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Chapter Eight: Same Mistake

Zoned in on her opponent, Olivia Baker was in full game time mode. Dr. Spears had taught her a cool little trick to help with focus during games because at times she felt herself getting distracted in order to calm her nerves. Five things she could see - green blades of grass, the blue sky with minimal clouds, girls stretching on the sidelines, her white cleats and her family sitting in the middle of the crowd. When she closed her eyes, she focused in on the sounds of her teammates around her and the sound of the soccer ball being kicked. She visualized herself kicking the ball and scoring a goal and the crowd cheering around her. After running through the visualization exercises and her stretches, she felt like she was nice and relaxed before the game.

In the crowd, the Baker family and Olivia's friends began filing into the seats. The soccer game was a day before the big football game so Jordan and Spencer were able to make it right after their practice.

"Made it right in time. I was about to eat all the nachos," Simone said to her boyfriend as he and Spencer sat on both sides of her. "Jalapenos," she offered, waving down Kia and Keisha who were walking down the metal stands.

"You boys ready for tomorrow," Billy questioned Jordan and Spencer. "Rumors are swirling that there may be another receiver making his big debut?"

Jordan laughed, "Doesn't mean I'm starting, dad."

"I keep telling him to be ready just in case. Evan's focus is off right now," Spencer said, realizing that as he was saying that Evan was walking up the sidewalk. "Speaking of the devil."

"You two still not getting along," Laura asked, watching Spencer and Jordan's teammate smirk as he sat on the lower end of the seats. She remembered how tense their first meeting was and Corey swore things would eventually get better.

"We don't have to get along for us to win," Spencer shared, looking out on the field for Olivia who was warming up with Liberty. When they caught each other's eyes, Olivia waved as Liberty rolled her eyes and turned her back to the crowd.

"How the hell do you piss Liberty off," Simone asked, popping another chip into her mouth. "What did you do, Spence?"

Spencer held his hands up in confusion, "I didn't do anything."

"Mmmhhhm," Simone hummed, knowing Liberty had gone on several rants about how Spencer played with people's feelings after she saw him getting cozy with Keisha. "Liberty doesn't just get mad at people."

"Maybe you don't know Miss Liberty as well as you think then," Spencer teased, bucking his eyes at Simone until she pinched the skin on his leg. "Aye, why are you always violent?"

"But I do know Olivia pretty well and I know she gives you those same googly eyes too," Simone added, satisfied with making Spencer squirm. "Glad to know you two are back to being friends."

Spencer replied, not noticing Keisha coming up the bleachers, "She told you that?"

"Hey you," Keisha grinned, snagging the seat on the lower bleacher between Spencer's legs. She rested her arms on his thighs, leaning back for comfort. "What did I miss?"

"Warmups," Simone answered, frowning when Keisha reached into her nachos for a jalapeno.

"So, Simone, are your parents going to be coming to the family fun day event," Laura asked, trying to get to know her son's new girlfriend a bit better.

"They wouldn't miss the opportunity to come spy on me if I begged them. They should be in town tonight," Simone said. Jordan appreciated how his girlfriend fit in the family and there wasn't a shy bone in her body. Her warmth was one of the reasons he was drawn to her in the first place. On top of seeing how sweet she was to his sister, who he worried about making friends after everything that had happened.