In Your Corner | ✓

Forty

"All I'm saying is that it won't be the same without you next year," Farah whines, her arms wrapped tightly around Gray and Kat, her lower lip jutting out.

I sit opposite the three of them, my own heart constricting a little at the thought of those two girls leaving us.

Gray chuckles, shaking her head. "You say that like I'm planning to be anywhere except Vancouver next year," she retorts, but her arms are tight around the younger girl, like somewhere, in the back of her mind, she's a little sad about it too.

Farah pulls away from the embrace, rolling her eyes like the drama queen she is. "Yeah, yeah, I get it, you're staying because your girl has you whipped, but still. Won't be the same as having you on the team."

Kat nudges her playfully. "You'll have Natty to whip you into shape, still."

It's the following Saturday afternoon and because the weather's getting a bit warmer, we're all sprawled across the back lawn of the soccer house on picnic blankets, soaking up the rays of Vancouver sunshine.

A few of the boys are huddled around the grill near the house, while others are milling around, beers in their hands and joking with each other.

It's pretty much the end of the semester and we decided to get both soccer teams together before the last push before final exams takes over our lives for a barbeque.

Farah reaches for me and slings her arm over my shoulder, grinning. "Damn straight. You're going to make a great captain next year, Nat, I can feel it in my bones."

I chuckle, looking down at the ground for a second. Given that Chase is graduating too, Carlos and I are stepping up to the plate to become captains next year, which makes me a little nervous. I just hope I can do the job well enough.

Still, that's next year's problem, so I just smile brightly and lift my bottle to Farah in acknowledgement of what she's said.

We hover on the precipice of a nostalgia-fest of the last three years we've spent playing together, but before we can actually reminisce too much, Chase wanders over, clutching a beer in his hand and a soccer ball tucked under his other arm.

"We should have a five-aside or something," he suggests, lifting his eyebrows at us in question. "You in?"

I stare back at him, unimpressed. "You're really wanting a game when the five-aside queen isn't here today?"

Chase softens immediately. "I miss Miriam, Nat. You haven't brought her around in ages," he accuses me, his brow furrowed. "What's that about?"

It's not true. I still bring her to training every now and again, so that Andrei can have a break and get some things done. Coach is fine with it, all the players love it and Andrei appreciates it hugely, more than he'd ever be able to express, he told me once.

I chuckle, shaking my head at the dramatic boy in front of me. "I'm pretty sure I brought her to practice, like, three weeks ago, Chase. What are you moaning for?"

"Three weeks is a long time," he whines, pouting, because he misses the little monster.

Gray slaps his shoulder, grinning. "Don't ever change, Chase."

In the end, we cave and agree to a five-aside, even if it feels like we're betraying Miriam. We decide to mix the teams up a bit, so I'm on the same side as Carlos, Troy, Rio and Farah, while Chase and Reuben drag Kat, Gray and Georgie onto their team.

Just before we start playing, I look up to find Josh leaning against the table next to the grill, talking to one of the other soccer guys, but his eyes trained on me. When he realises that I'm looking at him, his lips curve up into a smile and he winks at me, sending a thrill right down to the base of my spine, despite the crowd around.