ROBBERS ➳ c.h

Soccer ◑

Poppy

The thing I loved most about Winter was the cool breeze that comes along with it. It wasn't hot and sticky, it was cool and just the right temperature to wear cute knitted sweaters and a nice pair of jeans. It wasn't cold enough to wear boots and hand mittens, but nice enough that if you wore a beanie on your head to compliment your outfit, no one would look at you as if you were crazy. It was my favourite time of year.

I was stuck in English listening to shakespeare, Ry sitting next to me chewing on bubblegum and twirling her dirty blonde hair around her finger. Her eyes were rolling in the back of her head, telling me she was annoyed with the lesson already and we were only half way in. I was feeling the same, honestly. Both of us were a like in that way. We both had the same interests, same hobbies, same type in men. Well, obviously we don't share guys because that's gross, but we both like young, independent, bad ass guys who give as much of a shit as us. None. Sighing in boredom, I ripped the corner of my lined page and scribbed a small note on the flip side. 

So boring!! Let's ditch? 

I slid the note onto Ry's desk slowly so that it wasn't noticable to the teacher, but I looked at her hopefully. She read over my curved writing and her eyes lit up in excitement, "Sir," She said immediately, "I need to throw up," She told him, letting her voice waver in fake panic. 

The teacher seemed alarmed and began walking over to her, but we both stood up before he could reach our table, "I'll take her to sick bay," I nodded as we collected our books. Immediately we walked towards the door, Ry holding a hand over her mouth, faking the fact that she needed to throw up. The teacher stared at us as we walked out, but he didn't try and stop us. I guess he'd rather let us ditch than risk having to deal with puke on the recently laid carpet. I pushed open the door and Ry ran out, me quickly walking behind her. 

"Nailed it!" I laughed, high fiving her eagerly. She laughed loudly, clutching her stomach, "That was so easy!" I exclaimed. We both ran towards our lockers, trying not to attract attention from other teachers. I chucked my books inside and slammed it shut, before grabbing my yellow umbrella and walking over to Ry's locker who was just a row down from me.  

"What are we going to do now?" I asked her, swinging the open umbrella over my shoulder. She smirked and grabbed my wrist. 

 "C'mon, lets go watch the boys play Soccer," She smirked, pulling me along. I laughed and followed her down the many flights of stairs, stopping once we reached the bottom. We skipped past the water bubblers and past the art rooms. We snuck past the student reception area and down towards the field where the school's soccer team always played during my English lessons. We ran down the hill, letting the wind blow through our dirty blonde hair and letting our school uniform skirts twists around our bodies. This is what I lived for. The natural, free feeling I got at times like these. Why sit at a desk and learn how Oxygen works when you can run down a hill and experience it for yourself first hand? 

We sat down on the first step of the shool's stadium, a clear view of the boys both in our grade and a year above us. Personally I found the boys in year twelve a lot more attractive then the ones in our grade, but I think that's just because I know that most of the boys in grade 11 are either pricks or gay. 

"When did Aaron join the team?" Ry asked me, nodding her head towards the mid-brown haired boy. I squinted my eyes, trying to spot him. Aaron was the grade twelve who absoluely drooled over Ry and to be honest, she loved it. He was quite attractive in my opinion and I knew she thought so too. More than occasionally they hook up in the toilets or anywhere really, but she was clear that it was just that. There was no strings, it wasn't a set he's my fuck buddy sort of thing, but they do hook up more than a one night stand thing. Ry and I were different like that. She didn't believe in love. She thought it was something some sappy lustfilled women invented and didn't know what to call her emotions so she named it love and it's just continued on through the centuries. I believe in it though. I mean, I don't care about much but love is something I do care about. I might hook up with people for the fun of it, but if someone had feelings for me like Aaron does for Ry, I wouldn't toy him on. I have no reason to judge her though, it's her choice. 

"Probably trying to bulk up for you," I nudged her, winking. 

She laughed, "He already has a fine body," She smirked, then shrugged, "Maybe he just needed to fill in time,"

"Yeah," I nodded. The boys kicked a few balls around for another five or so minutes, and in that time I had opened my box of oreos, thrown one down Ry's shirt, eaten at least the first quarter, and managed to steal Ry's sunglasses and sit them on my head. It was needless to say we were bored, but at least we weren't listening to some old teacher drag on and we had a nice view. The guys all came in for a break, all of them going to their bags to grab the water bottles and towels. Even though it was Winter, Australia still had it's way of making anyone sweat at any time. Even I had butt sweat once, and Ry hasn't let me live it down since. 

Suddenly I noticed Calum digging through his bag and for some reason I didn't feel as uncomfortable as I did before last night. He looked up, and I mentally groaned for staring too long. You know that feeling you get when you feel someone staring at you so you look in that direction automatically? Yeah well I think he just got that feeling. I quickly looked back over and noticed him staring at me with an amused smirk

"Oh hey there, Poppy Dickens," He grinned widely, "What are you doing here? Trying out?" 

"Hey Calum Hood. Good game? I couldn't see you out there. On the side again?" I smirked and grinned when his face dropped slightly. This was good. He'll see that I don't want to be involved with him, and he'll pretend last night never happened. That's what I needed, really. I didn't need more people to get close to. Just Ry. It's easier that way for when I leave. 

"Oh you're right," He brushed off, "How could you play soccer when clearly you're an Art student," He smirked, "Should I let the teacher know you don't want to try out? He might put you down and you'll be stuck playing a game in the sun with sweaty guys for a whole double period," He tsked then continued, "Doesn't sound pretty to me,"

"Shut up," I snapped, "We were per-" I did a double take when I realised Ry was no longer sitting next to me. Instead, she was twirling her hair and touching Aaron's muscular arms, "I am perfectly fine right here. Off you go now," I waved him off, "Go kick the silly little ball around as if getting it in that goal actually means something,"

He let out a sarcastic sigh, "God Poppy Dickens, that hurt my heart a lot. Why you gotta brush me off like that?" He put a fist to his heart and faked getting chest pain, "I think I'm wounded. Will you heal me?" He asked. 

"Go fuck yourself," I replied. 

"Why would I do that when I have you to do it for me?" He grinned. I rolled my eyes and flipped him off. He laughed loudly then walked back over to the rest of the team where they were all huddling together for the second half of the lesson. I had Art now and it was the only class I actually enjoyed, so as you could imagine, I grabbed my oreos and my umbrella and I walked back up the hill, leaving Ry behind, knowing very well she wasn't prepared to go back to class. 

------------------------------------------

Hi guys so just to be clear - I have made a few slight changes to the story since I posted the Prologue, but it's still the same sort of thing so please keep reading! I only dragged it out a lot and there's more Calum/Poppy scense in here. If I wrote it the other way it would have been messy and confusing and I don't like that so yeah!

Hope you liked the chapter and please help me share it around!! xx