A Search for Balance

Chapter 6 - Clear Skies

Once Lizzie had decided to leave her private grievances with Orion behind at the entrance to the pitch, their practice sessions improved quickly. As soon as the practice day was over, however, Lizzie made sure to keep her distance from him.

It made for an awkward situation; Orion had yet to meet the rest of the team, and Skye - needing some distraction after another break-up with perpetual on-off girlfriend Erika Rath - had made it her personal agenda to help him settle into his new life.

Consequently, Lizzie and Skye were barely spending time together anymore - a fact that Matthew, in particular, wasn't too fazed about. Lizzie had thought she'd be happy to dedicate her free time to him, but having no one but Matthew to talk to soon began weighing on her mind. She lacked enthusiasm about the preparations for their wedding and was suddenly annoyed by her fiancé's pickiness when she had never been before. Matthew, in turn, was irritated at Lizzie's absentmindedness.

"The wedding is important, not only for us but everyone. You could at least try to be excited."

"I am excited, but I'm also tired," Lizzie told him, just so managing not to roll her eyes when he clicked his tongue in disdain.

"That's because you're not taking care of yourself. At the rate you're going, you're going to wear a cast by the time the wedding comes around."

Lizzie didn't answer him. She was annoyed at Matthew's persistence but didn't want to upset him either, so she continued to keep her silence.

With the mood between Matthew and her being strained, the Quidditch pitch had turned into a refuge. Seeing Orion every day was strange, but with a bit of practice, Lizzie soon found a good balance between interacting with him when she had to and pretending he didn't exist for the rest of the time. When Skye called them to the ground during the last stretch of their daily routine, however, she found her methods unexpectedly put to the test.

"What do you mean you have to leave?" Lizzie asked incredulously. "We've got practice to do."

"Yeah, but I got some captain's stuff to go over with Dad, haven't I?"

"Can't you do that at home?"

"Don't know if you've noticed, Jameson, but I don't live with my parents anymore."

"You're at their place every other day. Just talk it over then."

"It ain't any of your business when I'm talking with my dad or not. You guys carry on with the last exercise while I'm gone. Your off-hand passes suck."

Without giving Lizzie another chance to object, Skye turned and walked away.

"Right, no need to stay if she's gone," Lizzie said to Orion after Skye had left the pitch. It was only with reluctance that she added, "See you tomorrow."

She was already unfastening the buckles on her arm protection and making for the exit when Orion called her back.

"Where are you going?"

"Home?"

"We are far from the unit our team needs to be. The Keeper has to be one with the goalposts, the Seeker with the Snitch, the Beater with the bat. The same goes for us Chasers, too. Every side of our triangle must be equally strong for us to prevail." Orion raised his eyebrows. "Our side could use some more work, if I may say so."

"You don't get it, do you?" Lizzie said and rolled her eyes. "I'm aware that our gameplay could use some work - I just don't want to work on it."

"That makes it even more important that we do."