Chapter 26 - Tomlinson

Another game and I’m so pumped up. I’m a bit nervous, though, because I’ve seen the hatred in Connor’s eyes when he looks at me. It’s a good thing we’re not playing at the same time because I think he would tackle me during the match, not caring what that would do to the team. He’s so immature, really. There’s nothing wrong with just playing halftime, he’s making such a fuss. Like a kid blowing a tantrum.

But I’m excited nonetheless, even if Connor is being a dick. Again. It’s a new game and I’m playing as forward again, even if it’s for half of the match. I’m so happy that Coach really considers me for this position. I appreciate the other positions, but forward is always what I’ve liked best. In the position I feel more alive.

But all that it’s not the best part of this game. The icing of the cake is, definitely, Robin. When she said she had a surprise I wasn’t exactly sure of what to expect. I know it won’t be something extravagant because she’s Robin. I also know it’s something related to the game. I don’t know what it can be but I’m excited because she wants to make this special for me. I don’t remember ever seeing her doing something different for Connor or anyone else.

Things are going so great. I never wanted to imagine what it would be to be with Robin, mainly because I didn’t want to get my hopes up, but sometimes I couldn’t help it. Sometimes it was in my dreams. And let me tell you, fantasy can’t compare to reality. The way it actually feels to hug her, to hold her hand, to kiss her good night and to know she’ll be watching me today.

We are now just waiting to go to the field and I feel like I’ve drunk ten energy drinks. I’m not even playing the first half but I am so ready and when Coach finally tells us to head to the field, I jump and feel like running. However, I stop outside because I hear my name being called. I turn around but with all my teammates moving I can’t see who’s calling me. I stay there, watching until everyone has disappeared and I finally see her.

My smile widens at the sigh and I feel my heart racing. I don’t even move, I just watch her there, leaning on the wall with a cheeky smile on her lips as she stares at me. Robin stands straight and still locking eyes with me, she turns on her spot, allowing me to appreciate her fully. I bit my lower lip but I still don’t move.

“So,” she speaks, her hands at her back and that cheeky smile still on her lips. “Do you like how I look?”

“Like?” I breathe out taking a first step towards her. “I love it.”

She’s wearing my t-shirt— well, the t-shirt of our team but it has my number on it and it looks almost like a dress on her and I can’t even describe what that sight is doing to me.

“Surprise,” she whispers and I just lose it. I rush towards her and grab her in my arms as I kiss her deeply.

“You look amazing,” I tell her when we break the kiss.

“I came to wish you good luck,” she replies playing with my hair. For some reason, she loves doing that, I don’t know why.

I don’t say thanks, I just kiss her again and this time when we pull back both know I have to go to the field and she needs to go back to the bleachers so we say goodbye.

When I join my teammates and I see Connor glaring daggers at me I want to do something very childish, like rubbing in his face that Robin is wearing my t-shirt, cheering for me. She never did that for him. But I don’t do that because I know it’s immature and I won’t get to his level. I’m better than that idiot. So instead I just ignore him.

Soon the game starts with Connor on the field and me on the bench, waiting for my turn. The first half goes by quickly, no team scores and I can feel the frustration radiating from the Coach. Our team is playing well, not at their best, but they are doing fine. Connor is on fire, but it doesn’t work if he doesn’t play with the rest. It’s not only his game to play. It’s almost as if he doesn’t acknowledge that Tom is also playing. After a while Tom even stays behind, tired of running after Connor when he’s clearly avoiding everyone else. Connor tries to score many times but the keeper from the other team is really fast.

From the bench I study our enemy, trying to see their strong points and weakness. This is something I can’t do when I’m playing because I have to focus on the game. On this occasion I can carefully study the other team knowing I’ll go there for the second half, that helps me to know exactly how to attack.

I wonder if Coach Meyer knew I was going to do this and that’s why he decided I should play the second half. That man sometimes is too clever for me to follow him.

First half is over and when my teammates come back to our side I can see their frustration, especially Tom’s so I stand up and grab his shoulder.

“You okay?” I ask and he takes a quick glance at Connor. That’s all I need to know he’s the problem.

“Just tired of that idiot,” is Tom’s answer and I nod in agreement.

Connor is fuming, almost literally. You can see he’s furious because he knows he won’t go back to the field today. Without a word, he grabs his sweatpants and team jacket and without a word, he leaves. Worse part? No one minds. He used to have the respect from the team, some other players really admired him but I’m not sure if it’s because he’s acting worse lately or because they got bored but Connor even lost those followers. I personally think everyone got tired of his bullshit.

“Okay, boys!” Coach shouts calling everyone’s attention. “This second half needs to be different. We’re gonna beat the crap out of these babies so do your best. Tomlinson,” he speaks directly at me. “I hope you watched the first half carefully and know what you have to do.”

I knew that was his plan.

“Yes, Coach. I know exactly what to do. The keeper is really fast and recovers faster than any other keeper we’ve seen, however he’s a bit slower at his left. We need to attack that side,” I reply and he nods with a proud smile. I even hear some other teammates gasp, surprised that I paid that much attention. “Tom, you know what we have to do,” I tell to the other forward and he nods, his smile wider and excited all over again.

“Win this shit!” Coach shouts and we all shout in agreement.

After that we’re on the field again and before the whistle blows I take a look to the bleachers to see Robin jumping, cheering for me. I bet she also noticed the weakness of the keeper. She’s so clever, of course she noticed it.

When she realises I’m watching her she turns around for me to see my number seventeen on her back. It’s hard to describe the feeling in my chest at that sight but it makes me want to win this even more than before.

The whistle blows and I’m with my head in the game again, doing my best. With Tom we look for our position and we let it to the midfielders to make their way to the other team’s area. It’s not easy, the other team also made some changes in the formation and these players are faster than us. Lucky for us, our defence is strong and they don’t even allow them to get past the zone. And if that wasn’t enough, our keeper is also great. Spencer is our captain and the best keeper we’ve ever had.

The second half is hard, both teams are doing their best to score, knowing that this is important if we want to keep moving forward to the final.

Brown manages to steal it from a player from the other team and passes to Jones who run past the other players, fooling them until he’s cornered, only then he passes it to Tom who doesn’t miss his chance and shoots at the keeper’s right. As expected, he blocks the shot but Tom’s speciality is the strength of his kick, so even if the keeper wanted he couldn’t grab the ball, he only blocked it with his fists, allowing a rebound.

Faster than I’ve ever run before I got for that ball and kick it with all I have, twisting my whole body to make it go faster than the keeper and I aim right at the keeper’s left corner. But the he is still too fast and manages to brush the ball with his fingers, a soft touch, only enough to make the ball hit the corner of the goal instead of the net. But Tom is there, running faster than the defence and before the keeper can stand up again, he hits the ball with his forehead, making sure this time it ends up buried in the net.

“Yes!” I shout, celebrating our move. I knew the keeper would take longer to recover if he was lying on his left, allowing Tom to score. And he did it!

I run to my teammate and hug him in victory, and soon our other mates join us, congratulating our forward, cheering for the goal he scored that puts us at the upper hand.

The celebration must cease and we’re playing again, but we only have five minutes left so we just do our best to keep the score as it is.

When the whistle blows indicating the end of the match, even after the two extra minutes, we all shout and cheer for a new victory and all the attention is on Tom. He was amazing today! I honestly don’t mind that I didn’t score during this match, I only care that we won even when it seemed so difficult at some point, even when the keeper was faster than us. I’m sure that if Connor had played with the team instead of on his own we would’ve scored before. He’s faster than Tom and I, he could’ve defeated the keeper but not on his own.

I forget about that and just focus on celebrating with my mates, but then I look up to the bleachers and just see Jamie and Harry giving me thumbs up. Robin is no where to be seen so my eyes look for her frantically and find her next to the field, waiting. Of course, I run towards her as fast as I can and she smiles even wider when she sees me. When I’m about to get to her she runs towards me and hugs me tightly.

“That was a great game! I swear you and Tom are unstoppable,” she tells me when I put her on her feet. “Congratulations on another victory! You’re all on fire,” she laughs and I kiss her forehead.

“It was harder this time, but we managed,” I tell her and I love that I can actually talk about football with her. She’s not just my girlfriend watching the game because she wants to support me. She is here because she loves football, she really watches the game.

“That keeper was so fast. For a moment I thought it was going to be impossible,” she confesses. “But you figured out that his left side was his weakness, that’s why you aimed there.”

I smile, happy that she noticed the same thing that I did. She doesn’t only watch the game, she also studies it.

“But we managed, Tom was fast and he did it,” I say and she nods happily.

“One of the things I like the most about you,” —she says playing with my hair one more time— “is that you actually play with your team. That makes you a better player in a different level, but more important, I believe.”

I smile happily at her words that mean so much to me before I lean in and kiss her, delighted because of this new victory and because I have Robin to celebrate with. This is so perfect, I really hope it doesn’t end. I wish we stay like this forever, but not all wishes come true, right?

-:-:-

Don't worry that much about the drama. Out of all my stories this will be the nicer (:

Dedication to @ladsfancier you're right, I wouldn't make a story end up badly. I write this for Havi, there's a happy ending for her and everyone who's reading it. There's just gonna be a rocky road before.

Bel, xx

NU: Thursday