Second Chances

Six

I still remember the first day I met him.

        I could still picture the way his blue eyes glinted with kindness and the way his smile curled upwards.  The way his hair was ruffled and tousled into a heap of knotted strands. I remembered staring at him with a cold grin plastered over my face. A soccer ball was placed between us, ready to roll.

        The girls and I had formed a soccer team amongst us because we were still a year younger to be eligible to sign up for recreational. It was a muddy Sunday night and no light was casting on that dark evening.

        "You have dirt on your nose," I said aloud and giggled. I glanced at his confused expression as he frantically rubs the corner of his shirt on his pale white face.

        With his attention off-guard, I swiftly kicked the ball between his open legs. Racing down the field, I look for an open team-mate.

 It wasn't long until he had caught up. And when he did, he shoved me playfully to the side with such force, I didn't have time to process what's happening.  Losing my balance, I gasped dramatically as my body came in contact with the hard ground. I didn't gasp because I was falling, but it was because I'd fallen right in the middle of a mud puddle.

        Getting mud all over my face and hair, a burning heat of anger rushed it's way through my body. I took a deep breath, as I heard his footsteps slowing beside me. I look up and see him smirking. Obviously pleased with my reaction.

         "Oh, game on Dirt Boy." I frustratingly said as I spit. I pushed myself up off the ground and dusted the mud off on my shorts. I peeked behind the blue eyed freak to see everyone on his team and mine, watching us with expectant eyes, ready for a fight to break out. I grit my teeth together to keep back from lashing out at him. 

        "Shall we, Mud Face?" The words slide off his tongue like venom and that's when I couldn't hold myself back any longer. I bounce off the ground and tackle him. Our bodies collide and hit the ground roughly. With his body tucked under my weight, I clenched my fist into a ball, aiming for a swing.

        "Who died and made you king?! Huh?" I yelled at him, but the corners of his mouth curls into a devious smirk. Before I could punch him, a hand grips tightly on my shoulder, tugging me off of him.

        "Don't do this again Alex! You said you'd cut the crap." One of my team-mates pouts and crosses her arms over her chest in annoyance while another holds me back. Somebody helps Dirt Boy off the ground. The anger in me continues to rage even more when he opens his mouth, "How cute."

 I let out an exaggerated scream and shove away the person holding me back. 

          "Get over here and I'll smack that dumb smirk off your face Dirt Boy!" By now I'm running at him. 

He opens his mouth to say something but my fist smashes into his jaw, ultimately cutting him off. For a moment there's silence. 

Then through his pain, he says, "My name is Jonah by the way." I guess his response cut me off-guard because all I could do is stare at him goofily and momentarily confused. 

        The rest was history. 

***

        I sat on the edge of the counter by the windowsill at an ice-cream store. The streets are empty and for the first time, the place that used to be flooded with traffic and noise reminds me of my own loneliness. Ever since arriving here, there's been nothing but trouble for me. I feel trapped. With more than enough on my hands, seeing Jonah only added more stress I didn't want.