Match

13: You're A Natural

Nathan takes the ball in a firm grip with one hand and holds it out in front like a basketball. He drops it into Cole's confused hands.

"We're gonna practice head-butting the ball."

"Again?!" His voice is taut with slight irritation.

"Yes, again."

He slumps forward, cradling the ball and staring at it discouragingly. Nathan takes a step back with a scheming grin. He taps the tip of his cleats on the ground. Cole raises an affirming eyebrow.

"What're you planning?"

He firmly plants his hands on his sides, leans backwards, and pops a couple bones. "Nothing. I just said what we're gonna do. Passing with a head-butt, back and forth."

Cole sighs, then faces Nathan with his whole body. Nathan gets into a readying stance. Once Cole tosses the ball into the air, he aims his head and bops it. The ball goes flying over Nathan and lands thirty feet away.

"Shit, sorry," he says.

Nathan sprints to pick it up. "It's cool."

"Really though, why're we practicing this of all things?"

He returns to his spot and holds up the ball high. "Ashton tends to dropkick the ball way up into the air."

"Uh... huh."

He spins it in his grip a couple times. "So what we usually do is give the ball a lil' head-butt, like so," he hurls up, smacks it lightly with his forehead, then catches it. "See?"

"I guess?"

He snickers. "We're not trying to give ourselves a concussion. Just a light tap, right smack above the forehead, down to our feet."

The ball gets tossed back to Cole.

"Do what I did."

Cole lets out a long exhale, giving the ball a couple good spins. He throws it up, then hits it with his forehead. The impact makes his skull vibrate and the ball leaps into Nathan's open arms.

"Almost."

Cole shuts his eyes tight, rubbing his forehead. He feels the dull ache tremble his cranium.

"If you don't wanna get a migraine," Nathan says, tapping his forehead, "hit the area between your hairline and the upper part of your forehead. Here, I'll throw the ball to you this time."

He shakes his head a bit, then prepares for an oncoming throw. Nathan gives it a good toss, to which he manages to hit the ball right in the correct spot.

"There you go! You're a natural."

Cole resists the urge to roll his eyes. I'm not that good, he thinks. The ball gets thrown again, and Cole passes it back with a bit more of a firm push.

"How many more do I have to do?"

Suddenly, Nathan does a 'think-fast' motion and launches the ball to Cole. He catches it, with the impact hitting his chest and causing him to make a winded 'oof' sound. Nathan laughs.

"Throw me some," he says.

Cole tightens his lips together. His timid eyes transfix into tunnel vision, locking onto the target. He takes aim and chucks it into the air. Nathan pounds it with his forehead, this time making the ball land onto the soft grass.

"Whoops, sorry Cole."

"I got it."

He jogs up to the ball and grabs it. As he's about to turn back, he notices two people in the distance walking closer. He lifts a hand over his head and squints to get a better look. It's Jonah and Ben.