The Unexpected Couple

Chapter Thirty-One

Happy Birthday Harry xx
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"Ladies come on. We need to pick it up!" Coach Waters has been yelling at us from the sidelines the whole game. And he definitely has the right to.

3-0. We were losing 3-0. I look around at the girls, who are all jogging back to our half after the other team scored their third goal. I sigh and follow them back as we start the process again.

We manage to defend them well enough that they don't end the half with any more goals. We walk off the field and I can tell everyone is getting down on themselves. I sigh, running my hands down my face as our manager tosses me a water bottle.

"Thanks." I matter in his direction. He nods and gives me a encouraging pat on the back which I return with a small smile.

"I'm very disappointed in all of you." Coach starts and some girls groan. "We should not be losing like this. Anybody want to tell me what's going on out there?" He says and everyone says silent. "Captains?" I look at Morgan and Avery who are sitting on either side of me. They both just look down at their laps.

"Our formation isn't working." I say and everyone looks at me.

"What was that Asford?" Coach says. I stand and position myself so I am looking at him, but still facing the rest of the team.

"Our formation. They're too fast and we're not fast enough. We can't play a flat back because they find the lanes and run through them and none of us are fast enough to stop it." I say and the coaches nod.

"How do you say we fix that?" He says.

"First off we need to make sure everyone is back in defense except for the striker because we need a target. There were multiple times where I looked up and it was six of their players against our four defenders and that's not okay. And on the back line we need to stagger." I say.

"What do you mean stagger?" Morgan asks.

"Before I moved here at my old school we always had our center defenders play deeper than our wing defenders so if the wings got beat the centers could slide in to cover. And I think that could help us in this game." I say and everyone is silent for a few seconds.

The referee's whistle blows and we all turn and glance at them. Coach sighs and pinches the bridge of his nose.

"Did everyone hear that?" He says. And they all answer. "Do it. Go in the way we started the game. Captains." He says and walks away.

Everyone stands up forming a circle and we all place our arms around each other.

"I believe in us ladies. We can do this. Stay strong okay?" I say and they all nod.

"Let's do this." Avery says and we all pile onto the field.
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"YOU DID IT!" Liam yells as he picks me up by the waist and spins me around.

"LIAM OH MY GOD PUT ME DOWN" I yell back at him and he laughs at me, but does what I asked. He gives me a kiss on the cheek and I grimace pulling away from him.

"What?" He groans.

"I'm sweaty." I whine and he smiles.

"That just makes you even more hot." He says with a smirk and grabs my brace from my hand and tugs at the bag on my back. I let him take it but he sets both down. I raise and eyebrow at him as he kneels down slightly.

"Come on." He says.

"On what? Your back?" I ask and he nods. "Why?"

"God damn it just do it Ashford." He snaps and my eyes widen.

"Getting snappy are we Payne?" I joke as I climb onto his back.

"Pretty much." He says grabbing my stuff off of the ground, and stands up straight as I tighten my legs around his torso.

"Let me carry the bag babe." I say into his ear and he shakes his head.

"No I've got it." He says and I roll my eyes but let him do his thing.

"Hey Liam!"

Liam turns his whole body so we are both facing the same way and see Niall jogging towards us.

"Great game Rain. You're a freaking stud." He says. I feel myself blushing but smile.

"Thanks man." I say and he nods.

"I think we're all going out to get something to eat and maybe do something afterwards. You guys still coming?" He asks and we both nod. "Alright well let's go!" He says and starts to walk in the opposite direction. Liam follows him still with me on his back.

"Where are your keys Rain?" Liam says.

"Side pocket." I answer and lay my chin on the top of his head and watch him dug through my bag to find them.

"Holy mother of God Rain! Is there a dead rat in this damn bag!" Liam yells and I erupt with laughter. He pulls the keys out and quickly zips the bag up again coughing a bit and shaking his hand over his nose. I flick the back of his head and he laughs making me laugh with him.

We make it to my car and he sets me down kissing my hand as he opens the door for me. I roll my eyes up him but smile and get in the car. He shuts my door and runs around to the driver side.

"Ready?" He says.

"As I'll ever be."