Chapter 19

  I don't know how long I've been standing there, frozen for, probably a minute or so, but it took me that long for that to process into my brain.

Jessica Michaels

   Me. I made the boys team. Not only can I still play the sport that made me the person I am today, but I will be know for this for years and years. It's not everyday you here of a girl trying out and making a boys soccer team. Also I know there has never been a girl that has tried out and made any boys sort team at Northwood High ever.

  What I'm also ecstatic about is that I have succeeded. I have shown the students and teachers here what I am made of, and that I can do anything I set my mind to. Also, I'm not only known as the 'Georgia State Genius'. I have proven that anyone can do anything they set there mind to, whether it be something big or small.  I have proven that no matter your age, gender, or race, that you can do anything.

I know this whole thing will be hard, with the other teams and competing against them, and all the attention being a girl on a guys team will bring. Also not to mention some guys might not be too thrilled having a girl on their team. Also some boys who didn't make it might want a rematch, seeing as how a girl made it onto the team but not them. My point is I know it will be a bumpy road, but I'm willing to run down that trail. I'm ready to play on this team. And I won't let down my teammates or Coach Bennett. Or Spencer, Parker, and Jace.

I somehow manage to snap out off all the thoughts running through my mind, and feel someone grinning at me.

I turn to my left to see two goofballs happily grinning at me.

Parker and Jace.

I roll my eyes at them, but grin back.

They both put there hands up, offering high fives.

I instantly high five them.

"Yea Jess!" Parker hollers happily. I think he forgot there were other people here or something, because he shouted pretty loudly.

I see Spencer walking over to us as he glares at Brian who looks a little scared.

"Nicely done Kitten." Spencer congratulates to me. He also gives a real smile, showing off his perfectly white, straight teeth.

I grin up at him. "Thanks, you too."

"Gosh you guys, I'm just so euphoric right now." I gush.

Some of them give me confused looks.

"What the heck does 'euphoric' mean?" Jace questions and uses air quotes with his fingers.

"You guys seriously don't know what it means?" I respond in disbelief.

Spencer cuts in. "Actually I do know what it means."

"Me too." Brian adds quietly.

Spencer squints his eyes. "Of course you do." I hear him mumble.

I smirk. "Okay what does 'euphoric' mean then?" I test them, crossing my arms over my chest.

"Feeling intense excitement or happiness." The two of them say in complete unison.

Jace and Parker clap for them, as they clearly didn't have a clue what the word meant.

"Tsk, tsk." I state.

The four boys turn to me.

"What we got the word right." Spencer points out.

"Actually you didn't," I exclaim, as I grin to myself. "The definition exactly of the word euphoric is 'characterized by or feeling intense excitement or happiness', so therefore neither of you know exactly what it means." I sass them.

  Sensing this is the time to leave, I start to walk away from them. Just so they can take a minute to let that settle in. I don't even get to see their reactions either.

"Damn girl," I hear Parker hout. "What, do you study the dictionary or something?"

Without even looking back I respond. "Nope!"
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After binge watching a couple of friends episodes, I shut my laptop off.

It's now late in the night and Lily and me already had supper. I also already did my homework, right after school like the true nerd I am.

I groan as I literally roll off my bed. I know I'm extremely dramatic.

I know what you're probably wondering 'why is this girl getting up and stopped watching Netflix if she doesn't even want to?'. Well to answer that, I would say that I actually want to get up and be productive. I have a wonderful reason though.

I usually always practice my soccer moves, stretch, run ,and all that jazz everyday for at least an hour.

Today I feel like just practicing my shots on the net outside and maybe going for a short run.

  Since I'm already in comfy, sporty clothes I decide to just head outside after I put on some running shoes.

I put Lily to bed already as well, so I don't have to worry about her.

  This hour that I daily give to myself is not only time for me to practice or whatever, it is also the time that I think to myself about the day that I've had. I know that this sounds stupid but it really helps me, because in this I let out all my thoughts and replay what has happened in that day.

For about twenty minutes I continuously shot at the net and practice more techniques.

As I do this, I replay what has happened in this day.

  A lot has happened today. A lot of good stuff though. Unlike the usual drama with Clarissa and her irritating me. Well, technically she did bother me today, but I told her stick to it. And boy, did it feel good. Not only what I said to her shocked her, but it shocked me. I'm usually not like that, and always just ignore the type of stuff she does, but I just exploded. I like to think of myself as calm and collected, but today I was definitely not. Sure it might've seemed like I was calm on the outside, but on the inside I was like Anger from 'Inside out' on the inside.

But I have to say, I did deal with the whole situation pretty well. And overall, that was the worst part of my day, because no one likes dealing with someone like the backing-stabbing blonde, as known as Clarissa Simmons.

A lot of other good things happened today. The highlight of my day was definitely making the team. It still seems somewhat serial to me, that I actually did it and made the team.

After I left the guys I even got stopped by Mr.Richards and Coach Bennett in the hallway. Both of them congratulated me and said I was the perfect addition to the team. Coach Bennett even add that I better keep all the boys in line.

I also meet Brian today, who will be a great teammate. He may seem geeky in a way, I know, but I hope the team excepts him, just like they excepted me. Especially Spencer, who seems to dislike him, but then again it's Spencer so it's normal. He is also really sweet and kind though, from what I can tell so far.

Oh, that reminds me...most of the guys that made the team did in fact congratulate me! I'm not so sure all of them did congratulate me and I wonder why, but still it's improvement.

After I take my final last shot at the net, I put all the soccer balls away and go to run around the block.

I pull my iPod out of my coat pocket and put my head phones in my ears.

I start running down the sidewalk at a moderate pace. I'm not one of those people who sprint right at the beginning and can't make it that long because they are so out of breath, nor am I one that practically walks but classifies themselves as a 'runner'. I'm just a jogger.

  I make it all of 15 metres when I collide into what feels like a brick wall and I literally fall on top of it.

Suddenly a flashback of a similar moment flashes inside my head. Seriously, not again.

  I don't even dare look down at the person I crashed into, but when I do I know exactly who they  are.

Why am I not surprised? A voice rings in my head.

I grumble to myself and so does the familiar brick wall that I've crashed into once before.

"You know kitten, why is it always you crashing into me?"  His hot breath tickles my face and fight off the shivers.

"Don't flatter yourself Spencer." I reply in an irritated tone.

I awkwardly get off of him.

"Oh kitten," Spencer begins dramatically. "You wound me, literally."

"Haha," I exclaim drily as I brush myself off.

"What are you doing out here?" We say in complete unison and point at each other at the exact same time.

Why do we always do that? It's annoying.

"You go first." We sat in unison once again.

"No you go first." Again, seriously!

"Ugh!" I grumble exasperated. "I was just going for my usual run. What about you?"

"I was just coming home from Parker's house, when suddenly I was attacked by one of my crazy fangirls." Spencer exclaims with what seems like a permanent smirk on his face.

I really hope he was joking here. "Har de har har." I pretend to laugh sarcastically and stuck my tongue out at him letting my inner 5 year old shine inside out.

What's with his sudden behaviour. Spencer was fine all day and not at all cocky and annoying but now he is.

I turn around in the opposite direction and go to run in that direction away from Spencer, but I freeze in my spot as I see something so spectacular.

There is one of the most beautiful sunsets I have ever seen. It was bright, but not too bright and had s comforting, calm look to it. There is a mixture of pink, yellow, orange, and blue to it as if someone mixed all of these colours together perfectly, then threw it all over the sky. Overall, it just made me calm, carefree, and happy.

I grin a wide smile and say to Spencer without even turning around, "It's so alluring and beautiful." I exclaim still in my trance.

I was so mesmerized by the sunset that I didn't even catch Spencer's reply. But I felt like whatever he said was important so I snap out of my trance and face him. "Sorry, what did you say?"

"Oh, um," He looks down awkwardly and stuff his hands inside his pockets. "Nothing, never mind."

I decide not to pester him about it even though whatever it was that he said seemed important, but hey, if Spencer doesn't what to repeat it, it's fine.

"Are the sunsets here always like this?" I ask as I turn back to the sunset. Even in Georgia they aren't this spectacular.

"Yeah I guess so," Spencer replies. "But I have to say this one is pretty magnificent."

I nod my head in agreement.

Silence dawns upon us.

"Anyways, I should go for my run, " I begin. "Hey, would you like to join me?"

He doesn't reply for a moment. "Yea sure. I hope you aren't one of those maniacs who sprint at the beginning." Spencer grins.

"No way." I grin back.
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I wake up surprisingly willingly. Usually I have an inner battle with myself to get up in the morning. I also woke up pretty early so I don't have to rush either.

  I do my usual morning routine then head downstairs. It's a good thing Lily is very responsible and smart so I don't even have to wake her up or help her get ready. But if I did, gosh we would be late for school each and everyday.

Since Lily is in the living room, I can tell for her humming, I go into the living room.

"Good morning little flower." I chirp to her as I sit down beside her on the floor.

  She pauses from playing with her dolls and humming a tune, which I think is from frozen, to look at me.

"Good morning Jess!" Lily replies happily.

Suddenly I notice that she has yet to brush her hair and it a complete mess.

"Oh you goof, you forgot to brush you're hair!" I pretend to be angry with her, but keep a tiny smile on my face.

"Nope!" Lily exclaims. "I want you to do my hair today!"

"Oh, okay." I state. I spot a brush on the floor beside her and grab it.

  It's not unexpected that she is asking me to do her hair or anything, every once and awhile she does. 

After I brush it and everything, I start braiding it into a French braid.

I quickly finish it then get up and stretch.

"Thank you Jess." She says with a little kid lisp. Which is totally adorable by the way.

"No problem," I walk into the kitchen and she follows me. "What would you like for breakfast?" I open the door to the cabinet.

"Ice cream!" She screams.

"Yea...." I trail off. "No way."

"Aww..." Lily pouts.

"Silly Lily." I say. "How about some cereal?"

She thinks for a moment before replying. "Sure."

We quickly eat our breakfast and pack our bags. Then we head out the door and wait for Sam. Lately, Lily and Sam have been walking to school together, even though I protested saying I should come because it may not be safe. But the two of them protested. Also Spencer reassured me saying they would be perfectly fine.

They could take the bus but they would only be on it for practically 2 minutes since it takes about 5 minutes to drive there fully and takes them about 7 minutes to walk to the bus stop. If that makes sense.

I tap my foot to a random beat on the ground of the driveway as Lily and I wait for Sam.

Suddenly I see both Sam and Spencer emerge from their house.

Sam and Lily run to each other and I immediately gush on the inside.

They are adorable.

I instantly shake that thought out of my head because at that moment I remind myself of my mom. Whenever I was within a 5 feet radius of boys, when I was younger, she would always gush. So I decide not to embarrass Lily, like my mom did, because I would always get annoyed. But now that I think about it, I yearn for my mother and her habits.

I quickly blink and make sure that no one noticed me zoning out.

"Hey Spence." I greet to Spencer as he walks up to me.

"Good morning Kitten." He responds. "Isn't it such a beautiful day to get out of bed early and go to school where you are forced to learn crap all day?"

"Sarcasm isn't very flattering." I state. Meanwhile, I'm sarcastic all the time.

"Who said I was trying to flatter you?" Spencer questions with his classic smirk growing.

"You just did." I point out to him and now Spencer isn't the only one smirking.

"Hahaha." He replies sarcastically once again.

  All of a sudden I notice that both Lily and Sam are gone. My heart starts to have a mini panic attack as I look all around for them.

Spencer immediately stops me. "Hey, don't worry, well you were zoning out just a minute ago I saw them wave goodbye. They just left for school."

I let out a huge sigh of relief. I got so scared all of a sudden that something happened to them. "Oh, okay."

  Suddenly I notice a change in Spencer. Just a second ago he was being all cocky but now he has concern flooding his eyes. I guess I looked extremely petrified. Not only do I know that, but instead of Spencer wearing his usual leather jacket he is wearing a Nike sweater and Nike track/soccer pants. Somethings up with him.

"Well, I better get going." I turn my car keys around my finger.

"Same." Spencer says. "Bye kitten, see you in like 2 minutes." He adds.

I give a light giggle. "Yep."

We part ways, I go to my car and he goes to his motorcycle back in his driveway.

I turn my keys in the car and wait for it to start up. Huh, usually my car turns on right away.

  I make a confused look to myself and get out of my car to check the engine. I seriously hope everything is fine.

  I pop the top and look into the engine. I may not be a mechanic or car expert, but everything looks completely normal. There is nothing out of the ordinary.

Hmm....

  I decide to just try to start it up again and hopefully that works. I really don't want to walk to school, because if I do I will be totally late since first period start in less than ten minutes and it takes like 15 minutes to walk from here.

I climb back into my car, but leave the door open just in case it doesn't work.

I wait patiently for it to start up. Then I notice it.

The gas tank is empty.

Oh come on....

I slam my head down on my steering wheel in defeat.

I sluggishly climb back out of my car and throw my backpack over my shoulder.

  The only possible way I could make it to school on time is if I sprint the whole way. And you don't even want to know how stinky I would smell if I did. Let's just say it would be like I sprayed onion perfume all over my body and used onion deodorant.

I grumble to myself when out of the I hear a revving noise.

I jump since it surprised me.

"I'm guessing you need a ride Kitten." The familiar voice of Spencer shouts.

I spin around to see Spencer on his motorcycle at the spot on the street right in between my house and his house.

"Yea, not going to happen." I state as I walk right by him on his bike.

"You would seriously rather walk all that way and be late than be on time and get a awesome ride?" Spencer asks with fake astonishment. "What happened to that goodie good girl?" He gasps.

I roll my eyes and continue walking down the sidewalk. And he continues to drive beside me.

"Hey you do know that if I give you a ride you would get to feel me up if you want to, right?" I can literally hear the smugness in his tone.

I turn to look at Spencer and flash him an annoyed look. "That would totally change my mind..." I reply with a ton of sarcasm.

"See, I knew it!" He says jokingly. "Okay come on, or else both of us will be late."

I immediately shake my head. "No."

"Yes." Spencer contradicts.

"I mean no Spencer, I'm not going on that thing." I respond in a serious tone.

I look over at the motorcycle with a slight terrified expression. And when I do, I think Spencer realizes why I really don't want to, and that's when he gets off his bike.

He walks up to me on the sidewalk. "Hey, it's okay to be scared. But in all seriousness this bike is 100% safe, I promise."

I look into Spencer's eyes with a vulnerable look. "Are you sure?" I quietly ask.

He gives a light chuckle that somewhat reassures me in a strange way. "Do you trust me?"

"Yes." I nod my head.

"Then you'll trust my motorcycle."

I give a slight eye roll but I also give a small smile.

"Let's go." Spencer declares.

He gets on his bike and follow his steps and do the same.

Spencer then turns around to face me. "Here's my helmet."

I give him a confused look for a second then I catch onto what he is talking about.

"You're going to wear it." He exclaims.

"Okay." He passes me his huge helmet and I try to put it on but I struggle miserably. It's not everyday I have to put on a motorcycle helmet.

Sensing my struggle, Spencer lightly takes it from my hands and helps me. He puts it on my head then gently brushes my hair out of the way so he can buckle it up.

It's a good thing I'm wearing this helmet which is covering the faint blush on my cheeks. "Thanks." I puff out.

"You're welcome."

I prepare myself for the ride. I really don't like motorcycles.

"Now kitten, you might want to hold on tight to me." His tone is serious this time, unlike earlier where he was joking about me feeling him up.

I do as I'm told and wrap my arms around Spencer's waist. I also lean my head against his back and I immediately feel safe. I don't know why, but being close to Spencer just calms me down and comforts me. It's strange, I know.

He starts his motorcycle back up and unlike my car when I tried to start it up, it actually moves.

And off we go.

I can tell that Spencer is going a lot slower than he usually does, just for my sake.

My heart beats faster in my chest as I feel the wind against me even though Spencer is somewhat shielding me from it.

But as we continue down the street my heart picks up in faster pace and it's not because I'm terrified. It's the exact opposite.

I feel alive.

I feel the unexpected thrill of it and I love it.

"Go faster!" I shout excitedly to Spencer through the helmet.

I can sense his smile as he says, "Look who's not scared anymore."

I grin.

  Spencer speeds up the motorcycle. And as the motorcycle speeds up so does my adrenaline.

  I've always feared motorcycles thinking they were extremely dangerous and life risking. Also that people who rode them were crazy and stupid because they will get themselves killed. But now, I see why they do it. For the unexpected joy, thrill, and adrenaline rush that they get when they ride motorcycles.

  In what feels like only seconds, we arrive at school.

"Well, we are here." Spencer exclaims as I unwrap my arms from his waist.

"That was awesome." I puff out.

He helps me take off the helmet. "See, I told you it would be fine."

"Oh no, that wasn't just fine it was fantastic!" I say truthfully.

Spencer grins. "Yea, it is."

"Wow, I wish I could do that again." I reply.

"Well, actually you will have to again because you came with here with me and you don't really have your car here." He points out wisely.

"Oh yeah." I agree. "We gotta go to class!" I suddenly realize.

"Yay." Spencer sarcastically says.

"Come on." I tell him as I readjust my backpack over my shoulder.

I turn away from Spencer to see that we actually aren't running late. We are just on time. And I can tell by the way that everyone is still not in class, but instead staring at Spencer and I. Of course. I mean it's not like me and Spencer hang out or anything whatsoever. That was sarcasm by the way.

I search for our group among the crowd and see them at our usual table outside that we eat at during lunch and meet up at before school.

Spencer and walk over to them together.

"Good morning everyone." I happily chirp to all of them.

But instead of reply they all do something else.

Parker starts laughing, Jace gives the squinting hateful eyes, Nova weirdly roll her eyes and gives us a 'of course' look, and Emma just starts jumping up and in her seat.

Then Spencer and I share a look of our own. It says 'wow they are crazy'.

"Well, good morning to you too." I state sarcastically and give them an annoyed look. "What's up with you guys and why are you all deranged and weird?"

They don't even reply, the nerve of them.

"Seriously, just tell us what the fuck is going on." Spencer exclaims in an annoyed tone.

"You guys are matching!" Emma manages out in between her fangirl and squeaks of excitement.

Wait what?

Spencer and I turn to each other and give each other another look, but this one says 'she is bonkers'.

I turn back to look at Emma and give her a demented look.

She huffs. "Honestly you two, you guys are actually matching just look." She motions to us.

I roll my eyes but look at what Spencer.

He is just wearing a Nike sweater, Nike track/soccer pants, and Nike runners nothing special.

Wait a second....

I'm wearing that exact same type of outfit. The only difference is that my sweater is light blue and his is is neon green. And my runners are purple and his are dark blue. Oh my.

We are practically twinning. That is so weird on so many levels.

Well, actually it's not that weird. We are both extremely sporty and like Nike.

We look at each other with wide eyes.

"It's so adorable!" Emma squeals from beside us. "You guys are relationship goals!"

Wait what???

Relationship?

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Hehehe somewhat cliffhanger there! Relationship huh? *wiggles eyebrows

Anyways hey perfect people! I know in the last chapters authors note I talked about how I've been posting more frequently and everything and then I sort of just posted this chapter like what at least two weeks later! I know, I'm so incredibly sorry! Please don't shot! *hands up in surrender!

  I've just been so busy lately..... I had 4 huge tests in one week, a soccer tournament and a bunch of assignments due! Ugh! I also have some exciting news. I'm going to Florida for a week the first week of April! Ah! I live in Canada btw so i can't go to Florida all that often lol.

Sorry about my ranting and babbling, but anyways since I'm on my march break right I hope to write even more than I usually do and that means more updates, yay!

  Lastly, what did you think of this chapter? Like all the Spencer and Jess scenes? The sister scenes? What did you think about the little motorcycle ride, huh? And lastly, I've been wondering what Spencer and Jess's ship name should be, any suggestions?Let me know in the comments! Please don't be a silent reader!

Bye for now my lovely bookworms,
Ashley🌸