A Little Cinderella Moment

Chapter 35

The third quarter was interesting Lucas scored a touchdown from the forty-meter yard line. That is impressive for a young man like himself and what I have been told by Selena who goes doe eyes every time his name is mentioned. I think she may have feelings for him I need to know their story. But anyway, with what Selena was telling me he's a fellow country student. From Victoria, Texas. I thought I could hear a Texan accent from him when I heard his voice at the ice cream parlor. 

But anyway, back to the game. Lucas scored a touchdown that took our lead up even more, but Venice High were fighting back hard. This game feels like it's going to be a bloodbath. I wasn't wrong with saying it's going to be a close game as in the middle of the third quarter Venice High hits back with two touchdowns of their own, when the ball was clearly stolen from us. I think I'm not going to have a voice after the end of the game with all this shouting and cheering I have been doing. 

The start of the fourth quarter is a nail-biter. Hit after hit, play after play, tackle after tackle. I just can't wait for this game to be over. I swear the further along this game is the higher my anxiety is getting. We get the ball back on defense I noticed we score more on defense than on offense. Or is that just because of the handling errors on the opposing team. 

Well, whatever is going on down there we are in the lead 42-21 and there's minutes left of the game. The ball gets passed to Chase and he's running with all his might dodging tackles left and right. As he gets closer to the end zone to score the last touchdown Vance appears out of nowhere and tackles Chase from behind pushing him into the end zone to score the touchdown just as the whistle blows to end the game. 

Everyone is cheering so loud that we won the game, but I am standing up looking at Chase who is still led down after that bad tackle. Mr. Lockwood sees my concern and gets a little concerned himself as he charges down to the coach's bench to know what is happening with his son as the teams' medics are running towards him. Jen hugs into me trying to hold her sobs back so no one notices as Mrs. Lockwood is covering her mouth in disbelief. The crowd goes silent until we see Chase slowly getting up with Lucas on one side holding him up and Wilson on the other side as they walk together as a team off the field as a team and the crowd applauds them. 

This is why I like to see a team sticking together as a family. When one of your own is down you are there to help them get back up. When the guys reach the bench Chase takes his helmet off, turns around slowly, and looks up into the stands. It doesn't take him exceptionally long until he spots me standing next to his sister. He winks and smiles up at me. Giving me my own secret message that he's okay. 

Jen asked me to stay with her to meet Chase after the crowd disperses. Her folks have already gone home for the night and so has my dad. And there's only Jen and I standing outside the guys locker room waiting for Chase to emerge. 

One by one the guys exit the locker room. Some say hi to us as they pass, and Lucas stands with us for a little while talking to us. Telling us the trainers are with Chase now making sure he's okay after that tackle and if any precautions are being taken with that last tackle. Lucas changed the subject and asked us about Selena. 

"What about Selena?" I ask. 

"I was just curious if she's with anyone as I would like to ask her out on a date and with the Christmas dance coming up in a couple of months, I want to ask her to be my date for the dance too." 

Jen squeals "Oh my gosh yes, she is totally available. She's working tomorrow but she's due for a 2 pm lunch break come to the restaurant then and ask her out. She will be thrilled to see you there." 

I don't know how Jen knows Selena's work schedule but I'm fairly sure I'm going to find out soon enough. 

"Great where does she work?" 

Jen surprises me with news I had didn't know but I'm happy and relieved all at the same time. "Oh, all three of us work at Back on the Beach." Jen looks at me and winks I am grateful I will know at least two people on my first shift tomorrow. 

"Thanks, Jen" he taps on the wall behind us "I'll see you all then and please don't say anything to her I want it to be a surprise." 

"She will not hear a peep from either of us about it. This is just between us three." I tell Lucas. Just as Lucas starts to walk away, I call out to him "Lucas wait, if you want to surprise her present her with a single white rose tomorrow as they are her favorite flower." 

He smiles at me for that bit of information "Thanks, Savannah I'll do just that." And he walks off into the distance to find his car. 

"What was that about?" Jen and I scream as Chase scared us out of our skins with his unexpected arrival. 

"Oh my god Chase seriously must you scare the living shit out of your twin sister?" Jen walks up and wraps her arms around her brother. 

"Sorry, I didn't think you guys would be here and not talking to any of the guys on the team." 

Both Jen and I look at Chase crossing our arms and raising an eyebrow at him. 

"Not that it's a problem or anything, I like Lucas he's a great guy and one hell of a player I owe him anyway." 

He owes him. Owes him for what? "Why do you owe Lucas?" I ask. 

He looks nervous as he runs his fingers through his damp hair. "I uh, I owe him for him doing me a favor with your brownie exploder. He wouldn't take the extra charge for the extra brownie pieces and the mint choc chip ice-cream so he asked if we could produce an arrangement with him doing me a solid, and I have to do him a solid." 

"What does that mean?" 

"Jen I honestly don't know what that means, all I know is when he needs me to repay I will no matter the outcome." 

"That's sweet and all that you remember what Sav's dad said about her favorite dessert but why couldn't you just pay the extra?" 

"Don't you think I offered that Jen? I was willing to but when a team member asks for something like this, I will not say no. Period." 

Why does he have to be so charming? I am trying to give him my trust back and he goes and takes a bit more of my heart in that moment. 

"That's really sweet of you to offer your services like that for a friend." 

"He's one of the best guys I know." 

"Right, Chase you gotta take me home toss me your keys I'm driving you complain every time I'm in the car with you after a game. I can get us home quicker." 

Chase digs into his pocket and tosses Jen his keys and she turns around and heads for his car. "Do you need a ride home? We're more than happy to drop you off at home if you would like?" 

"Oh, no thank you I drove myself but thank you for the offer, Chase." we both start to walk towards our cars together. 

"Hey Savannah, just out of curiosity you told Lucas Selena's favorite flower." 

"Yeah." 

"What's yours?" 

"I have two favorites, but one is more a plant than a flower." 

"What are they?" 

"I love Calla Lilies and Orchids." We say our goodbyes at our cars and drove home in opposite directions.