A spirit between us (bxb)

Chapter 11 - The game.

Today was the day Finn had been working toward in his mundane life for as long as he could remember. The football game that could define his future, the one that could make or break his chance at a scholarship. A few days ago, this moment would've consumed his every thought, the kind of event that felt like the culmination of everything. But now, things felt different. He knew more about life, about things far scarier than a game.

Yesterday's practice had been a train wreck, Finn couldn't deny that. But for the first time in three days, he woke up feeling... lighter. Like the heavy fog in his mind had finally lifted. It was strange, almost unsettling, how refreshed he felt, as if some invisible switch had been flipped overnight. The anxiety and tension that had been clawing at him were gone, replaced by a surprising wave of confidence.

Sure, he'd completely lost it, made a fool of himself, and probably left a few bruises in the process, but somehow, he felt optimistic, determined, even. He was certain he could fix this. He just needed to own up to his mistakes, apologize, and set things right. The unusual surge of positivity was a lifeline, pulling him out of the chaos and giving him a sense of control he hadn't felt in days. Maybe, just maybe, things would finally start looking up.

The day leading up to the game had gone by smoothly, each hour passing without the weight of dread he'd grown used to. It was as if his problems had vanished overnight, like they were nothing more than bad dreams that couldn't touch him in the daylight. He took the opportunity to apologise to his parents, which resulted in a huge scolding from his mother, but he didn't let that falter him. As the afternoon wore on, Finn felt his excitement bubbling over. He was hyped.

And beneath that excitement, a small flicker of anticipation hummed for a different reason. It wasn't just about football, or the possibility of securing his future. It was because Finn knew that Archie would be in the stands, watching. The thought of the blonde boy's quiet presence, sitting somewhere among the cheering crowd, sent a thrill through Finn.

Finn and his parents arrived at the field an hour before the stands would start filling with spectators. The early evening air was cool and calm, a stark contrast to the nervous energy building inside him. As soon as they reached the field, his parents found a spot to sit and wait while Finn joined his team, spending the next hour warming up and mentally preparing. The familiar thud of cleats against the grass and the rhythmic cadence of passing drills brought him a strange sense of calm.

His teammates huddled together, after a very long, awkward but fulfilling chat between Finn, Jake and the coach, they started discussing strategies, their voices filled with both confidence and determination. They went over plays they had practiced countless times, analyzing their opponents' patterns, trying to predict every move as well as going over where the college scouts would be i. the audience, where the coach reminded them to do their best to secure their scholarships. Finn listened, nodding along, but his mind was elsewhere, running through every possible scenario.

Before the game began, Finn's eyes darted to the stands, scanning the growing sea of spectators. The buzz of excited chatter filled the air, and the energy around him was contagious, but his focus was locked on finding one person in particular. He squinted, searching through the crowd, his heart racing just a little faster than it was already.

And then he spotted him. Archie was bundled up in an oversized scarf and a dark purple knitted sweater, covered by a black coat, clearly not a fan of the winter chill, seemingly out of place in the more casual crowd, Finn couldn't help but grin at how comfortable the blonde seemed in his own world. Archie's hands were stuffed in his pockets, and he had that typical calm, almost aloof expression on his face, but when he noticed Finn looking his way, a small smile tugged at the corner of his mouth.