The Girl Who Was Supposed to Die (GirlXGirl)

Chapter 42: Emotions Unleashed

The sun glared down on the field, turning the air thick with heat as I stretched out my legs, feeling the coarse texture of the grass beneath my cleats. The whole place buzzed with energy—students, parents, and the soccer die-hards in the stands all gearing up for the match. My jersey clung to me, snug and damp with sweat already, but it felt good. Strong. I liked how the navy blue contrasted against my skin, making me look sharper, tougher. And hell, I needed that edge today. Not just for the game, but to keep myself in check.

I scanned the field, catching sight of Marie leaning against the fence. Her faded band tee hugged her in all the right ways, and the denim shorts... Well, they weren't exactly making it easy for me to focus on anything else. The way she smiled, all casual, like she wasn't the hottest thing I'd ever seen, made something flicker inside me, but I pushed it down. Game first.

The whistle blew, sharp and demanding. I launched into action, moving on autopilot. There's something about soccer that gets under my skin in the best way—it's brutal, fast, and every second counts. And I love it. Every kick, every sprint, felt like a way to let off the steam that's been building up inside me. The noise from the crowd didn't mean shit. I was in the zone, and nothing was getting through.

I twisted past the defense, the ball glued to my feet, and as I darted down the sideline, my mind went blank except for one thing—score. Nothing else mattered. I cut inside, left foot ready to drive the ball home. The goal was right there, wide open like a dare. The goalie didn't stand a chance. With a quick snap, I sent the ball flying into the back of the net. The eruption from the stands hit like a wave, but it barely registered. That was one. We were just getting started.

The first half was a blur of sweat, curses, and shoves, but I was feeling it. In sync with my teammates, everything clicked. It wasn't until the second half, though, when things really started heating up. Score was tied, clock ticking down. Perfect.

The ball came to me like it had been waiting for this moment. My legs were screaming, lungs on fire, but I pushed through. Weaving around defenders like they were standing still, I felt this crazy surge of energy, a sick grin spreading across my face. One last defender. I juked left, right, and then there it was—wide open again.

I didn't even think. I just sent the ball flying, and when it crashed into the net, it felt like I'd just conquered something bigger than the field. The roar of the crowd washed over me, but for the first time, I let it sink in. Hell yeah. I was alive. Not just breathing—alive. I wiped the sweat from my brow, sucking in deep breaths, feeling the rush, feeling everything.

The final whistle blew, and just like that, it was over. My teammates tackled me, laughing, shouting, but all I could think about was looking for Marie. And there she was, standing there with this stupid grin on her face like she knew exactly what was going through my mind.

I jogged over to the fence, heart still pounding, my whole body buzzing from the high of the game. "Did you see that?" I asked, barely able to keep the excitement out of my voice. Sweat dripped down the side of my face, but I didn't care.

Marie smirked, crossing her arms, leaning in like she had all the time in the world. "You were alright, I guess," she teased, though her eyes said otherwise. She had that look, the one that said she wasn't just proud of the win.

"Alright?" I scoffed, wiping my face with my sleeve. "I just saved our asses out there. Pretty sure that deserves more than 'alright.'"

"Yeah, yeah," she laughed, playfully nudging me through the fence. "You're a badass. I'll give you that."

I leaned in closer, smirking. "So, what do I get for you being my lucky charm?"

Her eyes flicked up to mine, and for a second, something shifted between us. It wasn't just the usual banter, not this time. "Lucky charm, huh? I'll admit, you did good. Maybe you earned yourself an extra ice cream."

"Generous," I shot back, but the teasing edge in my voice faded as we stood there, locked in this weird, electric silence. The world kind of fell away for a second. The noise, the heat, the damn celebration going on behind me. It was just us.

I felt the words bubbling up, something I wasn't sure I was ready to say, but before I could chicken out, I leaned in, closing the space between us. "I—"

And then, out of nowhere, Marie kissed me. Soft, but there was nothing gentle about the jolt it sent through me. It was like my whole body woke up, every nerve sparking to life. For a second, I didn't know what to do, but then I kissed her back, forgetting everything else. It wasn't the kind of kiss you see in movies, all dramatic and perfect. It was messy, sweaty, but it was us. Real.

When she finally pulled back, my face was flushed, my pulse still racing. I could barely catch my breath. "Wow," I muttered, half-laughing. "Didn't see that coming."

Marie grinned, wiping some sweat off my cheek with her thumb. "You're a mess," she teased. "But I like it."

"Gee, thanks." I ran a hand through my damp hair, feeling like I was on some kind of insane high. "I guess I should probably shower before I gross you out any more."

"Good call," she said, that same grin never leaving her face. "But hey, don't think this means you're getting off easy. You still owe me for all the times I had to watch you miss those goals in practice."

"Missed on purpose," I shot back, heading toward the locker room. "Keeps the mystery alive."

"Keep telling yourself that, champ," she called after me.

I didn't turn around. Couldn't. The grin on my face was too big, and I wasn't about to give her the satisfaction of seeing me act like a giddy idiot.

As I stepped into the cool air of the locker room, I leaned against the wall, the noise from the field still ringing in my ears. The kiss—our kiss—flashed through my mind again. I didn't know what the hell was coming next, but I knew one thing for sure: it wasn't over. Not by a long shot.