Something, Nothing, and Everything to Me
Chapter Four.
Note: This chapter is slightly shorter than the rest, but I'm pretty proud of myself for getting it up this quickly. I have some more spare time, so I'm going to work on the next chapter as well, so hopefully that one will be on soon too.
Thanks so much to all the reviewers!: fallspring99, coogle100, MariaLuvsYew, Soulful Ariana (Thanks! I get a lot of my writing techniques from books I've read, so that's what I strive for. :)) and of course all the reviewers from chapter 2 as well!
I stood in a circle Saturday morning with 32 other girls hoping to make the soccer tryouts. I looked nervously up at Beck and Devin, who were in the bleachers waiting for their tryouts, which were right after mine. Beck gave me a thumbs up, and I couldn't help from smiling. I looked back at the crowd, wondering how good of a chance I really had. I spotted Rachel in the crowd, who looked like she was ready to crush anyone in her path to victory. She will definitely make it in.
Suddenly a whistle was blown, and I snapped my attention to the soccer coach, Mrs. Ebet. "Okay girls, to test your sense of direction and your physical condition we will be starting off with some running drills. First off, heel kicks. For those of you who don't know how to do heel kicks, you basically hold your hands out and kick backwards until you touch them." Mrs. Ebet demonstrated the heel kicks, and I frantically looked back up at Beck. I didn't know we'd do something like this..
I heard a whistle again, and everyone got into a single line. I got to the end of the line, me being one of the shortest there. Another whistle, and everyone started to do heel kicks. Okay Cat, its just like dancing. Sort of. Pretend this is a new dance move your learning. Yeah, that helps. I started to follow the pattern of everyone else while the coach came around and watched us. Hey, this is kind of fun. I get to bounce up and down a lot, and I love bouncing!
After a while the whistle was blown again and everyone stopped, so I did too. I looked back around at Beck and Devin for confirmation, and while Devin shouted 'Woo' into the air Beck just gave me another thumbs up. I giggled, feeling a bit better.
After some more running drills we started dribbling.
"Okay, so this is what you do." Mrs. Ebet shouted. "You take your soccer ball, and you dribble it around these cones. Once you get to the end of the cones you kick the ball into the goal. For any cones knocked down or missed, you get points taken off, so keep that in mind. Got it? Rachel, your first."
Rachel stepped up to the ball as I looked curiously at the cones. I think Beck made me try this exercise. I can't remember if I was good at it or not though..
The whistle goes off yet again, and Rachel gracefully moves around the cones, not even getting close to touching a single one. Then she kicks it and it goes square into the goal. I stand there with my mouth open, staring at Rachel. She's like some kind of soccer goddess.
I'm the last one to go, since I was at the end of the line in the running drills. I step up to the ball, saying to myself over and over, do not fall on your butt, do not fall on your butt. I heard the whistle and kicked the ball, somehow making it past the first cone. It went a little too far to the side, and I had a little trouble getting it around the other cone. I concentrated hard though, because if I didn't make these tryouts then Beck would quit drama club, and I don't want that. So I concentrated hard and made it around the cones before kicking with all my might into the goal.
Well, even though it was with all my might, it just barely made it in. But I didn't miss, or fall on my butt! I skipped back to my place in line, smiling from ear to ear. I did it!
As soon as I got to school Monday morning I raced inside while clutching Beck's hand, running towards the bulletin board to see the results. When I got there, however, the results still weren't posted, causing a pout to come across my face.
"Relax Cat, it'll most likely be up later today. Besides, you were great. I'm sure you made it."
Yeah, look who's talking. Beck flew threw everything during his soccer tryouts with such ease. His face looked as if he were just watching a television show, and yet he scored every goal and dodged every cone.
"Thanks." I said, though I still didn't feel so sure.
After lunch was over Abby, Devin, Beck and I all left to look at the bulletin board. And pinned on it was the soccer tryout results.
"They're up!" Abby squealed. "Okay, the guys go first."
Devin and Beck stepped up and looked at the blue soccer tryout form. A few intense seconds later they were both congratulating each other and slapping each others backs.
"You guys made it?" I asked.
"Yup." Devin said. "Okay, girls turn."
They stepped away while Abby and I stepped up. "Ooh, there's my name!" Rachel squealed, and high-fived with Devin. I kept scanning the list, reading all the names. Daniella Johnson, Rachel Carrillo, Kim Peters. No Caterina Valentine.
"I..I didn't make it." I choked out, and Beck was suddenly beside me, his hand on my shoulder while he read the list.
"How is this even possible?" He asked, sounding upset.
"Maybe there was some kind of mistake.." Devin said, stepping closer. I looked down at the ground, unable to believe it. This means Beck is going to quit the drama club. And I won't see him anymore. No, this can't be happening.
I ran away and disappeared down the hall while Beck shouted after me.
"Mrs. Ebet." I said, standing in front of her in her office 10 minutes later.
"Hello, can I help you?" She asked, looking up at me for a second and then back to her laptop.
"Yes, my name is Caterina Valentine. I tried out for your soccer team."
"Oh right. Did you make it?" She asked, though it didn't sound like she really cared. I tried my best to be strong, telling myself, this is for Beck. Beck would tell me to be strong.
"No."
"Well then." She said, standing up. "Good luck next year." She walked past me, going down the hallway.
"Wait!" I shouted, running after her.
"What is it?" She asked, rolling her eyes.
"I want another chance. Please, this means the world to me."
"Look, I'm sorry, but there's just no way. Even if I were to give you another shot, we have a full team. There is just no more room."
"Oh.." I said, looking down at the floor again. Mrs. Ebet walked away as I wiped away a tear, running to my locker.
I opened my locker and grabbed my satchel and homework from the first half of the day, since school wasn't over yet. Then I closed my locker and ran out the front doors, walking home.
"Cat, what happened to you?" Beck asked me later, walking into my room. "I'm starting to think this disappearing thing is-" He suddenly stopped as he looked at me. I was laying on my bed with my pajamas on, hugging my unicorn pillow pet and crying. "Cat.."
He walked over and sat down beside me, resting one hand on my back and the other one on my shoulder. After 5 minutes I sat up, my eyes still red and my cheeks still stained with tears. "Beck, I didn't make it." I said, and began to cry some more as I leaned into his chest. He wrapped his arm around me and I hugged him, wetting his shirt with my tears.
"Its okay Cat. It wasn't that important anyways."
"Yes it was!" I said, suddenly sitting up and letting go of him. "I'll never get to see you now."
He laughed a little. "Cat, were neighbors. That's impossible."
"But, you will be so busy with soccer and since your quitting drama club, I wont-"
"Whoa whoa, who says I'm quitting drama club?" He asked, looking confused.
"But, you said you'd only be in drama if I was in soccer.."
"No, I said I'd sign up for drama if you signed up for soccer. Which you did, and even though you didn't make it, I think you were awesome."
"But we spent all that time practicing, and I still failed." I said, suddenly my fear of losing him turning into shame for not being as great as Beck always is. "You learn things so easily, but it takes me forever to learn them."
"That's not true. You always learn songs pretty quickly. Like yesterday, remember? We were in the car and a song came on. You said how much you liked it, and by the time it was over you were singing along, even though it was the first time you'd heard it."
"But.." I started, staring at his shirt that had a wet spot on it from my tears.
"But nothing. Just don't worry about it, okay? They were most likely just intimidated by your epic skills."
I giggled some and looked up into his eyes. "Thanks Beck." He smiled back down at me, and something strange happened. I felt a little tingle of shock in my heart, and it felt really weird. I looked down at my chest where my heart was, placing my hand there. "I think I'm getting sick." I mumbled.
"Do you want me to get you some green tea?" He asked, looking down at my hand. I smiled, looking back up at him. He knows exactly what makes me feel better. I guess that's just how it is with best friends.
"Yeah. Thanks Beck!" I said, and then he got up and left. I looked back down at my chest, the tingle in my heart getting stronger. Is this heartburn or something? Maybe I should see a doctor.