Finding 4

Chapter 18

If I get how hurling works wrong please correct me😭✋

Callum

The whistle blows and Niall smacks the sliotar to me. It bounces off the ground and I smack it over to Finley, who runs with it up the pitch, mud and grass flying up around him.

"There you are!" Someone shouts from the side of the pitch.

We're at our first pre-season game. The actual hurling season starts next month, so Dad and Coach Keily have been on our asses.

Finley rolls the sliotar over to Sammy, who then lifts it and hits it over the crossbar.

The very small crowd that we have jumps up and cheers, and so do the players on the bench. I look over at the sidelines where dad is, and he has a smile on his face, clapping his hands.

"What the fuck Niall?" Grady says angrily as he stalks over to him.

"What?" Niall asks confused.

"You could've passed to me," Grady shoves him, sending him stumbling back a bit. "I was calling for it."

Bad move by Grady. Niall might be a bit slow, but he isn't small. He's at least six three, and the amount of rugby and hurling he plays has given him a load of muscle.

Niall shoves Grady back "Yeah well I didn't pass to you, Callum was the better option."

Grady goes to shove Niall back but I step in between them and put my hand on his chest, pushing him away from Niall.

"You're making yourself look like an idiot," I tell him. "Get over yourself, you'll get your chance to score soon enough."

I turn to walk away but he keeps going, clearly trying to start something that he won't be able to finish.

"That's easy for you to say," I can hear him following me off of the pitch but I don't bother turning to argue with him. I'm not going to fight my teammate on our home pitch when all eyes are on us. I care too much about my future for that. "Daddy's boy, you get all the playing time, and all the scoring opportunities. Unlike the rest of us who've had to work for it."

"If you think Callum hasn't worked for what he has, then you have another thing coming." Finley snaps back. "If anyone here hasn't worked for how they play, it's you."

"Me?" Grady laughs humorously.

"Yeah you," Finley sneers. "How many days a week are you in the gym? How much of your free time do you spend practicing? Do you ever skip a meal at the chipper? Because I see you there with Marie quite a bit."

"Don't bring her into this." Grady looks Finley up and down, anger coming over his face.

That's what this is about. That's what everything has always been about with him. Marie. That's why he doesn't like Niall, because he took Marie's virginity. That's why he doesn't like me, because Marie throws herself at me every time she can.

"All right come on lads," Coach Keily steps in between us. "You can deal with this later."

Grady gives us all a hard look before turning around and walking to his position on the field. I do the same, and for the next fifteen minutes, we run around on a muddy pitch.

<>

"Well look who the cat dragged in," Niall smiles at someone behind me, making me turn around curiously.

A smile falls upon my face when I see Marley, but I quickly wipe it away. I can't lose twenty euro here. That's some petrol that my car could use.

"Hey Niall," she says softly.

"No hey Finley?" The big bear pretends to act offended.

She laughs slightly "Hi Finley."

He smiles and wraps his arm around Keely's shoulders. The shadows from the fire dance around Marley's face, and it's quite amusing. It makes her eyes look a little less sad.

"I'm going to get more drinks," Tierny stands up, "anybody want one?"

"I do," everyone says at the same time.

We all let out small laughs and Marley stands up "I'll help."

Tierny smiles and the two girls walk inside. Just like always, I find myself watching Marley. I can't stop, I don't know what she's gone and done, but I can't get her out of my head.

Niall nudges me with his elbow, and I look over at him. He has a smug look on his face.

"Better start saving that money up."

I roll my eyes "We aren't friends."

"Yeah thats pretty clear," Finley snickers.

"What is that supposed to mean?" I ask.

Keely smirks too, and now I really am confused.

"Oh come on Callum," she says, "you and Marley are in love with each other."

"What? We are not." I say like it's disgusting.

We aren't. We hate each other. Don't we?