I Don't Deserve Your Love

Chapter 6

Today is Saturday. Yeahhhh! I think unenthusiastically. Today is my first cricket game and saying I was nervous was an understatement. I began to get ready at 12:00pm for the game. All games were held on my school's huge field. When I had finished getting ready, I pace around the house until I could bear it no longer and went over to Ryan's house. Vi was out at the shops but she had left saying she would come around half-time. My heart was already jumpy when I reached Ryan's door do I was surprised I didn't have a heart attack when I saw him.

"Hey." Ryan indicates to come inside.

" Cassie!!!!Do you wanna come see my barbies?" Nancy is standing there next to him so adorable and innocent I follow her into her room.

"This is Theodora, Sophie and Rosaline. Rosaline's my favourite."She points them out to me.

"They look very nice" I say kneeling down on the ground as she shows them to me.

" I am going to ask for a mermaid barbie for christmas" Ryan walks in with his gear. His school cricket shirt is pulled over his tight chest and abs and I feel myself blushing as I see his arms flexing with the weight of his gear.

" You ready to go."

" Yeah." I stand up. " Bye Nancy"

" Bye Cas, bye Ryan" She leaps up and gives him a hug. Then comes over to me and gives me one. She reminds me so much of my Naomi.

When we are walking down to school, I ask," So who are we versing?"

" Chilton boys academy. We lose to them in the finals every year. We haven't won for seven championships. They're not very friendly either, they are conceited and rude." Just as that happens I see a Maroon bus drive by. "That's their bus, the team are all boarders."

When we reach school. Ryan and I meet up with the team, we take a lap around the pitch and do some stretches. That's when I hear sniggering behind me. A boy in white trousers and a maroon vest is standing laughing at us. So this is the Chilton team.

"What's you problem Lachlan?" Brandon calls.

"Changed tactics have you? Decided to recruit a girl onto the team, to increase your prospects of winning."

"So?! Acting like dickheads is surely going to increase your prospects of getting bitch-slapped."I retaliate back like I am spitting fire at them.

"Ohhhh. So you think you are going to win against us. Fat chance!"

Just as I am about to storm towards him Ryan grabs me.

"Stop it's not worth it." He says trying to calm me down.

The umpire walks towards us so Lachlan keeps silent. Chilton wins the toss and they choose to bowl first. I am batting first up with Karl.

"You'll be fine, just play how you played at trials." Ryan assured as I stood on the pitch ready for the game to start. I start the game with a bang, the ball went way over the boundaries. Brandon told me to careful, because Chilton had very good fielders. He was right on my 3rd over, I didn't hit the ball far enough. It spun through the air, Lachlan leapt up and caught it with two hands. The whole Chilton team cheered. The umpire held up a finger. I was out, I slouched of the field annoyed with myself but as I came onto the sidelines my team was cheering. We still had a high score for 3 overs. As I went to take a seat, people patted me on the back and clapped my hand. I hadn't disappointed my team, I had made them proud. I turned my attention to the game, Ryan had taken my place. I watched as Lachlan began bowling the 4th over. Our team was good but not good enough, soon all twenty overs had been played. Our team had only batted 187 , Chilton needed 188 to win.

" You did really well Cas. Your batting was amazing." Brandon says. Clapping me on the back and pulling me into an hug.

"Thanks Brandon but it wasn't enough."

He holds me at arms length, "Come on don't be so negative. Have some confidence." 

"I do have confidence, but.... I don't know " I say muttering.

Our team runs onto the field. I grasp the ball in my hand and runs its leathery surface against my pants. I lunge back and take a run. I can see Lachlan holding his bat posed. He gives me a rude sneer. I ignore him and look at the wicket when I bowl him straight out. A roar erupts from the crowd. The umpire calls out and Lachlan storms off the pitch cursing me. After another over I swap and go fielder. A chilton boy whacks the ball towards the boundaries. I run towards the ball, hands outstretched and the ball neatly falls into my hands. I run screaming "out". The chilton boy is sent off the pitch and a new one comes on. Maybe we have a chance. After three more overs no wicket has been taken. Chilton is gaining and I fear we are going to lose. As I go bowler again, I know the team are looking for a wicket.

I bowl the ball straight to the wicket but, the boy moves his leg blocking then wicket. The crowd roars "out". The umpire doesn't call it and says to continue the game.  I see Lachlan flashing a smirk from the sidelines.  After another over I am put back on fielding, I couldn't get a wicket. 

As the game comes to an end, our team admits defeat. We shake hands and mentally cry over our loss. Brandon tries to comfort us but he can barely hold it together. He leaves saying he'll organise a practice sometime throughout the week. The Chilton team comes over and sneers but as soon as I threaten to chuck a cricket bat at them they scurry away. Ryan and I walk home dejected. We lost. I tried to be positive but I couldn't. This was the first game of the season and I had wanted the season to start off on a good note.

"See you tomorrow Ryan."

" Yeah see you. I'll walk to your door."

" See you" He walks to our tree and climbs over the fence. When I walk in I see Vi standing waiting for me.

" Bad luck, Cas. Your team did their best and that's what matters most."

"We still lost." I slump on my bed, when I reach my room. Vi has followed me upstairs.

" Do you want a hot chocolate?"

'"Okay. I'll go and have a shower."

When I am in the shower I just stand under the warm water. I might as well drown myself. I take a quick scrub and I am out. I pull on some loose clothing and drag myself downstairs onto the sofa. On the way I dump my cricket clothes into the wash.

"Here you are, one hot chocolate with marshmallows."

"Thanks Vi, hey I'm going to the beach for the day tomorrow, could you make a picnic basket for me and for others?"

" What would you like? Pie?Pizza?"

" Definitely your pizza." She grins and walks into the kitchen.

" I might as well start making it now. Knowing you, you'll want it for dinner."

"Yeah, could I please have a chicken, cheese and ham with chilli and red olives. "I take a sip of my hot chocolate. Hmm. Creamy and delicious. The marshmallows were little clouds that were sweet and squishy. I turned on the tv, there was nothing so I settled on my childhood favourite, spongebob square pants.  I hummed to the starting song in amusement, I hadn't watched this show since...the accident I thought bitterly. Naomi used to love this show. I offed the TV in disgust and just sat in silence. Soon the smell of pizza wafted up my nose. I run into the kitchen almost colliding with Vi as she pulls out a pizza from the oven. I take two slices ignoring the burning pain in my fingers from the heat. Hot and sticky from the cheese. I eat my pizza in record time. Vi comes and eats next to me and then I begin to yawn.

My eyes were drooping, "Stop, I'll start yawning now. Go to bed, you'll be tired tomorrow otherwise." I listen to her advice and drag myself upstairs, hopping into bed falling into a deep slumber. 

I HOPE THIS WASN'T TOO BORING FOR PEOPLE WHO AREN'T CRICKET LOVERS. SORRY BUT I LOVE CRICKET!!!