Disclaimer:
I do not own anything but my own storylines
(A/N)- btw, like I mentioned in the last chapter, this is American football, not soccer. Sorry if I messed up some terms.
Also, yeah, I changed the title to make it sound more interesting. I hope you guys don't mind.
Chapter 11
Tackles and Kicks
Lucy's POV
"Can the suspense grow any stronger?! The ties just keep on rising. When one team gets a point, the other catches up. This is just killing me! And with only one minute left, this is just torture!" The sports announcer was pulling his hair and screaming into the microphone. This was the noisiest the stadium has ever been.
"GO FAIRY TAIL!"
"GO SABERTOOTH!"
"Ugh!" I stomped my foot in frustration. "Sabertooth can't be that good. We've never had this much of a hard time." My arms felt like they were about to fall off from swinging my pom-poms around so much. And my legs were starting to feel like jelly. But my determination and hope for Fairy Tail kept me going.
I watched attentively as Natsu charged towards the goal area with the ball, keeping track of the time with my peripheral vision. There was only 30 seconds left, if we get this one last point we win.
Natsu was the center of attention, running like his life depended on it. Players from the other team tried to get to him, but never got passed the protective shield our players formed around him, making sure nothing got to him.
50 feet from the goal. "GO NATSUUUU!" I screamed from the top of my lungs, louder than the entire town. I may hate the guy but I'm still supportive.
Out of the corner of my eye, I saw someone race towards him at the speed of light, taking down players as he went. I widened my eyes. Black, white, and yellow uniform. Number 65. Sting. My gaze fell into line with the direction he was heading to. Charging from behind at number 77...Natsu.
He sees him coming. I know it. But I don't know if Natsu can evade Sting.
My feet are already taking me towards him at the sidelines. Everything felt like it went into slow motion. "NAAAAATTTTSSUUUUUUUUUUU!"
The only thing I heard before my senses died out was "FOUL! PENALTY! NUMBER 65!" and a yellow flag tossed onto the field. That was the only thing that guided me to the scene of the crime.
Natsu's POV
Damn it! How fast is this guy? I know the guys got me covered but he's just bulldozing right through.
I willed my legs to make me faster. Only 30 seconds left. Fairy Tail's victory lies on my hands. Literally.
My eyes narrowed at my target. If I can just get to the goal before Sting can tackle me, it will all be done. But the next thing I knew, I felt some sort of burning pain shot up my side as well as my leg. "NAAAAATTTTSSUUUUUUUUUUU!" That's Lucy's voice. And she sounds…worried. Scared. About me.
I recollected myself and got my bearings. I was flat on the ground, lying in pain. I looked to my left and saw the yellow flag on the field. Someone had a penalty. And that someone was the bastard. I cursed myself for letting him get to me.
"Natsu! Natsu!" Lucy appeared at my side as well as my other teammates and the medics. "Natsu, you're gonna be okay. Don't give up on me!"
"I'm not dying, Luce," I deadpanned. Even when I'm hurt, she can still amuse me. So overdramatic, that girl.
"Dragneel," one of the medic said. "You don't have anything broken. All you have is badly bruised ribs and a slightly twisted ankle."
I was confused about my injuries. "I was only tackled. Right?"
"You idiot!" Lucy scolded. "He kicked you in the ribs when he was tackling you and tripped you so you'd twist your ankle."
I propped myself up on my elbows. Now that my head was clearer, I saw Sting arguing with the ref. I was helped up when it was announced, "Sting Eucliffe gets a penalty for deliberately beating Natsu Dragneel. Fairy Tail is awarded with a penalty kick. They must use this final chance they get or its game over for the Fairies."
"Let me do it," I said as I got up, leaning on Lucy for support. I was hit by a wave of shock from the people surrounding me. I got beaten down by a blonde head dick-face so I'm not going down unless I defeat him in some way. If I don't do it, it will look like he won no matter what the outcome of the game is.
"Natsu, you idiot!" Luce shouted. "I know you wanna win badly but you're injured."
I looked down at her and grinned widely. "I've had worse. This is nothing. And I'm just kicking the football."
"Across an entire football field at like a 100 feet in the air going at like 100 miles an hour knowing you!" It was funny watching Luce flail her arms around trying to make a point. I only chuckled in response and ruffled her hair. "You trust me. Don't you?" Her face softened and gently smiled. That was all I needed.
With that, I limped away to my spot, retrieving the football. "Just know if you break a bone I'll make sure you won't ever walk again!" Lucy screamed a threat at me. I turned around and smirked, calling back, "Don't count on it!"
"Unbelievable! The Great Salamander is stepping up to make the final kick that will decide the fate of this game. Even in his beaten condition, he still has a blazing fire within him!"
Gray ran up beside me, "Dude, you don't have to do this. One of us can do it for you. You don't have to keep showing off for your girl!"
I answered, "Shut up, Stripper! It's not just for Luce. I'm not gonna be able to live with myself if I don't show that cheating piece of shit that it'll take a lot more to stop me and Fairy Tail." Gray might be my greatest enemy, but he's also my best friend. We may fight, but in the end, we still understand each other.
Gray clapped me over the shoulder, "You got this, man. If we don't win, I'll be the one who makes sure you don't walk again."
I grunted, "Like I'll let any of that happen."
"This is it, people. It's all up to Natsu Dragneel." The announcer's booming voice sounded, followed by utter, shocking, silence.
I let out a deep breath, the thudding of my heart sounded in my ears as I looked around at everyone. The crowd on the edge of their seats, holding their breath. Coach Gildarts and team with a confident, trusting expression. Our cheerleaders holding their hands in anticipation. The Sabertooth players with a hard look, not knowing what to expect. Sting's glare directly at me, with a slight cocky smirk. And…Lucy's hopeful, believing eyes. That, was all I needed.
I let out a battle cry and kicked the football with excessive strength I never knew I had.
I can hear the silence. I can hear the breaths sucked in sharply. The ball went soaring through the air.
Closer… closer…
(A/N)- CLIFFHANGER! HAHA! Who do you think won?~
My poll is still up, guys. Thank you to those of you who have voted!