Page 16 of Teasing the Winger

Internally, I give my head a shake, returning my focus to the game that is currently tied four-four. Every time our team scores, the other team does the exact same, keeping us at a tie and on our toes. I’m dying to find out who’s going to win.

Rio has been killing it the entire game. I’ve been sneaking glances at him any chance I get, which turns out to be a lot. He has the ball now and is racing toward the net. I wish I could run as fast as these guys, or maybe I don’t… running isn’t very fun. But being fast is. Rio’s gaze is glued to the net as he gets closer and pulls back one of his powerful legs then snaps it forward, sending the ball flying directly into the net.

The half of the crowd that is cheering for our team loses their shit, and Rebecca and Hailey shake their pompoms as our guys shout and hug each other. When Rebecca elbows me, I realize I’m standing there staring instead of jumping up and down like I’m supposed to be doing. With a quick inhale, I throw my hands up and turn my head from side to side to make sure I have enough space to do a backflip.

“Stand clear,” I say to the girls since there is no way the crowd could hear me.

Hailey and Rebecca step to the side, and I do a cartwheel followed by a perfect back flip, which has our fans shouting even louder—which is surprising since they were already pretty loud.

I jump up and down, and the girls flank my sides again as we hype the crowd up some more before the game gets back in motion.

“How are you doing?” Evangeline asks once the ball is moving again, and I’m able to sit for a moment on the bench.

“Hot,” I reply, then take a sip of the water in my hydration pack on my back, which has a tube sticking out by my neck.

She smiles at me and nods. “It takes getting used to I hear.”

“At least I won’t be packing any water weight,” I joke, and she giggles.

“You’ll be in the best shape of your life by the end of the school year.”

I nod, then stand and tilt my head toward Hailey and Rebecca, who join me. I start shouting out a simple cheer for the crowd to join in on to help encourage our guys to get another goal.

I follow the movements of the girls, stepping from side to side and clapping my hands to the beat of the cheer.

After a few minutes we take another break and watch the game that is still just as intense as it has been all evening.

Our team has possession of the ball, and Rio passes to Whiley with perfect precision. Whiley kicks the ball—I mean dribbles it down the pitch—before passing to BooBoo, who gives the ball back to Rio. The plays go so quickly that it’s almost hard to follow, but thankfully, this time, our team is able to keep ahold of the ball, and for the third time tonight, Rio scores for our team.

This time, I don’t freeze, and I immediately break out into a couple of cartwheels to celebrate the goal. We are finally two points ahead of the opponents, and the game is almost over. A giddy energy races through my veins, and I can almost taste the victory. I know it’s best not to get too excited because anything can happen, but I’m holding onto the positive thinking that we are going to win.

“Give me a G,” Hailey shouts during a brief pause in the game, then points her pompom to the crowd, who repeat the letter back to her.

“Give me a S,” Rebecca calls out next, and the fans respond even louder this time.

“Give me a U,” Hailey takes the lead again, this time holding her pompom to her ear as she waits for the thunderous reply.

“What’s that spell?” the girls yell at the same time.

“GSU,” the crowd shouts back.

“What’s that spell?”

“GSU.”

“What’s that spell?”

“GSU!” The crowd is so loud at this point I almost fall over from their contagious energy.

“Let’s go GSU!” the girls call out a couple of times, and the crowd joins in, cheering our boys on with so much enthusiasm it’s mind boggling.

The guys who are sitting on the sideline are grinning from ear to ear from the support the crowd is showing them, and the players on the field look even more determined than they were.

There is no doubt in my mind that we are going to win the game tonight.

When the clock hits ten seconds to go, the crowd starts to count down—something I found out last game is a tradition in college soccer—and when the buzzer rings out, our side of the stands loses its mind with cheers, hollers, and cries of pure joy.

The players who were on the sideline race on to the pitch to celebrate with the rest of the team and I’m left in aww of how amazing it feels to be experiencing this moment with the team right now.

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