Chapter 8

Ben was in the locker room gearing up for a soccer game. It was one of the biggest games of the year but he couldn't get Emma out of his head. Her laugh, her shiny vanilla smelling hair, and he could never forget her intense but beautiful green eyes that when he looked into them often felt himself getting lost in them. It had been a week since Natalie had found out about their relationship, and both he and Emma said that they felt like a tension that they had been feeling had been lifted, and as Ben looked back on the month he knew that he and Emma had been sneaking around a lot trying to find time to get together with out alerting Nat that they were seeing one another. The day that squirt had found them Ben had felt relief they could stop sneaking around, however Nat was the only one that new, there was still the problem of going public at school. Ben had seen the looks some of the girls had given Libby when they were dating and all of them sent a shiver down his spine, just thinking about those glares being sent in Emma's direction.

" Listen up, this is the biggest game of the season and if we don't win this game we wont make the playoffs." Coach J bellowed for all the boys to hear bringing Ben out of his thoughts. With that Coach J turned to leave " CAPTIONS" he bellowed signaling that it was time for Ryan, Nate and Ben to give the team there before game pep talk.

"So guys as coach said this is the biggest game of the whole season, if we don't win were done for the year, and I know I'm not ready to say good bye to soccer" Ryan said as he ran his hands through his blonde hair nervously

"Ya Ryan's right" Ben said unable to think of anything else to say his mind still on Emma.

" Gaze Ben original" Nate joked as he stood up on the wooden bench separating one set of lockers from another " Alright guys I know I haven't worked as hard as I did this season to get knocked out before play offs even start and I know I sure as hell don't want to end my senior year soccer season with a loss, right now there are collage scouts out there here to watch us, and if you play like shit then don't expect a full ride to school, I know I want to play in collage so tonight I'm going to play this game like it will be my last, and I think the rest of you should as well, you never know it could be." Everyone just stared at Nate normally he told a joke or made some smart-ass comment about the other team and their lack of balls to put it lightly. Never had he been serious in his pre game speech. He dropped down off the bench and began to walk towards the exit. Suddenly he stopped and called over his shoulder

" LETS GO KICK SOME SISSY ASS!"

The rest of the boys cheered and began to follow Nate out of the locker room and were momentary blinded by the lights and were defend as the sound of the crowed hit them when they walked out onto the field.

Ben searched the stands scanning for Emma, his eyes ran over tons of girls faces searching for the only one that mattered even though most of the girls were trying to get his attention, and all of them were secretly hoping that his eyes would rest on them and flash them his trademark grin. He finally found Emma standing in the very middle section, but in the very front row of the stands with Nat and Sam. His stomach gave a jolt when he realized she was wearing one of his old jerseys, but then he looked at Sam and saw that she was wearing Ryan's and that Nat was wearing Nate's. It didn't look obvious who would want to wear their brother's jersey. The each held a sign, but Ben couldn't see what it said it was turned away from him.

Natalie saw Ben staring at Emma and bumped her and looked at her and then pointed to Ben. Emma then in turn bumped Sam and pointed to Ben. All three of the girls looked at one another and then raised their signs above their heads and Ben had to hold in a laugh as he read them, they each had a whole bunch different quotes from the person who's jersey they were wearing and Ben knew that when ever he, Nate or Ryan saw them they would burst out laughing, not all of them were things they said anymore but what they had said in their childhood.

Emma smiled at him and gave him a grin, which he returned as he ran over to where Nate and Ryan were standing and pointed out the girls.

After a short time the whistle blew signaling that it was time to begin. Ben took his place in the goal and gave his ready signal to the ref. He was ready for one of the biggest games in his life to take place.

Ben had been playing a grate game so far, and the score was 1-0 with only five minutes left. The ball was all the way on the other end of the field and he decided to take his eyes off the game for a second to look at Emma. He saw her up in the stands smiling brightly at him and gave him a small wave. Suddenly the smile disappeared from her face and was replaced with a look of horror. Ben quickly focused his attention back to the game and his stomach gave a jolt, the ball was heading for the other side of the net and he had only a split second to react. He lunged and felt the ball hit his fingertips but it still managed to hit the back of the net. The visitor's stands irrupted in cheers while a course of boos and screams of disappointment came from where his friends were sitting. He stood up off the ground and lowered his head in defeat. How could he have been so stupid, he never should have looked at Emma, his attention should have been focused on the game the whole time, stupid stupid stupid. There was a whistle blast and the game started up again, and Ben made sure that his attention was focused on the ball the whole time.

With thirty seconds left to go he saw Nate sprinting up the field kicking the ball and dogging defenders. Five seconds left his foot came back and he let the ball fly towards the net. The buzzer sounded and Ben held his breath as he watched the ball sail though the air. Suddenly the ball hit the white goal post and bounced back. Again the visitor's side let out a cheer and a loud grown from the home side. Nate shook his head angrily and kicked angrily at the turf. Ben suddenly turned white it was going to come down to a shoot out and it was all coming down to him. He gulped and nodded his head at the ref saying he knew what was coming. The announcer came on and read out loud the three players who would be participating in the shoot out. Nate would be going first. He lined up and then on the whistle kicked the ball as hard as he could. The opponent's goal jumped but was unable to get to the ball in time the stands irrupted in defining cheers. Ben took a breath and prepared as number 11 took his mark. He saw him pull his leg back and Ben assumed that the ball was going to the right and he was prepared to go that way. The ball launched in the air and Ben jumped and came up short by about and inch. A loud boo fields the air. Ryan lined up and took his shot and easily made it into the upper left corner. Number 4 lined up and Ben took a breath he had to stop this ball. Instinctively he crouched down ready to spring. The Ball was in the air and Ben lunged suddenly he felt something hit his chest and bounce away, he had blocked it and the stands erupted with cheers and they being to flood the field they were moving on to the next level in the playoffs and now were only two games away from the state championship game.

He sanded the crowed for Emma she was the only person he wanted to see at the moment. As he walked though the crowed he nodded his head gratefully at all those wishing him congratulations and had to fight off hugs from a few of the girls. He was talking to one of the "fan girls" as Nate named them when he saw Emma she was hugging Nate and Ryan at the same time congratulating them.

" Oh ya, ok well I have to go see you later Sarah" Ben said not listing to what she was even saying as he walked away.

He came up behind her and tapped her on the shoulder, she turned around and her face broke out into a wide smile as soon as she saw him.

"Benny! You were amazing," She yelled as she though her arms around his neck and kissed his cheek suitably. Sarah glared at her from where she was standing and stalked off.

Ben pulled away and looked her right in the eyes and he leaned into kiss her not caring that they were right in front of her brothers he would deal with them and all the rest of the kids who were on the field, he figured why should he care what he thought about who he was dating. He pressed his lips to hers and she kissed him back. After a second Ben pulled away and looked into the shocked faces of Nate and Ryan. He looked at them and flashed them a nervous smile. He had a lot of explaining to do.

Hey everyone, I know that this is my worst by far. I don't really like this chapter, but let me know if you do and if you like the story! Reviews are always welcome!