Second Football Match
Saturday come around quickly and Robin was looking forward to training with his friends for the upcoming football match.
"You see your friends every day at school, and you spend almost all weekend with them as well." commented his dad while they were eating breakfast. "I hardly see you anymore."
Robin rolled his eyes as little. "I will back at tea time - I swear…. But we have to train at some time right? And it still too dark to go to the park after school."
"Just make sure you put the same effort in your school work." Robin nodded his head not trusting himself to speck. "You got your exams coming up…you don't want to repeat them do you? I know many young people who had to retake their GCSE especially in Maths and English after they had finished school – save yourself some trouble…"
"I know dad." Said Robin quickly finishing his breakfast "I'm going to get ready now..." Robin run up the stairs to get his hoddie and put on his trainers. He knew his dad meant well and he did try at school. Robin wanted to do well – but he was unsure what to do when he levees school in over a years' time. Most people from his school went to one of the sixth forms in the city or they went to the local collage. Robin pushed that from his mind – he will think about that another day. He still have time to think about what he wanted to do.
Robin went to the park and waited for his friends to appear. John was the first one their looking ready. Robin kicked the ball to John who kicked it back – they pass it to each other until Djaq come shortly followed by Much. Will and Allan as usual come on their bikes a five minutes later – and looked like they had raced to see who would get there first.
"Can't stay too long." Said Allan as soon as he jump his bike and let to drop on the grass. "Have to see the old man in the slammer."
"Is that a good thing?" asked Much unsure – Allan had a very complicated relationship with father. As much as Allan clamed to hate him he also loved him. And you never knew on a given day what Allan's feelings on his father would be.
"He is a waste of space." Said Allan at once, "Mum says if I do not go I will regret it….." Allan shrugged a little. "He wants to see us…can we just play some footie before I have to go?" it was clear Allan didn't want to talk about his father and no one wanted to push him.
They played a loud and competitive game that ended up with the boys all ending up wrestling each other on the cold wet winter grass. But none of them paid that no attention to the time.
A taxi pulled up and Allan's mum yelled at him. Allan looked at Robin, "Rob, mate can you look after my bike at yours?" Robin nodded his head and with that Allan ran to get in the taxi – no doubt getting a telling off from his mother once he got inside for losing track of the time.
Robin took Allan bike back to his home and Will also went to put his bike at Robin also. While waiting for Robin and Will to get back the other sat on a beach to rest after their morning training.
"What are you doing tomorrow?" asked Much
"Sunday is family time," said Djaq "I have a few aunts and uncles and cousin coming over – having a meal…. I can't get out of it. Bet my mum will make me help in the kitchen as well. What about you?" asked Djaq
Much shrugged a little "My parents dragging me to church." He said "But after that I can do what I want… haven't got anything plan just yet. What about you John?"
"Boxing," he said "Dad wants me to go and get prober training."
"Wow – that brilliant." Said Much "Why didn't you tell us?" John didn't talk much about his boxing, in fact he hardly ever mention it since the New Year eve party.
"I am telling you." Said John.
"I mean before this," said Much, rolling his eyes a little. He noticed Robin and Will jogging back with some food from Robin's kitchen.
Robin chucked them all an apple and a packed of crisp. "I think we're going to have a good chance of winning." He said biting into the apple and licking his lips.
"Your optimism is really…." Much try to think of the right word. "Your optimism is a wonder. You think we would win if we are playing against real live lions… if you lose you will be more devastated…and you know Gisborne and Sheriff will taunt you because they know it will wind you up…."
"You think we are going to lose?" asked Will to Much.
"I think we all need to be more realistic," said Much at once. "Or people will think we are over confident and big headed….."
"That pretty much sums up, Robin." Pointed out Djaq without a beat.
Robin had just finished his packet of crisps "I didn't say we would win….I said we have a good chance of winning… it's all in the words, Much." Robin crunched the crisp packet in his hands. "And if we do lose… and that is an if…. I won't fight the black knights no matter what they say."
"That I would like to see." Said Much not believing Robin. Much reckon someone would have a fight before the end of week – the only question is who would be doing the fighting.
After they had their crisp and fruit they played some more football as they were getting too cold sitting and talking. "It's too cold." Complained Much for the hundredth time "And I've got two jumpers on as well as my thickest coat…."
"You are always cold." Commented John
"Well we can go to mine," suggested Robin "Watch a movie…. I've got some new thrillers…."
The other nodded their heads in agreement - all but Djaq "My parents won't agree on that." she said as she checked the time "Besides I better go home and help out my mum…. I'll see you all Monday," With that Djaq leave them.
The rest of the afternoon the boys watched a few thriller films (Much even liked one of them) Will was the first to leave as he had some chores to do, followed shortly by John. Leaving only Much and Robin.
"Do you really think we are going to win?" asked Much "They all play ruby…"
"It may be a little rougher than normal," admitted Robin "Anyway the harder the match the better right? It's be boring if it was easy." Robin looked at Much "Why do you look so worried. You aren't even playing them…."
"Knowing my luck I will." Mumble Much to himself.
"Don't go jinxing us." Warned Djaq who had heard Much's mumming.
By Monday Robin was feeling less confident. Allan was in a bad mood after seeing his dad in prison and Tom was causing more and more trouble at home and at school. At lunch break Allan and Tom had a full out fight – luckily the teachers didn't see that one. But, the fight didn't seem to improve Allan's or Tom's moods.
John was stating to have a cold – he insisted it was only a small one and wouldn't stop him playing.
"I won't worry so much." Said Djaq "Worrying doesn't do anyone any good."
"I'm not worried." Said Robin at once, but he was. It didn't help that Much was also still voicing his own worries about the nest day.
On match day Much and Djaq sat together in their homeroom - they noticed Will had yet to arrive and first thought he and Luke were running late – as sometimes they did. But by the time were get out of their homeroom Will had failed to turn up – which was unlike him.
"Will wasn't in form." Djaq told the others when she and Much got out of their homeroom and meet the others before assembly.
"He's in hospital. Had a reaction last night, you know…anaphylactic…" said Allan at once "Luke had to come to mine… He's going to be alright…should be getting released some point today…"
"So…. Will he come straight here?" asked Much hopefully. If Will was back it meant he didn't have to play the match.
"Don't be daft." Said Allan at once looking at Much like he had gowned three heads. "I think after nearly dying he can have a day off school… looks like you have to be playing today instead."
Much cursed his luck. Maybe he did jinked himself. He really wasn't keen on playing. But he knew this match mean a lot to his friends, and it wasn't like Will planned to get rushed into hospital – so he choice not to complain. He will wait until after the match and when Will was back in school for all that.
"What did he have?" asked Djaq clearly worried. Djaq hadn't known Will to have a serious reaction before and she knew Will was very careful about what he eats.
"Luke says someone must have used their butter and they had peanut butter," said Allan once again answering the question. "I mean they have to share a kitchen with goodness knows how many people at the moment… And they wrote on the actually tub for people not to use because of allergies….Luke said their dad was mad about that…"
"Have you spoken to him yet?" asked Robin, normally the first person Will talked to was Allan.
"Nah – I send his a message telling him to text me when he is out." Said Allan. "He'll be gutted about missing the match." He looked at Djaq "Don't look so worried – he's going to be alright. Will dad talked to Luke and Luke isn't worried."
"So, he is okay?" asked Djaq.
"Yeah," said Allan "I mean he probably not feeling to great right now…but he is okay…."
"We better get moving – or we all be in detention." Said John reminding the others that they had to get into the hall before the bell. None of them wanted detention – especially on a match day.
Laster that day, the outlaws all got ready for the match, before getting out of the changing room Allan checked his phone. "Will's still in hospital. He says he okay and bored out of his mind. But he wish us luck…"
"Well, let's try and win this thing." Said Robin – even when he know Will was alright – it was always good to hear from Will himself. They have witness one to many close calls other the years.
The match went without any drama – even Much who claims to dislike paying find it hard to disguised the enjoyment of playing. It was a difficult match – more difficult than Robin thought it would be.
"A drawn." Said Robin after the match had finished he was disappointed. "It's better than losing….." he added – but not too happily.
"True," said Djaq "And we are still in the top four. If we win our next game we should move up higher."
"But below the Black knights," pointed out Allan – knowing this fact was bugging Robin more than anything.
"They are only one point ahead of us," said John "We can still beat them. And they is still ages before the end of the year. What will be –will be…."
"We can still train harder." Said Robin
"Will's out of hospital." Said Allan looking up from his phone. "He wants to hear all about the match. Said he will meet us at the park…."
As the other left the school and made the way to the park – it would only be a short meet up – as the weather was still cold.
"How is Will normally after….." Djaq asked John she paused not knowing what to say. After almost dying? It seemed the wrong choice of words.
"He doesn't talk about it," said John "And we don't bring it up…." Djaq looked at John and John carried on talking. "I mean…we ask if he is alright and everything….buts that's about it. He doesn't like the fuss."
"Okay," said Djaq thinking she could understanding what John was saying.
"Will is okay, he's out of hospital and he'll be back in school tomorrow." Said John sensing Djaq was still worried about Will. She was now starting to wonder if Djaq was starting to have feelings for him – but thought better than to ask.
"But it wouldn't of happen if they still have their flat." Said Djaq at once.
"No." Agreed John
Djaq paused for a moment. "What do you think will happen to them now? They can't stay where they are forever can they?"
John didn't know the answer to that question. He didn't know what would happen to Will and his family. His parents seem to think they will all move to Scarborough as they had family out there – but Will hadn't said anything about moving yet. "I don't know." Said John truthfully. "But, Will doesn't told us anything."
"Will doesn't tell us much." Said Djaq
"He will tell us if he leaving." Said John "I now Will. He won't just go without saying bye."
Will seemed to be in good spirits when they saw him. He still had the hospital tag on his arm and his skin was still a little red in places "Haven't got rid of you yet?" Joked Robin
"Not yet." Agreed Will. "Tell me about the match?"
So Robin and Allan told Will about the match making it sound more dramatic than it really was. And Much made Will promised not to miss the next game that was happening at the end of the month. Much made it clear to everyone that he won't play another match again.
