IDIOSYNCRASY // Soccer

Ch. 40

I felt the ground beneath me after the ten hour flight. Oh, how I love the ground. I bend down and press my lips against the cold concrete. Parker laughed aimlessly at me.

He teased, "Char, everyone is staring right now as if you are in a straightjacket."

I kiss the cold concrete again and say, "Let them judge, they haven't been on a ten long hour flight with screaming babies."

Parker chuckled before I stand up and interlink our fingers. Parker wasn't salty anymore, if anything he was lightly salted. He has been having mood swings lately, one second he is happy with me and the other he is furious. I never got the chance to ask him. Most of the times I could've talked to him about it, I chickened out because I thought he would get even more furious.

Almost an hour later, the cab driver dropped Parker off, then me, leaving the bill for the both of us for me. I take out a few bills and give them to the cab driver before going into the empty house.

"Boo!" A masculine voice yells behind me, shoving me with their palms lightly. I scream and jerk to the ground. I groan before looking at the face that scared me.

I started to feel radiant when my fathers amused expression was in my eyesight. "Dad!" I screamed, jump hugging him in excitement.

"Sorry, I haven't been... there for your boyfriend and you when he went through that. I had to leave. But, I got some time off, and I will be staying to see your State Game!" Dad says.

The thought of state made my smile drop. There was only one more game before state. There was no doubt in my mind we will win, we have been undefeated this whole season. This last game wont hurt us, no matter how nervous we are.

"Do you want to go to the Park to play some soccer?" Dad suggested. I nod my head and pretended I was tired at all.

After running up the stairs to go change, I find Dad already there, and I was shocked he beat me. I usually beat him whenever we changed into our soccer gear. Dad smirked, "I beat you!" He said childishly.

I shake my head before going out to the car and waiting for Dad to start to drive. As we pull up closer to the Park, I see a figure already playing with what I presume is his girlfriend. He scored a goal, and his girlfriend cheered him on before he tackles her to the ground and tickles her.

I feel a pang of jealously strike my heart, I wish Parker and I were like that. I shake off the feeling as my heart begins to weigh a ton.Dad and I step out of the car and walked towards the field.

As I stepped closer, I thought I recognized Parker's body ontop of the girl. I excuse myself from my dad and run towards the two figures. "Parker?" I ask.

The man whipped his head back and Parker's face came in my mind. I gasp after he jerks back into the ground, being shocked he saw me here. I close my eyes for a second, trying to recollect my thoughts and trying my hardest not to cry. I didn't know who this girl was, I couldn't jump to conclusions so quickly.

"Char, she is my um... cousin! Yes, meet my cousin..." He stammers.

"Pamela." Pamela says, shooting a glare at Parker.

I found it weird Parker forgot Pamela's name, it would only be reasonable to know your cousins name. The more I thought of it, Parker never mentioned a Pamela when he told me about his family tree. I shake it off, if he forgot her name, then they weren't as close as the others.

"Pam and I are going to go now." Parker says awkwardly.

I shake my head before running back to Dad. He was curiously looking at Parker, Pamela, and I's conversation. "What is it?" I ask when his gaze follows Pamela and Parker.

"I could have sworn I saw them kissing before we came on the field." Dad says.

I furrow my eyebrows and glare at my father. "Parker wouldn't do that! Plus, she is his cousin." I say, annoyance dripping out of my tone.

"Sorry, guess I didn't actually see it." Dad says before we started to play.

During the games we played, Dad helped me on my offense and defense, he also built on my other skills. I felt so exhausted after the games, I fell asleep right as my head hit the pillow.

When winter break was over, I promised myself that I was going to make sure my grades were stellar like they were in the beginning. No boys could get in the way of my success. Yes, I love Parker; no hesitation, but my father always told me no man will ever stick along. No matter how much trust and love is placed in the relationship, men will find something new. And when my father left for the rest of my childhood, I then knew the saying was real.

But, until that point where Parker does leave me. I will continue to love him, and feel myself falling more and more everyday. There was no flaw I could immediately say about him. I cherished his individuality, like any other human being would.

I worked my butt off studying after practice, making sure I knew everything. Teachers started to like me again, because I wasn't slacking off to pay attention to Parker. Throughout my hard studying, Parker got frustrated. He was angry that I didn't spend every living moment with him, and didn't pay that much attention to him anymore. Whenever I told him I was studying, he would get even more furious with me.

The week went by quickly as I had the same pattern of waking up, go to school, go home, study, then fall asleep. Today was game day, and I was anxious. I could feel myself balding and feeling my stomach erupt in butterflies.

It was after half time when the referee blowed the whistle, the other team had won the possession after our fruitless attempts at trying to win the possession. But, no matter how hard the players striked, our goalie saved us. I ran towards the ball, not even striking Parker a glance. The other team was strategic, nothing like anything I've seen. Usually, they would run it, or do some stupid play that everyone uses.

Screw it, I intercept the ball. I obviously over thunk that. I run towards the goal and pass it left to Parker. He takes the shot, and completely misses. The ball soars over the bar and into the crowd.

I sigh and rub my temples, the one time I rely on Parker. The ball was in their possession again, the goalie grabs the ball and punts it into the air. One of the players heads it and the ball gets in possession to the player to his far left. I sigh again before taking the ball into possession. I pass it to Bryson, who was to the right of me.

He makes a clean shot and the goalie's fingertips reach for the ball, and the ball hit the back of the net. I sigh in relief and bliss. The referee blows his whistle again and I smile bright fully at Bryson and give him a thumbs up.

State Champs here we come, you better be ready for us!

A/N
One more chapter left. I hope you can find the secret little word play I put in to find out who is end game :).