A/N: I'm glad that you all enjoyed the last chapter! Makes me happy to know that you all decided to stick around after my unusual absence. So thank you very much for that! ;)
This chapter contains soccer and is setting up for the double date in the next chapter. Please be patient! I'm excited about the next chapter... and I'm sure y'all are as well... So yeah!
--
(Olivia Lennox)
Flopping down on my bed, I gushed, "He took the bait!"
Maria clapped her hands and then exclaimed, "Heck yeah!"
"I know, right?" I responded cheerfully, but then reality came around and smacked me on the forehead. "Now all I have to worry about is who his date is going to be."
Furrowing her eyebrows, Maria contemplated a bit. "Good point," she conceded. "But how many girls has Sebastian really talked to since coming to Illyria?"
"Not many... Just me, you, Eunice," I laughed when I reached her name, "and -- oh know!" I covered my face when her face popped up in my mind. "And Blaire Ravenport."
"Well, I can tell you he's not going to ask me or Eunice," Maria said quickly, taking herself out of the running. "So that really just leaves Blaire."
Taking my hands away from my face and telling myself to suck it up, that I did kind of force him into doubling in the first place, I nodded determinedly. "Okay, I'm okay."
"However!" Maria cried out, causing me to nearly jump out of my skin. "He was quite popular with the girls from Cornwall. They're not off limits. He could easily ask one of his past flames or 'almosts' out."
Being reminded of Sebastian's kind of whorish past before he came to Illyria, I had to face the music. It was most likely going to be the biggest slut from Illyria or one of the girls Sebastian had sex with before. "Great!" I faintly remarked. "I'm going to get front row tickets to the Sebastian and Anonymous Slut porno!"
"Hey, no plan is perfect. You're going to have to take the good with the bad. The good being Sebastian'll have to watch you and Gabe, which will make him uber-jealous. Whereas, the bad being you're going to have to watch Sebastian get kissed and groped all night, which will make you uber-jealous." Maria answered in a very matter-of-fact fashion.
"You're not making me feel better," I replied as I rolled over and looked at my best friend.
Maria shrugged and smiled a sorry. "You just need to remember that the double date will be a minefield, and that's what I'm trying to do."
"You suck," I huffed.
Maria just nodded.
--
(Viola Hastings as Sebastian Hastings)
"Dude, I'm so amped, I'd take on Chuck Norris right now!" Andrew hollered as the team left the locker room. The crowd's cheering and chanting echoed all the way down the tunnel. I felt my heart racing from anticipation and adrenaline.
Duke gave me nudge, "It's you and me out there, man. We know our flow."
I bumped fists with Duke, "You know it, bro."
The team finally emerged from the shadowy tunnel and squinted at the bright sunlight. Our red uniforms vibrantly waved at the crowd as the team walked over to our team bench, causing all Illyrians to shout louder than ever.
The Rutherford team was already warming up on the field in their white and green. I looked over at them, sizing them up. I immediately spotted their MVP -- Chase Davis, number 7. He was well-known throughout the district because he had the highest scoring average and highest caps out of every player. I remember being in awe of his finesse when Rutherford played Cornwall last season. He could move the ball like no one else in the area. Scouts noticed him during his sophomore year and since it was his senior year, they all were hounding him like clubs hounded Zidane in 2001.
I looked up at the stands and immediately spotted the scouts. You could always tell who they were -- they wore a strict regiment of Adidas or Nike warm-up gear with their school's crest over their hearts.
Got to play your A-game today, Vi! This is your best shot and probably only shot to be seen.
"You see 'em too, huh?" Duke asked me as he stretched his quads.
Nodding, I rolled my ankles out. "Yeah. No pressure, right?" I joked.
Duke laughed a dry laugh and continued his pre-game routine.
--
(Olivia Lennox)
"Sebastian looks so hot!" Blaire Ravenport squealed to her pack of followers.
Rolling my eyes, I looked over at my best friend and gave her a look of annoyance. "Exactly, why did you force me into this seat?"
Maria looked at me as if I was the stupidest person to have ever lived. "How about it's the perfect spot to eavesdrop? This way you can find out if she's Sebastian's date or not for tomorrow's chess match of sorts."
I smiled an understanding smile that slowly creeped into a devilish one. "You're good, y'know that, right?"
"Yeah, pretty much!" Maria replied with a hint of ego.
Laughing, I looked back onto the field. Sebastian did look hot, but that wasn't new. However, he did keep looking up at the stands...
Is his date here?!
I nearly jumped over the people who were standing and cheering in front of me to see exactly who he was staring at. "Jesus, I can't see a thing!"
"What are trying to look at, anyway?" Maria asked, looking at me as if I was acting very odd.
Whispering, so the people ahead of me wouldn't think I was a weirdo, "I'm trying to see who Sebastian keeps looking over at."
Maria got up on her tiptoes and searched. After a few pregnant seconds, she flatfooted herself and shrugged her shoulders. "Just some scouts. I guess this is a pretty big game for everyone playing."
Remembering that Sebastian was kind of distracted about today's game in Bio yesterday, I instantly felt nervous for him. This was indeed a very big game. Sebastian told me point blank, he came to Illyria to play soccer and knowing that scouts -- people who would ensure or dismantle his future -- were there was definitely something to be anxious of.
"He'll do fine," I said without hesitation.
"Let's hope," Maria pessimistically shot back as she eyed the brunette on the field.
I shook my head and mirrored her actions. "I know he will."
--
(Viola Hastings as Sebastian Hastings)
Chase Davis sent the ball artfully into the back of the net.
"Fuck!" I said to myself as I looked up at the sky. He was so good. It was as if he was playing with a bunch of statues.
Not feeling up to watching Rutherford's celebration, I turned around and headed back to the middle of the field.
Duke caught up with me, "It's like the defense has decided to sit this one out!"
"I know, it's starting to get old," I growled as I waited for the celebrating Rutherford team to get back on their damn side of the field.
I glared at the passing Chase Davis who had the smuggest grin on his face.
Looking back at Duke, I said, "We need to make sure Toby and Andrew are on the same page as us because all I know is that we're about to carry this team to a win if it means my life!"
The ref brought the ball back to the center of the field and put it on the dot. "Ready Illyria?"
I nodded and walked up to the ball with Duke by my side. "We're ready all right."
The referee jogged away and blew his whistle. Duke tapped the ball forward and then I rounded the ball and sent it back to Toby, who received it beautifully. Rutherford's forwards sprinted to cut off all of Toby's possible lines. Moving to a space, I waved for Toby's pass, which he sent agilely. Getting the ball, I spun around to face the oncoming midfielders. Knowing that Rutherford's midfield was lacking in speed, I just did a quick scissor move to throw them off and then busted down the sideline past them.
A player always gets a gut feeling whenever they haul ass towards the enemy's territory. It's something like excitement and fear... and some confidence thrown in. I got that feeling as soon as I beat the last midfielder. I only had four defenders to beat now, but I knew I couldn't do it alone.
Looking over at the opposite sideline, I saw Duke busting his ass to get open. Knowing that if I sent a sweet chip over the defenders, Duke would be able to meet it in time without any trouble and only the goalkeeper in his way. Seeing the opportunity and seizing it, I wound back and kicked the ball over the line of defense. The ball landed right where I needed it to, just a couple yards in front Duke. How I kicked the ball, drew the goalie out of his goal just enough for Duke to make his scramble backwards, making him too wrapped up with his mistake to really watch where Duke was going.
I sprinted up to follow through just in case if Duke's shot was blocked. With hopeful eyes, I watched Duke make a fluid cut to the right, pull back his foot, and nutmeg the keeper, sending the ball into the goal!
The Illyria crowd jumped to its feet and sent a crazed cry out into the air. Duke turned around and pointed directly at me as I ran directly at him.
"That was the best pass that could've ever been sent my way, man!" Duke shouted as he gave me a bear hug.
Patting him as manly as I could, I yelled, "Hell yeah it was, but that was the best nutmeg I've ever witnessed!"
The rest of our team enveloped us and jumped up and down, shouting, roaring... you name it.
"It's an even game now, boys!" Duke screamed. "Let's make sure it doesn't stay that way for long!"
--
(Viola Hastings as Sebastian Hastings)
Stoppage time. Tied game. It's now or never, Vi.
I stared at the 2 the sideline referee was holding up, telling everyone that there was only two minutes until the end of the game. I knew that was a short amount of time to work some last minute magic, but I knew that I could make it happen. I believed it.
The Rutherford goalkeeper was taking an awfully long time to kick the ball back into play. He must've thought a tie was better than a loss. After what seemed like months, he finally did. He had a good kick too because it was ten yards deep onto our side before Andrew jumped up and headed the ball back towards the middle of the field. Duke was there to settle the ball and beat out the midfielder who had been on him.
He darted diagonally toward the left corner of the Rutherford side. Knowing that some major shit was about to go down, I hustled and made sure I was going to be apart of it. Duke was cut off by a defender who slid to intercept the ball, which he did successfully, but he didn't have the ball long because Toby came and tackled the ball away from him, which sent the ball right back to Duke's feet.
By this time, I was at the defense's line, making sure I wasn't offsides. If I knew Duke at all, I knew he would sprint down the sideline, cut over, and then cross the ball over to me, where I would tap the ball in without any trouble. He did exactly as I thought. We were one mind. Since he was doing his job, I prepared to do mine. Like I had planned, since Duke was making a run for it, the defense was drawn more over to his side, leaving me virtually alone. The defender who was at Duke's side was getting awfully hands-y.
Pass it, Duke, before he fouls you and they have enough time to set up.
Duke must've heard my plea because not a second later, he sent this left-footed, jaw-dropping cross my lonesome way. If I could just get to the ball, I knew the goalkeeper would be as beat as his defense was. Jumping forward, I eyed the ball as it inched towards my face. As if it was the perfect movie ending, my head connected with the ball and it flew into the right corner of the goal.
I heard the Illyrian fans erupt in celebration before I landed painfully on the ground. It wasn't that I hurt myself, I just belly flopped... on solid ground. Gasping for air, I rolled over onto my back, spent and elated.
But before I could even catch my breath, a bunch of red jerseys jumped on top of me creating a mountain of Illyrian soccer players. If I thought the belly flop hurt, it was nothing compared to being underneath ten 150 lbs boys. However, before I could be suffocated completely, I felt them all getting off of me.
Seeing the light of day again, Duke offered me his hand with the biggest smile on his face. I took it and laughed, "Is this really happening?!"
"Chief, I hope so!" He replied as he pulled me up with ease and wrapped his arm around my neck. "You're the man!"
Patting Duke's back, I said back, "You're the man! I was just in the right place at the right time."
Finally, the head ref blew the final whistle. He must've realized he wasn't going to get the Illyria team back on its side in time for Rutherford's Hail Mary attack. Hearing that whistle was the most comforting noise. It meant that the war I just endured was, in fact, over and Illyria was victorious!
The crowd that was decked out in red and black started to rush the field as if we had just won the state championship and surrounded Duke and I. People I had never met in my life shook my hand and hugged me. Some girl actually flashed Duke and I, which left us dazed and confused. Somehow, as I came out of that crazy moment of disbelief, Olivia popped up in front of me.
"You two were so amazing!" she said to both Duke and I.
I felt myself blushing, but I didn't really worry about it much. I knew I was already red in the face from running around in 70 degree weather. Smiling and not containing a laugh, I replied, "Thanks! It was mainly Duke's fancy footwork."
Duke shoved me a bit and shook his head. "Are you kidding me?! Sebastian was the MVP of this game."
Around this time, I felt a tap on my shoulder. Turning around to see who it was, I found that Coach Dinklage managed to squeeze his way into the center where Duke and I were being held captive by enthusiastic schoolmates.
"I'm so proud of you two!" He started happily. "And even though I want you two to soak in this experience, you've got to get back to the locker room."
I nodded and remembered that Olivia was behind me, I turned around to say bye. But when I turned around, I saw that Olivia disappeared. I'd be lying if I said that didn't tug my heart down a bit. I wanted to enjoy all of this with her... I didn't care about the afro guy who painted his entire body in black and red stripes or the girl who just flashed us. I only cared about sharing it with her.
She has Gabe, Viola. She's not going to stand around in this mob and celebrate with you when she's not with you.
"We better get going," Duke shouted in my ear. I nodded again and followed my best friend and soccer soulmate back towards the team locker room.
--
(Olivia Lennox)
"Jesus!" I exasperatedly whispered as some middle-aged man jumped in front me, causing others to squeeze greedily in front me, which cut Sebastian off from me completely.
Looking over at Maria, who I had managed to drag along with me, I said, "I hope he doesn't think I just left him."
Maria gave me a look telling me I was fretting for no reason. "Liv, he just scored the game winning goal! People are treating him like he's Caesar, who just conquered the barbarians. I don't think he has his full attention on you right now."
I shrugged. My best friend always had a good point. "Come on," Maria continued, "let's get out of this chaos."
I felt badly for just leaving the crowd, even if Sebastian wouldn't notice my absence. I wanted to be there so I could talk about it with him later. It would be something we both would be able to look back on with a smile. But I followed Maria nonetheless with a heavy heart.
Upon breaking through the last wall of people, Maria and I remembered what it felt like to have a bubble. We gave each other more than enough personal space as we made the walk back towards the dorms.
"So, tomorrow is going to be as big as this game," Maria started, breaking my train of sad thoughts.
Feeling the butterflies, which originated from both Nervous Town and Excitedville, flutter around in my tummy, I nodded. "Yeah, it will be. Hopefully, it goes as well as this one did too!"
"Did Gabe seem like he was up to his duties?"
I looked down at the grass we were walking on. "Yeah, he did. I'm just afraid that it'll reopen some wounds."
Maria hollowly laughed, "Probably, but, hey, he agreed."
"I only hope he doesn't give off a sad longing vibe. If he does," I looked over at Maria, trying to emphasize my point, "Sebastian will catch it. For some strange reason, Sebastian is just as good as me when it comes to body language and signs and all that stuff."
"Yeah, it is freaky how intuitive he is for a guy."
"Well," I started as I remembered what my mom told me about Sebastian since she knew his mom from Debutante meetings, "he has a twin sister."
"Ah-ha!" Maria exclaimed softly. "The twin thing. Twins have weird connections, so he probably picked up the trick up off his sister."
I wondered what his sister was like... If she was anything like Sebastian, she would make a pretty cool potential friend, that is, if she liked me.
"I should try and meet her some time," I declared.
Maria nodded and hopped onto the sidewalk. "It probably wouldn't hurt! You'd most likely gain some points with Sebastian if you tried to meet his twin."
"Yeah," I said a little bit more determinedly, "I'll do it."
--
A/N: All right, I hope this chapter fed the need for an update. If it was underwhelming or just average, tell me to kick it into high gear. But please be aware that this chapter was the quiet before the storm, so to speak. I couldn't skip the soccer because it's a very important thing in Viola's life as well as the movie's. So yeah!
Please send me your thoughts! They're very important -- they let me know what I need to do. For example, some told me they enjoyed the soccer aspect, whereas others have said they didn't. I've tried to find a happy balance. If the balance is not equal, I'll be happy to hear which side I'm favoring a little too much.
Other than that, I hope you all are excited about the next chapter!
