Plot Twist

Plot Twist - 7

7: Lick It Like You Mean It

"Thanks for the ice-cream, tea-bag."

Ty rolled his eyes at my cheerful and teasing tone as he collected his own ice cream. He observed mine, which was stacked to the roof with a wonderful array of flavours. Well, not quite to the roof. That would be cool if it was, though. "I gave you the win. I honestly still think that my bicycle kick into the goal was better."

I cackled. "Yeah, but did you see Caleb's face."

Caleb, who was sitting at the large circle table we were approaching outside the shop, scowled as he overheard our conversation. "Never pull that shit on me again."

"Language," I muttered, but couldn't help my wicked grin.

We'd reconvened after school in our normal clothes and headed down to the ice cream shop. I'd had to wash off my knees, considering they had been smothered in dirt after PE.

I'd decided, after Ty had done - admittedly - a cool bicycle kick and scored a goal, that I had to go hard out. There was no way I was buying him ice cream. My family was rich, but dad didn't give us heaps of personal money. I was saving and had been for years. I didn't want to have to spend any of that money. Worse, it would give him satisfaction. No way was that happening.

The wet ground had at first annoyed me, but I found that it could be used to my advantage. Caleb, who was on the opposing team to me, had been the victim in my trick shot. I was dribbling the ball down the field when he had run at me, obviously intending to stop me. I pretended to dodge and then attempted my power move.

Caleb was tall. He had long legs. Unfortunately for him, that meant that, with the speed I was travelling at, all it took was a small feint for me to change direction and slide through his legs on my knees.

I had loved being smaller than people at that moment.

The look on Caleb's face, however, was the best part. He was so shocked I thought he might combust on the spot. I had hardly been able to stand and continue dribbling for laughter. Ty didn't have any reservations and had fallen over laughing, getting his clothing muddy as proof of my talent. Because of that, Ty had admitted that mine had been funny enough that he was willing to buy me ice cream. His move had been pretty impressive as well, so I went easy on him and bought the second most expensive ice cream on offer.

I know, I was a saint.

Laura grinned at me as I sat down beside her. "I wish I had seen that. It sounded like you guys had way more fun than we did." She scowled at the memory. "We played baseball."

"Not your forte?" I questioned.

Riley, who was sitting on the other side of Laura, froze and shook his head slowly at me, eyes slightly crazed. I guessed he was warning me not to even approach the subject.

However, it was a bit late for that.

He really had to start warning me before I said something stupid.

Laura's eyes darkened. "If I have to hit a ball or object with a racket or bat, it's never good."

Never, Riley mouthed behind her, still looking traumatised.

I coughed into my hand to avoid my laugh, looking across the table to give Sam an incredulous look as he laughed at something Blake said to him but watched the whole group. "But when you told me you played soccer, I didn't know you meant you were practically a professional!"

Sam, being the tough guy he was, tried to pretend like his ears didn't turn red.

Sam had been... phenomenal. While Ty and I had been mucking around, he had too, but he was still crazy good. I hadn't been able to see Ty's true skill, considering the little competition we had which was putting us off trying our best, but I doubted he was better than Sam. Heck, I doubted any guy in school was better than Sam. If so, then I highly underestimated the level of sport at Burknash College. Either way, he was a brilliant player.