Love and War

Soccer

Going to school after the weekend I just had was hard, mostly because I couldn't say anything. I was stretching for soccer practice when I noticed Dashiell and his friends rolling onto the field. I push him out of my mind the best I can so I can better pay attention to practice. When practice starts I felt somewhere else my mind flicking to Dash. I was the goalie and I wasn't paying attention like I was supposed to, when the ball came at me... my hand wasn't positioned right. I felt my finger pop and I yelped in pain. I cradled the injured limb to my chest and when I feel someone attempt to pull it away I fight to relinquish control.

My eyes are clenched shut but I hear a familiar voice "Sav, just let me get the glove off at least," he says and my eyes fling open to look who it is, and I see Dashiell. When the glove is off he looks at my hand and something like surprise crosses his face instantly, but he quickly returns to looking at my finger. "Can you bend it?" he asks and I look down to see my finger already changing color, but I don't argue with him and attempt to bend it. When I attempt I hiss with pain "no," I say frustrated. 

"Let's get you to the nurse," Dashiell says helping me to my feet. The crowd around us disbands as we stand, but Dashiell holds me close like I'm a fragile doll. "You don't have to hold me I'm okay," I tell him and he nods letting go "I just... Nevermind," he starts. I can't help but stare at him for a long moment, before when my eyes were closed and he spoke to me... I could have sworn it was The Dash. "What? Is there something on my face?" he asks reaching a hand up to his chin. "No your fine," I tell him averting my eyes. "Well thank you," he jokes and I roll my eyes "so, um when did you get your nails done?" he asks and I lift an eyebrow at the odd question.

"Um... Yesterday morning. I had a date that afternoon," I told him and then Dashiell went silent as we continued down the hall towards the nurse. Something was off in the air and I wasn't sure what to say or do. I usually would be arguing with him all the way down the hall, but today it was different. "Why don't you call me Dash?" he asked breaking the silence and I scoff "because The Dash is a hero and you're, you're well immature. I don't want to discredit the hero by throwing the name around," I tell him feeling more conflicted about calling him immature. 

"Can you say Dash again?" he asks and I look at him weirdly furrowing my eyebrows. "We're at the nurse now, thanks," I say before entering the nurse's office and leaving Dashiell in the hall. 

"It looks like you jammed your finger. You're gonna want to avoid any activity that would put it in harm's way. I'll call your mom to let her know you should go to the doctor after school," she explained and I wanted to crawl into a hole. Of course right after I met The Dash, I have to rest. Because of my Finger!! Ridiculous, I go to first-period feeling frustrated and trying not to glare at the splint on my finger. I plop down next to Natalia and she mouths 'what happened?' and I sigh 'soccer practice' she nods and we turn our attention back to class. 

I take my notes, but they're barely legible of course it had to be my right hand. "You want me to copy down a second set of notes for you?" Nat asks looking at my notes I sigh and nod reluctantly. "What has you so down? I know this keeps you from your goalie post for a little while but this seems worse," she says cluing in on my sadness and frustration. "Well this is also gonna keep me from work and I was really looking forward to working with this guy I just met," I explain she squeals quietly.

"Tell me everything!" She asks and I laugh at the thoughts of Dash. "Wow, you must really like him! I've never seen you beam like this, especially over a boy," she adds I sigh leaning back in my seat and I can feel a pair of eyes on us and I turn to see Dashiell looking over here, but I attempt to push him out of my mind. "Well let's call him D, I'd heard a lot about him and we ran into each other Friday after school. We worked together on a job, and it was great. Then Saturday we had some time to talk and get to know each other, and then he took me for a date yesterday," I told her and she pushed my shoulder lightly.

"And you didn't call me! Did he kiss you? Is he a good kisser?" she asked and I blushed bright red and covered my face.

Dash's POV

I knew Savannah was Double, and how I never noticed before was beyond me. I heard her talking about me and couldn't help but smile at the reaction she had about our kiss. "Yes, we kissed, and yes he's not a bad kisser," she said to Natalia and I could see the tops of her ears turning bright red. "But now I won't be able to work with him until my finger heals," she huffs "just hang out outside of work," Natalia suggests and Savannah leans her head back dramatically.

Savannah's POV

"It's not that simple, I don't want to..." I try to find the right word to say not reveal my identity this early. "You don't want to seem desperate?" Natalia asks and I laugh "For lack of a better word yes. I just really like this guy he's courageous, funny, smart, and super cute. I just don't want to be too distant and someone else snatches him up," I tell her with a sigh I hear someone clear their throat beside me and I turn to see Dashiell. "I know you typically don't take my advice, but for what it's worth, I think you don't have anything to worry about. If he's as great as you give him credit, he'll wait," Dashiell says to me shocking me I look into his blue eyes and all of a sudden feel very nervous.  "Thanks, Dash," I say attempting to be nice he smiles at me and returns to his seat.