𝐄𝐋𝐄𝐀𝐍𝐎𝐑 𝐑𝐈𝐆𝐁𝐘, 𝐭𝐞𝐞𝐧 𝐰𝐨𝐥𝐟 𝐱 𝐭𝐯𝐝

- ³⁰ IN WHICH NO ONE KNEW REECE'S PIECES WAS A CAUSE FOR DISASTER

✧･ﾟ: *✧･ﾟ:* chapter thirty ✧･ﾟ: *✧･ﾟ:*

❛ the one in which no one knew reece's pieces was a cause for disaster. ❜

RIGHT. LEFT. RIGHT. LEFT.

Hope inhaled sharply. She narrowed her eyes at her opponent. Liam was in one goal, and Liam's dad had taken the other. Opposite her, stood with loose-fitted Lacrosse gear on and weakly clutching his stick, Mason fumbled into position. She crouched slightly. Her own stick bounced between her hands. The ball was placed in the middle of the makeshift pitch, a mid-sized garden with mostly trimmed grass and two broken panels on the fence. A woman, Liam's mother, stalked up to the middle of the field, and raised her whistle. Her head flicked between the two teams, lips curved into a smirk. Three. Two. One.

The whistle marked the beginning of the game. Hope raced forward, scooping the ball with her stick and running towards Mason. The boy swivelled, trying to intercept her. His arms flailed maniacally around, twisting and fumbling with his stick. She sidestepped him, spinning just in time to send him a smirk. Readying herself, she threw her right arm back and launched the ball as far as it would go: it bounced straight into the back of the net.

"One point to Hope!" Liam's mother called, while Liam's father tried to get over the exaggerated embarrassment of being beaten as goalie by a fifteen year old.

Hope grinned and threw her arms into the air, taking off her helmet to do her usual, celebratory dance: three star jumps, a little boogie and a spin. Behind her, Mason let out a loud groan, removing his helmet as well. He positioned it into the crook of his elbow as he approached her side, Liam too reuniting with the newly formed trio, a frown on his face. Her smirk widened at his competitively let-down expression, juggling her stick pointedly.

"I told you I was good at the game!" She stated confidently, and for the first time in a while, she was content. Liam scoffed as he folded his arms over his chest and Hope let out a snort, nudging his shoulders, "Jealous that your oh, so impressive goalie skills were not put to the test?"

Mason was panting, "This is totally unfair." He decided. "I'm not a Lacrosse player. I can barely run without losing my breath most of the time. I'm a much better goalie—actually, let me be the referee. Your mother could do a better job than me. Besides, if you two are the real Lacrosse players, you should go head to head."

Hope had to admit he was right, but she wasn't going to let his inexperience take away from her win. Anyhow she nodded, blowing a strand of her messy hair out of her face as she turned to Liam. She stuck out a hand, her stick resting against her ribs. "You're so on."

Liam's smile was more genuine, undermined by a layer of playful malintent, "There's

tissues in the cupboard above the sink for when you lose." He muttered, pulling down his helmet. He grabbed Mason's stick, "Mason can be my goalie."

As Liam ran off to get some water and prepare himself, Mason let out a slow breath. He turned to Hope, and his voice was twinged with lighthearted exasperation, "Who the hell recommended a scrimmage match?"

"You did, Mase." Hope chuckled fondly, "It's okay. I'm going to wipe the floor with him. Trust me." In truth, she didn't actually know if that was possible, considering Liam was both a hundred times better than her and possessed werewolf enhancements, but she liked her confidence and said her delusions with an air of certainty, as one always should.