Pictures Worth a Thousand Words

Chapter Twelve

My girls night with Grandma and Sky was just what I needed. We watched a few movies, which somehow started a popcorn fight. We baked a cake, muffins and cookies, and while they were baking we talked. I don't mean small talk either, I mean the late night deep and meaningful's sleepovers tend to have. But most importantly I laughed. I laughed until my sides hurt and had tears rolling down my face. A good change from the reasons why I have been crying lately.

"Can I go home yet?" I asked for the millionth time.

"No. We are here to support Carter." Skylar replies for the millionth time.

"But Sky I don't want to be here." Complaining, Isaac turns around to face me. Confusion written all over his face.

"Since when? I know you love to watch sports especially this team."

"Ah, I'm just not feeling that great." I lie.

"Wait, that's not it. It's because of Lucas isn't it?"

I pause, eyes trained on the ball. Carter had intercepted the ball and was now running from out back line to our forward line. He bounces it twice before handballing it off to Billy, one of our midfielders. Billy runs with it, bouncing the ball once after his 15 steps and kicks it forward, heading towards a two on one contest. Two of the opposition up against our one. They all jump for the ball with our player winning the contest, gaining the mark. He sets up for a shot on goal. As soon as I squint my eyes to see his number on his back at the opposite end of the oval to where I am, I feel conflicted. The ball is kicked, passing through the two tall middle posts for a goal.

"That was number 35, Lucas Ryder, kicking Smithwicks 10th goal."

The siren sounds.

"That makes Smithwick in the lead by 12 points at the halftime break."

Isaac and Skylar start cheering as the team heads off to the club rooms for halftime. Sky gives me a pointed look, wondering why I am not cheering like I usually do. Reluctantly I start clapping, the only thing I find myself able to do right now. But I can tell Skylar isn't happy.

"I knew your lack of wanting to be here was because of him." Isaac states triumphantly.

"Okay, you got me. And If it wasn't for the two of you," I poke each of them hard in the arm, "hijacking my birthday I wouldn't be here, I would be screaming at anime characters to hurry up and get together already!"

"Well, that didn't take much for you admit." Sky states, looking concerned.

"I know you guys would have pestered me until I did so I just admitted it sooner rather than later. I just chose the option that would have made me less annoyed at your methods to find out." I sigh. "But do you blame me with the reason why I don't want to be here?"

Zac laughs, probably from the reason why I gave in so easily, as he gets up from the bench we are occupying to go get us all some food.

"I didn't think about the Lucas thing. Sorry, Char. I just wanted to cheer you up and I know yelling at the footy normally does. I kinda spaced that Lucas plays." Sky apologises.

"It's fine. I mean I do feel better and Carter and the boys are killing it. I just feel a little conflicted when Luke does stuff like that." I indicate to the oval where the teams are coming back on.

"Can you cheer when Luke isn't anywhere near the ball?"

I nod as the siren sounds for the team huddles to break up and get ready for the second half.

Zac comes back with our food with seconds to spare before the bounce down. Which to me flys by in a blur.

"And that's the game. Smithwick win by 21 points."