Match

36: The Flirtatious Forward

Jonah glances at the other team across the field. So, Team Hawks huh... he thinks. To his surprise, every Thunder teammate made it to the game tonight. He picks up a ball then strolls to the lineup forming by the net. As he places it down, he hears Liam and Tate mumble to each other.

"Yeah, you thought the Rams were a team of assholes? Now it's Hawks."

"We're gonna have to be really tactical with our passing tonight."

Jonah budges in the conversation. "Why? Do they not play fair?"

Liam turns to him and smirks. "Fair? Sportsmanship is a word that goes way over their heads."

"Yeah bud," Tate says. "Did you hear from Graham? One of their players friggin' pummelled two of his teammates."

"Shit..."

"Yeah. The guy's banned from playing, but the team as a whole is like a tissue box."

Jonah laughs. "A what?"

"Y'know," Tate makes a box shape with his hands, "once you rip a tissue another one pops up. That's the best way I can describe 'em."

"So they're a team of soft tissue you use to blow your nose," Jonah looks back at the team.

 "Or wipe your ass," Liam grins. "If you're outta toilet paper."

Jonah raises an eyebrow. "... alright then."

"Liam, you're next!"

He looks back at the net. "Oh right."

Before he can even kick the ball, the referee blows his whistle. Thunder gets called over by Coach John.

"Damnit," Liam sighs.

"Save your shooting for the real deal," Ben says, passing by him.

Everyone jogs over to meet up with the coach. He holds out a board with tons of scribbles.

"Jonah and Tate are gonna start off as the forwards," he says, highlighting a blue dot, "Liam you're the striker."

All three nod.

"This team is tough as shit, but if we're mindful of where we're passing, we can definitely win. If we win, we'll be meeting our match for the last few games of the season."

Jared raises a hand. "Coach, can I play on the left side this time?"

He glances briefly at the field. "Yeah, you're gonna join the starting team as well. Nash and Wes are off as subs."

"I need one player from each team!" The referee hollers.

"Jonah, you go," Coach John points.

"Lucky Jone," Ben nudges him.

Jonah stands up from his kneeling posture and trots to the centre field. Up ahead he can already see a player from Hawks talking with the referee. He gets a good look of him. Cold as ice, tough build like steel. This'll be interesting. Instead of rock-paper-scissors, the referee holds out a coin.

"Heads or tails?" He asks the other player.

"Heads."

"Okay, you're tails then," he says to Jonah.

He flicks the coin high into the air, then catches it and flips it over onto his forearm. Once he removes his hand, it shows tails.

"Alright, Team Thunder gets the ball first."

Jonah nods, then runs to his eager team. He catches a glimpse of the other guy giving him a dirty look behind his back. Somehow, this makes Jonah even more excited about the match.