on the soccer team to impress her.
The day of the competition arrived, and Mary was nervous as she paced around the backstage murmuring her lines to herself. Suddenly a guy crashed into her. "Sorry, I just can't find my shoes! And it's almost time for the competitions. Can I have your sandals to go over to the grounds and find them, I just can't walk over there barefoot."
"But why mine?"
"Cause you're the only one around here duh", grinned Ethan.
"Fine. Just return them at once", said Mary as she took off her sandals and gave them to Ethan. As Ethan started to put on her sandals, she could see that he looked funny in them trying to walk around, often loosing balance. She smiled. What no, He's an Idiot.
Ethan wandered around the grounds and finally found his shoes, "Found THEM!"."Hey Ethan, whose sandals are those?", asked Simon who was Ethan's new bestfriend. "It's Mary's why?". "Oh her, you talk to her?".
"Why what's wrong with her?", said Ethan slightly interested.
"It's just that no one in our class really likes her except Candice", said Simon as if he was discussion an uncomfortable topic.
"Meh, I don't care I'll just return these to her and go find Nancy! Cya at the opening ceremony!, said Ethan as he run of towards the stage and took of the sandals in a hurry.
When Mary got back the sandals they had expanded a bit as they were on Ethan's feet for quite a bit. Before she could complain about it, Ethan had already put on his shoes and run off. She sighed and went on to practice for her speech.
-After the Opening Ceremony, the Finals, Computer vs Arts-
Arts team is in a lead with the score being 2-0 in the second half. The game is intense as even the Principal of the school gets up from his seat whenever there is a close call. At nearly 15 minutes into the second half, Ethan is subbed in, as a forward. His jersey number is 12, for the first 5 minutes of the game, he doesn't seem to be interested in taking the ball at all. But later he takes the ball and tries to command his teammates, at which everybody laughs. Everybody except Mary. Mary is only here to give Candice company. She glances at her watch, waiting for the match to end. So that she could go home, home to her books and her solidarity. Ethan is about to take a free kick. The opposite team blocks off any passes to the other forwards giving him a clear shot to the goal, with only the Keeper in between. He kicks the ball forward and then pulls out chains from the ground, "Chaos Tornado" he yells as the blades swing around in a tornado pattern and hit the ball. Silence. Everyone tries to grasp what just happened, the shot was too quick for the goalkeeper to react. It scores. A round of applause as everyone express their joy. The match continues however Ethan is marked for the rest of the game and the score was 2-1 in the favour of the Arts stream.
-Closing Ceremony is over, Candice and Mary on the way to their home, Mary's Dad is driving-
"Oh we were so close, in the end Ethan made that sick goal! Did you see that?", said Candice still excited about the finals.
"No, I was reading Paper towns", said Mary showing Candice the copy of her book.
"I should've guessed that"
Both of them talked for a while inside the car, till they reached Candice' house where they said good bye. And they went home.
"That idiot, killed my sandals" thought Mary to herself as she took them off and collapsed on her bed, fatigued for the first time in ever.
One truly understands the value of something, when they loose it. At which point they struggle to get it back and fail miserably.
