Out Of The Woods

chapter five

♪ New Romantics~Taylor Swift

"Do you want something to eat?" I asked Grace.
"Yeah, sure. Hot dog and coke?"
"Spider-girl, you read my mind." I paid for our food and we went to our seats.
"These are great seats." I said with my mouth stuffed.
"I think you like the hot dog better." She said and we both laughed.
"Who's your favorite player?" She asked me.
"Have you not seen my jersey?" I turned so that my back was to her to show her which name and number were printed on the jersey on the side of my back.
"He is my brother's favorite player too."
"Who's your favorite player?" I asked her grinning.
"That's a great question, you know?"
"Come on, you're telling me that you have no idea of who plays on our team?"
"I'm more into european soccer." She said.
"Ok Spider-girl, the best player on the premier league?" I was challenging her now.
"Easy, Haaland. Favorite player in the premier league?"
"I'm obliged to say Momo Salah. Tell me yours now."
"Definitely Kai Havertz." She said proudly.
"Dude come on, I hate that guy!"
"I'll try not to be offended by that." She laughed. She had a wholesome laugh.
"I need to know one thing, do you play?"
"My dad thought me the basics so I could play with my brother, I don't think I'm any good."
"Tomorrow after practice I want to see
if you're good." I announced.
"All right, but if I'm not good you don't have to laugh."
I moved closer to her and whispered in her ear. "Game on."
The game was about to start. She stopped talking and began to focus on the game. I focused on her, on her every movement and expression. She seemed to enjoy the atmosphere. Once the game started, she was too focused to notice that I was staring at her in amazement. Her perfect red hair was pulled back into two braids. She was wearing a blue baseball cap, a shirt that was too big for her, definitely her brother's, jeans and a pair of chucks. She had no makeup on, and that was what I liked about her.
We scored, she smiled and shouted. I was too stunned to do anything but look at her. She turned to me and smiled. I smiled back at her. She began to jump; she was happy. I stood up and began to cheer with her. She hugged me and kissed me on the lips. She broke away from the kiss and continued jumping as if nothing had happened. I was immobilized, not knowing what to do. I sat down and eventually everyone around us sat down too and the game started again.
≫ ── ≪•◦ ❈ ◦•≫ ── ≪
The game ended and we won 1-0. She didn't say anything about the kiss, everything was normal. I was a little cold, I think. She was talking on the phone about how good the game had been with her mother. She hung up and started to say something to me but I kept thinking about the kiss, about her lips on mine. "Hey, what are you thinking about?" She sounded worried.
"Nothing I'm just overwhelmed by the game." I told her.
"Do you wanna get something for dinner? My parents said they will be late."
"Yeah, sure, what do you wanna eat?" I tried to sound normal.
"I think McDonald's is fine. There's one near my house."
"Ok cool."
"I want to know what is your favorite song from 1989."
"New romantics? Is that the name?"
"Yes, I love that song!" She put it again and we listened to it. At every stop I watched her sing, she was so beautiful. After another 10 minutes of Taylor Swift we arrived at McDonald's, went in and ordered two menus to go. The order came so I took the bags, put them in the car and drove to her house.
"Thanks for today, I had a good time." She smiled at me and I almost melted.
"Thanks for the ticket, it was a good game and it doesn't happen often." We both laughed. We went into her house and started eating. "I love McDonald's. It's the best fast food in the world." She said with her mouth stuffed.
"Have you ever tried Shake Shack? It's so much better."
"Never. I've always wanted to, but every time I go to McDonald's."
"Next time I'll take you there and you tell me." I said.
"Deal."
We finished eating and she said her parents were coming. "My mother has been texting me since 8:30 to come home, I have to go, I'm sorry." I told her.
"Don't worry, drive carefully and thank you for everything."
There was a moment when I saw her looking at me as if she wanted to kiss me again, but it was only a moment. She smiled.
"See you tomorrow at school." I said and closed the door behind me.