And so, the dove and the wolf, the most unlikely of friends, found peace in each other’s company. It all happened so fast – they both felt it, since the beginning, but it took the end of this story for them to realise it.
To realise what had truly happened during their time together.
I walked to campus wearing tights under my skirt, and one of Sam’s t-shirts over my top so that I wouldn’t offend anyone with my daring look, but most importantly so that I wouldn’t offend myself.
I felt disgusting in such short and revealing clothes, and while that didn’t last for long, on my way over to the field I was shot some pretty bothering looks, which didn’t assist in aiding my insecurities.
“Oh, wow!” Mia giggled, and raised her eyebrows as I made my way over to her.
“Don’t even go there. My uniform shrunk at the dry cleaners this morning.”
“Well, shit. You know you can’t wear those tights with it during the game, right?” She asks, but it comes out as a definite statement as I pull Sam’s shirt over my head, leaving me in an incredibly ridiculous looking tank top.
“Miss Addison, remove the tights please. That is not part of the uniform,” the coach appears within my view, and confirms Mia’s words.
Perfect.
“Alright, ladies. Gather around, please.” She continues.
“Tonight is our first game of the season. I want a good starting performance, no funny business, just like we have practiced. Some girls are missing tonight, so these two are filling in,” she gestures to two girls who are painfully gorgeous, and I immediately make the assumption that they are seniors, perhaps also ex – cheerleaders, because knowing coach, she wouldn’t have asked them to do this on such short notice, with no practice, and expecting a good outcome.
I scan the team, and see that Yasmine is missing. At this point, I don’t read into it too much – I was actually glad for a little while that she wasn’t here, because in the end there was a small chance for me to really enjoy my first game, and not worry about her snide comments.
But then I see the football team walk towards us from the other side of the field, and my breath hitches as I desperately look it over, hoping to find him.
He was taller than the rest of the guys on the team, so finding him should have been easy.
That is, of course, if he was actually there.
But as my eyes inspect all the faces of the players as they near us, he is nowhere to be seen, and my heart drops a little.
Why would he miss the first game of the season?
Wasn’t he captain or something?
Before I could start to overthink it, coach snaps me out of my concentration.
“Game starts in five minutes. Here’s your chance to reunite with some of the players, those of you who have cheered them on before,” I could’ve sworn she gave me a small glance, as if to test me.
Did I or did I not know any of them?
That was the real question, wasn’t it?
And the simple answer was yes – but he was just nowhere to be found.
As the girls receive quick little “I missed you” or “good luck tonight” hugs, I stood back simply observing, before the whistle was blown and the two groups were separated, and made to take their positions.
Suddenly, I feel a hand slapping at my shoulder , and I turn around with upmost enthusiasm, hoping to be met by green eyes.
But my face drops when I see who it actually was.
“Dove! I’m so excited for you! Am I late? God, I hope I’m not late. I ran to get here just in time for you!”
“You’re not late, Lilian,” I giggle, and give her a small embrace before attempting to shoo her up to the stands, but she wasn’t having any of it.
“Where’s Sam?”
“Oh, he couldn’t make it tonight. Art project,” I hang my head in slight sadness at this, but I knew he would come support me as soon as he was free, and anyway, this was my first ever game I was cheering on, and so it was probably best I was left to embarrass myself without him witnessing it.
Fuck, I was nervous.
“Well, good thing I’m here! I can’t wait to see you out there. Holy shit Dove, you look hot!” She rambles on as she takes in my disturbingly inappropriate outfit, and I mentally face palm myself at how obvious it was. It took her a second to take it all in sure, but she was probably already wasted out of her mind before she got there, so to the average, sober person, it must’ve been a real stand-out.
“Look at you! This uniform is so short and cute! Awh, Dove. I take it all back. I like this new version,” she kept on, and it wasn’t until the coach came and basically peeled her off me that she stuck her middle finger up and her tongue out, then made her way to an empty seat in the stands and shot me an encouraging wink.
And that’s Lilian for you.
But I’m glad she was here. I was beginning to grow a little pale – I knew I would be nervous, but I was hoping a certain someone could reassure and calm me down somewhat before the game.
But that’s the thing about boys like him – they’re around whenever they feel like it, not when you want or need them to be.
The players made their way into the centre of the field at the second whistle.
The crowd grew silent – way too silent.
Before, they were all screaming from the stands, either down at us or at people around them.
But now it seemed as if the whole world went dead quiet.
The only thing I could hear was my heart beating uncontrollably against my chest.
This was it – I couldn’t turn around and run away, not this time.