The Soccer Players Made Me Do It

4. Must or Bust List

How do you soften the thought of carrying coffins?

We were so alive, only to see us wither and die.

~ MisterWives

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Must or Bust list

1. Create a profile on Tinder (what is so fascinating about the swiping app?)

2. Sing in front of a million people

3. Go to a screening of the "Rocky Horror Picture Show"

4. Participate in the Zombie Run

5. Bungee Jump

6. Dance in the rain

7. Go to an EXO concert

8. Walk through a Haunted House (and actually make my way through until the end!)

9. Donate my hair to charity

10. Ask the guy from English Lit. class out

As I stay frozen to my spot, I think on the time I wrote the list. I remember sitting on my small twin-sized bed in my tiny, undecorated dorm room. I had just had a bad day on top of an even worse week. I just wanted to give up.

I had been having nightmares again, causing me to think about my parents, the accident, and the guilt that comes along with it. I hardly slept because I would dread going back to sleep after the nightmare.

Writing a list of things I want to do was something that Uncle Jack had taught me after the accident. Once I wrote 10 things on the list, he would help me do everything on the list. No matter if it was going to a baseball game or be a princess for a day – he even wore a tutu and tiara – he helped me through it all. He helped me learn how to live again.

So, now that I am older and on my own, I tried it again. I had unpacked the notebook and sat it on lap and just started to write all the things to look forward to. Just writing everything down helped. I never actually got to doing everything on the list. I had moved on and forgotten all about it.

Now it is in the hands of the best goalie in Texas.

I try to snatch the crumpled notebook paper out of his grasp but I fail as he pulls it up and out of my reach. He finishes reading out the list and then they all speak at once.

"You've never been on Tinder?!" from Ollie.

"What's an EXO?" Trevor asks, his eyebrows scrunched in befuddlement.

"Why haven't I seen this list before?" Sarah seems upset I haven't shared it with her.

"What is this?" Tony mutters.

Will just stands there all nonchalant. Honestly, he looks incredibly bored. Still, when everyone gathers around Ollie to look at the list, he joins them.

I find myself wondering what he thinks about my list. Does he think it's stupid? Has he done some of the stuff on it? I doubt it. Not about the Tinder thing, but pretty much everything else. I don't think he is the type of guy to go see the "Rocky Horror Picture Show" and everything that goes along with it. I heard they throw toast at the screen and sing along to the songs. Somehow, I don't see him throwing bread at a movie screen for the thrill of it.

"It's just a list. I make them sometimes when life gets hard." I try to shrug it off like it's not a big deal even though, it kind of is. I can't really look any of them in the eye. I try to morph my face into a charming smile but it ends up being an awkward wince.

The four guys share a look with each other. It looks meaningful, whatever is in that gaze.

"I'm in," Ollie states.

"I'm down," Tony nods.

"I have to see this," Trevor says.

"Why not?" Will joins in with a shrug. "Alright Kendyl, we're in," he tells me and confidently looks into my eyes.

"I'm sorry, what are you in for?" I am so confused. Ollie has a maniacal smile on his face, Tony's mischievous grin isn't much better. Then there is Trevor with the calculated look in his eyes. Sarah is bouncing up and down in excitement.

Am I missing something? What are they all excited about?

"This list needs to get done. We are going to help you do it." Will says it like it is totally normal to offer someone help crossing things off their bucket list.

"What?! No. Absolutely not." I don't want their help. I can do everything on that list by myself. Maybe. Eventually. Okay, maybe not.

Sarah turns to me and puts her hands on her hips. "Didn't you say you wanted to be more spontaneous?" Though in her drunken state it came out more like, "dinnoo say you waned tahbe more spentennis?"

Darn it! I did tell her that. I guess it won't be too bad, right? I mean it is just fulfilling my tasks with them instead of with Uncle Jack.

How much trouble could that be?

"O-Okay. I-I-I'll do it," I tell them hesitantly. I wanted to do all these things. It is why I put them on the list. So, I might as well join in on the bandwagon and start doing them.

"Awesome!" Tony exclaims and high-fives Ollie.

"But, let's start tomorrow. I have to get Sarah home."

"Alright Princess, but be prepared for tomorrow. Tomorrow, the game begins." He smiles evilly at me. Dang it! Is that a dimple? Why does he have to look so handsome when he sounds so malicious?

A/N: Hey everyone! Is there anything you want to do on her Must or Bust list? Anything you would like to add? Thanks for reading! If you enjoyed it, please comment, vote, and share!

~K