Picture Perfect ✔️ [Slowly Editing]

26:"Noodle?"

"Alright, gang! It's the finals!" Cora cheered. We were all out here, mid-november, freezing our butts off. The field was to my left, where the boys warmed up for the kick-off. I was nervous, to say the least.

Alex took out huge poster boards behind him, a grin on his smug face. I scowled.

What does Alex have up his sleeve this time?

He gave each of us a sign, shushing us if we have any questions.

"Who are you? Dwight Schrute?" I questioned, my eyebrows knitted together. The gang laughed, even Remi. Alex stared, trying not to laugh at my hilarious joke.

"Now, we're all here to support our best friend, Brody Parker. In honor of him, we will each hold up a sign that makes up his name. We have one extra person for his name, so Gracelynn has the exclamation point! Great, let's take our positions." Alex turns around towards the bleachers. It took us five minutes to get in the right places. I stood next to Anden, who had 'Y'.

"Alex really thought this out." Anden chuckled, looking over everyone. Alex stood at the beginning, holding the letter 'B'. Suddenly, someone is speaking over the intercom.

"Hello, St. Jefferson High! Tonight, we are defending our stadium against Waco!" The crowd erupted. It became so loud that I had the urge to cover my ears.

"Alex says hold our signs up, Gracelynn," Anden called. I nodded, lifting my sign up.

The team burst through a banner and sprint onto the field, carrying their helmets in their hand. I could tell they were screaming, jumping on top of one another. My eyes are glued to Brody as he grins, hitting a teammate on the back. He grinned, looking up from his teammates and to the crowd. The gang and I waved our signs crazily. Brody spots us, reading the signs first. His grin widened. He dropped his helmet momentarily, making a heart with his hands. He hadn't even noticed me yet, but when he did, his smile softened.

"This is for you," I watched him mouth, making it difficult for me to breathe.

I let out a shaky breath and smiled back. Brody saluted, picking up his helmet. I watched him make his way off of the field.

When the opposing team came out, our entire side was dead silent.

"And the game begins!" Anden sang, jumping up and down.

---

The game was tied again, 13-13. We were in the last quarter of the game. My hands were now numb and my nose was running prefusely. Anden was in great shape next to me, but I had given up on standing up and holding my sign halfway through the first quarter. It's not like my sign specifically took part in Brody's name anyways.

I was beginning to feel under the weather.

From the looks of it, everyone assumed we were going to lose this game. We had twelve seconds left in the game, and it was Waco's second down. I shook with both the lack of heat and nervousness.

I knew how much Brody wanted this. We all knew how important this was to the entire team.

The whistle blew. The ball was thrown back to the quarterback. We watched in anticipation as he threw it to his teammate. I began screaming for Waco to lose.

And apparently, God and Brody both had heard me because the Waco QB threw it far, landing in Brody's arms instead of his opponents.

"And number twenty-six completes the intersection! He's running! Waco is in it now! Five seconds on the clock! Parker dodges the tackle, he dead sprints to the end-zone! AND HE MAKES IT, TOUCHDOWN FOR ST. JEFFERSON HIGH SCHOOL!" The announcer cheered.

I yelled so loud my throat began to hurt. I grinned, jumping up and down. Brody ran to his team. They dogpiled him, causing him to disappear from my sight. My heart began to beat faster, watching him get so excited.

The clock has less than a second on it, when they started back up. Our kicker made the goal, making our total 20-13.

"St. Jefferson High wins the finals, thanks to number twenty-six, Brody Parker!" The announcer said over the intercom. Brody was once again dogpiled and attacked by his friends. I began to giggle at the sight.

People were already beginning to leave, but Anden dragged me alongside the rest of the gang. I was led down onto the field.

The turf was hard but squishy underneath my feet. Brody's back was to me, talking to a couple other players.

I reached for the bottom of Brody's jersey that I was wearing, playing with the hem nervously. The guy Brody was talking to glanced behind him, making eye contact with me. A smirk spread across his face.

"Hey man, I think your girl is waiting for you." He announced.

"Noodle?" Brody replied, turning around. A smile broke out on my face at the stupid nickname.

When he saw me, he beamed, taking me into his arms. "Gross! You're sweaty!" I whined, but wrapped my arms around his neck anyway. I no longer felt the ground underneath my feet.

I began to laugh harder as Brody spun me around. His fingers dug into my jacket as he chuckled deeply.

When he set me down, I was breathless from laughing so much. Brody's steel eyes shone in front of me, making my knees weak. I forced myself to look away before I got an urge to close the distance between us.

"I can't believe we won the finals, Gracelynn! And Monday we're off to Ecuador!" Brody exclaimed, pulling me in for another hug.

"Yeah, and since none of the rest of us are in your all-star Spanish class, we should have a guys weekend. Just you, Remi, and me." Alex announced from behind me.

I had completely forgotten that the gang was around. For a moment, it just seemed to be Brody and I.

I pulled away from him and looked over my shoulder. Alex sat there looking... Jealous...

My smile dimmed. I felt the need to go home, but Brody snaked his arm around my waist and pulled me into his side. My heart jumped into my throat, feeling my side completely flushed with his.

I hated how Brody could just tear down all of my defenses and leave me bare... It make me feel a way I was scared to feel.

But I have to learn to trust Brody. He told me he wouldn't leave me, ignore me, or avoid me, and so far he hasn't. When he promised something, he didn't break that promise.

Brody Parker isn't like my Dad.

Brody Parker just might be the best thing to ever happen to me...

---

Ah, another short chapter. But there was some humor in it, so I'm not mad.

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XOXO,
elizabeth-archer.