Page 171 of Withered

I don’t want to sound haughty, but Professor Caleb is getting on my nerves now that Olivia has let me go. Maybe that’s why Tyler doesn’t like him, and Jake told me not to approach him.

Jake gets home late because of his practice. We talk until I fall asleep, and I wake up the next day with his jersey on my table. Getting dressed, I pick Kristy up from her place and drive to the high school.

The school is vibrant and bustling with energy. The arena is covered with a maximum of red and white flags, with a few white and black strips of Westlake Chaparral that can be seen too. Today, our school will compete against Westlake High School.

Jake told me yesterday, and I quote, “Westlake is fast and strong, but we are faster and stronger.”

Ava and Emily, as they do at every game, reserve our seats. The teams take the field following our principal’s lengthy and dreary opening ceremony speech. Tyler and Jake arrive first, then the team. Instead of Jake, my gaze is drawn to Olivia, who is third in line.Shouldn’t a cheerleader stand alongside the soccer captain?

Kristy must have noticed the same too, as she nudges me, “What’s going on?”

I look at her and shrug.

The first half of the match begins. As Jake said, our team is fast. Jake snatches the ball from the opposing team and passes it to Tyler, who, in a matter of seconds, scores a goal. Our team’s fans rise from their seats, shrieking in delight.

The score is Westwood 1, Westlake 0.

The other team isn’t handling the score well and has gone into full defensive mode. One player sticks out as he tackles our players and sends one of them out with a broken arm.

Ava responds quickly, “That’s the goon.”

Just five minutes before the end of the first half, the opposing team scores. Even our goalkeeper wasn’t fast enough to stop it.

The score is Westwood 1, Westlake 1.

The second half begins after a fifteen-minute break. I notice Jake whispering something to Tyler, who nods. The game resumes, and our boys are unable to get hold of the ball. My gaze draws to Jake, who makes strange hand gestures only to Tyler as if they were conversing in their language. Jake manages to snatch the ball again and quickly passes it to Tyler, who rushes towards the nets. He gets blocked at the last second by some opposing players, yet he manages to fly the ball directly into the nets.

The score is Westwood 2, Westlake 1.

The arena once again bursts into a bubble of joy. Only ten minutes until the end of the second period. Everyone in the arena is deafeningly silent, their gaze fixed on the ball moving from one person to the next. At this moment, our team is simply passing the ball around as if they are attempting to waste time. When the so-called "goon" grabs the ball and sprints for the net, the plan falls apart. My gaze is drawn to the scoreboard, which shows there are only two minutes left. The goon passes the ball to one of their players, who throws it in the air.

Everyone gets up from their seats, their gaze fixed on the ball, and our goalkeeper leaps to his side and catches the ball. The hoot signals the end of the second period and our win.

Our team wins, securing their place in the semi-finals. It’s playoff time.

We wait for Jake and Tyler in the parking lot. Tyler pulls Kristy into his arms and twirls her around, while Jake quickly kisses me.

“It’s party time,” Tyler announces, and we break apart.

I’m not in the mood for a party. I’d rather go home and sleep the night off.

“I’m heading home,” Jake says as he takes my hand in his.

I’m more than grateful for him doing this. I warmly smile and squeeze his hand.

Kristy pouts at me, and Tyler speaks. “Fine. But I need a party on your big day.”

Confused, I ask him, “What big day?”Do we have another match this week?

Before Jake could answer, Tyler cuts in, “Oct. 25, his birthday.”

What? It’s only ten days away.

“We’ll see.” With that, Jake takes me to my car, and I get into the passenger seat.

Once he starts the car, I ask him, “Why did you not tell me it’s your birthday this month?”

“We never talked about it.” Jake shrugs as he turns onto the road. Yeah, we never really asked each other.

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