Monday, September 21st
Marisa's POV:
It's my first day back since the accident. With my concussion, Im still very sensitive to light so I get to wear sunglasses during school... great more attention drawn to me that I don't want.
Dawson and James are here to pick me up. I get in the backseat and greet them and then we go pick up Megan.
On our way to school, we hit a rather large pot hole, Megan and I bounce on the seat despite wearing seat belts. My ribs can't take the sudden bounce and I'm left in pain, clutching at my ribs trying to breathe through it.
Luckily, I don't scream. Megan and James looks at my concerned. They talk me through the pain thankfully. When we get to school, I thank them and Dawson looks at me guilty. I grab his shoulder and tell him "It's ok, it's not your fault, and now please wipe that guilty look off your face."
The four of us walk into school together. The soccer guys at Paul's locker see us and Mark yells "Hey, look it's the girl who was beaten up, she's back." James gets angry and yells back "Stop Mark, just stop" "why should I? And Why are you even hanging with her?" "She's more than half the person you will ever be. So keep your comments to yourself and stop harassing her." Dawson calms James down. Mrs.S comes out of her room because she hears what happened. She looks at Mark and says "Now Mark, if you can't be nice, you shouldn't say anything at all, a week of detention shall suffice."
I smile at her and then look at James and say "you didn't have to do that." He smiles down at me and says "yes, yes I did." "Thank you."
After being stared at almost everyday, you think I would be used to it by now, but I'm not. The sunglasses kinda help block them out tho. My teachers are understanding and kind which I'm grateful for.
Lunch rolls around, and I'm in the court yard waiting for my friends when 5 people, not the usual 3, walk in; James and Dawson are with my friends laughing and joking. I'm pleasantly surprised when they sit down like we've been friends for years.
After a couple minutes, Joey asks "Is this gonna be the new normal? Because this is super fun." Dawson says "I'm down with that, if the rest of you are good with it." I say "The more the merrier." Dawson says "Awesome, we can bring left over cake for you guys at lunch this week." Megan asks "what do you mean?" Dawson replies "it's our birthday on Thursday." I swat James' shoulder and say "you didn't say anything, we all definitely are celebrating." James just smiles and nods his head ok.
Oh god, I've got 3 days to get birthday presents for them.
Tuesday, September 22
James's POV:
While working on the project and homework, Marisa says "I know we work on the project on Thursday's, but we can forgo working on it this week since it's your birthday." "Honestly, I would rather work on the project with you and you can stay for dinner, I want you there. It'll be a great birthday present for me; please." "Sure, sounds fun, so What's Dawson's favorite soccer team?" "Newcastle, same as me; why?" "Oh, Megan was asking."
Once James leaves, I call Megan to see if she's going to dinner with the Kingsley's on Thursday. She is so I ask her if she's got present ideas for them, she says no. So I get on the internet and search for autographed soccer memorabilia. I order a autographed jersey for James and a autographed soccer ball for Dawson for Megan to give to him. I get Dawson a gift card to Penn Station and Megan gets James a gift card to Chipotle.
Thursday, September 24th
James' POV:
It's our birthday, and my mom made us her special waffles for breakfast like she always does. I bring Marisa one for breakfast.
Lunch comes, the guys, Marisa and Megan bring us cupcakes and sing happy birthday to us. I know what my wish is, I would tell you, but then it wouldn't come true. But I'll give you a hint, she's holding the cupcake for me, smiling and singing to me; that's a sight I want to see for a long while.
Dinner time comes and it's our favorite dinner, lobster Mac n cheese. Marisa's seated across from me and Megan's across from Dawson. Joey's next to me and Adam is next to Dawson.
Small talk ensues and soon enough it's over and it's present time. What I'm not expecting is that Marisa got Dawson a gift, I wonder if she got me one. I'm all done opening presents and cleaning up when Marisa says "hey, can you come upstairs for a sec?" "Sure"
When upstairs, I ask "what's up?" "You didn't think I would come over on your birthday and not bring you a present." as she takes a box out of her book bag.
I smile and open it; it's an autographed Newcastle jersey by my favorite player, Alan Shearer. I'm shocked, ecstatic and touched. I look at her, carefully pull her into a hug to not hurt her ribs more, whisper "thank you, thank you so much; this means a lot, you didn't have to do that."
She reciprocates and relaxes into the the hug so that her head is in my neck. She says "James, it's the least I can do after everything you've done for me, you deserve this and so much more."
We stay like this for awhile basking in the comfort that we get. Megan calls for me because it's time for us to go. We pull away and I can't control myself so I kiss her on the cheek, and then pick up her bag to help her. She's stunned, but smiles nonetheless.
We all say goodbye to each other, I see Marisa and Dawson hug which warms my heart that she and him get along well; I hug Megan as well. Marisa walks up to me and initiates the hug first and says "See you tomorrow morning"
Monday, September 28th
Marisa's POV:
I'm not cleared to drive yet so I'm still being driven to school by The Kingsley brothers. Once Megan is in the car, Dawson asks James "Dude are you excited for the big game today?" "Oh I'm pumped" Megan asks "what's special about today's game?" "Well, there's a scout coming to watch, and it's against Heights too; you guys should come." "What time?" "7pm" Megan and I look at each other and say "We'll be there." "Cool!"
School is uneventful. At lunch, Megan and I convince Joey and Adam to go to the soccer game tonight. Therapy today was good, she keeps urging me to tell James what happened so he can better understand me.
Before the game starts, James and Dawson run up to us. We talk, and then Joey and Adam go find seats in the bleachers with rest of the Kingsley family. I notice that James looks nervous.
I put my hand on his bicep, he looks at me and I say "hey, you'll do great, you always do; don't let the pressure get to you, it's just another game." He looks more relaxed and says "Thanks, I needed that."
I shiver and he noticed so he takes his hoodie off and gives it to me and says "here, you look cold." I thank him and then it was time for the game, He hugs me and runs back to the field.
As halftime comes, the score is 0 to 0. The team comes out of the locker room, James looks kinda down; he walks up to the fence and I walk towards him. I ask "are you ok? What's wrong?" "Your dad wants to bench me, but the scout is here , I can't let that happen, it could change my future." I grab his hands and say "James, look at me, go over there and tell him you deserve to be in the rest of the game. If you stand up for yourself, my dad might listen." I hug him as best I can over the fence and whisper "you got this." He says "Thank you, also you look better in my hoodie than I do."
With that, He runs back leaving me flustered and convinced my dad to let him okay the rest of the game. Not even 3 minutes, into the game and James gets a break away and boots it into the back of the net. He celebrates with his team and brother, then he looking into the stands and looks at me and points as a sign of thanks. They won the game 3-2 with James getting a hat trick.
