Chapter 4

"Breathe in, breathe out,"

"Shut up," Kennedy's been teasing me non-stop since yesterday. We're on the field warming up, I'm not even freaking. Well, on the outside anyway. I purposely positioned myself with my back towards Buffy and Willow while passing the ball around with Kennedy. I haven't actually talked to them yet since Willow came with Buffy a little later, seeing as the team has to show up forty-five minutes before a game. When they got here, I'm pretty sure Buffy waved at us, but I kinda got caught off guard by a ball hitting me smack in the face. Fucking Kennedy. It's not my fault Buffy came to a soccer game wearing a tiny tank top and a skirt that makes her short legs look like they go on for miles.

I've been avoiding eye contact ever since. I'm supposed to be all amazing, yet the first impression she gets of me is that I can't even anticipate a ball coming straight for my face. The ref blows a warning whistle, our team huddles around our coach.

"Okay guys, lets do what we do best. Faith, how about we let some others get a few goals in," she winks at me.

"Sure thing coach," I laugh and head out to the centre of the field to meet the referees. I never really got the point of this, no matter who wins, we each end up on either side of the field at one time or another. It isn't like were going to win the game just by winning the coin toss.

The other team is going to start with the ball, and as I'm waiting for the whistle I look over to where Buffy and Willow are sitting. Buffy smiles wide and waves at me, I wave back. Safe to say I completely forgot why I was even on the field. The other team's offence is already past me. Dammit.

"Faith!" Kennedy is giving me her, 'I know you're in love with her and everything, but get it together face,'. What? I've know her for a long time, I can read like, all of her faces.

Things are not going very good, it's still 0-0, but in my defence, Buffy decided to show up to game where the opposing team is actually quite good. I'm actually trying, but I just can't get it in. Yeah, I said that, you people have dirty minds.

Seriously, there goalie is on fire, and I'm getting frustrated because I'm supposed to be impressing the girl of my dreams, but instead I look like I'm about to blow a gasket. Ken seems to be on the same page as me, she keeps stomping her foot on the ground every time something goes wrong. It's kinda cute, just don't tell her I said that.

Half time...

"Come on girls," Coach Holland loves giving pep talks, which she hardly ever gets the opportunity to do. Sometimes I think she wants us to lose just so she can give us a speech. "We've beat McKinley before and we can do it again! I know it's hot out, and you guys are tired, but you have to believe," I know what you're thinking, and yes, she actually just said that.

Referees always blow their whistle at the wrong freaking time.

"Alright Faith, we're counting on you," way to put pressure on a girl, geez. Now I feel like it'll be my fault if we lose, or tie.

You're probably assuming that I've forgotten about Buffy. I haven't. I'm just trying to keep that fact way at the back of my mind. She probably thinks I suck.

Ten minutes left of the game, still 0-0, and there won't be any overtime. Kennedy's been looking at me, expecting something from me, but I have no idea what to do. Everyone's actually doing there best.

Right when I think there's no hope left for us, Jessa, our best mid-fielder is coming up the left side (I'm on the right), and Kennedy's in the centre. There are only two defenders waiting for us, this like the first time we've gotten a chance this good.

I hope she doesn't hog the ball like she usually does, people say I'm amazing and everything, but I wouldn't be anything without a team backing me up. Jessa looks like she's about to cross it. Ken better not miss this, the ball is going straight for her. It was a low pass so she tries to kick it in the top corner, but it rebounds off the crossbar. It's coming straight for me, I dive for a header.

"Wow," Willow seems to get more excited about winning then are actual team does, "that was amazing. I really thought it would be a tie, which is okay you know? But a tie still isn't winning, and wow Faith, you dove like if you were diving into a lake to save someone. The goalie didn't eve-" Kennedy cuts her off with a kiss.

"I love it when you babble," she says when she pulls back.

"I love it when you babble," I imitate her and pucker my lips exaggeratedly towards Willow. Kennedy punches me, "Hey! I was just joking," Willow rolls her eyes at us.

"You know, you guys are extremely cute," Buffy giggles as she walks towards us. "We know," We all say at the same time. Apparently Willow abandoned her while sprinting to Kennedy for a hug when the game ended.

"I don't watch soccer, but that was pretty intense," she says.

"You should see us when we play for gold, now that's intense," Kennedy replies, and I have to agree with her. This was kind of like a friendly match, nothing compared to some of the tournaments we play in.

"You guys were really good," she compliments me and Kennedy, "You're goal was like in the movies. Doesn't it hurt? Throwing yourself on the ground like that," she asks me.

"Nah, you get used to it," I brush it off, but my knee is actually killing me right now and I feel like my head is about to explode from the way I hit the ground.

"Well, it was still pretty crazy, I could never do that. Cordelia was right though Faith, you're an amazing player," why she reaching out to touch my arm? I can't breathe. "No wonder you're captain," she's playing with the armband that has a big C on it.

"Yeah... Coach thinks I'm leader material or something," I'm blushing, obviously. When do I not blush since I've started talking to her.

"I think she's right," she says slyly, "I mean right at the last second you pulled through for the whole team," the blush has spread to my ears.

"Well you know, I guess it just comes easy,"

cough*cough*

"So me and Willow were talking," she says, while looking at me with a devilish smile, "and we remembered we have to pick up my sister from her dance lesson. Buffy, do you mind driving Faith home, since I'm her ride?" she did not just do that, did she?

"Oh no problem," Buffy smiles genuinely at me.

"Great! See you tomorrow Faith," I know for a fact that Sarah, Kennedy's sister, does not have dance practice tonight.

"Bye Faith, great game," Willow says as they back away from us. Leaving me alone with Buffy.

"Come on, I parked my car on one of the side streets, it was packed when we arrived," she starts walking off towards the street. I take my soccer bag and put it over my shoulder in like a millisecond and stalk right after her.

I usually prefer going home to shower when we have after school games, not so much today though. I realized that I'm going to be in a car with Buffy for at least fifteen minutes smelling like crap. On top of that, my hair is sticky and I literally look like I haven't showered in days. If she notices, she doesn't say anything, because while I'm thinking about all this she's talking about herself. I know I should be listening, but I'm kind of star struck. She isn't a celebrity, but it feels like it. I've had this intense crush on her for years and she has no idea. Being this close to her, being acknowledged by her. It's just really getting to me.

We're rounding the corner of the street she parked on, when I see the person I hate most in life. And it isn't Cordelia.

"Angel!" she shrieks, "What are you doing here?"