The Girl Next Door

5. Pactice

American football practice. This is where I shine.

I'm not gonna lie—there's something about being out on the field that clears my mind. Everything else, all the stress from school, the confusing moments with Astrid, it all fades away the second I put on my helmet and step onto the turf. It's like I'm in control, like I know exactly what I'm doing, and nothing else matters.

The air is crisp as we run through warm-ups, and the sound of cleats digging into the field is like a rhythm I've known forever. My teammates are all hyped up, joking around, and getting into position. We've won a lot of games this season, and practice is just another step toward keeping that momentum going.

Coach is in the middle of the field, barking out instructions. His voice is loud and commanding, cutting through the noise of the team. He's been pushing us harder lately, wanting us to stay sharp. We run drills—passing, receiving, running routes—each of us trying to get better, faster, more in sync with each other.

I'm in my element. I'm the captain, and it feels good to lead. I'm calling plays, helping the guys get in position, and watching the offensive line like a hawk. I've got Matt at wide receiver, Geoff and Blaine in the backfield, and the rest of the team following my lead.

Matt's quick, always pulling off smooth catches and making sharp turns. He's a natural. Geoff is solid as usual, no drama, just going through the motions and doing his job without fuss. Blaine? He's got a way of moving that's almost scary—silent but deadly. He doesn't talk much, but when he runs the ball, you know he means business.

The rhythm of the practice is almost like second nature. I know exactly where I need to be, what I need to do. My passes are on point, the route running sharp. I feel the adrenaline, the sweat, the pressure—it's what I love.

But there's always that nagging feeling in the back of my mind. Every time I throw a pass or make a play, I can't help but wonder what Astrid's doing.

Focus, Alex. Just focus on the practice.

The whistle blows, and we take a quick water break. I grab my bottle, wipe my face, and try to push all the distractions out. The game's on the line this season, and we're not about to let it slip away. But no matter how hard I focus on the drill, it's hard to ignore the one thing that's always sitting at the back of my head: I've got a project with Astrid O'Brien. And right now, that's messing with my head more than I care to admit.

But practice goes on. And for now, at least, the game is all that matters.

The whistle blew for a water break, and the whole team jogged to the sidelines, catching our breath after a solid set of drills. As I grabbed my water bottle, I glanced across the field. The cheerleaders were practicing too, stretching and running through their routines. Their loud chants and laughter filled the air, a stark contrast to the focus we had just a moment ago on the football field.

Of course, Melanie Hawkens was there, front and center, giggling and casting playful glances in my direction. I tried not to acknowledge it, but I couldn't help but notice her eyes flicking my way every now and then.

"Just look at that," Geoff teased, motioning to the cheerleaders with a smirk. "All the chicks on the field today."

I wasn't even phased by it. "Yeah, whatever," I muttered, taking a long gulp of water. I didn't need to feed into the banter.

But then Geoff shot me a look, his grin widening. "I heard you were paired with the girl in your dreams," he added, clearly enjoying the idea of stirring up something.

I froze for a second.

Matt. I should've known he was the one who spread that rumor. He'd probably been chatting with the guys about it during the break, making sure everyone knew about my lovely project partner, Astrid O'Brien.

"Oh please," I responded quickly, trying to play it off, acting like it didn't bother me.

Geoff wasn't letting it go. "Don't 'oh please' me, man," he said, leaning closer with a teasing smirk. "You know it's a good chance for you to end that fantasy of yours." He paused, giving me a look that told me exactly what he meant. "Try dating her, then when she gets clingy, you can just end it, like you've done with the others."

I bit back a sigh, trying not to react too much. He wasn't wrong, but the way he said it made it sound so... casual.

"Haha. Funny," I replied, shaking my head. "You know I'm not up to that right now," I added defensively, trying to distance myself from the idea of even thinking about that kind of thing with Astrid.

Geoff gave me a raised eyebrow but didn't press it further. Before he could even open his mouth again, the coach called us back to the field, signaling the end of the break.

Practice wasn't over yet. There was still work to do. But as we jogged back to our positions, I couldn't shake the thoughts about the conversation. Astrid O'Brien. The girl next door. This was going to be more complicated than I thought.

Practice wrapped up quickly, and we were all tired but in that good, post-workout way. I couldn't complain—today had been intense, but I felt the kind of satisfaction that came with giving it everything on the field.

As the team gathered around the locker room, the usual banter filled the air. Everyone was talking about the game next week, joking around, and even discussing who was going to win the next beer pong challenge at Geoff's place. I barely paid attention. My mind was somewhere else—on Astrid, of course.

I grabbed my stuff and headed for the showers, letting the water hit me as soon as I turned on the tap. The hot water helped relax my muscles, but it didn't exactly clear my head. In fact, it gave me more time to think.

Astrid. The project. The fact that I had to spend time with her. My teammates were all teasing me about it, but it was starting to feel real. And the worst part? I wasn't sure what to expect. I mean, yeah, we'd cross paths in class, but outside of school?

The sound of the locker room doors opening pulled me out of my thoughts. A few guys from the team were heading to the showers now, laughing and talking about whatever else was going on that night. I was still trying to shake off the feeling of what's next in the back of my mind when I finished up my shower, dried off, and got dressed.

By the time I left the locker room, the noise had died down a bit, and the guys were already making their way out. It was a routine—shower, change, and head home. But today, there was one thing on my mind: The project.

I had to figure out a way to approach Astrid about it. And I had a feeling it wasn't going to be as easy as I thought.