CHAPTER 18: Match Day

51 5 1
                                    

Everton jumped for the ball, heading it over to another one of his teammates, who trapped it and began running down the left side of the pitch. Adam looked on, analyzing the opposing team and making mental notes of the sizes of Everton's team. He broke into a dash at one of the opposing midfielders; he figured that he'd be the next target for passing. 

The winger crossed the ball over to the midfielder, who hadn't so much as paid attention to the incoming striker. Adam placed a hand on the midfielder's shoulder and thrust himself up to meet the ball, shifting his weight down and raising a leg up to meet the ball dead-on.

"Tachibana! Look alive!" 

He kicked the ball over to the Japanese forward, who trapped the ball with his chest and sped up towards the goal box, noting his surroundings as the opposing defenders began encircling him. Spotting Adam off to the side, the boy proceeded to perform a backheel pass to the defender behind him, who crossed the ball over to an oncoming Adam. The keeper ran towards the little Algerian, who performed a quick 180 degree step, avoiding the keeper, and striking the ball quickly and cleanly into the goal.

"Alright! Stop!"

Adam turned back around to see Everton, arms raised and hands in a time-out formation. He lowered his arms and gave a grin. 

"Alright, Antar. Now we know what you can do."

Adam looked back, blinking, a clueless smile on the boy's face. "Eh? That's it? You just wanted me to score one goal?" 

"No, we wanted to see if you were cut out for varsity play." He walked up to the boy and offered a friendly hand. "Welcome to the team, kid. Your first match is tomorrow."

----------------------------

"So...what do we do here, exactly?" Rym asked, a thoughtful expression on her face.

Cam gave a cheery smile. "We make memories! We're all about taking as many pictures as we can and interviewing different students to make an amazing yearbook the whole school can enjoy!"

Ira raised a hand. "And we're in charge of the whole process! Nobody can tell us how to make it or what we can use - everything's in the budget!"

Rym nodded. "I see! But uh... why are there only two of you? Isn't there supposed to be a whole team of-"

Ira put a hand to her mouth, cutting her off. "Shhhh! You can't mention that in front of Cam!" She looked over to Cam, who started sulking again, muttering things to herself.

"Yeah, why? Why did the entire team just leave? It's not like seniors gotta graduate and move on. It's not like we suck at recruiting..."

Rym stared, her mind absolutely blank. Ira whispered to her, "See, we're juniors right now, and last year we were the only sophomores in an all-senior yearbook club. Nobody seems to be taking us seriously, apparently."

"Oh," Rym nodded, "but why did you two join?"

Ira's eyes twinkled. "We have a certain target we're trying to get closer to."

Cam immediately jumped back into the conversation. "Have you heard of a guy named Everton Aston?"

Rym thought for a moment. "You mean that guy who plays on the soccer team?" And the guy who gave Adam a bit of a hard time, jerk.

Ira lit up. "Yes! He's our target!"

Cam wore a dreamy expression. "We'll get the best photo of him we can, then, he'll have to like us!"

Ira grabbed her partner's hands. "Cam, you think he'd actually smile at us?"

"Oh, I wish! Imagine getting a smile from him!" 

EXISTENCEWhere stories live. Discover now