TeamWork

One

“PASS!” I hear one of my teams shout at me as I ran up the field. Looking up I saw that a defender was coming at me so I took my chance to pass the ball to Ally, my right forward. She grabbed the ball before the other team could and rushed up the field to the goal. With one quick pass to me, I got ready and shot the ball as hard as I could. As soon as the ball was kicked off my foot, the ending game whistle blow and everything around me seemed in slow motion as everyone watched the ball to see what happens. The score at the moment was a tie of 3-3 and the winning goal was up to me 

I guess I was too much into my thoughts because all of a sudden I was lifted into the air. Having this happen, I was broken out of my thoughts and I could now here that everyone was cheering, making it extremely loud. I’m surprised that this didn’t break me out of my thoughts.

Once everyone calmed down the team put me down and we all ran over to our belongings near the sidelines. Grabbing my bags from the ground I felt a pair of strong arms wrap around me. Straightening out my back, Jackson turned me around and lifted me off the ground in a tight hug. 

“Congratulations, Beth!” he shouted spinning us around, chuckling. I couldn’t help but laugh along with him.

“Thanks, Jacky,” my smile grew even bigger when I called him that because I know just how much he hates that name.

Setting my down, I looked up at him only to see he has a frown on his face, “you know how-“

“You feel about that nickname” I cut him off, smirking as I repeat what I know he was going to say.

“If you knew I was going to say that, then why say the name?”

“Because I think it’s cute!” I smile, poking his nose. Before I could pull my arm back to my side, he grabbed my wrist and pulled me into his chest, crashing our lips together. After only a couple seconds we heard somebody clear their throats from behind Jack. Splitting apart, I looked over his shoulder and saw Chris behind him, having a look of joy and anger. Moving farther apart from Jackson, I walked around him and went over to hug my big brother.

“Hey, Critter” I smile innocently up at him. He cracks a small smile and hugs me tighter.

“Great game, Lizzie,” he says, laying his head on top of mine.

“Thank you,” I break apart from him and walk back over to Jack, where he encircles his arms around my shoulders, bringing me closer to him, my back against his chest.

“Where do y’all wanna go for dinner tonight?” asked Jackson.

“Liz, you choose,” offers Chris.

I had to think for a minute, “Giordano's?” I asked, hope filled my eyes.

Jackson and Chris made eye contact before they nod and I started cheering, pretty loudly may I add. I don’t know why but for some reason I’m craving deep-dish pizza.

Jackson grabbed my belongings and Chris gave me a piggy back ride over to the car. Letting me down by the passenger seat door, he walked over to the other side, while Jack puts my ball and bag in the trunk before jumping in the backseat.

“Are you going to shower before we head out?” Chris asked me.

“No, I plan on smelling like stinky feet while we all go out in public” I roll my head to the side, giving him a sarcastic glare, which he just responded with a chuckle.

“I was just making sure.”

“When are we leaving?” asked Jack.

Looking at the dashboard I saw the clock read it was 4:30, I looked at Chris, waiting for him to answer the question.

“How about around 6? That should give you plenty of time to get read, right, Beth?” I nodded and looked back out the window.

Pulling into the driveway, we all jumped out of the car and I pulled out my house keys. Ignoring the boys, I rushed into the house and upstairs into my room. Grabbing a new outfit for dinner (pair of jean shorts and a Nirvana t-shirt) I walked into my bathroom and took a warm shower, relaxing all the muscles in just used not too long ago.

About 20 minutes later, I finally got out of the shower and dried off. I toweled dried my hair so it was in its natural waves and put on my outfit. Walking out of the steamy bathroom, I went to my room, grabbed my black flip-flops, and walked back downstairs. The boys were sitting on the couch, watching a soccer game, discussing which team they figured was going to win.

The three of us are siblings, no denying that. We’ve lived next door to each other ever since I was 6 months old. Jack and I are 17, while Chris is 19. So Chris has always been a big brother. The two of them play soccer together on the school boys’ varsity team. And I play on the girls’ varsity team. We have been all playing soccer since we could walk, always playing together in our back yards or the soccer fields down the street. The boys have become a little uneasy with each other ever since Jack and I started dating. The first month, Christopher refused to even look at him, let alone talk to him. After that, Chris realized that he missed his best friend and they talked and Chris stopped ignoring him. It’s been over a year now and yet Chris still doesn’t agree with it, he’s become close to Jack again.

“Are you boys ready?” I asked them. Jackson’s eyes moved from the TV to me and he patted his lap. Knowing what he meant, I walked over to him and sat on his lap, leaning into his chest.

As I did that, Chris looked up, “no, off, now! There are three other seats in here and his lap isn’t one of them.”

“Oh, come on, Critter!” I groan, “It’s been over a year now and you can’t just let me just sit here?!”

“No, now off.”

I looked at Jackson and he just shrugged. Climbing off his lap I went over to the recliner chair and sat in that. It was only 5:30, so I grabbed my phone and scrolled through twitter and Instagram for the next half hour.

Once the game ended (only 15 minutes later) the guys got up to get ready. As soon as they were done, we headed out.