Detective Science #JustWriteIt #Wattpad10 #Ahawards2017

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Jake stared at Grace confused and shook his head.

"Me? Try out? That too for the football team?" Grace nodded her head.

"No way." Jake stated, shaking his head; without any hesitation.

"Why not?" Grace asked.

"It's not me."  He shrugged.

"It's not you. Wow. You were the star back in middle school. You were practically the football lover in elementary. You shouldn't hide your talent." Grace implied with sincerity laced in her voice.

"I don't want to play."

"Now, we both know that's not true." Grace admitted.

"We all know you really want to try out." She continued.

"Something is stopping you." Jake's eyes averted from the floor to his best friend's orbs.

"Why would you think that?" Jake spoke after licking his lips.

"I dunno. I have a feeling. You're not saying anything about football, as in your own self." Grace began as she stared at her best friend in curiosity.

"There is nothing to worry about, Grace." Jake assured her as he stood up.

"Green 52, green 52. Hut," Grace stood up from the swing. "Hut, hike!" Grace's body slammed into Jake catching him off guard as he fell onto the ground.

Grace stood there as she saw Jake: the confused and shocked look on his face. The sides of her face started to rise, her eyes holding some sort of amusement as something melodious was heard. The sound of laughter... Grace was laughing. Her laugh was representing peace and cheerfulness.

Her dark eyes held the glimmering light within them as the sound of her laugh was so harmonious that in the background you could hear chirping.

Jake stared at his best friend as her laughter was short but felt as if it lasted for a bliss moment. The white teeth that was usually hidden away was reflecting out against her pale cheeks. Her eyelashes were cascading a shadow amongst her cheeks whenever she closed her eyes.

The paleness that filled Grace's cheeks had tinted a small pink revealing any colour that would fit perfectly it would be this. Jake shook his head at his best friend as he got up.

Grace started to see Jake come towards her but she never moved. The moment he was at arm's reach, she ran. Her legs started moving at their own pace, as Jake was behind her. Running like she had never ran Jake was hot on her heels. As he stopped, Grace kept her eyes at the front, before widening them as she saw her best friend in front of her. Skidding to a halt, Grace stared at Jake.

"You didn't even realise that you gained twenty two yards." Grace spoke as Jake looked at the park and by the calculations that she'd made, she was correct. He did gain yards, but he knew what Grace was trying to do.

"You're quite the tackler." Grace's smile resurfaced again.

"When you've got a football player as your best friend in elementary and middle school." Jake rolled his eyes at his best friend.

"Wow. You're not going to stop are you?" Jake asked curious and amused. Grace shook her head slowly.

Jake breathed out as he looked above and ahead before closing his eyes. Hesitantly shaking his head. Grace smiled at Jake. Jake had a talent and if he was going to tell Grace to actually try she was definitely not going to stand idle and not help Jake out.

"I'm glad that you're here." Grace admitted after a few moments as they both were seated on the swings again.

"And why's that?" Jake asked her raising an eyebrow slightly.

"Well, probably because you're my first friend." Jake stared at Grace.

"Being my first friend, you've been very close to me. Seeing you after a long time meant that I'd get my first friend again." Grace nodded her head as Jake smiled at her.

"Well you're my first friend as well."

"That's quite impossible. You're very popular." Grace admitted.

He raised his brows in shock. "Me? Popular." Grace nodded her head.

"Look at you, people are obsessed with your looks and your talent."

"What's my talent?"

"I overheard one of the girls saying that you're quite smart in class. I'd seen it many times but I'd witnessed it in Geography." Jake looked confused before recognising what Grace meant.

"Understood."

"Also perhaps people will see your football skills out on the field." Grace nodded her head.

"Oh yeah, that."

"Are you okay?" Grace asked.

"Yeah-."

"No, you don't sound like it."

Jake breathed out knowing he wouldn't be able to keep anything a secret from his best friend, especially if she's the girl that truly knows everything about him.

"I broke my leg over a year ago." Grace looked at Jake confused. "It was during a very important football game."

"Since then I haven't really played football." He admitted.

"When my leg healed I was happy, but it made me back off of football for a little while."

"It was as if, I couldn't be apart of the team again, even if I tried. So I didn't really try out again." Jake shrugged.

"Did your friends tell you to try-out." Grace asked slowly.

"Yeah." He nodded. "They did. They were going to the extent of telling Coach Alvarez and Coach Martins —" (A/N: Another two characters from another book of mine) "-but I stopped them, of course." Jake breathed out.

"That's why you've been so reluctant towards football." Grace managed to piece it together again. "Oh, I'm sorry." Her apology was sincere as Jake shook his head.

"No, don't apologise. It's not your fault."

"If you think about it, I encouraged you right now to try-out. But I do care for you, just like you do." Jake nodded his head at Grace's words.

"In other words, you shouldn't give up, Jake. You're someone very special to me. I know that — you know that. So, linger over the thought." Grace nodded her head ending this conversation.

"You're right, Grace." He exhaled as the two of them stared at the scenery in front of them. This mystical park and the wonderful breeze brushing past them, couldn't have kept anything much more peaceful.