A/N: First of all, thanks to DreamGirll, AnUnknownForgeinBeauty, Tangled4Ever and 18lzytwner for sticking by my story as it seems most of the those who kept up through story has lost some interest in that you guys seems to keep hanging on, I appreciate it so much and dedicate myself to make the last of the story totally great for you.
It was exactly two months after the latest soccer game and Eugene had just been checked through one last time for a possible injury in his knee. It was a very bad situation for him and he hated his condition right now. There were only 5 matches left and Eugene had missed the last 7 matches because of his knee that seemed to heal as predicted. He hoped to get greater news than last time where they supposed he'd only reach the last 2 matches and he could feel his lust for getting onto the field and play again. He had a hard keeping up with other subject, because he'd been depressed ever since so and he had been giving a chance to finish school here after some bad months after a conversation of seriousness with the VC.
He sat at the doctor's office and awaited a diagnosis for his knee as the doctor came in with the papers. He smiled, so hopefully it meant something good. He sat down in front of Eugene who awaited his conclusion in anxiety.
"I have great news for you Mr Fitzherbert. You've improved a lot so you can return playing again after next week" Eugene was stunned and relieved to hear so and threw his arms up and cheered for himself.
"Take these pills if you feel pain after training for the next three weeks and stop immediately if you feel any crack or so, you might end up being disabled and unable to play sports ever again if you don't listen to the temporary limits of your strong body" Eugene could feel seriousness in his voice that meant he had to be very careful and as much as he have waited to be back, he couldn't risk being disabled for the rest of his life, he had way too many years in front of him for risking that.
Besides all that, he didn't want Rapunzel to get into some hole she couldn't dig herself up from again and he got into more trouble than already, then there might be a good chance of that would happen. He really had a choice to make. Health or risk. He had living a life with risks, but he didn't know if he felt this risk would be worth it.
It was time for a talk with McAllister. They talked more than two hours about certain things and agreed to give him one half the most for the upcoming game and he knew that Maximus and McQueen would partly be taking over his role as captain when he didn't play. He trained hard and felt no pain and the first game was close up and he played the first half with one goal and one assist and felt good as he took a seat on the bench for the second half.
The next games went through with two wins and one lose and they lay side by side with Naldora that they'd have to play against in the last game. Eugene sat by himself and thought hard what to do with the game. He wanted to play it all so much, but didn't know if it would be smart.
Meanwhile had Rapunzel taken a seat beside him where they sat and discussed it a bit?
"I trust your decision Eugene, but just be careful, I'd be torn up inside if you got hurt more than you've already been and you know that" Eugene nodded and kissed her forehead.
"I know Blondie and I love you too and I'll just wait and see what happens, if I feel any pain, then I'll go straight out and let others take over"
It was the night before the last game and Eugene had reported what he promised to Rapunzel to McAllister and they agreed how to proceed and McQueen who missed the two last games with the flu had been reported ready for the big final.
The game was very intense and Eugene knew that he had to be careful, but went through tackles with everything he got and Rapunzel sometimes had to hold her breath to make sure that it was still there. First half went through with McQueen saving Corona with a kick away from the line where the keeper couldn't reach it and Maximus missed one big chance and it was equal 0-0 as the referee called out for the break.
After two minutes of the second half, McQueen scored, but unfortunately in own goal and it lead to a big pressure from Corona where Maximus 18 minutes later hit the inside of the crossbar and it hit the Naldorian keeper and landed in front of McQueen who smashed into the net and made up with his mistake from the start of the half.
9 minutes before the clock seemed to run out, Maximus slammed it hard but precise inside the legs that the keeper left open and he was slammed off by all players joining in the celebration and as everyone thought that they were up for the victory, Naldora managed to equalize things and everyone thought it would end in a draw and things would tip over to Naldora because of their better goal score that tipped three goals to their advantage, but then the new left back, Jack Dagger, took things in his hands and went through 5 players before he was tackled illegally in the field of Naldora and the referee pointed to at the penalty spot as Corona appealed as much as Naldora for their sites of view, but it ended with a penalty that they decided that should be taken by McQueen's partner in the defence named Ronald Grandfield who had taken two in the missing time of Eugene and scored safe as he made four goals all around the season, Maximus and Eugene took place behind the line, ready if he should miss the goal or the keeper would push it to one or another sides.
The referee blew his whistle and Grandfield ran for the ball. The keeper managed to push in out on the post, but Eugene was fast over it and kicked the victory home for Corona as the stadium went crazy as Eugene felt a boot and fell, but took place on the bench with no less than some ice on it and the referee blew off the game and Corona have done it again. They have won the cup and they had to get ready for receiving the trophy for second time in a row that had not been succeed in more than 10 years so it was something they really needed to celebrate with their friends and families and of course the rest of the team.
Everyone got up and got their medals around their necks and they felt proud as the President of the soccer community came up and gave the trophy for Eugene and he raised it over their heads as the confetti flew over them and they started to scream their celebration out for the whole area to hear it.
Not only the cheerleaders, but also the other girls that dated some of the players and friends and such as it were time for a speech surrounded the players. This time Eugene who had been captain through the season leaded it.
"First of all, we all feel honoured to have won the cup twice in a row, I personally wants to thank you my team mates, especially McQueen and Maximus who have been taking extra responsibility while I functioned as mental coach for the players, I'd say great job guys" McQueen and Maximus nodded their thanks to Eugene while others interrupted him with applause and stopped for him to go on.
"Secondly, thanks to our fantastic coach, McAllister, who had taken great care of me and made sure I kept it on a safe level so I wouldn't get injured again and miss the chance of helping the team to victory. Last but not least, Rapunzel, please step up here with me" Rapunzel walked up for applause from the players and cheerleaders.
"This girl, who not only one of the most beautiful girls on whole campus, the most beautiful to me, she also cheerleading with all those lovely ladies over there" pointed at the cheerleaders who seemed to blush a bit at his compliment.ยจ
"She's also the key to my success, she's the one who made me believe in myself and be a better person and the one who have motivated me to be better at everything possible and she's the love of my life and one of the main reason why I feel I have something to live for" Rapunzel got teary in her eyes by pure emotion as Eugene pressed his lips against her and everyone cheered for one of the most famous couples on campus that have gone through thin and thick ever since they started to date at the beginning of their first semester.
A few weeks later as the teachers started to end their classes, they waited in excitement for which subjects they had examine in, they had to get at least three subjects and it was different from class to class what would be taken, but students with different extra subjects could get other things than the others from their class.
All class got to get Arts with Professor Gothel and Eugene and Maximus got English while Eugene had to take sports and while Rapunzel and Maximus ended with Pascal and Alice got philosophy that they started last year. Pascal alone would end with science and Alice and Rapunzel got cooking, as their last exam that they have taken all years together and Maximus alone would have to go up exam in psychology.
It all too much for them, but in only a little more than a months, they could all call themselves gradating seniors of Corona University and they would have their whole future in front of them and life could therefore truly start as most of the fun would have to be replaced by responsibility and possible family life later on. Rapunzel as the rest of them looked forward to it and they had all agreed to keep as much contact as possible because they didn't all knew exactly what would happen with career yet and such.
Maximus wanted to be in the police force like his family and seemed like a qualified guy while Eugene had hoped that his chances of a professional soccer player hadn't been ruined by his former injured knee that had been declared perfectly healthy by medicated experts that had checked it two days after the final game against Naldora. He had promised Rapunzel to let his career get in the way of their relationship and put her before that and for the first time in a while she started to be confident in the talk. Pascal had talked about going outside the borders to explore the world and come back and give out of his knowledge while Alice seemed not to know what to do with her life yet, but she had already agreed to move in with Maximus that only they knew and planned on telling the others after graduation.
All students ended with Arts with Gothel, for some strange reason, Pascal, Alice, Rapunzel, Maximus and Eugene had been picked out to be right after each other and therefore had decided to wait celebrate as all were finished and then go out with their families before gathering up with the rest of the class that had paid for renting a big hall for celebrating and everyone seemed excited as they all started to prepare for first exam. Even though nobody knew what awaited him or her ahead, it seemed like everyone thought it would be something big.
Thanks to my latest reviewer, Wolfram-and-Hart-Sauron as well who gave one while I made this update. See you soon again as I hope when I've finished chapter 30, I'll have 150 reviews that only is close to 10 away and with my trusty reviewers, DreamGirll, 18lzytwner, Tangled4ever and AnUknownForeignBeauty, I have a feeling that I'll reach that goal.
