The Panther and The Horse

Chapter 3: Looking Forward

January 2022

I text good morning as usual as I head off to a new school, more specific, high school. It's a late start so I have plenty of time, but I'm scared and feel like I'll be late to one of my classes.

Luckily for me, I wasn't late to any of my classes. It wasn't too bad a day really. I mean, Noah teased me about always texting Ajax and I met a new guy Leo.

I liked Leo for a week or so but I knew too well he was just gonna be a phase. It also turns out that after Katie has liked Jayden for 3 years, she also likes Leo.

"Well... this is awkward," I say to her. She nods then asks, "Out of 100%, how much do you think you like Leo?" As I stare into space to think of an answer I finally reply with "I like him about 5%, remember, I still love Ajax a lot more."

"For me he's around 40%," Katie says, feeling disappointed in herself for even thinking Leo was attractive. I mean, she's liked Jayden for what, 3 years and she doesn't know what to do. Katie has asked Jayden out three times over the course of those three years and all he said was I don't know.

Like honestly, I think it's bullshit. She does too and she's sick of it aswell. I mean, understandable. Jayden likes Katie, Katie likes Jayden. Katie asks out Jayden, he says I don't know.

March 2022

I finally meet up with Ajax in real life. He was taller than I thought he was gonna be, although he could say the same thing to me. When he arrived at the school oval, I was waiting. Cleats and goalkeeper gloves on as I roll the ball to his brand new Nike cleats.

"Your boots look amazing," I say to him smiling. He blushes and says "Thanks. Your  boots look cool too. I see you like Neymar then." He actually noticed I was wearing my Neymar boots I thought. I chuckle as he's walking to the penalty spot.

A couple penalty kicks later...

I commentate to try and distract him. He's wearing a Lionel Messi PSG kit so as I'm commentating I say "Ohh, Messi's taking a run up. Is he going left or right? The keeper better be ready.... OHH and Lionel Messi misses a chance to score a beautiful goal!"

We both start laughing and I switch out of goals, passing him my goalkeeper gloves. I hope there not too sweaty, or even sweaty at all really, I thought to myself.

Ajax puts my gloves on his smooth, dark skin hands. I feel a nervous shiver run up and down my spine. "Rashford for the penalty kick. It's finals so don't mess it up," he taunts to me. HE EVEN REMEMBERS MY FAVOURITE PLAYER, I think to myself happily. I laugh for a couple seconds then put my game face on.

It's time for me to score my best goal to impress Ajax. It starts to rain but it doesn't stop me in the run up. I think to slide tackle the ball, no defenders nor am I defending but I just feel the urge to do it.

As I slide tackle the ball, I get a scratch on the back of my thigh. But that didn't matter when I scored top right corner. Ajax is in complete awe. "How the hell are you playing in defence!? You should be a striker, take up Ronaldo's spot, in the woman's league that is," Ajax says still in awe and me still on the ground but holding my leg in a burning pain.

He helps me up, hand in hand. We blush a little bit, but to clear the silence I say to him "Thanks." We smile at each other as we walk of to go home. We part ways and I head home for a nice dinner.