➵ His Soccer Princess | ✔︎

6

This was it. This was the final match of the league. We could either win it, or lose it. Get the glory, or go home empty handed. It was a matter of life and death.

Okay, now I'm being extra dramatic. But, you get the gist.

After changing, I walked out of the one and only, isolated cubicle and looked around. The guys were shouting and laughing, and I would occasionally drop some random lines in too.

We were honestly like one, huge family.

But, the jokes and laughter, the shouting and hoots, they were just a good distraction. There was a thickness that instilled the air with caution, and apprehension. Of course we wanted to play on the pitch, against Beverly Hills, but there was something that was overpowering our determination, fear.

Great, the bastard strikes again...

The most of it came from the group, as they were all the ones who were met with a devastating accident, costing them the cup. And you could see the worry that was etched on their faces, although it was desperately covered with smiles and laughter, crinkles of the eyes and the occasional dimples.

I mean, of course I was scared, but those were normal nerves. Their nerves were a lot more to do with the past and their screw up.

After we were changed, we all sat down in a circle around each other. "We're going to smash this." Austin said, and there was authority in his voice, but still somehow shook.

"No, we're not going to smash this. And I'll tell you why," I started, shaking my head. "This is going to be hard. They've cleaned up their acts. We've cleaned up ours, too, but theirs' have a significant change. This changes everything." I stopped, looking at all of them, as a grim and sullen expression hung on their faces.

I took this as a cue to carry on, "But, at the end of the day, we're not here mainly for the cup. We're mainly here for the game we love with our souls. The cup is an add on bonus, and we all know that. What will matter is if we give it our all, nothing less. But we all know, when we're carefree and not tensed, we play like a dream team. And that's what will let us win ; the enjoyment of the game." I ended with a small smile that was on everyone else's faces.

"Alexis is right. We're not only here for the cup. We're here to have a laugh and have a good time, just like all the last matches we've played together. With teamwork, effort, and fun, we can change the games. It's just in our hearts, and only the brave are able to unlock it." Joey quietly inputted and to say I was stunned was an understatement.

The fact he was agreeing with me was quite unusual to say the least, but that wasn't what caught me off guard. That guy had a way with his words, for sure. The way he phrased that, it felt like he knew it all. And it was a great way to motivate our team.

Dad walked in, after a comfortable silence instilled over us as we contemplated what Joey had said.

"Come on, lads. This can either break us, or make us. Let's make Bayside high proud." He smirked, and everyone stood up, hugging each other as if saying 'get ready to die'. In a sense, we might. Of exhaustion, I mean.