Today was insane.
The boys and girls soccer teams were in the middle of their annual scrimmage mashup between varsity and junior varsity players. This game was a Green Grove High School tradition, superstitious good luck for their respective state final games next weekend.
One of the biggest underground draws for this game: it was always coed shirts vs skins, a tradition that began when Phoebe ripped her jersey off à la Brandi Chastain after scoring the winning goal of said game during her freshman year of high school. Her skill and outright passion for the game is what sealed her fate as the captain for every year thereafter.
Today, Phoebe was chosen as captain of one of the two teams: skins, of course. The girls on her team ended up in sports bras and the guys on her team were completely shirtless. Captain Daly wore a thin white sports bra, showcasing her obviously pierced nipples. Distraction, one of her many strategies in winning this game.
Another strategy: play Danny against himself. After winning the coin toss, Phoebe managed to recruit Archie as her first teammate selection. He knew all of Danny's strengths and of course all of his weaknesses. They were all so competitive that their boy/girl school team loyalty was moot and they invested themselves fully into their coed exhibition teams.
Danny was captain of his own band of merry players, his team were the shirts. Along with a handful of coed JV teammates, he also had Cole, Scott, Tyler and Jo from their varsity teams. His secret weapon was Tyler, for his skill and for his bizarre ability to play like a machine with Jo by his side. It was pretty much all Danny had to work with.
It had been an exciting albeit a scoreless game as halftime approached.
"Desai!" Coach Chandler yelled to Danny from across the pitch just before their halftime break.
Danny jogged over when the whistle blew, "Coach."
"You're running Tyler into the ground, you need another plan."
"I'm on it, I've got a plan—" He had no plan.
"Coach Wyant's here." Coach Chandler revealed before nodding into the crowd at the head coach for NYU's men's soccer team.
Danny was used to pressure and shrugged lightly, "I've already made the team, Coach."
Coach Chandler just glared at him, "You should be falling all over yourself showing your leadership skills, Danny, that's your future sitting there assessing you." He paused and nodded to the other end of the bleachers, "Your father is here too."
"He's not here for me." He said cryptically, not bothering to look.
"Get your ass in this game, Captain. Are you hearing me?!" Coach screamed at him.
"You got it, Coach." He promised before heading to his sideline.
Danny took a lap and high-fived the inner circle of his community that were seated near the field as the announcer began his spiel. Part of half time included a few quick competitions and the prizes ranged from a new car, a donation to their local food bank and even ridiculous penalties for each of the teams.
"Hey Danny!" Karen cheered from behind his team's bench.
Danny waved at her, nodding to Lacey and the Porters who were snuggled in beside her. He hadn't spoken with Lacey since the morning after prom. She had texted him several times but Danny just needed to take a step back. He had gotten himself so invested in them again in such a small window of time that her rejection had felt like a death. He was grieving.
"Great job, Danny!" Chief Masterson called from behind his mother, surprisingly snuggled in next to Tess and Whitney.
Danny smiled and let his eyes travel down the rows until he connected with Vikram who, as expected, had eagle eyes on Phoebe in her sports bra. He let the thought roll off him and turned just as Coach Wyant stepped up beside him.
"Coach, this is a surprise." Danny gave her a bro hug and his best smile. His confidence seemed to fade under her gaze.
"Danny Desai, I heard this game was not one to be missed. I came to see what my new star forward was serving up Green Grove."
"Game's a bit sloppy if I'm honest. These aren't my guys so—"
"Sure they are, this is your team today. May I make a suggestion?"
"Yes, Coach." Danny forced himself to appear eager to hear it.
"Every game could be your last one. You never know what will happen. You never know when you'll get hurt. You never know who is watching and why. Every game is an opportunity to engage your teammates, inspire and motivate others. I know how smart you are, you don't need soccer, but soccer needs you. This exhibition game should be no less important to you than your state final coming up this weekend. You're smart, agile, I see your skills, now put it all together. I need you in few months and I won't be as easy on you then. Show me what you've got, Desai."
Danny was surprisingly pumped by the end of Coach Wyant's speech, "You got it, Coach."
"Coach Wyant, nice to meet you." Phoebe walked up beside Danny in her sports bra.
"Phoebe Daly, I've heard a lot about you. Heading to see Coach Church at Duke this fall, right?"
"I've withdrawn, unfortunately." Danny patted her back in encouragement.
"Injury?"
"Yes, Coach."
"What are your plans now?"
Phoebe looked at Danny quickly, "A friend of mine suggested getting into coaching, actually—"
Coach Wyant smiled at Danny and nodded, "Sounds right up your alley. Any leads?"
"Not yet, I've sent out some inquiries, haven't heard back yet."
"I don't recall seeing any requests come across my desk."
"Oh, well I—"
"Intern with me this summer. Let's see what you've got."
Phoebe's mouth dropped. The first female head coach for a college level men's soccer team had just offered her an internship into her elite world.
"Yes, oh my god, yes, I accept." Phoebe shook her hand.
"Good. I need someone as dominant and logical as you. You can help me keep Desai in line." She joked, "Have your coach send me a reference, I'll make it happen."
"Thank you, Coach." Phoebe's eyes twinkled, her whole future no longer a victim to her traitorous body. Danny smiled as Phoebe bounced away to tell her family.
The local press were on site for this game and had also caught wind of NYU's soccer coach talking to Danny. They made their way to the sidelines for a quick interview with her and her newest protégé.
The contests had started and by the end of it all, Mrs. Benson won the new car, the food bank got their $5,000 donation from the booster club and of all people it was Regina Crane that ended up being selected for a halfway shot.
Danny was chosen to set her up with the ball while Principal Tang stood inside the goal ready to block.
"Well well, Miss Crane being a joiner." Danny smirked at her as he showed off some fancy footwork with the soccer ball while the fans cheered around them.
"I'll have you know I'm only doing this to find out what crazy caveat is waiting for you behind mystery door number one over there." Regina smiled back.
"In that case, I hope it's kinky." Danny winked before passing her the ball.
Regina's eyes grew as she struggled to keep her composure. Danny could say anything right now, the crowd and the music were way too loud for anyone to hear them.
"Okay, advice time." Regina looked at the soccer star in hopes of some quick encouragement.
"Principal Tang can't run, so hit one of the corners. I'd go for the corner to his left. He's right-handed so it won't feel natural trying to lunge in that direction to block you."
"Wow, thanks."
"Science, right? You got this." He smiled before jogging away.
The announcer began his play by play as a very un-athletic Regina Crane raked the soccer ball as hard as she could from mid field. She managed to get the ball airborne, Principal Tang, who was also incredibly un-athletic, tried to predict where the ball would end up.
"It's like the blind leading the blind out there." Cole joked before Danny backhanded him in the chest.
Principal Tang's poorly timed jump to the left would be part of every local new station's highlight reel that evening. Regina's perfect shot hit the back of the net and afforded her the mystery door of her choice. Whatever evil handicap was behind the door she chose, the soccer teams would have to implement.
"Door number one, please." Regina smiled and looked to Danny and Phoebe as she awaited their reaction.
"Door number one!" The announcer shouted as the volunteers opened the door revealing a handmade sign: SWAP SHIRTS VS SKINS
The crowd went wild, especially the large group of underclass girls that had gathered to see one captain in particular without his shirt on. The teams lined up to face each other and one by one they went down the line, Danny's team popping their sweaty jerseys off and pulling them over the heads of their opponents.
Only the captains remained, Danny had his arms crossed against his chest in an almost shy manner. Phoebe taunted him for his jersey, challenging his boundaries and dragging this out to keep the crowd interested.
"Danny! Danny! Danny!" The crowd pumped up waiting to see their hometown soccer star play skins for the last time.
"C'mon Cap, you've got a game to lose here." Phoebe joked.
"I'm not losing." Danny challenged confidently.
"Is that a bet?"
"Yep." Danny nodded.
"Okay, wager?"
"When I win," Danny stepped in closer, "You're in my bed tonight."
Phoebe licked her lips, "Fine. When I win, I want you in the locker room right after the game."
Danny thought about it seriously for a moment, "Before or after shower time?"
"Before."
"If that's what you're into—" Danny chuckled, "Deal."
Danny pulled his jersey off and popped it over Phoebe's head like he had just roped a loose pig. The crowd roared and the announcer finished up his closing remarks before the longest fifteen minute half time came to an end.
Danny jogged with Phoebe back toward the sideline, "Vikram's here." He said lightly.
"So?" Phoebe played dumb.
"He didn't come here for me. Something you wanna tell me?"
"Nope."
Danny didn't believe her, "You sure about that?"
She shook her legs out and jumped around a bit, "Yep."
"You remember the deal, when I win, you'll be in my bed tonight, not his." Danny asserted.
Phoebe held her hand out to shake, Danny slapping his against hers and shaking firmly as the whistle blew.
Danny took the field with his newly naked teammates, doing a double take of the forever surprising Jo Masterson and her bright green sports bra with the words 'JUST DO IT' splashed across her chest. She smirked as she busted Danny, he smiled back and quickly got his head in the game.
Danny pulled the group in and went over their next several plays. When the whistle blew again, Danny let go of the stress of Coach Wyant judging him, his father sitting there essentially waiting in line to fuck Phoebe, his new family dynamic all sitting together in a weird forced harmony alongside the love of his life who was stuck being just a friend. He ignored the fan girls vying for him to acknowledge them, the crowd, the announcer, all of it. He was here to play the game he loved and he locked in, committing fully to his team.
Danny's team was a machine, being stripped of their shirts had removed any inhibitions they had left and bonded them. They moved the ball with purpose and quickly scored the first point of the game. Danny's coaches, past, present and future roared for him and the team he was leading.
After the first goal, Phoebe's team had officially become the underdogs and thus the instant fan favorites. Every defensive action, every save, the crowd went wild for them. Now that her team was wearing clothes, they had no more show, this was about skill, heart. This was about soccer and one of Phoebe's last times ever playing the game. She wasn't going to let this opportunity pass without giving it everything she had left.
They tied it up with five minutes left. Phoebe's team, and more specifically Archie Yates, had found a hole in Danny's defense and penetrated before faking out his goalkeeper and tying it up. Danny was fuming and ready to reclaim his lead.
Danny himself worked to move the ball into position, Tyler and Jo by his side as they slowly notched past Phoebe's best players. The crowd was on their feet as the clock counted down to the final minute. Danny had the ball and had nowhere to go. An opening came for Jo and Danny didn't hesitate, passing the ball to her for their only shot at winning this game.
The ball sailed by Phoebe's defensive players and was blocked by her brilliant goalkeeper for what felt like the millionth time. Danny leaned forward and put his hands on his knees to catch his breath. The buzzer went off, game over. They were tied 1:1.
Phoebe and Danny jogged up and hugged each other to the approval of everyone. Their teams fell in line beside them and all shook hands before dispersing into the sea of family and friends.
"Good game, Daly." Danny said as he yanked his jersey off of Phoebe's overheated body.
"I didn't anticipate a tie, Cap. What do we do now?" Phoebe asked playfully.
"Well, neither of us lost." Danny pointed out.
"Did we both win though?"
"I'll make sure of it." He winked.
Phoebe's eyes grew darker.
"See you in twenty?" She bit her lip.
"Deal."
Danny looked into the crowd to see his father making his way toward them. Phoebe looked down and pretended not to notice.
"And tonight?" Danny added softly.
Phoebe turned toward Danny, "I call dibs on the left side of the bed. The right side gets too much sun in the morning."
Danny smiled big and leaned in closer before making a swift exit, "There are no sides when you're on top."