Survive

Chapter Nine

Los Angeles, California, U.S.A.

August 12, 2022.

Madison Stone's Point Of View.

After a few minutes, we make our introductions and the Justice and Royalty teams begin to take the field.

The game begins a few minutes later with the boy from the opposing team kicking the oval ball positioned on the ground over the 35-yard line towards our school team's field.

Throughout the first half of the game, the boys from the opposing team score more points and stay ahead on the scoreboard, then time runs out and the game goes to the second half where our school team scores more points and ties the Royalty team. Then, the game goes to the break.

Andrey looks at me and gives a wink as Coach Henry talks to him and the other boys on the team, making me smile as I get back to cheering up the crowd with the girls.

...

After the third and fourth quarter, the game goes to extra time to untie, since in the third the team of our school won and stayed in front, but in the fourth the justice team won and tied, making the game finish 35 to 35.

When overtime begins, the Justice offense can't get all the way to 10 yards on their first three chances, so they score a Field Goal. The Royalty boys get a chance to have a possession to try to score a Touchdown, but only manage to score a Field Goal as well, causing the game to go to sudden death, where unfortunately the opposing team scores first and wins the game.

While the winners celebrate, the Royalty fans, staff and cheerleaders leave the field frustrated with the result. I see the boys from afar and try to run to them, but I hear a familiar voice calling me, causing me to stop.

"Madison!" I turn back and I see Bryan, so I get closer to him.

"Hi Bryan, how are you doing?" He reaches out his arms and pulls me into a hug, which is reciprocated by me.

"I'm fine and you? It has been a long time since we have seen each other or exchanged messages. Why did you leave Justice?"

"My parents' friends said that this school was better, and you know how my mother is, don't you?" I ask and he laughs, making me see his dimples, the ones I was once in love with.

"Yes, I know what she looks like." He speaks and we stare at each other for a few seconds, which takes me back to when we were dating and I loved to stare into his amber eyes.

Bryan Miller was my first and only boyfriend. We studied together from kindergarten through the first year of high school. Our families have been friends for years, so we grew up being friends too, until we fell in love with each other and started dating when we entered high school. We were together for almost five months, but we realized that we weren't mature enough to date, so we decided it would be better to just be friends, at least until we were more ready.

"You look so beautiful in that outfit. And have I ever told you that ponytails suit you? Because if I never told you, I'm telling you now." And I smile. Bryan knows how to boost a woman's self-esteem.

"Thank you... aside from the fact that you're all sweaty, you look beautiful too," and we both laugh, but then silence settles between us.

"I miss you... I miss our moments together." And my heart speeds up when I hear that coming out of his mouth, because I miss him too, not as a boyfriend, but as a friend. As my friend.

"I miss you too.."

"When we broke up, we agreed to continue being friends, but we both know we drifted apart a lot after that." He looks deep into my eyes and I don't know what to say, because what he said is true.

"Yes, that's true, but... if you want to go out sometime so we can reminisce about the good times... I'd love to." I speak and I can see from his eyes that he was happy with my suggestion.

"I loved the idea!" And silence sets in again.

"I think I'll go after my other friends now.. to give them moral support," he laughs. "I'm serious." I speak, but end up laughing too.

"Go then, but first give me a hug," he pulls me and holds me with his arms for a few long seconds.

"It was good to see you again," I say and we let go of each other.

"I tell you the same."

We say goodbye and I start walking in the direction the boys went, but Bryan calls out to me again when I'm already a little far away, causing me to turn around to see what he wants.

"I think I'm going to ask to my mom to change schools and put me here." He shouts.

"Don't do this! This school is too good to be spoiled by you!" I shout back in a wry tone and then go on my way.

...

I stop in front of the men's locker room with Ashley after we shower, change clothes, and get our things from the women's locker room. Yes, I came here after I talked to Bryan, but since I knew it would take a while for the boys to leave, I decided to do these things first and then come here to wait for them.

We wait a few more minutes and the guys from the team start to leave. Some greet us and others pass straight, totally ignoring our existence.

"Hey, how are you guys doing after the defeat?" Ashley asks as soon as Andrey, David, and Ryan come out of the locker room, causing me to look shocked at her.

"Ashley always showing her finesse," Andrey mocks and comes over to me, giving me a hug. "You looked beautiful in that outfit," he whispers in my ear and I shiver a little.

"Hi boys," I greet the other boys, the same ones who along with Ashley look at me and Andrey in a bold way. "What's wrong?"

"Nothing." The three respond in a wry tone in unison.

"You are very stupid," Andrey retorts.

"And you hang out with us, so you are too," and of course the one who said this was Ashley, causing me and the boys to sneer Andrey, the same one that responds to provocations by just raising his middle finger at us.