Since it was the first game of the season, I decided to go along to show my support and to keep both Allison and Lydia company. I was surprised to see Mr Argent there as well, but I was my usual charming self and soon enough I was sitting next to him talking away like we were old pals. I took an interest in asking about his work as it was my insatiable habit to weed out all the information I could possibly get out of a person, and his job sounded both terrifying and awesome as an arms trader.
As always I took little interest in whether or not we actually won the game, but since it was important to Lydia that her boyfriend Jackson be a winning player and not a loser, I supported them all the same, cheering when we scored and shouting encouragement when we started to fall behind. Jackson was the team's top scorer, but I couldn't help but notice that the entire lacrosse team were deliberately alienating McCall, never once passing him the ball even when he was open. Ouch. Low blow there Jackson, is this seriously the level you're stooping too? Something was wrong, perhaps this was more than just a power play for Jackson. He was risking the team's success just to make McCall feel like an outsider.
"Which one is Scott again?" Mr Argent questioned as he scanned the field. I'd heard briefly from Allison that her dad had actually almost killed Scott tonight by hitting him with his car when he'd stopped by her house, which then ensued a very awkward introduction of the boy she liked to her family.
"Number eleven. Otherwise known as the only one who hasn't caught a single ball this entire game." Lydia responded dryly, pursing her lips in dissatisfaction about the fact we were losing.
"I hope he's okay."
"I hope we're okay. We need to win this." Taking it upon herself to boost morale, Lydia stood up with the banner I'd helped her to paint that same evening though it had physically ailed me to write things such as we loved Jackson and that Jackson was number one. Ew. "Allison. A little help here?" Although meant as an encouragement to her boyfriend, Lydia seemed to inadvertently affect McCall all the more as when he saw Allison seemingly giving Jackson support, something seemed to change with him.
I noticed it immediately, the drop in his stance, the laboured breathing that I initially thought might be an asthma attack, but when he took off down the pitch after the ball was put back into play, it was like he was a whole other person. McCall was unstoppable, claiming the ball for himself and tore down the pitch to the opponent's goal in order to score, closing the gap between the two teams. It was over so fast that at first I didn't believe it, frowning in confusion. Scott McCall had shown no athletic competence until the start of this season, so he was either on something or he had to have been training like crazy since break.
And just like that, Beacon Hills was back in the running. McCall scored another goal to even the scores, then in the last thirty seconds of the game, everyone was going wild with cheers, urging him forwards as he came to a stop a few metres short of the goal with two defenders facing him down. I sat leaning forwards on the bench, fingers laced together as I observed the sequence of events unfurl before me. "Has he always been this good?" Mr Argent asked me as everyone else continued to yell, chanting McCall's name.
"Honestly? No. McCall has always been kind of a loser if I'm being brutally honest. This is the first actual game of lacrosse he's ever played." I told him truthfully, enjoying the notion that McCall's success was probably eating away at Jackson right now. "Maybe he's just been holding back his true potential for the right moment." It was possible, but rather unlikely.
"You can do it Scott." Hearing Allison's quiet murmur of encouragement I glanced her way, seeing the worried knit of her brow as she watched Scott, the final seconds now in play. As if spurred forwards into motion, the two defenders rushed him as he then shot the ball, hitting it into the back of the net just moments before the whistle blew to call time and thus, the end of the match. I was amazed at the comeback we had made, more so that Scott McCall had almost singlehandedly won the game for the entire team.
Everyone swarmed onto the pitch in order to congratulate the team however I stayed put, mulling things over in my head. That had definitely been something I had not expected. Oh well, at least it's another win for Beacon Hills. I noticed how Allison had gone running after Scott, who himself had disappeared, leaving her dad alone on the field. Arching an eyebrow, I sidled up to him. "Hey Mr Argent. Did you enjoy the game?"
"I was…impressed." He chose his words carefully so I sent him a smile.
"I'm sure Allison will be back in a minute. McCall has a tendency to run off when things gets a bit too much for him." Nodding his head appreciatively for the explanation, he told me he was going to wait by the car and to let Allison know when she was ready to head home. Promising I would pass on the message, I followed Lydia into the boy's locker room in order to find Allison and McCall, smiling and fluttering my fingers as wolf whistles followed me left right and centre. "Hey boys, you were all great tonight." Rounding the corner I came upon Danny who was changing out of his kit, standing shirtless and looking absolutely delicious. "Danny." My sickly sweet tone made him look up and smirk back at me. "Gorgeous as ever. It's a real shame you're not into girls, you know."
"Well, if I ever change my mind, you'll be the first to know Cordy." He returned playfully and I couldn't help but grin. I liked Danny a lot, he was a sweet and sincere guy with a good taste for cleanliness, style and was generally just a nice person.
"I wait with baited breath." I returned with a flirtatious albeit harmless squeeze to his bicep whilst moving past him. A few rows down I could see Lydia trying to get Jackson's attention but for once, he wasn't interested in her one bit, seeming irritated and a little angry. Figures. McCall did just kick his ass out there without even meaning to. Continuing on my way I finally found Allison after leaving the lockers and checking a bathroom where she was washing her hands and pressing cold water to her flushed cheeks. "My, my, somebody looks like they've been up to something naughty." I teased her, making the blush darken in colour.
"It's nothing, I just…I…I kissed Scott." Sensing gossip, I immediately closed the door and walked over to Allison, wanting to hear all the details. She shared a few but did not divulge all, still appearing embarrassed to talk about such things so I encouraged her to be brave and go for what she wanted before telling her that her dad was waiting for her by the car. "Thanks. I'm glad we all came tonight, it was fun. I really appreciate the effort you and Lydia have made to make me feel welcome and included. I was worried I wouldn't make any friends here." My heart fluttered at her cuteness so I rearranged her hair for her, helping to smarten her up and touched up her lip gloss so that her dad wouldn't see it smudged and start guessing as to why.
"Ali, you are smart, sweet and very pretty. You'd be able to make friends no matter where you go, but you have us now and you're all ours. Seriously, if your dad tries to move you again, I'll be having stern words." Grinning a little vainly, I pulled my hand through my hair. "Don't worry, I'm sure I can persuade him that it's in his best interest to stay here in Beacon Hills until at least you graduate. After that, who knows? Now. Go home then call me, I want to talk a little more about this crush you've got going on."
Giving a small giggle, Allison fluttered a hand in front of her face to try and cool her cheeks down before heading back outside with me. I cheerfully said goodbye to her and her father before going to my car, finding Lydia already sitting inside. I should really remember to lock it when I leave it. "Lydia? Isn't Jackson driving you home?"
"Can you come over?" Ignoring my question, Lydia continued to glower angrily directly ahead of her, so with a soft sigh I got in and started my car.
"Boys suck, huh?"
"Yeah. Totally."