Fall Arc: Girls' Soccer
"Now, here's what you wanna do, suga: start of sprinting, find a good, dark spot along the way where no one can see you…and trip him. It'll look jus' like an accident, trust me."
"So…cheat?" I giggled.
"Shhh." She covered my mouth. "It ain't cheatin' if nobody is there to see it!"
The girls on my team seated around me on benches in the locker room laughed in response to our exchange. They all knew my speed was no match for the soccer team captain's. So what if we didn't even know who he was yet? Long-distance running is not my forte'.
"Jules, just do whatever it takes. The guys like, cannot have that field first two years in a row!" Mina chimed in, causing a chorus of "Mhhmms!' and 'Stupid Megan!'s to be said among the girls.
This pep talk wasn't helping much. I adore my teammates but I'm really not sure if being captain is worth all this stress. All this stress, and we hadn't even played any games yet!
Bunnie must have noted the nervousness in my eyes, because she draped an arm around me carefully and pulled me in tight. "Hey now, Julie-Su, you know we all disliked that bossy squirrel anyways. It wasn't just because she lost this race, right ladies?"
"Of course!" they all said in unison as they jumped up. Even so, I detected a slight uncertainty in their voices. But I feigned confidence, pretending that I was encouraged by this.
"Okay, guys, I'm really going to try my best. But let's not expect any miracles." I smiled slightly before looking at their crestfallen faces. "…and let's make sure those guys will have to be the ones arranging for their carpool to take them to dinner!" I added, suddenly thrilling my crowd.
We put all our hands in the center, shouting 'Go team!' just as the whistle to signal the starting blew. Led by Mina, my team began cheering wildly and ran out the opposite door to begin lining the path where our race was to take place. Bunnie walked me over to the starting point, the steps at the front of the gym.
As I saw the coaches standing at the red tape, shaking hands cordially to signify the official start of the season, I became anxious. Where was the other captain? Who could it possibly be? Bunnie patted my hand, reminding me to calm myself. Just a short sprint though the courtyard, up the small hill with the trees, and touch the soccer net on the far side of the field for the win.
Julie-Su FTW?
No. I'm not going to be weird like that, I laughed to myself. I fiddled with my mechanical dreadlock for a few moments as Coach Alicia Acorn came over, filling me with some undistinguishable words of encouragement. Ugh. There was another thing; I didn't want to disappoint our coach. She was the sweetest being in the world.
Sally's so lucky.
Before I knew it, the boys' team emerged from the front of the gym, carrying their new captain over their heads. I have to pray. Oh, please don't let it be Sonic; anyone but him. I can't bear a total slaughter. I roll my eyes, figuring my luck as I see the silver hedgehog. Of course, second fastest. Do I really need to be that specific?
He smiled warmly as he extended his hand, with the look of someone ready to go easy on you in his favorite video game rather than a presumptuous winner. I shook my head, giving him my hand in response.
"Ready for a fun, clean race?" he said all too innocently. Why would he say that? It then hit me. I knew exactly what he was trying to do, and I would have to do it first. Narrowing my eyes, I gave him the best death glare I could offer.
"You're going down, hedgehog." I swiftly turned on my heel, hopefully leaving him a good warning not to cross me. I may not be fast but people know not to mess with me.
We took our starting positions, the boys scrambled to line the pathway, and I could only hope and wish that none of them chose to stand in any dark areas. I am so wrapped up in my thoughts that I nearly miss the horn as my teammates cheer for me to catch up to the rapidly-departing hedgehog.
I stumbled forward, in a daze, closing my eyes and pushing myself as fast as my short legs could possibly carry me. The line of boys and girls dwindled after only a short period of time, leaving me out in the open as I searched for even a glimpse of my competitor. Sighing as I crossed the street next to the courtyard, I realized I would never be touching that net before him. I couldn't even think about tripping him now, the very thought is just an absurd fantasy.
Just as I was about to give up hope, there he stood, mocking me, blocking my path. He jumped from behind that tree so quickly I was actually unable to stop, sending us both tumbling down a small foothill. Knowing my luck, he would end up on top of me.
Well, I was partially right. "What are you doing?" I asked as I jumped off of him. Rubbing his head, he looked at me critically.
"You know, you could have stopped."
"Hey! Not my fault you jumped out so suddenly!" I retorted.
He looked somewhat sheepish for a moment. "Oh…well, uh, right. My bad, then."
I stood up, eying him suspiciously. Should I take off? Bunnie's words rang in my head, and I could not help but wonder if tripping him now would even be possible. "What do you want, anyways? Don't you have a race to win?" I asked irritably.
He looked taken a back for a moment, but quickly took on that same warm smile that perplexed me when we were at the starting point. "I want you guys to win this year. I wanted to let you win."
I looked at him first with disbelief. Was this guy for real? I stammered trying to find the right words before, once again, I caught his trick. Shaking my head, I walked in the opposite direction in quiet fury. It's done. He's just making fun of me at this point.
"Where are you going?" he called.
I turned around, ready to tell him off "Look, I know you have no intention of letting me win. You just want to fake me out, race me to the end, then trip me and take the lead in front of my friends." My eyes burned. I could slap him. "Boys…nothing but trouble…" I mumbled to myself.
"Well, I have to admit that sounds pretty likely," he conceded, standing next to me, "but I wouldn't do that. I'm really not a jerk or anything, Julie-Su."
His using my name surprised me slightly. Yes, we have been in the same class for three years. But I don't think I have ever had a proper conversation with him. I crossed my arms, rolling my eyes at what was probably a blatant lie. My mind returned to me, reminding quietly that we were still in a race. A race that should have taken less than a minute to finish. A race in which the two competitors went mysteriously missing doing…who knows what?
I bit my lip, wondering how this rumor could possibly spread and change if we didn't leave immediately. I'm a captain now; everyone would be in my business. I walk back over to the path, silently hoping he will be smart and do the same.
"Is it a go?" Silver asked happily. I scowled at his fakeness.
"Whatever. Win! I don't care. Just please, as a decent Mobian, at least spare me my dignity."
I took off, leaving him surprised and in the dust. Hey, with any luck, maybe I could…
Speeding past me, the jerk tossed up dirt in my quills. I felt somewhat betrayed, even though I expected this to happen in the first place. I almost wanted to give up, but those same words I said moments ago about dignity to Silver played back in my head. Dignity—I would lose with it. Sure, my team would hate me, but at least they would see that I'm no quitter.
The net in sight, I ran through the cheering sidelines crowd as I caught up to my slowing competitor. "Come on, dude! You can't duck out now!" I heard a boy yell.
"Yeah, stop being a girl and run through the pain!" He's injured! I almost yelled out in glee. He staggered, inches away from the net. As I finally caught up to him I found I could not reduce my speed. In what mirrored the scene in the forest, I tumbled over top of him and sent us both rolling into the net. When we finally came to a stop I instinctively put my hand out.
"Freeze! Yelled the boys' team coach, Sonic's Uncle Chuck. After the dust cleared, he looked us over, gasping in surprise at what he found. I knew it. Once again, I can look forward to finishing my homework at twelve at night after a long day's practice. I had shut my eyes in shame, cursing that dumb hedgehog under my breath.
"I can't believe it but…boys, the girls have you beat! They win!" My eyes shot open in surprise, looking first at my hand on the net and next on the young man I was collapsed upon.
"Hey, I'm sorry, are you…" I couldn't even finish that sentence, nor offer him a helping hand up as my teammates ran up, dog piling me to the ground. I showed total disregard for Silver as I allowed him to be crushed under our weight, choosing to revel in the glory rather than voice my concern.
"You did it, Jules!" Bunnie hugs me tightly as the other girls join in, some breaking apart from the group momentarily to rub it in the guys' faces. I seriously couldn't grasp the fact that I won, albeit on some lucky whim. Though a few of the girls insisted that they must carry me all the way back to the locker rooms, I asked to be let off just at the end up the field.
I noticed some of the girls, after the general celebration had cleared, had no problem pairing up with a few of the guys for a walk back down the hill. I sighed to myself, realizing that my guy was still back at the net, possibly succumbing to a concussion. Rolling my eyes I turned back, briefly grinning as I reached the ground where he was still sprawled as I kneeled next to him.
"What's up?" He waved slightly, pathetically, as he sputtered dirt from his mouth. I helped him up as he explained that I shouldn't worry, seeing as it was only bruising. But…I saw something more. I knew something more.
"Why did you fake that injury?" I asked as we both sat under the net. The warm evening sun set in my skin, and the slight breeze blew both of our quills around. Jeez, why are his quills so long?
"What, my charlie horse? Those things are unpredictable! You never know at what unfortunate time they may pop up!"
I looked at him straight in the eyes, conveying my skepticism. "Okay," he admitted, pulling up both hands in the air in defeat. "I…I just want our teams to get along, I guess." He stands up slowly, helping me up as we walk back together.
I frowned slightly, looking at him. I give up. I couldn't figure him out. "Why does that even matter to you, if we all get along or not? It's not like it's even important."
"I don't want our teams to hate each other, like last year. All that pointless drama—it just seems so dumb to me. If we can work things out from the beginning, get to know each other, I figure we will all be more trusting. Don't you think?"
I paused, considering this for a second. Last year was pretty awful. And…it's really cool and all of him to want to ditch the drama, but how would he benefit personally from that? No one does things for the sake of others around here anymore.
"I'm not doing it for myself. I know you are thinking along those lines." He shrugs as we reach the end of the courtyard, a few yards from the parking lot. "I just like it when people are happy, honestly."
Before I could say another word, he waved and made his exit, claiming he had to get home in time for dinner. I waved politely back, still unsure of how I felt about this too-good-to-be-true guy. I turned to head back to the courtyard, seeing if anyone was left over that would want to hang out for a bit.
That's when I spotted my friend Knuckles, and my heart immediately softened. The poor guy. Practice had ended hours ago, but here he was, trapped on the front steps of the gym until his ride came. Unfortunately, driving was never his strength. After failing several times in succession, he decided putting the test off until the very last possible months before he went to college.
Not a really smart decision by any means, but hey, who am I to criticize? "Need a ride?" I asked, making him look up and smile. "How was practice, captain?"
"It was going great until I realized I couldn't punch through the wall when I got excited about my dunk." He held up a heavily bandaged hand, which I immediately held.
"Is it…?"
"I'll be back in time for the season, but my practice sessions will definitely suffer."
"Hey," I grin, punching him lightly on the arm, "from what I've seen, you really don't need much practice."
"Hey, you aren't too bad yourself, Jules. You're perfect in soccer."
I smile widely back, to which he responds with a small smile of his own. At once I notice the wind again and he suggests we jump into my car and get going. I know the way to his place by heart.
It's just something I happen to know.
Say hello to the girls' soccer team! I envisioned them to be a bit more laidback and carefree, hence my character selection. I'm hoping to give each team a distinct personality, so I'd love to know what sports you suggest I cover and how I should portray them. I'm not too far along in the writing process, so really any sports could still be worked in and I'm open to any suggestions via review or even PM. Also, feel free to drop a critique or tell me what I need to improve on. Thank you all!