Lottie and the Boys

Proof of the Passion

I was nervous about Tuesday's practice. Not only would I be seeing Abel (hopefully) for the first itme since Saturday, but my brother was leaving early.

I hadn't been with the team without my brother before, and I was still nervous and terrified. Who will protect me when I screw up?

At a quarter to thirty Michael called me downstairs to leave. I grabbed my phone and my soccer bag and scurried down the stairs.

The middle school were training was held was only a few minutes away and we arrived even earlier than usual.

"Michael!" I heard an excited voice call.

I turned and spotted Louis, one of my brother's friends. He was a junior who'd known my brother since third grade. He was on the team, but was injured because he'd jumped off stairs and twisted his ankle.

"Hey Lottie!" he greeted me kindly. I returned the greeting with a smile.

Louis was a nice guy though he was kind of crazy. He could be extremely violent and inappropriate, since he found it funny. He wasn't a shabby soccer player and would definitely strengthen the team now.

Soon everyone began arriving and saying hello to Louis excitedly. He was a good asset to the team, despite his odd personality.

Erek wasn't at practice which didn't really bother me, though I wouldn't have minded it he'd shown up either.

Gabe didn't show up either, which I was disappointed by, though Abel was there and he was what really mattered.

When Abel showed up he smiled when he saw me and was about to come over to me when Aaron "accidently" kicked his ball at his so he had to go get it.

Coach Carlo was elated when he saw Louis and immediately introduced him to the freshmen and other new kids on the team, including Aaron and Abel.

"I'll have to change the line-up now that you're back," he said thoughtfully, scanning the team. His eyes landed on me which made me extremely disappointed.

He was definitely considering taking me out of the starting line up.

I tried to not let it get to me as the practice went on as it usually did. Whenever Abel was near me Aaron was there too, not giving us a chance to even exchange a sentence.

Michael left thirty minutes early to go to an orthodontist appointment, leaving me to take care of myself. My mother would be picking me up today.

We did a scrimmage and Abel was on my team. We did a give and go and I passed it a bit in front of him as a lead, but he barely tried jogging to it and the other team got it.

There were a few other times where he either wasn't running to the ball or gave up easily on defense, and I was starting to get frustrated.

Abel began noticing it to because I realized he was looking at me for approval whenever he did something, making me feel guilt-ridden but also sad .

Where's his fire? Where's his spirit?

We ended up losing the scrimmage because of Abel's lack of compassion, and as much as I tried to conceal how it irked me, it showed the tiniest bit.

Nobody noticed.

Except Abel.

After the scrimmage we ran sprints and I was one of the top five fastest, much to Coach Carlo's surprise. I smiled proudly to myself, even though I really wasn't surprised.

I worked hard to be where I was. I earned this.

When practice ended I checked my phone to see if my mother had called. She hadn't, but she'd texted me saying she was stuck in traffic on the way back from an open house she had held as a real estate agent, and wouldn't be at the school until 7:15.

"Is your mom coming?" Coach Carlo asked, gathering his balls and cones while I helped him.

"Yeah, she's just running late," I replied, handing him what I'd picked up.

He let out a sigh and looked at his watch.

"I'd stay and wait with you, but I have a meeting to get to . . ." he stated sorrifully.

"I'll wait with her," Abel suddenly chimed in from nowhere. Coach Carlo smiled.

"Okay, that's great! Thank you!" he picked up his bags. "Good practice both of you. I'll see you Thursday."

Abel and I were the only ones left at the school.

"Where's your ride?" I asked.

"My cousin lives close. I walk there and then my dad will get me later," he stated.

We began walking to the parking lot to wait for my mother there. I set my bag down against the brick wall.

"Is he still at work? What does he do?" I asked.

Abel looked down and shook his head. He obviously didn't want to share his father's wherabouts, so I didn't press.

After a moment of comfortable silence, he spoke up again.

"You weren't very happy with me today," he said quietly.

I looked down at my feet.

"What makes you say that?" I asked just as softly. I could sense him shrug.

"I could see it in your eyes."

I said nothing for a minute before speaking up.

"You lack passion," I finally said. His head snapped up.

"I lack passion?"

I nodded. "Yeah. It's like you don't want to, which sucks because you have so much potential but you don't do anything with bit because you're afraid."

"You think I'm afraid?" he sounded angry. I gulped.

"I don't know, kind of . . .," I began doubting my thoughts.

"Are you calling me a coward?"

"No, no! Of course not I just--."

"I am not a coward," he said. "Look at me," I looked at him.

"I am not a coward. And I have passion."

I looked him in the eyes.

"Do you know?"

"Yeah, I do."

"I don't believe you," I put my hand on my hip.

"You really think I lack passion?" he repeated. I shrugged.

"Well, I do," he said fiercely.

"Prove it."

And suddenly I was pressed up against the brick wall, his body against mine. His lips were on my lips, my arms pinned behind me. He continued kissing me fervidly, letting fo of my wrists and putting his hands around my waist. I put my own around his neck for a minute, before changing and running my fingers through his hands, tugging it lightly. In the moment I was at loss-- and not just of breath but of any doubts I had and any thoughts I could possible have. I was dumb with him. I couldn't think straight. I couldn't think at all.

All I knew was I was with him, and that was all I cared about.