Chapter 16 : Penalties

Practice has been crazy today. Coach wants us to double our usual due to the match against Thornfalls coming up. My old school is undoubtedly one of the best team I know and it's not a biased opinion, Thomas has always been a great leader - the team always followed him through and through. I remember those times after school I would watch him play and he would beg coach to let me play with him, sometimes he would drag me onto he field. His teammates didn't really mind, they respected Thomas's decisions much like Xavier now that I think about it.

Speaking of Silver . . .

He wasn't the same on the field today, he didn't mock or insult me, he played like the rest if the team, without calling orders or helping coach. He didn't even try to hurt me, just completely ignored me and actually passed the ball to me on the field. Weird.

"Hey Dan, what's up ?" Brady greets me as we ran around the track doing laps. The boy only arrived now, I wonder where he was.

"Sup, Brady, been busy with all the exams, where were you ?" I reply tipping my head in recognition.

"Long story, maybe some other time, I haven't seen you at school in a while," He says looking around.

I shrug, well kind of since I was still running, "I prefer to keep away from drama and all that jazz, did you look in the library for me by any chance?"

"Nah, books aren't my thing," he says with a small chuckle. That's why my excuse about being in the library during lunch is perfect. No one ever suspects the bookworms.

We finished the lap and went to sit on the stands waiting for the others. Gulping water and breathing heavily. We don't get very long breaks because coach wants us to build on endurance. So two minute breaks every forty five minutes he settled on which is so damn hard.

"I don't think you'll have to worry about any drama for now, all eyes are on Xray," Brady says between heavy breaths, pointing with his thumb to where Xavier is standing.

The cheer squad are blocking his path and Brady says they filled his duffel bag with pompoms. Again I say if Stephanie needs help getting back at Xavier I can help. Their ideas are stupid and childish. Why don't they fill his football boots with slime or change his hair dye to orange, I don't know. I see Xavier eventually manage to move the girls with the help of his three friends. Mark probably spoke to them, he's sweet and brilliant.

"Why exactly did they break up anyway?" I ask not knowing if what Silver said about his ex is true. Stephanie did seem to really like him, but on the other hand I've seen her flirt with many boys not to say Xavier is any better.

"Apparently, one of Stephanie's minions caught Xray with another girl at a cafe during the weekend, so queen bee decided to cheat on him as well by kissing another guy," Brady explains motioning with one hand.

I roll my eyes. They're so petty, but Xavier was seen at the café with another girl . . . That could possibly be me. Oh flippen hell. I'm not some side dish like heck no this is ridiculous and messed up.

"Does anyone know who the girl is?" I probe scared for the answer.

"Nope but rumour has it the girl is a brunette," Brady shakes his head. I really hope Stephanie doesn't recognise me I already have so much unneeded drama in my life already as it is.

"Did Xray deny the rumours?"

"Yes actually but Stephenie doesn't belive him and wants to know who the girl is so she can punish her"

I scoff Stephanie is terrible at getting back at someone, "So she knows the identity of the brunette"

"Nah, Xray refuses to get the girl involved"

My heart does a leap, what the heck? Silver honestly didn't give my name, I feel a little bad for being so rude to him as my female ego. Maybe as Daniella Swift I can be civil towards him, but my opinion as 'the Swift kid' remains the same. He is horrid to me as my alter ego anyways. I just hope Stephanie doesn't put two and two together and figure out I'm the girl Xavier talks to. It's pretty obvious but then again, they couldn't figure out that Daniella Swift is Daniel Swift.

After the short break, which I regret wasting away talking to Brady about gossip, how pathetic of me, we all went on the pitch for a forty six minute game. We play six aside with coach alternating as goalkeeper with Finn every 23rd minute. Coach Ceaser chose Xavier and I as captains - which is awesome I'm one of the captains- inner girl of me squeals.

"Alright men pick your teammates, Swift you go first," Coach orders gruffly, his hands in his hips

"Uh . . . Diego," I call my friend out fist pumping him. This Spaniard is a defending ace.

"JK," Silver obviously picks his no. 1 bestie. Not to say Jackson isn't a good attack midfielder. He certainly is.

We carry on picking, my team consists of Diego, Brady, Archer, Luke and for the first half- Finn, because coach is a much better keeper and if the other team is beating us we have 23 minutes to comeback Man United style. Xavier has the three badboys on his team as well as Ryker and coach, he blows the whistle and we start playing, the demon squad all cheering.

Archer slide tackles Mark and gets the ball, he passes to Diego as I run forward trying to avoid JK from getting the ball before me. Diego was about to pass when Xavier comes out of nowhere and starts running the opposite way. He dribbles flawlessly passed Brady and Luke no one stop a chance against his speed and skill I'll admit. Brady tries one more time to get the ball, before Silver can shoot I'm too far and Jackson is in the way. Brady manages to get the ball but it's a dirty move. Xavier falls at once with a sickening thud.

Coach yells for us to stop before realising he has a whistle.

The boy tries sitting up, his face shows pain, I crease my eyebrows in worry and watch as the others help him before running over myself.

"Alright, Xray try to sit up, I need two of your'll to help him up, someone quickly go get an ice pack, check for the nurse as well," Coach commands throwing around instructions before frowning at Brady, "I need to have a word with you"

The boy's all head in different directions, I go the nurse office. Why does Xavier need to get injured just before a big game and what was Brady thinking? Nurse Reece was busy in the staff lounge when I went looking for her and the two of us went back to the office hurriedly. Truth be told, I hope Silver is okay, the foul was pretty bad. Must hurt like hell.

"I want you to try bending your leg," Miss Reece instructs Xavier calmly as positions himself on the stretcher.

He gripped the sides of the bed, his ankle is twisted because of the fall and there's bandages around his head as well as a knee guard on his leg from where Brady tripped him. You know what they say about karma.

Too early? I'm too insensitive.

"Ugh flippen actual fudge it's hurts like hell, shit mahn," the boy frowns cussing a lot under his breath.

Miss Reece ignores his words and shakes her head in worry before putting the ice pack back. He winces before relaxing his shoulders.

"Well you've definitely twisted your ankle and there's quite a big bruise so unfortunately . . ." She sighs carefully choosing her next words, "I'm sorry Mr Rays but I doubt you'll be able to play in the big game"

"What!" Xavier yells, "No this can't be happening I have to play, I can't let everyone down"

Even me heart drops. This is bad. So, so bad.

"Calm down please it's going to worsen your migraine," Nurse tries unsuccessfully.

"This is all your fault," he points at Brady with fury in his darkened eyes, JK and the other two try calming him down, I think this is my cue to leave.

"If you didn't trip me so badly, I would of been fine to play against Thornfalls dude you did this on purpose you jealous punk," Xavier glares at Brady. Aww, I thought I was punk.

"I'm sorry, Xray I swear I didn't mean to hurt you honestly, you can yell at me I deserve it, if there anyway I can help please let me know, I truly am sorry," Brady tries his best nervously.

"Well because of you I can't play, I hope you're happy because well done your plan worked," Xavier accuses talking in riddles.

Alright that was enough Brady apologised and tried helping what more can he do? But what plan is Silver talking about?

"Bro, chill, Brady apologised it's over, he offered to help you and is very sorry for what he did," I say angrily. I lost my cool at the accusations. That's taking things way to far.

"Swift, don't get involved don't act like you know it all because this is between the punk and I," Xavier snaps at me this time then returning his glare to Brady. What the heck does he keep talking about?

"Come on dude let's go," I sling an arm over a guilt driven Brady, we leave the office and walk down the hallway.

"Sorry about that Swift, I really did not mean for Xray to take off with both of us its my fault really, he shouldn't of been rude to you," the boy says downcasted as I wave it off.

"Don't make it sound like it's your fault because its not, Xray is an arrogant, egotistical and cocky idiot who needs to learn to accept life, don't worry about his insults you eventually grow immune to it"

The boy gave me a thankful smile and waved me goodbye before walking towards the parking lot. I watch him greet a guy dressed in a dark grey hoodie, black jeans, shades and a snapback covering his dirty blond hair. The unknown boy shakes my friend's hand, they both look around before getting into the black BMW that the hooded guy was leaning against. I couldn't recognise him at all. The boy better have a good excuse for leaving practice.

"Hey, Bec, Mirinda," I sigh opening the cardoor at the end of prac. My best friend's sister came to pick the both of us up, since Becky had a student council meeting an hour before football practice ended.

The girls both greet me in unison and I get in the backseat next to Bec. She knows how anti-social I am.

"I'm going to the twins house, we're playing X box, you coming?" My best friend asks as I drink some water, take out my cap and contact lens.

"Nah, maybe next time, I need a shower," I say relaxing my head on the headrest.

"You girls excited for the big game," Mirinda asks looking ahead at the road.

"Well that's more of a question for you Swift," Becky turns to me with an expectant brow.

I inhale a sharp breath,"Today changed a lot, it's been a long day in general," I say before proceeding to explain what has been happening.

"Woah, that's something else, but I told you Xray likes you and did you listen? No see, I was right," Becky crosses her arms with a victorious smile.

I scoff this girl is irritating me with saying that Xavier likes me. He just met me, what the hell is she thinking? Oh wait, she isn't. Ugh. Life is honestly so damn frustrating.

"I know Silver doesn't like me"

"Yeah that's why you gave him a nickname," Bec counters gleefully.

"I give everyone nicknames"

The girl arches an eyebrow, why? I don't know, I said the truth.

"That's why he let's you call him Xavier instead of Xray"

Logical point but she doesn't have to know that.

"So? That doesn't mean he likes me, it just means he understands I'm stubborn and isn't getting me to call him Xray anytime soon"

"First denial now acceptance, we're making progress . . . Rose," Becky teases patting my back. I huff. This girl is nauseating, this, this is why I don't like romance novels. You get lovetiosis- gross.

"I still don't understand why he calls me Rose, it's french for pink not Red," I say swatting the girls arm as she let's out a laugh.

"Maybe it has another meaning but you still wear a lot of red"

That's true though. Sure enough I'm wearing red football boots and a red snapback, earlier as well I was wearing a red bomber jacket. After the Jones dropped me off I took a lovely shower which felt wonderful and slumped on my bed with my laptop trying to concentrate on trollhunters but failed to because I was thinking about my friend's words. Xavier let's me call him by his name and rumour has it, he only dated and spoke to Stephanie before me. And was there a double meaning for Rose?

So does he like me?

Nah, impossible he just met me. By tomorrow he will forget my name.