1And then he smiled…
Do all these people really care? I mean, the stands are packed with parents, and students, and friends all sweating under the sweltering Tennessee sun. I know that I wouldn't be into sitting on the hot metal stands at four o'clock in the afternoon. Especially if I had to squish in next to some sweaty fat guy. No offense, to the sweaty and the fat, but together it's a little appalling. Now I didn't just pull this out of nowhere. My mother is in the stands between my father and a sweaty looking chubby guy. She doesn't look all that uncomfortable though, just a little like she's trying to breathe through her mouth.
"Alright starters line up, its game time." Coach says.
Hearing those words I start paying attention.
My long wavy black hair is pulled into a ponytail, my laces are tightly tied, and as my dad would say, I've got my game face on.
I walk with the other starters out to the center of the field to get introduced by the announcer. Next to me stands my best friend, Nicole, a few inches shorter than my five foot six frame.
"Number eight, junior, Nicole Stratford." Nicole steps forward and lifts her arm to the crowd.
"Number nine, junior, Annabella D'Amore."
I step forward and raise my arm, tanned from spending the summer in Italy, to the crowd. I can hear my dad shout above everyone's clapping. My boyfriend, Nick, says my dad resembles a mafia boss which I get. He has black hair with streaks of gray from age but he's still fit from his soccer days. He can't wear suits. I remember once when I was seven or eight he took me to a wedding. That was the last time he ever wore a suit and tie. They wouldn't let us in. Apparently the groom had gotten into a little trouble gambling and the guards, or whatever they're called at a wedding, had been warned not to let anyone in under the description of my dad. When I was seven that really made me mad. I mean we got an invitation and everything but now that I think about it it's pretty funny. A couple of weeks ago my mom made him put on a suit for her sister's wedding. When he came down the stairs I took a moment to stare and then laughed. Hard. He did look like a mafia boss, especially with the scowl on his face. After that my mom let him change and agreed with Nick.
After everyone is introduced our captain, Cameron, pulls us into a huddle. Everyone expects me to be captain next year. I'm already sick of hearing teammates tell me that I will be captain. I'm actually kind of hoping that coach will pick someone else. Yeah, being captain would be cool but I feel like some people want it way more than me. Like Nicole for example, she won't admit it but I know she really wants to be captain.
I guess the soccer part of me came from my dad. Both of my parents came to America from Italy when they were young. My dad went to college on a soccer scholarship and was an insanely awesome player. He brought his team to the top until his junior year when he got injured. After that he couldn't play. This is probably why he enjoys sitting in 80 degree heat snug between people just to watch me play.
The whistle blows and the game begins. Things are pretty even until about ten minutes into the first half. South Valley is pushing their defense up and trying to catch us off sides but that's a bad idea with Nicole and I on the field together. As soon as we get the ball to Nicole she launches it over the defenders heads. Before they can even turn around I am behind them sprinting to the ball. I get it under control and take a shot to the upper right corner and score.
"And that, my fellow fans, was the first goal of the season scored by number nine, Annabella D'Amore."
Unfortunately for us before the half is over they have a goal on us. Unfortunately for them I happen to be a second half player. The fewer minutes left in the game the more I want a goal.
In the second half I score three goals and Amber, the right forward, scores one.
"And that's the game. Ravens five, Bobcats one. Thank you for supporting your team tonight. We hope to see all Raven fans next Friday in the game against the Warriors."
My teammates call me a machine. I don't know if I like that but I can see where they get it. In practice I finish sprints way ahead of the other girls and I pop out goals unconsciously. Soccer has been such a big part of my life for as long as I can remember. It's starting to get repetitive. Actually it's been repetitive for awhile now.
With the first victory under our belt my teammates are all giddy with excitement but I find myself unable to get as happy as they are.
"Good game D'Amore, see you in practice tomorrow." Coach Adams calls. I think I'm his favorite and I'm not the only one with that opinion. The girls all call me coach's pet.
"Nice goals Bella." Nicole teases. "Not that we didn't expect them."
"Nice assists." I say "Not that- oh wait we didn't expect those." Nicole fakes a hurt face and then shoves me.
"Ha Ha. Sorry we can't all be soccer goddesses like you." I grin.
"Don't forget about me again tomorrow morning." I say.
"I didn't forget about you! I sat waiting in your driveway for twenty minutes and then your dad came out and told me you weren't coming to school! And you shouldn't have come to school; you could have gotten me sick."
"I didn't want to miss school." I say.
"Why does it even matter if you miss school? Everyone knows your going to get a scholarship."
"Honestly." I say "I don't know if I want to play college soccer. I'm kind of already getting tired of high school soccer." Nicole's mouth drops.
"I thought you loved soccer?" she says.
"I do, I think, I just don't think its something I love enough to play in college." I explain.
"Wow." She says "Good luck explaining that one to your dad."
"Yeah that's the problem, anyway I better go. See you tomorrow."
"Bye."
I swing my bag over my shoulder and head towards my dad already knowing what he is going to say. First he'll tell me I had a good game then he'll say that we need to work on this or that.
"Good game honey but I think we should work on your corner kicks they are getting too low to the ground."
"Okay Dad."
"Hey Bells." Nick says slinging an arm around my shoulder.
"Is it alright if I take her to get something to eat and bring her home?" Nick asks my dad.
"Fine but you know she needs to be back by curfew." Dad grumbles.
"Of course Mr. D'Amore."
Nick and I have been dating since eighth grade. You don't hear my name without thinking Nick's and vice versa. Nick and I are good together. We like all of the same things. The only thing I can say we disagree on is music. Even though we live in Tennessee Nick hates country music. I, on the other hand, love it. And as much as my dad denies it I know he likes Nick. Dad is just glad that I'm not dating a guy that was like he was in high school. At least that's what my mom tells me.
"You get better every time I watch you play." Nick says before kissing me.
"Thanks." I smile.
Nick takes me to my favorite pizza place and we share a medium cheese. Don't let my skinny figure fool you. I could probably eat the pizza he ordered by myself especially after a game.
"Slow down. You're going to get a stomach ache again."
Oh, yeah, that's another thing. I eat fast. I can't help it.
I put down my third piece of pizza to demonstrate my will power.
"So, how is it being class president?" I say grinning.
I was so proud when Nick was elected class president last week. He really is good for the job. He is friends with everyone and I've never seen him be rude to a classmate.
"Good. I'm not sure every member of the student council likes me though." I eye my pizza.
"If they don't it's just because they are jealous. Who doesn't like you?"
"Alex Coil and Rob Unger."
"Hmm… I seem to remember both of them running against you. Come on Nick not everyone is going to like you." The pizza is calling to me.
"Yeah, I guess." He laughs at me. "Just eat the pizza. You have amazing self control."
I hate Fridays.
Every class period seems longer as the day progresses and Mr. Brinker's class is the worst. Being the evil English teacher that he is you can't say something without being corrected on grammar or something equally unimportant in a teenager's conversation.
"I will give you each a partner and a topic. You will have three weeks to put together a presentation on that topic. I'm not going to say this twice so listen up. Jessica Calhoun and Matthew Jacobson you have Jane Austen. Annabella D'Amore and Carson Traverse you have Charles Dickens…"
Carson Traverse? I rack my brain. It's a familiar name. Carson Traverse! I've gone to school with him forever. He's tall, muscular, and tanned. His hair is dirty blonde and sun streaked and he has the most beautiful clear blue eyes I have ever seen. The only problem is he wears the same black cap everyday. Although it is kind of cute how his little blonde curls poke out from beneath the cap.
"Hey Annabella." Carson says after class.
"Hey Carson."
"Do you want to meet at the library tomorrow and get started on the project?" he asks while he readjusts his cap.
"Sounds good. How about sometime around three? " I answer.
"Cool see you then." He says smiling.
It's that smile that first sends me over the edge.
AN: I know I said this last time I started a story but even though I already have two other stories going I couldn't help starting this one. This one is different because I actually have my plot planned out so hopefully it will be good.
:) Thanks for reading. Review if you feel the urge.