“Yeah we’ll get it back.” Adrian follows up.
I look at them and I believe them. I feel better so I smile at them and they go back to midfield. Alone again I look to my dad in the stands. He nods to me confidently, still looking focused. That’s what I need to do, get focused. Ok Ronnie get it together. The perfect season isn’t over yet. I can do this!
Billie and Adrian start going hard to get us the lead back. They’re trying and trying, but they just can’t seem to break through the defense. This game is gonna be a tight one.
There’s only two minutes left now and we’re still tied. I just start thinking to myself how neither team has even gotten a shot on goal since I gave up mine when I see a player with the ball coming my way (I just had to open up my big mouth…well technically my big brain). This time it’s Adrian doing the chasing and I really hope he can stop him. I know I almost got the save last time but almost doesn’t count and the goal did.
Adrian better hurry though because they’re getting closer and the other player is gonna kick it any second now (and by any second I mean THIS second). Adrian sticks his leg out extending it as far as he can just as the kid is kickin’ it.
And instead of heading towards my face, the ball is heading sideways.
Adrian with the block! Yes!
I breathe a huge sigh of relief as the clock runs down. I keep it low key though, at least for the time being, as I jog to the sideline. But yo, I kinda did it (at least so far)!
Coach G goes right into his shootout pep talk.
“Great job so far team but our work isn’t done! Do you want this perfect season?” He asks us as he paces intensely.
We all look at each other and in unison the team yells out “Yeah!”
“I said,” He continues with even more intensity “Do you want this perfect season?!?”
“YEAH!” The team yells out even louder.
He really wants this W, I can feel it. And he’s got us all fired up now.
Let’s do this!
“Let’s go out there and finish this!”
We all jump up, pumped up, and with the rest of the starters I start to take the pitch.
“Ronnie hold up.” Coach calls out motioning me back towards him. Probably for some last second advice (this is my first ever shootout after all). “Ronnie, I’m putting Rich in for the shootout.”
Wait, what?!?! I’m stunned. I’m shocked. I don’t say anything nor do I move an inch for what seems like an eternity. Once I finally regain my senses, I glance at Rich. He smirks like it was his idea to do this.
“Yo thanks for filling in but this is for the perfect season so stand back…”
“And watch how a real goalie does it.” I say cutting him off. Yeah, yeah I know the drill.
Billie and Adrian look as shocked as I do once they figure out what’s going on but there’s nothing they can do. I try and smile and give them a thumbs up. But as soon as they turn around, I sulk and sink onto the bench. I really could use that goalie hole. I can’t even look at my family either, I’m so embarrassed.
Billie and Adrian score goals…and, to his credit (as hard as it may be for me to say), Rich only allows one goal and we win the shootout. The perfect regular season is officially a reality. The team is at midfield celebrating. But me, I’m hanging back just watching. We won but I feel like a loser…
I put on a fake smile just to get through it, but as soon as we’re allowed to leave, I break out. I know my dad is gonna try and cheer me up but I’m not in the mood. I just want a quiet trip home so I go directly to the car without saying a word.
I really can’t wait for the season to be over.
CHAPTER 7
PLAYOFFS? PLAYOFFS?!?
It’s been two days and I’m still in a bad mood. Being at school isn’t helping but at least its lunchtime. Also, the school hasn’t heard or doesn’t care about my benching so no one here is making me feel worse.
Billie and Adrian come sit next to me. They’ve been trying to cheer me up but it hasn’t been working (even though I secretly appreciate it). Adrian is playing a soccer game on his phone and he’s all the way into it.
I’m watching him as his player is rushing the goal getting ready to score. He taps the screen aggressively, his player shoots, it’s blocked but goes straight back to Adrian’s player (that looks familiar). He taps the screen again scoring the goal easily.
“Yes!” Adrian shouts. He looks over and sees me. “Oh my bad.”
“It’s all good.” I tell him trying to play it off. “But anyway, I just wanna tell you guys good luck in the playoffs.” They both look at me funny.
“Huh?” Billie says.
“Are you quitting?!?” Adrian questions.
“No.” I answer (even though I totally want to).
“Then why are you acting so weird?” Adrian asks. Billie elbows him. “What? He is acting weird…” He turns to me. “No offense.”
I’m slightly offended but he kinda has a point and I should explain what I mean.
“I’m not quitting.” I start. I’ve been through this before with baseball and basketball so I already know my dad won’t let me so I won’t even bother trying this time. “But I won’t be playing or even getting close to the field almost like I’m not even on the team so…”
“Now even I gotta admit you’re acting weird Ronnie.” Billie says.
“Thank you!” Adrian exclaims. “Now I know, and you know, and Billie knows you’re on the team and we’re all in this thing together.”
“Yeah so when are you gonna get that through your thick skull?” Billie asks me jokingly (mostly).
“Plus our celebration requires three people so you don’t really have a choice!” Adrian throws in to seal the deal.
They both laugh and eventually I crack a small smile. I’m not exactly happy but I do feel a little better.
They’re really great friends.
The playoffs officially begin. And since Rich The Rich Kid literally saved the perfect season we get to skip the first round. So that means three wins and we’re the champs…and by “we” I mean them. The first game is an easy 3 – 0 win. Billie and Adrian score goals and it’s another shutout for Rich (why are the best players always the worst teammates for me?).
The semi-final game is like an instant replay of the first. The final score is 3 – 0, Billie and Adrian both score, and yes Rich notches another shutout. The team is celebrating making it to the finals but I’m hanging back once again. I’m happy for Billie and Adrian (I know I keep saying this) but…I’m still ready to get this all over with. Just one more week.
But before we get to the last game on Saturday, we have a team banquet on Thursday (which I completely forgot about by the way). And how random is it that we’re having it right before the championship game instead of waiting till the season is over? At least it’s at Frank’s Pizza which is my spot. And it’s on a school night so I won’t have to be around Rich The Rich Kid all night.
Back to the negatives though. I have to dress up (ugh) so I put on my one suit. It’s the same grey and plaid one I wore to the baseball banquet that one time. Fun fact: I have been able to confirm that it was indeed my dad’s old suit so yeah, I’m gonna be looking crazy. I put it off as long as possible but finally I get dressed and head to the living room.
“Looking good!” My dad says jokingly (he’s already been made aware
of how much I hate this suit).
I look in the mirror and shake my head. And soon we’re on our way.
When we pull up, I actually don’t hesitate to exit the car. I figure the quicker we get this started, the quicker it’ll be over. My dad looks at me like
he knows somethings up, but to my surprise, he doesn’t say anything and lets me be. Ok that’s good…
I step inside Frank’s Pizza while my dad is parking, and immediately start scanning the place for Billie and Adrian. They’re the only thing that will make this banquet b
earable (them and the pizza) so I want to find them ASAP.
They’re not up front by the stage, they’re not in the arcade. They’re not even in the buffet line. Now that I think about it, I don’t see anyone from the team. The banquet is today not tomorrow right??
I start to look around more frantically then I get a tap on my shoulder that makes me jump. I turn around, it’s Billie and Adrian (much to my relief).
“Didn’t mean to scare you there Ronnie.” Adrian says jokingly.
“I wasn’t scared.” I reply defensively (I was shocked not scared for the record). “Where’s everybody else?”
“They’re waiting for us in the banquet room.” Adrian answers.
Whoa, a banquet room? I’ve been coming to Frank’s Pizza for two years and I’ve never seen or heard of a banquet room here.
“Fancy right?” Billie says reading my mind.
Getting to check out this new area, eat some pizza and kick it with my friends? Maybe this won’t be so bad after all.
I follow Billie and Adrian to a door at the very back that I’ve never noticed before. Adrian opens the door and boom, we’re in a different room. And when I say different, I mean completely different. The rest of Frank’s looks like a regular ‘ol pizza place (no offense), pretty standard tables and chairs and whatnot with nothing too cool except the small arcade section.
But this banquet room, like Billie said, is fancy. It looks like a castle. It’s got 2 long tables (hopefully I won’t be sitting at the same table as Rich) and there are medieval style banners on the wall. I feel like I’m at Hogwarts or something.
“Pretty cool huh?” My dad says coming up behind me.
“How did you find this place?” I ask him instead of answering his question.
“I just walked through the door.” He says like it was the most obvious thing ever. “There was a sign above the door that said Banquet Room so…”
How did I miss that? I guess it’s not much of a secret. But oh well, it looks like the banquet is about to start. One of the tables is for parents and the other for the team so I am stuck sitting at same table as Rich. But Billie, Adrian, and I sit near the front and he is way in the back (hopefully he stays there).
First we eat, and eat, and eat! Peperoni pizza, supreme pizza, pineapple pizza (yeah I said it). Pizza for days! By the time it’s time to hand out team awards, I’m so stuffed I can barely concentrate. Not that it matters though, it’s not like I’ll be winning anything. Not unless they have an award for giving up a bad goal, then playing ok, then getting pulled so you don’t blow the team’s perfect season. At least I hope they don’t have an award for that…
Adrian wins the “Best Offensive Player” award. He scored in every game and lead the team in total goals so no surprise there. And of course he turns to Billie and I and says “Kid Messi!” on his way to get his award.
Billie wins the “Best New Player” Award and since me and her were the only two new players on the team this year, there’s no surprise there either. And with me being the only competition in the “Best Goalie” category, we all know who wins that…
“A REAL goalie.” He mutters to me under his breath as he slinks by me oh so arrogantly.
And again with the real goalie smack? Seriously, is that the only thing he knows how to say?
Last but not least, there’s the MVP award. Adrian’s got this on lock. Coach G steps up to the podium to make the announcement.
“And the team MVP goes too…”
I get ready to get ready to start clapping while pretending to be surprised. “Rich Price.”
What?!? I think.
“What?!?” Billie says.
We’re both totally shocked. I mean ok, Rich had a great season and all. And sure he only allowed three goals the entire season but…but my boy Adrian killed it too! This is completely unfair and just wrong! I ignore Rich as he walks by again. I look over at Adrian to see his reaction. He’s quiet at first, now I’m really starting to feel bad for him. He turns to me and Billie…
“They robbed me!” He starts speaking low so only Billie and I can hear him. “Me! The kid with the Lethal Leg! The Kid Messi!!” he finishes. But instead of being upset, he’s smiling and waving his arms around only pretending to be shocked and upset.
Both Billie and I join him in laughing. It’s official, Adrian can never be bothered. I’m not sure I would be reacting so coolly.
Rich gives a speech for some reason (no else did, they just went up got their award, waved, and sat back down). And surprise, surprise, he doesn’t mention anyone but himself.
I guess when you’re that good you don’t have to be humble…but wait, Billie is that good and so is Adrian and they’re both cool and down to earth (Adrian really is…when he’s not calling himself the Kid Messi…or the Kid Westbrook for basketball…or whatever he’ll come up with for next baseball season). It can be done, Rich just doesn’t want to.
After Rich’s speech, Coach ends things with a speech of his own. It’s another raw-raw speech about winning the championship and all that good stuff. It works just like the last one, getting everyone fired up again. Everyone except me that is. I clap along with the rest of the team but inside, I’m more excited about finally being free after the game is over than anything that could possibly happen during the game.
“Why didn’t you tell me about that kid Rich?” My dad asks me in the car on the way home breaking my concentration (and by concentration, I mean me looking out the window and letting my mind wander).
“Huh?” I react kinda not knowing what to say.
“Looks like you got another one.” He states.
I know exactly what he means, I’ve had Rich The Rich Kid type teammates before in baseball and basketball. Kids that are good and they know it…and they let you know it too. Overall, I think I’ve done an ok job of tuning Rich out, but I admit he still gets to me at times.
“I know you know how to handle it Ronnie.” My dad starts. “But can I throw in one word of advice?” He asks but he’s definitely about to just tell me anyway.
I nod.
“He’s all talk. I know it’s hard but just ignore him and let your play do the talking. And when you do your thing, he’ll having nothing to say back, watch.”
My play do the talking? When am I gonna play?? I want to say to him but I know it’s better to just nod again and let the subject drop. I do, it does, and we drive on. Seriously, I can’t wait for this season to be over.
One more day until Saturday and it is dragging by sooo slowly. Ugh! It’s hard for me to concentrate in class too because I’m starting to get a strange feeling deep down inside. I’m not getting sick or anything, I just feel…weird. I was doing and feeling fine (just minding my business counting down the time till 3pm tomorrow when the game should be over and done) until now, here at lunch. That’s when Billie says something to me completely out of the blue.
“We’ve never done the celebration while we were all on the field!”
“It’s too late for that.” I say sarcastically.
“Well…” She says looking at me with a slyly “…you never know.” She winks. I frown.
I do eventually survive the day and have a quiet night at home (I think my family all knows not to bring up the game tomorrow even though I can tell my dad really wants to).
And now I’m laying in bed one last time, looking up at the stars glowing on my ceiling and thinking. I’m kinda torn. On the one hand, I’m pretty much over the season and I’m ready to get this game over with so I can move on to sports I actually like (baseball and basketball). But on the other hand, being able to be on the field and help a team win a championship, better yet, help my best friends win a championship, would be pretty cool.
But who am I kidding? There’s absolutely no way I’m playing tomorrow unless something really, really crazy happens…But like Billie said, you never know right? Right?? Ehh, forget it! I should just go to sleep…
&nbs
p; Knock, knock, knock.
“Come in.”
I enter my dad’s mancave. He looks surprised.
“What’s up?” He asks.
“Wanna kick it in the backyard?” I ask in return.
He looks at me even more surprised (I’m pretty surprised too by the way). He puts his hand on his chin fake thinking for a second.
“Let’s do it.”
We head to the backyard but we’re not kickin’ it, we’re just standing around.
“What do you wanna do?” He asks breaking the silence.
Actually, I’m not really sure what to do, I didn’t exactly plan this out (like usual). We stand in silence some more.
“Got a feeling about tomorrow?” He asks hitting the nail on the head.
“Yeah, kinda.”
“But…”
Why does he always gotta be able to read my mind like that?
“But…but…I don’t know.”
“Don’t know what?”
I don’t even know what I don’t know. I’m just…
“Conflicted. It’s like I wanna play and help but I don’t know if I really want to be out there. Or do I wanna play because I know I’m not going to? And if I do play, I don’t know if I’d even be good enough to help. Oh, and I don’t wanna get my hopes up either. And…”
My dad cuts me off as I’m starting to ramble.
“Let me just ask one simple question.” He pauses, tossing the soccer ball in his hand a couple of times. “Do
you want it?”
I pause. I think. Do I?
“Do you?” He asks again breaking up my internal rambling.
My mind suddenly starts to clear. I think have my answer.
“Yes. I think.” I answer. “But…”
“But nothing.” He says cutting me off again. “Then this could be it. This could be your chance to do your thing. And don’t worry about being nervous. Nerves mean that you care. If you didn’t care why would you worry, right?”
“But I’m not gonna play!” I sneak in, finally finishing what I was gonna say.
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