Smile at a Stranger (1D/ Niall)

Get you next time

Chapter 7

Summer's POV

"You ok?"  I giggle as I see Zayn lying on the ground on my left.  I kind of sort of tripped him in the middle of my slide tackle.  But it was totally legal in the rules of soccer.

"Yeah.  You?"  He stands up brushing himself off.  I check my legs.  Turf burn... forgot I'm not wearing soccer stuff. 

"Umm..." I stare at my legs red from the scratches. 

"Oh god."  Zayn comes over to me and kneels down.

"I'm fine."  He reaches to touch the red spot.  And once he does, I let out a little screech.

"You ok?"  Liam asks from 10 yards away.

"Just turf burn." I try to sound like it isn't burning terribly.  "I'm fine."  I hold my hand up for Zayn to help me stand up.  He grabs my hand and helps me up. "Little blood won't hurt anyone."  I try to joke.  His face doesn't look so humored.  "It happens."  I shrug my shoulders. 

The concern on his face is so reassuring.  I mean its Zayn Malik.  He's known me for less than 6 hours.  And he cares that much already.  Maybe because I'm a fan, but still the fact that he cares is crazy.

My mind comes back into the game.  Harry has the ball by our goal.  I give him a simple option.  But he goes to Louis' head.  The ball somehow finds it's way to the back of the net.  I high five Harry, and Louis does the airplane.  

I'm just laughing until I realize Liam has already passed it to Niall, and Niall has a clear shot at goal.  "Uhh guys!"  I yell as I run to block Niall's shot.  I've been assigning either Harry or Louis to Niall since I don't want to risk laughing.  Especially because when I play with my friends I'm prone to laugh.  And this case is no different.

I stand in front of Niall in an athletic position.  He is planning on doing some move.  I can tell.  Boys and their tricks.  It's just stupid at times.

I watch the ball and see his hips ready to do make a move to the right.  His foot makes contact with the ball, so I lunge and get a touch on it.  Which totally throws him off. Allowing me to pass the ball to Harry. 

Involuntarily I say, "Denied!"  Just because I'm a defender and one of my teammates usually does that.

"Get you next time."  I feel Niall whisper right in my ear.  It sends shivers down my back from him being that close.  And my breathing gets thrown off.  I think my heart just skipped a beat.  Ugh, I hate when that happens.  But I've never had it happen because of someone doing something to me.  Hmm...

He jogs ahead of me with a smirk on his face.  I just smile still a little stunned.

10 minutes pass with no real action. 

"Dude your knee."  Harry comes over to me.  The look on his face is so cute.  But then I look down to my knee.  Turf burn is a... b word.

"Crap."  I mumble.

"Want me to get you something for it?"  It's not like I have anything.

"Could you?"  I ask shyly.  He smiles at me.

"Course."  That smile made me get butterflies.  Harry is so sweet.  He jogs to the car.  "Getting Summer something for her knee."  He yells to everyone. 

I think the game is over.  And I hate being the reason.  But I think we were all tired.  The rest of the lads gather around me. 

"I'm sorry."  Zayn says with his eyebrows burrowed.

"Oh no Zayn.  It's not your fault.  I love slide tackling too much."  I laugh at myself.  "And I kind of forgot I'm not wearing gear."  I say rolling my eyes.

"So what was the score?"  Louis asks Liam.  He was keeping score.

"10 to 8."  Liam says.

"Us?"  Niall asks hopefully.  Liam just shakes his head.

"Yes!"  Louis high fives me. 

"Beast!"  I say triumphantly. 

"Only cause you cheated."  Liam mumbles under his breath.

"Liar!"  Louis yells.

"Liam."  I say looking at him with a half smile.  Is he a sore loser?  He looks up at me with a blank face.  "Come here."  I give him a hug.  "Better?"  I ask him in the hug.

"Much."  I come out of the hug smiling.  I love these boys.

"Hey Niall go get Louis' phone."  I say, as flatly as I can.

"Got it."  He says happily.  Got to love Niall's sprit. 

I see Harry coming back.  "Here." He hands me a bunch of napkins, sanitizer, and like 2 band-aids. 

"Man, you guys are loaded."  I say jokingly and start cleaning my knee.  It stings, but it's honestly not anywhere near the pain I've felt before due to soccer.

"Anything for you." I look up at Harry questioningly.  But decide to drop it.  I put on the band-aids and I'm just like new.

"Summer!  It won't open!"  I sigh.  I should've known. 

"Meet you in the car."  I tell them and trot off to Niall. 

This might end badly.  For me.  I hate not being able to laugh.  With him.  Or at him.  Or because of him. Niall's way too funny.  It sucks even more because I love people who can make me laugh.  I pretty much screwed myself.