Chapter 17

I freeze, terrified for what will happen next when I try to bowl.

They all stop to look at me.

"What's the matter?" Emma asks concern shining in her hazel eyes.

I snap out of it, slightly shaking my head. "Oh, um nothing." I try to convince her. "I was just admiring how cool everything looks here." I give a reassuring smile. Hope she buys it.

This place is pretty cool though, so it's not like I completely lied. Only partly. 

I scan my eyes through the rest of them, seeing if they bought it.

"Okay." She stretches out, in a unsure tone.

They all pretend to shrug it off, and we continue to walk to our lane.

"Are you sure you're fine kitten?" Spencer whispers in my ear, his breath tickling my neck.

I quietly let out a sigh.

"Positive." I reply.

We all decide we will punch goofy names into the computer that tracks our scores.

"Oh oh!" Emma squeals randomly. "Jess you should put your name in as kitten!"

My eyes widen. I look over at Spencer, to see if it's fine. I like it when only he calls me that... He just grins at me.

I shrug. "Sure."

We all punch in hilarious names. Emma is bookworm. Nova is Negative Nova. Jace quickly typed that in, without her consent. Spencer is Mr. Grinch. Parker put that in and received a death glare. Jace is Jace the Jock. He didn't seem to mind. And Parker is Petty Parker. Spencer did that as payback.

  As we all laugh and have fun with that, I can't stop thinking about how embarrassing it will be when I try bowling. I'm obviously going to fail and get it in the gutter every time. I just don't like failing at anything. Yes, I'm one of those people. I fear failure and embarrassment.

"Okay guys let's get bowling now!" Jace cheers.

"Yea!" We all respond enthusiastically. Well, I sort of mumble it. Thankfully they don't seem to notice though.

"You start Spencer." Nova states pointing to the screen above, putting us all in order.

I gulp when I see that I'm exactly next.

  Spencer slides up with the bowling bowl and skillfully throws it down the lane like a true pro. And of course he gets a strike.

  He turns around putting his arms up in pride and adds his signature smirk. Isn't there something Spencer isn't good at, I think in my head.

"It's your turn Jess." Parker points out after Spencer sits back down beside me.

  I gulp again nervously. How will I do this. I'm going to embarrass myself in front of all of my friends the first time we actually all hang out together.

I slowly stand up, glancing at the lane intimidated. I'm ready to make a fool out of myself.

I give one last glance back at them before start walking to the lane.

As I pick out a bowling ball I feel someone's presence. I look up to see Spencer looking down at me.

I give him a glance of confusion.

"You can't bowl, can you?" Spencer whispers gently.

I look back down ashamed. How did he know?

"Hey kitten," He lightly tilts my chin up so I can look at him. "It's okay really."

I simply nod, not knowing how to respond to that.

I walk over to the lane, with the heavy blue bowling ball in my hands.

I let out a puff of air as I prepare to bowl.

  Suddenly I feel arms wrap around me. Holding my waist and guiding my arm. I immediately feel sparks fly through my body, like explosions. It's Spencer.

He whispers something in my ear. "They will buy that I'm trying to be flirty or something. But really I'll be helping you okay?"

I smile up at him in response. "Thank you."

Spencer grins.

  The entire time all I feel sparks flying through my body as if  Spencer's touch is electric to me. It is. It was just like in all those sappy movies where the guy guides the girl in any sport they can't
play.

He helps me and I send the ball quickly down.

It's a strike.

I jump up and hug Spencer.

And again I'm filled with sparks. That electricity, telling our bodies we have a connection. I don't know if Spencer feels it too. I think he does though.

As we break apart I whisper again in Spencer's ear. "Thank you."

He nods with a proud look on his face.

  We walk back to our friends who are still seated. They all have different expressions on their faces. Jace looks murderous, but more directed at Spencer. Emma over here is squealing and fangirling.  Parker looks like a proud papa. And Nova is simply just smirking at us.

Can they all stop staring at us? Especially Jace, with his deadly glaring.

I clear my throat awkwardly.

"Oh look Emma, it's your turn." I point at the screen, trying to get there attention off of Spencer and I.

She just continues to squeal. And they rest of them continue with their same expressions as well. Have they never seen people hug before?

"Stop all fucking staring at us." Spencer growls annoyed.

He glares right back at Jace too. Oh no, this is not going good.

"Hey guys, this is supposed to be fun." I intervene. "So let's have fun."

Everyone snaps out of their expressions, even Spencer and Jace.

"Yea!" Parker cheers.

"Okay it's my turn." Emma states happily. I swear, she is always either perky or caring. And they call me perky.

She walks up to the lane with her bright pink neon bowling ball and throws it.

It knocks over 2 pins. At least it's way better than I would've done, I think in my head.

Emma frowns for a split second then overcomes it. She gives a smile. "Better than I was expecting."

In the end she only gets 7 pins down. Still beat what I would've been able to do, if it wasn't for Spencer.

Jace the Jock is up next, it flashes on the screen.

Jace goes up and flawlessly sends the ball down the bowling lane.

It's a strike. Wow.

I clap as he turns back around.

He grins back at me. I also catch a quick smirk he sends to Spencer. Hmm...

"Your turn Nova." I state after Jace sits back down. It flashes Negative Nova on the screen.

She gets a spare.

After her, Parker goes and obviously gets a strike. Emma, Nova, and I are all quick to learn that the guys are way better than us girls. Also that Nova is slightly better than Emma and I.

I also learn that Emma is like me in the sense that she hasn't been bowling since she was a young kid. But Spencer has been helping for each of my turns so right now I've been getting practically all strikes, except for the two times I tried it by myself.

It also becomes a huge competition between the guys. Well, mostly Spencer and Jace. Parker is not really death glaring at his opponents like Jace and Spencer are to each other.

We all continue to bowl for awhile. After about 7 turns each the points are getting higher for each of us.

Currently the ranking is:
Mr. Grinch- 112
Jace the Jock-104
Petty Parker-101
Kitten-90
Negative Nova-79
Bookworm-65

Jace is fuming that he is getting beat by Spencer. I thought this was supposed to be fun... Couldn't they have stopped their usual rivalry just for tonight?

"It's your turn kitten." Jace says, suddenly not angry. Oddly he just seems cocky. Uh oh. Is it weird that I would rather he be fuming than cocky?

I realize that Jace also just called me kitten. Only Spencer calls me that.

As I get up I turn to see how Spencer reacted to that.

His eyes are narrowed into slits and he glaring at Jace.

He still looks hot, if not even hotter, A little voice in my head screams. Oh my gosh, stop thinking like that!

I walk over to the lane with the heavy light purple ball in my hands.

Spencer comes up behind me.

"I don't need help this time." I protest.

He gives me a look. "Sorry to break it to you, but you definitely do."

I sigh giving in.

I let sparks fly again as he touches me, guiding the ball.

It's another strike.

I grin up at him. And Spencer grins back.

We all continue to bowl, as it darkens in the night.

By almost 10 o'clock we finish each of our last bowls.

In the end Spencer did win. And Jace got second. It literally just stayed the same rankings as it was at our 7th turns, just increasing points to each of our own scores.

We all take off our bowling shoes and put our other shoes back on.

"You know I've been thinking about how you can't play soccer here, kitten." Spencer suddenly blurts out as we walk back to give the shoes back.

I almost completely forgot about one of the most recent devastating things that I've learned. That I can't play soccer here. There is no girls team.

I raise my eyebrow and give a intrigued look. "Really?"

He nods. "And I think I've come to a solution."

"Really?" I question again a squeal.

"Really?" The rest of them all say in unison. They all thought there couldn't be a possible way that I could play soccer here. Well neither did I.

"So what is it?" I urge enthusiastically. I'm so excited! Earlier I was devastated because I most likely couldn't play soccer here at this school, but Spencer has given me hope, that I can.

"Well," Spencer starts. "You could tryout for the boys team."
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  It's been 6 days since Spencer suggested that I tryout for the boys team. It's Wednesday, the day of the tryouts.

  With a lot of negotiating I managed to get our principal, Mr. Richards to let me even tryout. I may or may not have added that I will join lots of school clubs. For my academics, since Mr. Richards  seems to really like have a supposed 'genius' at his school. Spencer also helped convince him, since he is the captain of the team after all. That also helps me a lot, since Coach will be asking Spencer for his input sometimes during the tryouts.

  Supposedly it's never been done before at this school. To have a girl even want to tryout for a boys soccer team. And the students here seem extremely noisy and want to ask me about it every second.

  I just want to play the game. The sport that makes me who I am today. And these people have be so noisy and stuff their faces.

It's the beginning of school, and since we all get here early, we decide to just hang out at our usual table for five minutes.

It's even gotten colder since we first time we sat out here. But I refuse to be a big baby and where at coat. Why you may ask? Because I need to get used to this bitterly cold weather here if I want to play soccer outside here.

There also actually isn't anyone crowding our table trying to ask me questions. That is because Spencer threatened all of them. He said this and I quote this exactly," if they don't get their asses out of my business he would kick their asses'.

"I think you can totally beat those boys." Emma exclaims sternly to me, like a mother scolding her child.

"Correction," Nova intervenes."we KNOW you can beat those boys."

I roll my eyes, staying silent.

"As one of those boys, I have to say you could probably beat us." Parker adds.

Let me fill you in on what's happening right now. So I've been getting a little unsure about this whole. I can't beat boys. Boys that are like double the size of me. Sure I've played on co-Ed teams before, but that's different. In high school soccer boys are ruthless. At least that's what I've heard from other students. They will most likely squash me like a bug.

"I don't know," I begin. "I've heard that the guys that are all trying out are merciless."

"And who exactly did you hear that from?" Spencer suddenly questions.

"I'm not sure who exactly," I reply. "A bunch of other students that were talking to me."

He rolls his eyes.  What? Is it something I said?

"They are just trying to scare you." Spencer exclaims in an unwavering tone. "Trust me, you will kick most of their asses. You are a phenomenal soccer player." 
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   As I walk down the halls of Northwood high, I am bombarded with random students trying to talk to me. As if I'm a celebrity with news castors trying to ask me questions. I absolutely hate it.

"Can you pests leave her alone for one second?" A loud, annoyed voice hollers to the students. Nova.

She pushes through all of them, telling them to get a life.

Thank you.

I sigh and run a finger through my hair. "You're a life saver."

Nova grins. "All these students are noisy infuriating little pests."

I giggle at her reply as we walk together.

I've noticed lately that through all of the gossip and drama of this my friends and Lily are the only ones who manage to lighten my mood. And when those 'pests' bother me, my mood instantly goes dull.

"Well, I gotta get to visual arts." I state, looking at the clock on the wall above the rows of lockers.

She groans. "Ugh, I have math next."

"Have fun." I joke sticking out my tongue as I walk away from her down next hallway.

  I make my way to visual arts and sit beside Emma who is already there, reading one of her many books.

"Hey." I greet as I get my art supplies out of my bag.

She looks up from her book, The Selection I think, and greets me back.

Emma then puts her book away, looking at me with a determined look. Huh?

"Listen Jess," She begins in a serious tone. "I know Spencer helped make sure that you won't be unsure about this and all but I would like to help. From what I have heard and seen, you are one of the best soccer players out there. So you go and you show them what you can do and what you are made of."

  "I don't know how to respond to that." I reply truthfully. I'm astonished at how determined they are for me to not give up. That just shows how amazing they are as my friends.

  As art begins, I begin to think. I think about how I will actually do. I've been playing soccer forever and I'm determined to not stop now. I've also come to the realization that when I was considering not even trying out, it was just the nerves talking.

I look at the clock on the wall.

There is exactly 74 minutes till the tryouts. 74 minutes till it all begins.
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The bell rings signalling lunch. It also signals soccer tryouts.

I breath a big breath in and out.

I quickly collect all my art supplies and head out the classroom.

Emma catches up to me.

"Good luck, I know you will make it." She says enthusiastically. "If anything I think you could maybe even be captain."

I give her a astonished look. I've been giving a lot of those lately.

"Spencer should be afraid." Emma adds.

I laugh out loud. Yeah right, he should be afraid. Afraid for me.

"I'll meet you at the field." Emma rushes out as she turns to walk the other direction to find Nova I presume.

  I forgot to mention that any of the students can come and watch the tryouts. So I'm guessing tons of students will be watching, because of the whole girl trying out for the boys team thing.

  In less than I minute I grab my soccer equipment from my locker and make it to the girls change room.

  One of the upsides of this is I get the whole change room to myself. There is no way I'm changing with the guys.

  I change into my soccer uniform which consists of one of, my favourite jerseys, black sport shorts, shin guards, soccer socks, and my favourite pair of cleats.

I fix my ponytail and get whisked into my thoughts again.

I am determined to do this. I can't imagine my life without soccer yet. As I've said before, it made me the person I am today. It is a large part of me and I can't lose that part. I've learned many skills in soccer, and as I've done that, I've learned many skills in life as well.

  I know I have to fight long and hard for my spot on this team, but guess what? I'm ready. I'm ready to fight for as long as possible. I am tough. I am a girl.

Most of the speculation around the school is about how I'm going to do this and why I'm even trying. They think that because I'm a girl I can't beat some boys. They think that girls are weak and not as strong as boys. Even the girls think that. The girls think 'Why is she even trying?'  I'm not only try because I love the sport and can't live without soccer, but to make a point. My point is that girls can do anything boys can do, and that includes being better at soccer.

  When I was about 13 years old, I faced similar things. That year was the first year I ever played on a mixed gender team. It was a totally different experience. Being on just a girls team before, I was used to complete different players. Girls not as rough, whereas boys were aggressive. That made me tougher.

  Well I played on that co-Ed team I learned many things. I learned that there is a certain stereotype. Boys are better than girls.

  One team I played against  lived by that theory. The boys on other team thought that I wouldn't be able to take the soccer ball away from them, because I was a girl. And they quickly assumed that since I was a girl that I was weak and not as good as them. But I continued to take the ball away from each and everyone of them.

As I drift out of my thoughts, I prepare myself. I will face that stereotype again and again. And I'm ready.

I slowly inhale then exhale.

  I grab my lucky soccer ball, the one I've had since that game when I was 13, and head out to the field.

I notice all the guys coming out of the boys change room as well.

I see Jace and Parker among them. I catch up to them.

"Hey guys." I greet as I jump into pace with them.

"Hi Jess." They say in unison.

"Where is Spencer?" I ask confused.

"Oh, he is already out on the field with Coach Bennett." Parker explains. "They are talking over the drills and stuff to run."

I nod my head. "Oh okay."

We soon arrive at the fresh field.

  I quickly feel the cold attacking my body, but I ignore it. Jeez, I seriously need to get used to the temperatures here. I've got more important things to worry about then freezing though...

I run up to Spencer who is getting the soccer balls out of the ball bag.

I toss my soccer ball at him. "Catch!" I shout trying to scare him.

He instant looks up and quickly catches the ball flawlessly.

"Hey." Spencer greets as he tosses it back at me.

I catch it. "Hey."

"Ready to beat these guys." Spencer jokes.

In stead of replying I toss my ball on the fresh grass and dribble farther onto the field.

As I do so, I hear Parker shout back at Spencer. "Oh yea, She's ready!"

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Hey perfect people!!

Sorry I haven't posted in about a week! I've been busy studying my butt off for a stupid geography test... But I just got it back today and I'm delighted with what I got... 103%!!! I know what you are thinking... That's completely impossible. But I also got the bonus, hehehe! As you can tell, I study A LOT! But let me tell you, it pays off!

  By the way, sorry for the totally irrelevant song there. Well it wasn't totally irrelevant. Here is Jess right now: I'M READY!!

  Anyways hope you liked this chapter! What did you think of it? Let me know in the comments! Please don't be a silent reader!

Bye my lovely bookworms,
                                                   Ashley🌸