falling for 13 || Johnny Kavanagh

Head Over Heels

G R A C E

It wasn't exactly the most comfortable day to be standing outside, but the entire school was buzzing. A big rugby match always had that effect on Tommen College. The teachers had let everyone out early, which meant that even those who didn't care much about rugby were out here, using it as an excuse to skip class and catch up with their friends. But for me, there was more to it.

Johnny was set to play in front of a massive crowd today. The nerves I'd been feeling all morning hadn't gone away. In fact, the closer it got to the start of the match, the more they seemed to grow. It wasn't that I didn't believe in him—I did, more than anyone—but there was something about watching him on the field, knowing how much this meant to him, that made my stomach twist with a mix of excitement and anxiety.

I was standing with my usual group: Katie, Aoibh, Orlaith, and Clara. Shannon was here too, along with Lizzie and Claire, who had tagged along, and though we were all chatting, the conversation kept turning back to the match. The boys were all warming up on the pitch.

"God, look at him," Orlaith said with a dramatic sigh as she nudged me, nodding toward Johnny. He was warming up on the field, running through drills with the team. His usual confidence was on full display, even though I could see the tension in his movements, the way he was focused.

I rolled my eyes, though I couldn't help but smile. "Yeah, yeah, I know. He's a sight to behold."

Orlaith laughed, bumping her shoulder against mine. "You know you're the envy of half the school, right? Every girl here is probably hoping Johnny will look their way, and yet..."

"And yet he's yours," Aoibh added with a teasing grin.

I shrugged, trying to play it cool, even though I could feel a slight flush creeping up my neck. "He's just Johnny. You all know him."

"Yeah, but he's also the captain," Clara pointed out, a glint of amusement in her eyes. "And there's something about a guy in a rugby kit that makes all the difference."

Before I could respond, the whistle blew, signaling the start of the match. The crowd around us erupted into cheers, and the energy on the pitch shifted instantly. The Tommen boys formed a tight huddle, Johnny right in the middle, giving what I could only imagine was one of his classic pre-match speeches. I shoved my hands into my coat pockets, eyes glued to the field. This was it. The match that everyone had been talking about for weeks.

"He's going to do great," Katie said softly, sensing my nerves.

I nodded, though I didn't take my eyes off Johnny. "So will Hughie."

The first half of the match flew by in a blur of tackles, scrums, and shouts from the sidelines. Tommen was holding their own, but the opposing team was no pushover. Every time Johnny got the ball, I found myself holding my breath. It wasn't just about whether they would win or lose. It was seeing him out there, giving it everything, that made my heart race.

"Johnny's on fire today," Orlaith commented as the whistle blew for halftime.

"He always is," Aoibh said with a grin.

The teams disappeared into their huddles, and the crowd buzzed with excitement. Everyone around me was chatting, but I couldn't shake the knot of anticipation in my stomach. Johnny had been playing well, but I knew him well enough to see the tension in his shoulders. He wanted this win more than anything.

When the second half began, it was clear that both teams were fighting tooth and nail. The score was close, too close, and every pass, every tackle, felt like it carried the weight of the entire match. I could barely focus on anything else, my eyes following Johnny as he darted between players, calling plays, leading his team with that natural authority he always had.