Learning A Lake ✔

- Thirty-Eight -

♢ Ryan ♢

I didn't have time to buy a light blue tie so I'm rather glad Oscar had one I could borrow and I prayed that it was the right shade of blue, my interpretation of light blue could be completely different to Laura's. I just hoped it wasn't too different.

We joked about our outfits not being for a wedding but tonight still felt important to me. I was going to ask Laura to be my girlfriend. I'd waited long enough now and I'd finally gotten over my fear of commitment. I wanted this so much now and I just hoped she did too.

"You do realise they are probably already getting ready." Oscar pointed out as Matt suggested that we go and see the girls for the remainder of the afternoon.

"They will be doing their nails or something, I wouldn't bother." I looked up at Matt who reluctantly sat back down on his bed.

"Girls." He rolled his eyes.

"You wouldn't be without Rachel, stop moaning." I subtly winked at him.
"Talking of which, when will you be popping the question to Laura?" Oscar asked.

"I'm not asking her to bloody marry me!" I replied with wide eyes after his suggestive comment. "I'm going to do it tonight." I answered the lingering question.

"Ooooh, romantic." Matt said. "Are you feeling alright, you've never come across as the soppy type before."

"You can hardly talk... either of you!" I reminded them that they were now both in soppy as fuck relationships. "If anything, I'm slacking compared to you."

I glanced up at my white shirt hanging on top of the bathroom door along with my grey suit jacket and trousers.

"I'm bored shitless." Oscar groaned as we just continued to laze around in the cabin.

"I've got an idea!" Matt jumped up and grabbed a rugby ball from under his bed. "We can do some kicking! Will give you some time to break in the new boots." My brother grinned at me.

"I've never kicked a rugby ball before." Oscar whined.
"We can teach you, come on." I got up from the bed and swapped my trainers for my new boots.

---

It was scorching hot on the pitch, the sun beating down on us.

Oscar watched us with a frown as we took it in turns to kick the ball between the posts from different angles and distances.

I let him borrow my boots when it came to his turn.
"Now take a few steps back, imagine the ball gliding between the posts. Work out what angle you need and then just go for it." Matt stood with his arms folded and watched as Oscar tried to concentrate on the ball, creating a line with his eyes to guide the ball.

He took a few strides back and quickly jogged forwards, belting the ball with his right foot. It hurtled in the right direction but then bounced off the posts.

"Damn it!" He groaned.
"That wasn't bad for a first timer, don't expect yourself to be amazing at it. It took me a while to get it right." I encouraged him to have another go and after his tenth kick he managed to get one through the posts.

He looked like a child at Christmas, running around the pitch shouting in excitement. I couldn't help but laugh and smile at him, he wasn't afraid of what he looked like right now. He was happy to achieve something.

"Well done mate!" Matt gave him a high-five.
"I did it!" He cheered and went for another go, this one was even better.

"I think he's a natural." I laughed and looked at my brother who seemed impressed with how good he was at kicking already.