Hello. Thank you for reading this fanfiction. I won't waste too much time on author's notes so here's the next chapter.
Disclaimer: I do not own E7 or any of it's characters. Only my OCs and my idea
Chapter 2
Game and After Party
Talho walked to the centre line on the field and stood there waiting for Holland to arrive. While she waited for him to make his way to the centre of the field she tied back her hair revealing her surname on her back. Once Holland arrived the referee came with coin in hand.
"Call it Liverchester," the referee said.
"Heads," Holland said.
"That makes Strikers tails."
"Fine," Talho said. The referee tossed the coin up and caught it. Talho and Holland hadn't taken their eyes of the other.
"Heads," the referee said loud enough for everyone to hear. "Liverchester begins. Chose your side."
"We'll stay as is," Holland said.
"Remember this is only a friendly. The proper thing is next Sunday," the referee said. Talho turned and went to her position. Once the whistle had blown Holland kicked the ball to Moondoggie who started to advance to the goals. The Manchester Strikers' midfielders advanced to get the ball away from him, but he passed the ball to Renton who got cut off by the defenders. They passed the ball to one of the midfielders, who dribbled the ball passed most of Liverchester. Eureka was about to get the ball away from the midfielder when he passed it to one of the forwards. The forward advanced to the goals but Hap and Matthieu were blocking his way so he flipped the ball over the two of them to Talho. Talho dribbled the ball and kicked it at the goals. Gidget tried to stop the ball but missed it.
For the rest of the first half Talho held back and let the other forwards or midfielders score the goals. By the end of the first half the score was 2-1 and both teams were out of breath.
"You guys are doing good out there," Edward said.
"You mean well sir. They're doing well," Todd corrected him.
"Fine well. Keep it up. Remember this is just a friendly and we want to see what they can do so that we can be prepared for them on Sunday. Got it?"
"Yes sir," came the reply.
"The other team is holding back and so are we. Neither of us are willing to show the other our full potential so we're just gonna have to play like we have been and hope that they'll slip and show us what they can really do," Holland said as everyone sat down and rested. "Hilda you take over for Hap, Anna you take over for Matthieu and Jobz you take over for Gidget."
"Holland could you substitute me please. I don't think that I'll manage the second half," Eureka asked.
"Fine Matthieu you stay in. Anna you take Eureka's place."
"Awe man," Matthieu complained.
"Just down some caffeine and you'll be fine," Holland said.
"What are we going to do about Talho? I mean she fast and really skilled," Stoner asked.
"Yeah, she's hard to out run and get the ball away from," Maurice complained.
"I'll take care of her," Anna volunteered. "How hard can it be? I was one of two girls in a family with five boys and I learnt a thing or two from them concerning soccer."
"Whatever," Holland said and walked off to the vending machines. As he got there a mop of silver-grey hair came bound towards him.
"Um…can I have your autograph sir?" the boy asked with his head down.
"Um…sure. Who should I make to?" Holland asked. The boy looked up with a grin and handed Holland a book.
"Todd Yuki please," Todd said.
"Todd," Holland said. He looked at the boy's face in disbelief. It was like he was staring at a younger version of himself.
"Thank you Mr Novak," Todd said.
"Hey Todd come on. Your mother's looking for you. She wants you input on what to do," a man said from behind him.
"Coming Xavier," Todd replied. "It was nice meeting you."
Holland watched as Todd bounded off to the man named Xavier.
"Hey leader the second half's gonna begin soon," Matthieu called out.
The two teams arranged themselves on the field and Talho went to the centre line to begin the second half. Once the ball was in play the two teams refused to let the other score another goal. Anna defended Talho as best she could, but Talho was determined on not letting Anna win without a fight. Anna managed to get the ball as away from one of the Manchester Strikers but Talho intercepted it. Talho kicked the ball to one of the midfielders and then ran towards the goals. Anna followed her and just missed the ball as it was passed back to Talho. Talho dribbled the ball on the edge of the pitch and Anna tried to get the ball away from her. Talho stopped running for a spit second and moved the ball forward. Anna followed the ball but realised too late that it was a decoy as Talho stopped and kicked the ball in the opposite direction. Talho kicked the ball away from Anna and then focused her attention on scoring. She kicked the ball into the corner of the net and scored the final goal and won the friendly. Once both teams shook the other team's hands the Manchester Strikers invited Gekkostate to join them for a party.
"What do you say guys?" Holland asked.
"Yeah," came the enthusiastic replies.
The crew of Gekkostate headed back to the Gekko to shower and change, while the Manchester Strikers headed home and got ready.
"Holland," Anna said breaking Holland's train of thought.
"Yeah," Holland replied.
"C'mon."
"Yeah."
The crew of Gekkostate headed out in the LFOs while Mischa, Ken-Goh, Gonzi, Jobz and Woz stayed behind. They decided that they had had enough action for one day. Mischa stayed to look after Reka (Renton and Eureka's child) and Neo (Matthieu and Hilda's child).
"So where are we headed might I ask?" Renton asked.
"Follow me and find out," Holland said. They drove for a half hour before they reached a building the said 'Soccer Association' on it. As they hopped out of the LFOs a car pulled up and out jumped an over energetic Todd. Xavier and Talho stepped out shortly after. Talho was greeted with a chorus of voices from Gekkostate and answered back.
"We've got a lot of catching up to do," Hilda said.
"We sure do," Talho said. Holland looked away and looked at Anna. She was looking at Talho with hatred and anger. Everyone walked into the building and Todd led them to a hall which was decorated with items that revolved around soccer. Holland glanced at Talho for the fifth time since they'd arrived at the hall. She was wearing an outfit similar to the one that she used to wear, except that this one's top was slightly longer and was lilac. Once everyone had arrived the party began and so did the fun. Maurice and Linck ran about while Todd and Maeter talked about conversions. Holland walked over to the bar where Hap, Stoner and Matthieu were drinking like there was no tomorrow.
"You three realise that tomorrow will come," Holland said.
"Yeah, but will tomorrow hold free booze?" the three replied.
"Don't drink too much now at least."
"Fine," they chorused.
Hilda and Talho were engrossed in a conversation and Gidget, Moondoggie, Renton and Eureka were dancing which left Anna sitting and watching everything. Xavier walked up to Anna when he saw her sitting alone.
"You wanna dance?" He asked.
"No thanks. Maybe later though," Anna replied smiling.
"Well at least let me get you a drink."
"Sure," Anna said as Xavier walked off. Holland never does that.
"You lot drunk already?" Hilda asked Hap when she and Talho went over to the bar.
"No, Holland won't let us," Hap said sadly.
"Don't be such a hard ass Holland," Talho said. It was the first thing that she had said to him. Holland pouted and looked in the opposite direction. He saw Xavier taking a drink to Anna. Look at that jerk taking a drink to my girlfriend. Looking all tall and mighty. What the heck does Talho see in him? Holland looked at Talho for a second and then looked at Anna again.
"Hey leader what do you say?" Matthieu asked.
"About what?" Holland replied.
"Honestly did you pay attention to what was said?" Hilda asked.
"No."
"There's a lifting tournament being held on Friday and it would be great if Gekkostate made an appearance," Talho said.
"Whatever," was Holland's reply. A ringing come from Talho and everyone turned to look at her.
"Hi Suzie," Talho said as she answered her cell phone. "Yeah, but I got stuff. Excuse me."
Talho walked out of the room and entered an elevator.
"No ways. I can't go on Friday. I got the tournament. No I haven't told him. What do you mean have to? I can tell him that he's the father if I want to, besides it is kinda obvious that Todd's his son. No I can't go to the mall on Tuesday. I got a photo shoot. Fine Monday. See you around. Bye."
Talho ended the conversation as she reached the op floor. She got off the elevator and walked up to the railing and looked down and the world below her. She was thirty stories high and could see most of the city. She looked at the sky above her and read the trapars. A good wave is coming soon. Talho turned her head as the elevator doors opened again. Holland stepped out and looked at her for a second.
"Are there any good waves around?" he asked.
"One is coming soon. Hopefully it'll be here for the tournament."
"Why didn't you tell me?"
"I just did."
"No, that you were pregnant."
"I didn't know until three weeks after I left the Gekko," Talho said.
"Why didn't you come back?" Holland asked.
"Why didn't you come after me?"
"I was an idiot."
"And that's changed how?" Talho asked. Holland cocked an eyebrow. "You're still temperamental. But will that ever change?"
"So he's a genius huh?" Holland asked.
"Yeah, he approximates that he should be finished with school by age ten."
"Must take after you," Holland said. "So what do you see in Xavier?"
"Potential," Talho said. Jealous. "What do you see in miss blonde ambition?"
"Who Anna? She reminded me of someone and she's ok," Holland said. She reminded me of you.
"Ok? Hate to hear what you thought of me," Talho commented.
"I would hate to hear the one word you would describe me with."
"Temperamental."
"Figures," Holland said with a heavy-hearted sigh. Talho giggled.
"C'mon the party's going on below us and Matthieu would have gotten drunk by now," Talho pointed out.
"Yeah," Holland said as he turned around. The rest of the party flew by and around midnight everyone had left the building.
Hope you enjoyed. Drop a review please.
~Simone;P
