Page 12 of Teasing the Winger

“I know we don’t normally have our mascot with us on away games,” Coach starts. “But since our newest Kerrington is still in training, Evangeline has requested he join us for our game tomorrow. I figured having the presence of our friendly and energetic Koala could only bring us good luck, so I agreed. I expect you all to treat Sasha with respect and give him a warm welcome. He might not be a member of this soccer team, but he is a part of the GSU athletics family and deserves to be treated like you would treat anyone else on this team. Do I make myself clear?”

“Yes, Sir,” we all shout at the same time.

“Excellent, now let’s get to the pitch,” he says before heading out of the locker room.

To say I’m unprepared to find out that Sasha will be traveling with us tomorrow is an understatement. I knew I would be seeing a lot more of him now that he’s our newest mascot, but I thought away games were a safe space to avoid these new feelings that Sasha has brought up. Apparently, I was wrong.

I don’t think it would have bothered me if this news had been sprung on me a week ago, I’ve always been good at ignoring him when he gets too annoying. But after this weekend and finding out that I might be attracted to him, the last thing I want is to spend a two-hour bus ride with him sitting right beside me. I spent far too much of my time thinking about him over the weekend, and I was hoping to get some time away from him in the place where I’m always able to push away my thoughts and clear my mind.

Fingers crossed he finds someone else to sit with.

Sleep was filled with more bizarre dreams of being chased by a Koala, leaving me more confused and wanting to get my hands on that book BooBoo told me about.

As I eat my breakfast and get my gear ready for the trip I’m moving at a snail’s pace and my brain is a foggy mess. I hate feeling like this.

My feet are dragging as I make my way to the bus, and I just pray I can clear out the cobwebs before we have to play. I don’t want to be a liability to our team.

As usual, I’m one of the first guys to arrive at the bus, so I throw my gear bag underneath and lean against the side until more of my teammates arrive.

To my utter shock, Sasha shows up only moments after me. I’ve never known him to be on time for anything.

“Why do you look like a dear caught in headlights?” he asks me as he adjusts his backpack on his shoulders.

“I think this is the first time I’ve ever witnessed you not late for an event,” I supply, making Sasha laugh loudly.

“Well, considering I get paid for this, I didn’t want to make a bad impression,” he tells me while brushing a lock of his long blonde hair out of his face.

“Good idea. Although you are charming enough that even if you were late, I’m sure you could talk your way out of getting into any trouble.”

“You think I’m charming?” he inquires with a flirtatious smile.

I roll my eyes like I always do, but I contemplate telling him the truth that not only do I find him charming, but that I’m attracted to him too.

Before I’m able to come up with a plan, Evangeline arrives, and Sasha excuses himself to talk to her, leaving me alone and a bit relieved. I don’t think I’m ready to tell him about my feelings toward him just yet. If I’m being honest with myself, I don’t even know what my feelings are for Sasha. I should probably get that figured out before I start confessing things.

Thankfully it doesn’t take long for BooBoo to arrive, and he heads directly over to me.

“Did you get the book?” I question, anxious to find out the answers I hope it holds.

“I did, and you totally owe me one,” he grumbles while riffling through his backpack. “I had to spend three hours talking to my mom about witchy stuff. I’m pretty sure my brain is never going to be the same after that conversation.” He stops talking and hands me a clear-ish stone.

I tilt my head to the side, pursing my lips. “Umm, thanks?” I blink at my friend a couple of times, wondering why he just gave me a rock.

BooBoo sighs before responding. “Mom made me promise I would give that to you. It’s supposed to help with clarity. It’s a clear quartz, you’re supposed to keep it on you at all times, even sleep with it under your pillow.”

“Oookaayy…” I draw out.

“Did you want me to tell her no?” he asks with a raised brow.

I shake my head. “No, but why would she think I need clarity?”

“In order to borrow the book, I had to tell her about your dream,” he explains. “I hope that isn’t like an invasion of your privacy or something,” he adds on quickly.

I wave him off. I’ve only briefly met his mom at a couple of games, but she seemed like a nice lady, and I’m not very concerned about her knowing about my dreams. “It’s all good. Did she have any insight into what it could mean?”

BooBoo pulls the book out, opening it to a page that is bookmarked with a Kleenex. “According to the book and Mom, dreams about being chased tend to mean you are afraid of or are trying to avoid something. Hence, the quartz. Mom says once your mind is clear, you’ll know exactly what the dream means.”

I scrap my scalp and sigh. “Does the Koala mean anything?”

---