Earhart & Noonan: An "Us Club" Novel (#1)(NaNoWriMo15)

8. Hope

The Next Two Months

It's the academy league championship!

Today's a special day for the zoned-out quiet boy. It's his second time in The Country's biggest city for a second championship opportunity. His opponent? The Czech Lionheart and the reigning academy greats, the Hoboken Lions.

"Hey. Stephen, right? I think we've met before."

"Hey. Yeah. ...Heh. Sorry. I barely, but yeah."

"Eh. That was ages ago. Good luck!"

Stephen doesn't do luck, especially since he already declared victory. He thinks about it as pre-game ceremonies flash by like everything else. His match last weekend against the Bears was his championship game. He beat his rival. He got into a dream college. And best of all?

Kenzie. He thinks about the girl who gives him a tug of positivity.

Will the Lions remain dominant? Or, will we crown a new king?

As far as Stephen is concerned, moving to Portersburgh has lived up to its hype. A win today would be icing on the cake. That's why when the whistle blows and they're off and running, sure, it stings to give up two goals in the first twenty minutes. But, with what's waiting at home, he'd rather trot in the riverside sun with a peaceful smile on his face, thinking to himself...

I've already won it all.

"You've got this, Vaughn!"

But, winning this would be pretty cool, too!

81'

My chest is heaving like I'm desperate for air and I'm stained from my elbows down, but if that means stopping the Czech Lionheart for ten more minutes to keep this one scoreless, then I'll keep doing this. I'm not really feeling it. As long as my legs move, then I can move. And if I can move?

I've been battling it out with his friend while Geoff has hung in there from the first kick. I don't know where he's getting this effort from, but it's working. I don't even know where I'm getting it. All I've been doing since the start is thinking about last Monday.

Kenzie.

Ooh! And that's nine blocks against the Czech Lionheart on the day. ...Up and over the net it goes for another corner.

Our walk home.

Nine blocks.

Her texts made the bus ride tolerable.

The Lionheart's second-in-command lines up. Is this the moment the Lions break through? Or, will the scrappy Cats hold once again?

Hold on.

Number three...if he can get space...

Dear universe, I don't know what else I can do. I never expected this today. I've hung tough with the Lions. It's all I can ask for. Just let...

And it's over their heads!

Or, maybe—

But the Lionheart! Oh! Rifles it! And the mighty Lions...are minutes from adding to their dynastic academy league heroics!

I can't help but laugh it off.

90' + 2'

And there's the whistle.