The Moments I Recall

CHAPTER TWELVE

The next few days are easy. School is the same, and I still find myself zoning out but not like I miss anything anyway. Things went back to how it should be with all of us, there are the occasional awkward glances to remind us of what had been. I switch between sitting with Maddison and Harper each lunch period now. Maddison had noticed one day and told me it's a good thing I have made some friends especially with Harper being Jessie's sister, she told me how we would be invited to things involving them now. Surprisingly everything is easier with Harper. I haven't exactly earned the hearts of all the girls on the team, but most seem to like having me around. I play number eight attacking midfielder and Harper number 13, striker. Will still comes around when we train sometimes, he convinced us to stick around to watch the boys train one afternoon. He is number ten, goalkeeper, and he is actually really good at his position. Theodore has been preoccupied lately, subtly distancing himself from everything all while devoting himself to his world.  Theodore plays in centre midfield, his shirt marked with a white, plastic paint coated number one. Jessie plays defensive midfield. Harper told me that the only reason he plays is because of their father. The number four being both their jersey numbers. When I asked her why she played she told me, 'Because it's fun.' She definitely meant fun in a destroy your enemies type way.

Both teams have their first games in two weeks on a Saturday versing some private boarding school. Harper said not to expect a turn out at the girls' game, the whole school only comes to watch the boys play.

"Ly, are you listening?" Maddison asks, waving her hand at me from across the table. "Seriously, are you talking to someone up there?"

"Yeah...sorry what?" I reply bringing my hand to my necklace.

"You should stay over after the game on January 14th." She repeats.

"Just us?" I ask her.

".....you know that we can't......" She stops and pinches her bangs. "I think some of the girls are joining too, it will be fun, promise." she assures me.

"Yeah, sure." I nod.

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Two weeks pass faster than expected. I find myself anxious for the game this afternoon. We had spent most of Saturday morning running through plays on the field. The boys have their game at night after ours, they even have the cheer team prepping for tonight's game in the hall.

"Go freshen up girls," coach tells us. "I would recommend staying here and cooling down for a while talking about strategies for the game, but if you must head home then go."

"You are staying Ly?" Harper asks. I nod me head and take a long sip of water from my bottle. "Cool."

"Are your parents coming to watch you play." I ask her.

"No, dad is just coming to watch J.P, but I did ask J.P to watch. I was hoping he'd distract the girls on the other team." she smiles, "Finally my questionable looking supposed twin brother is of some use to me." I can't help but smile as she says this.

"Don't you think he will distract the girls on our team." I laugh.

"J.P you think you give me some tips, I don't think I'm kicking this ball right." Harper mocks flipping her hair back. She pretends to gag and falls to the ground faking her death. "He's like a magnet or something. There are these forces around him like he's been placed centre stage."

"Wow Jessie, you seem awfully strong, could you help me carry my bag?" I joke in the highest voice I can manage before laying next to her, faking my own death.

"It's all bullshit." She says letting out a light chuckle. We fall silent laying there looking up at the light blue sky. I watch a large drifting cloud, change in shape as it wonders the vast space above. Something about this feels familiar in a weird way.