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Chapter Twenty Eight: The Heart That Beats

That morning I arrived at school early so as to drop by at the football field. I got there to see the team training with full zeal & energy. I sat on of the seats at the stands to watch them play. To tell the truth, for me atleast, being a spectator to a game of football is as thrilling as playing the sport itself. The boys were kicking some amazing shots & everyone seemed to be in top form-- Mark, Drake, Daniel, Drake & the rest of the players—

Hey! Wait a sec! Did I mention Drake twice by any chance??

 Oh God! That might be because I’m only looking at him. I’m supposed to watch the entire team play the sport but my eyes were only following Drake in the entire field. I tried to divert my gaze off him but I ended up watching him again. Damn!! Its like my eyes are cheating on me by holding the image of the blonde haired guy every time....

The coach blew the whistle. It was break time for a while. I saw Mark & Drake who seemed to be discussing some field tactics with the coach while the rest of the players relaxed their heels. I saw Daniel waving at me & I waved back, returning his smile.

“Hey wassup?” he asked approaching me, sitting down on the seat next to me.

“Seems like you guys are practicing extra hard today!” I exclaimed, as he gulped down water from his bottle, “Is there an important match on the way?”

“Yep! We are playing against Mount High next weekend.” Daniel spoke, “Both our school & theirs have been like arch enemies since a decade. So there’s a lot of crowd from various schools who come to watch this particular match cause its all the more interesting & nerve biting, considering the ‘rivalry’ factor. Our football team of every year has always defeated them in all the matches but this year, it seems they have very good players so winning’s gonna be tough for us.”

“We will surely win this time around too! We’ve an excellent team this year also!”

“Yeah. And Drake’s a very good captain, though he is being a tough taskmaster to make sure we win.”

After a pause, he spoke again,

“Hey! Why don’t me & you have a running match right now?”

“Watch out Mr Goalkeeper! You will surely lose!” I said with a smug smile.

“That is to be seen, isn’t it?”

The football field was empty since the players were in the dressing room.

Daniel & I stood at the starting point, bracing ourselves for the run. We agreed to take one round of the field & whoever reaches this starting point first, wins.

“Ready. Get Set. Go.”

We said at the same time & took off to our heels. I don’t want to sound boastful but I’m a good runner. I was running ahead of him but very soon he caught up and, well, raced ahead of me. Fine! I may not be that a good runner but I like to win! Ha!

“Hey! Look out! There’s a caterpillar!”

No sooner did I shout that, his feet halted in alarm.

“Where? Where?” Daniel asked in fear, looking around.

“Nowhere!”  I teased, racing ahead of him. I know he is shit scared of caterpillars!

“Hey! That’s cheating!” he called out in a protesting voice.

“Yeah I know!” I shouted back, giggling.

I enjoyed five seconds of victory cause then again he caught up with me.

“How’s this?” he teased me.

And now we were running neck to neck. We had hardly run half the field & I was huffing out of tiredness. The field was huge.

“I...I can’t run more!” I said breathlessly.

I fell down on the green grass, catching up my breath. Daniel too fell on the grass next to me & we were staring up at the bright sky while the cool air soothed our tired forms.

“You win anyways cause I happened to cheat.” I said after my breaths were restored to normal.

He plopped himself on his one elbow, looking down at me.

“Why are you staring at me like this? Is there any mark on my face?” I asked after he kept on looking at me for like a couple of seconds.

“Huh...” he averted his gaze, “Nothing...nothing!”

Daniel straitened himself. I too sat on the grass with him. He was looking a bit tensed

“What happened to you Daniel?” I asked softly, “Since many days I have been noticing that you’re always lost whenever we talk. Is there anything bothering you out there? I’ll be glad to help.”

“Actually....I was thinking if you could cheer for me during the football match...”

I was very much surprised by that, “Ofcourse I would! Why do you even have to ask that? I have cheered for my brother, the whole team actually, I will obviously cheer for you!”

“Yeah...” his voice faded out.

I looked at him in amusement, “Um, do you want me to specifically cheer for you & no one else?”

“Yeah if you could!” he looked at me ardently, “I know I’m sounding bizarre...”

I laughed, “I really have no clue what’s going wrong with you. But yeah, I will cheer for you. We are great friends. Also, you’d be blocking some big shots from the rival team!”

“Hoping for the best.” He said, smiling.

Right then, my eyes fell upon his wristwatch.

“Oh shoot! Gotta go. Laura & Soph would be waiting in the canteen!”

We rose to our feet while I prepared to leave.

“See you in class.” he called out.

“Yeah.”

The rest of the players were back to the field. The coach blew the whistle, They would have one last practice before calling it a day.

Drake & I came face to face. I felt my heart missing a beat when my eyes locked with his. Another whistle from the coach broke our trance. I averted my gaze off him & left from there.

****

“So you are coming for the after party, aren’t you?” Soph asked while we were at the canteen.

“Well, our team has to win the match on the first place for the party to happen.” I said, smiling at her excitement.

“Oh puh-lease! I know the match looks dicey & all but c’mon! Do you think Drake would let the team lose?”

“That’s there! We’re winning for sure!” I chimed, “And yes, I am in for the party.”

There have always been late night parties after every football match that our school has won. For the record, our school has won all the matches it played so far this year. I’ve stayed away from these parties cause I’ve never been a party person. But may be, I should attend the party this time?

“So what happens in these parties?” Laura enquired.

“Well, to being with, these are private parties, so the invites are restricted. Apart from the players & the cheerleaders, their friends & siblings are invited as well. In that respect, Andy is always invited cause she is Mark’s sister. And this time I, having replaced Jesse as the cheerleader, am inviting you Laura.” Soph explained.

“What???” Laura & I both uttered simultaneously in shock, “You became a cheerleader & you didn’t even tell us?”

“Uh…well, I am telling it now.” She said shrugging, “Jesse broke her ankle so I filled in for her. Susan is mad over me being in cheerleading but she can’t do a thing. Ha!”

“So then again, what happens in these parties?” Laura enquired the second time.

“The usual. Eating, dancing, boozing, kissing, making out....” Soph spoke, “Drake always picks up a lucky girl who gets to sleep with him. So the girls at the party want to be his choice for the night. I’ve even seen Mark getting cozy with girls a couple of time. He--”

“Don’t get there! I’m sure Mark has never made out with anyone.” Laura interrupted sharply.

“Don’t live in a bubble like that.” Soph countered, “Mark has been with quite a few girls, not always, but sometimes.”

“Can you please stop lying?” Laura snapped curtly.

“Why are you always like that whenever we discuss Mark?” Soph retorted.

Laura was about to shoot back but I interrupted at the right moment.

“Guys guys, please! We aren’t going to blow things up like this, alright?” I said trying to make peace between them.

“Laura,” I turned to her, “Chuck Sophia’s words.”

Soph rolled her eyes when I said that.

“I’m sure she didn’t mean to hurt you in any way.” I told Laura.

“I’m not coming to the party. I don’t like dancing, boozing & whatever it is that Soph told.” Laura said.

“Hey! Even I ‘m going for the first time like you. We might like the party after all, don’t you think?” I said.

“I don’t want to come.” Laura was firm.

“Okay, your wish. Can’t force you.” I said.

The bell rang. Laura departed for her History class.

“Why do you always have to instigate her over Mark’s topic?” I rebuked Soph while on our way to Biology class.

“I’m sorry, alright? Will apologize to her.” Soph said, “But let me tell you Mark isn’t a virgin. He has been with Jesse on bed.”

I rolled my eyes, “Can we please stop discussing about my brother’s virginity?”

“Okay, I’m sorry, alright? I’m apologizing to you!”

I facepalmed. Sometimes Soph is very crazy.

****

The last period for the day was Math. My mind was swirling with so many thoughts while I was on my way to the classroom. The thing that Soph told me about Drake getting intimate with girls at the party was eating my head. I don’t know, why suddenly, things related to Drake are mattering to me so much given the fact that once upon a time I was not even bothered whether he existed or not....

I walked into the room & straight went to the fourth row first bench where Drake was seated. Mrs. Hale hadn’t arrived yet. The blonde haired guy raised his brow when I sat on the empty seat next to him.

“Why have you stood up?” I asked when he rose to his feet, the moment I sat next to him.

“Our talks start with an argument & ends with bickering. So before the professor instructs us to sit separately, might as well we do that now.” he reasoned.

“We haven’t yet started arguing right? So you can very well sit yourself down here & listen to me.” I grabbed his hand & made him sit back.

Drake rolled his eyes, “What do you want to say this time? Mark & I didn’t get into another fight.”

“Its not about any fight.” I said, “Its just that, assuming that our team would win, I wanted to let you know I’m coming for the after party.”

“Okay.” he shrugged.

I was visibly disappointed. He said as if he didn’t care if I come or no which is hurtful. I decided to prompt him further.

“So you don’t have to leave any party & land in my house like that night.”

“I have no intention of doing that anyway.” Drake shrugged nonchalantly.

“And I won’t dance with you so don’t even bother to ask me.” I said, losing out my patience on him.

“No I won’t. I don’t want to dance with you anyway.” he said.

I was getting frustrated. He showed no signs of getting affected by my words as if I don’t matter to him in any way.

“And don’t---”

“Yes I know.” he interrupted me in a solemn voice, “I will not kiss you like how I did that night. You can be assured of that.”

That was the last nail in the coffin. His indifference to me was killing my insides...

“You know what, do hell with you Drake Spencer!!” I fired at him, “You’re the most insensitive person I’ve ever come across!!”

I rose from the seat in a huff & walked to the back benches. I don’t know what has come on me. I’m feeling absolutely shitty now.

****

“Where is Laura?” Soph asked when we met after the last period that day.

“That’s what I’ve been wondering.” I replied, “She wasn’t there in the Math class as well.”

We were walking along the corridors when we saw a crowd gathered in front of a notice board.

“Um, I think the list of those ten people who won the Ad film event is out..The top ten would get to participate in the Short Film Festival which will be held four weeks later.” Soph explained.

“So why are we standing here for? Lets go & check out the list!” I said.

We fished into the crowd to reach the notice board but when we did, the list that was put up in there disappointed us big time....

“Can’t believe Laura is not there in top 10!” Soph exclaimed when we made our way out of the crowd.

“Moreover Amber has topped this list. Shocking!” I said.

“That’s because Amber deserves to win.”

We looked to see Laura had come there. She spoke again, “The advertisement that she made was indeed praiseworthy.”

“I’m sure there has been a bias selection.” Soph said, “Your Ad was also too good!”

“But not better than those ten winners.” Laura said with a small smile.

“Are you alright?” I asked in concern.

Laura took a deep breath before she spoke, “I would lie if I say that I’m not disappointed. I’m disappointed. A lot. But the major & the only difference between last time & this time is that this time I gave my best efforts to make the Ad. I worked with confidence & with faith. I guess that’s what matters in the end...atleast for someone in my position.”

“You know what, you’re brave.” Soph said, smiling in appreciation.

And I can’t agree enough with Sophia. Its difficult to accept defeat & rejection...especially when you’re facing failure for the second consecutive time. And it requires a lot of courage to move on without having lost faith in yourself & your capabilities. And I’m glad at the conviction Laura has shown by doing just that.

We three enclosed for a bear hug. Friends are always there for each other.

~*~**~*~*

Hellos to all! Here goes the latest chapter! Hopee you liked it! Any idea what's coming up next ?:p

Thanks to each and every one of you who voted & commented on this story so far. Each and every of your feedback means a lott for me! Thank you one again for being so lovable!

Okay, so the next couple of chapters are gonna be a bit serious, emotional to be exact :)