Three

 

 

greeing to go to a dance with someone always seemed to create this weird kind of pseudo-dating situation that catapulted you back four or five years, where dating involved holding hands at school while you talked to your friends.

And, it was no different this time. Cassidy took things a little further, as per usual, and could be found attached to Declan’s face more often than not. Jaime insisted on staying close to me, but I luckily only suffered the occasional unexpected kiss on the cheek.

It’s not that I didn’t like him or anything; we’d been friends for years, he was good-looking, he was nice and he seemed genuinely pleased we were going to the dance together. I’d just always been slightly weird about the whole pseudo-dating thing.

Actually, I’ve just always been slightly weird… About dating too.

With a little over five weeks to go until the dance, Rachel was going with Mike – having given up on Murray – and I was relatively sure something was happening with Beat and Becca, though they were keeping it on the down low.

Cole still smiled and nodded to me whenever we passed each other, but we hadn’t spoken outside English class. He must have known something was up with Jaime since the guy rarely left my side at breaks now. Still, it wasn’t like it should bother me. I didn’t know Cole. He’d had an opportunity to ask and he’d openly said he wasn’t interested.

Whatever, I was going to let it go.

Jaime slid his arm around me and kissed my cheek. “You ready for this afternoon?” he asked.

My mind was blank for a moment as I tried to pull it away from Cole’s smile and remember what was happening this afternoon. Maybe I’d agreed to a date with Jaime that I’d forgotten?

“Our fearless leader is always ready to take on Kelly and those nit-wits.” Beat smiled, her eyes implying she knew my mind had wandered and I owed her for coming to my rescue.

“What? Of course!” I laughed, finally remembering it was stupid Sports Afternoon and the senior teams had re-formed two teams for a match that afternoon. “We’ll crush her.”

“As long as the weather holds out,” Declan said, momentarily not stuck to Cassidy’s face.

I scoffed. “Weather, stop soccer? Oh, that’s right! I forgot you guys don’t know what it’s like to run around in the dirt.” They were all swimmers, so a) they were already wet when they trained and competed, and b) they usually did so inside where it wasn’t freezing, muddy, or possibly hailing.

Declan made a face at me but he laughed.

“Speaking of, we should go get changed,” Beat said.

I looked at the time; we had about twenty minutes until the game started. I looked up, locking amused eyes with Cole across the courtyard, and found I couldn’t look away.

“That you should. We will be there cheering you on, ladies!” Mike said, enthusiastically.

“Yep, yep, we’ll be the ones on the pitch,” I said absent-mindedly as I stared at Cole.

“Come on, Rory, we need to go.” Beat tugged on my arm.

“Yep, on my way.”

I was about to lean down to pick my bag up, my eyes still locked with Cole’s, when Jaime turned my head to look at him. He tucked a piece of hair behind my ear and smiled.

“I’ll see you there.” He seemed to look over my shoulder as he kissed my cheek.

“Um, sure… Bye guys!” I called as Beat pulled me out of there.

“You know, you really shouldn’t be staring at other guys when you’re with Jaime…” Beat said slowly as we hurried to the locker room.

“I’m not…with Jaime. Well, we’re not dating.”

“Does he know that?” she laughed, looking relieved. Beat had a very strong moral code and I loved her for it. Shame it hadn’t rubbed off on Cassidy!

“What are we? Twelve? For God’s sake, he should know by now that if there’s no discussion about it, you’re not dating.”

“True, but that doesn’t mean he’s thinking with the smart head.”

She tapped her temple and we burst into giggles as we started changing.

“If he wanted something serious, you know he would have actually asked me out. That’s how Jaime is.” Was it though?

Beat nodded. “So…”

“So?”

“Tell me what’s happening with Cole?”

I didn’t look at her as I pulled my jersey on.

“Oh, come on, Rory, it’s obvious you like him.”

“I can’t like him, Beat, I don’t even know him. All I know about him is he has a little brother called Matt, who is a true darling by the way, he’s smarter than he’ll ever admit and he smokes on the old path.”

“And, he’s hot.”

“Fine, he’s totally gorg- No, wait!” But, Beat had caught me. I sighed. “Yes, fine. I think he is probably the hottest guy I’ve ever seen. But, I think I’m probably better off admiring him from afar than getting myself into trouble close up.”

“You don’t know you’ll get into trouble,” Beat scoffed.

I sat down to wrestle on my shin guards. “I’m already drooling over him, Beat, I don’t need to fall for him and either get my heart broken or…end up in prison!”

“Wow. Stereotyping much? Dramatic enough? This doesn’t sound like you, Rory.”

I grumbled. “He does something to me, Beat. I get close to him and…and I don’t know, it’s like my brain stops working or something.”

“Have you kissed him?”

“What? And when would I have had a chance for that?”

She shrugged. “You tell me.” She winked.

“You’re bad,” I said, waving my cleat at her before pulling it on.

“Come on, we’d best get out there. The Foxy Diamonds can’t be without their leader.”

“Remind me again why we’re the Foxy Diamonds?” I muttered as I grabbed my mouthguard and followed her out.

By the time we got outside, the heavens had opened and it poured with rain. The spectators were huddled under the building’s verandas and umbrellas. Beat and I shared a wicked grin. Despite the fact I had coaching that afternoon and would look a right mess, playing in heavy rain was my favourite; there was something invigorating about it. And, for some reason, our school’s teams played better in rain; it gave us an advantage over other schools, but wouldn’t help us against each other today.

“Kelly won’t like this.” Of course, Kelly hated playing in the rain.

“She doesn’t have to like it,” Beat replied. “She knows you do, and she can’t lose face.”

We shared another grin, braced ourselves, and jogged out into the deluge. We met with our team, warmed up and Coach started the game. Over the beat of the rain, we could barely hear our friends cheering, let alone pick which umbrella they huddled under.

The rain continued through the first half hour of the second half. Even after it stopped, it left the pitch saturated with muddy puddles. All it meant now was that when we slid or fell, the rain didn’t wash the mud off us.

Beat laughed as she passed me. “You were so a duck in a previous life.”

I grinned back; I loved this weather.

I turned for a moment to check where the team was positioned. As I turned back, my head was whipped backwards as the ball slammed into my left cheek. At least the coolness of the mud soothed it somewhat. Coach waited to see if I needed a minute.

“Play on.” I waved back.

He nodded and we continued.

A little later, I did my position well proud as I went in to kick the ball down the other end. I succeeded; one of the Kezler twins even got a goal off my boot. But, my foot had slipped through a spectacular puddle and, though I slid into it with perfect grace, I now had mud from the bottom of my cleat up into my knickers. Splendid.

What I wouldn’t have given for a shower before coaching. Oh well, at least it would give the middle schoolers a proper vision of where they could be five or six years from now.

Coach called time, with a one-all draw.

We all shook hands, Kelly and I eyeing each other off quite dramatically under the pretence of sportsmanship, and Beat and I headed off to find Cassidy and Rachel. They, though, found us and came rushing over. They were about to hug us before they saw we were covered in mud. Even Beat, who hadn’t been smacked in the face or slid in a puddle, was dirty enough.

“You were amazing.” Jaime smiled as we approached them. “You look awful, but you were amazing!”

I wasn’t quite sure how to take that compliment sandwich.

“What, you’ve never seen her play?” Beat asked, shooting me a look.

“Not like that.”

“That?” I replied, pulling out my mouth guard and stuffing in my pocket. “That was pretty terrible. I don’t usually end up on my arse.”

“You still helped K2 get that goal…or was it K1?” Rachel wondered.

I shrugged. “I couldn’t see well enough from my puddle.”

Cassidy laughed. “Regardless, you guys deserved to win.”

“Not quite how it works, but thanks,” I replied. “Listen, I’ve got to get to coaching. Let the little ones see the glory that is senior soccer!” I indicated at my muddied self.

Jaime laughed a little too hard at the joke, but I smiled at him in thanks before exchanging a look with Beat. She just smiled as though she was in on some big secret that I wasn’t.

Jaime leaned in as though he was going to kiss my cheek again, and then stopped. “Maybe when you’re cleaned up. I’ll see you tomorrow, Rory.”

“Yes, see you tomorrow, Jaime,” I replied.

“Come on, I’ll walk you to get your stuff.” Beat grabbed my arm, not at all concerned in her equally muddied state. Although, if I was honest, Beat would hug me anytime regardless if I deserved it or needed it, was covered in mud or totally clean; she was just that great a friend. “What was that?” she hissed.

“What was what?”

“I don’t know. Jaime just seemed really weird. I think he’s going to ask you out.”

I groaned. “Because, that’s just what I need.”

“Well, you’re going to the dance together, and you said you didn’t care about Cole…”

“I know what I said,” I grumbled.

Beat just laughed as she pulled her bag from her locker. “So, now you’re saying you do care about Cole?”

“I don’t know Cole well enough to care about him or not.” I slammed my locker closed. It was the only way to get it to stay shut, but it did help vent some frustration.

“Uh-huh,” Beat replied, obviously unconvinced.

“I could ask you what’s going on with Becca!” I countered, hoping to shift her off my case.

She smiled. “And if you did, I’d tell you something might be happening. But, that doesn’t change the fact you need to sort yourself out about Cole.”

I groaned. “Let it be known, I’m pleased for you, but there is nothing to sort out about Cole. I don’t know him, nor do I have any inclination to get to know him.”

“Well, you know Jaime. So, by that logic the choice is simple.”

I scoffed. “I know Kelly Preston too; I’m not going to date her.”

“I might.” Beat shrugged.

“You would not. She’s a bitch and my sworn enemy.”

“We’d be like Romeo and Juliet,” Beat said dramatically, the back of her hand to her head.

I laughed. “I don’t think you’re her type.”

“No, I think you’re right.” Beat smiled.

“Ugh, I best go. Hopefully it will rain on the way over and I won’t look such a fright.”

“I think you look lovely.”

“Jaime didn’t seem to think so.”

“Jaime likes his women-”

“Yes, we all know how Jaime likes his women.”

“You know what I mean, Rory! He was just put off by all the mud.”

“You wouldn’t be.”

“No, but we have a special bond.” To prove her point, she hugged me, even in her clean jumper. “Now, get to coaching or those middle schoolers will be lost without you.”

“Aye, aye.” I saluted.

“See you tomorrow.”

“Bye.”

To my annoyance, it wasn’t raining when I left the building and headed for the path to the middle school fields.

For some reason, Jaime’s reaction had really bummed me out. I loved that part of soccer. Okay, not the stinging cheek I was starting to feel now, but the getting into it no matter the weather, coming out of it having shown up prissy girls like Cassidy and Rachel – despite how much I loved them – everywhere.

How dare Jaime treat me like it wasn’t right! Plus, I’d been hit in the face! Although, I was glad that it gave him pause about kissing me. Maybe I’d turn up to school every day with mud on my face? No, that was childish. Was he going to ask me out? Blerg, what was I going to do with that? Make a decision, that’s what. Maybe if he turned up with blue vines and not grape next time?

“Hannibal!” Cole called from behind me. I skidded to a stop, falling in yet another puddle for the day. “Shit, sorry, you okay?”

Cole helped pull me to my feet, which was no mean feat given my school bag and sports bag were slung over my shoulders, and heedless of my muddy hands. He smiled as he looked me up and down. When I was securely standing, he took the bottom of my skort in his fingers, pulling mud off it.

“What happened to you?” he laughed.

“Soccer in heavy rain tends to leave a girl like this,” I snapped, Jaime’s reaction fresh in my mind.

To my surprise though, Cole just nodded. “It’s a good look for you. Fierce. Amazonian. I like it.”

I paused, having not expected an answer like that at all. “Um, thanks.”

“Did you win at least?”

“Drew.”

“Ah.” He nodded, and then seemed to notice the mud on my cheek. He touched it gently and I winced involuntarily. “Sorry,” he said as he pulled his hand away.

“No!” I replied too quickly. “Um, no, I mean, I got hit with the ball so it’s a little sore.”

Without thinking, I pulled the bottom of my jersey up and gently rubbed some of the dirt away. When I looked up at him, I realised I’d just flashed him my naked stomach and God knew what else. He was staring at me with a half-smile on his face as though he wasn’t sure if he should look happy or not. My face got even redder.

“Uh, sorry,” I laughed.

“Nonsense.” He smiled. ‘Besides, I saw nothing through all the dirt anyway.”

I pulled up my top to look, but there were very few streaks of dirt on my stomach, including the ones I’d just put there. I dropped my top and looked at him.

“Okay, I was trying to be gentlemanly, but I see that’s not going to work for you,” he laughed. “How does that feel?” He pointed at my cheek.

I put a hand to it. “Like it hopefully won’t bruise, but it stings like a bitch.”

“I can imagine.” He leant forward and kissed it softly, mud and all.

I tried to ignore the butterflies I felt in my stomach, which was easier when he pulled back and I saw his face.

“What?” I asked.

“Well, while dirt is not my favourite food, that particular vintage is…lovely,” he joked, licking his lips and smiling, his rich brown eyes warm.

I put my hands on my hips, but couldn’t help smiling in return. “Oh, so kissing me is gross, is it?”

He seemed to think about it for a moment. “No, not gross. Just very earthy. Besides, I wouldn’t call that kissing you.”

“And what would you call kissing me?” I laughed.

We stood looking at each other for a few moments and I felt like we were on the brink of something. One move either way, and I don’t think there’d be any coming back from it.

No, that was ridiculously dramatic. But, I did honestly feel like something would change depending on what happened here, I just didn’t know what it was going to be.

We stared into each other’s eyes; his seemed to be laughing, but also waiting. I was about to take a step forward when my phone rang. I smiled at him and pulled it out. It was Ben.

“I know. I’m on my way,” I said in answer.

“You’re not that late, just thought I’d check you didn’t break your leg or anything.”

“Not my leg, although my face feels a little broken.”

“Matches your brain, then,” he hooted, always the comedian.

“Oh, ha ha. I’ll see you soon.”

“Bye.”

“Bye.”

I put my phone away and saw Cole smiling.

“What? Anyway, I need to go,” I said and started walking towards the middle school.

“Maybe I’ll show you some day,” he called as I walked away, and I knew what he was referring to.

“Maybe I’ll let you,” I replied, though regretted my brazenness almost instantly; even if it was what I wanted – which I wasn’t sure it was – it just so wasn’t me to go about saying it.

“Bye, Hannibal,” he yelled and I heard the smile in his voice.

I waved as I rounded the corner, and then took off at a run to find my middle schoolers waiting. I hadn’t had a chance to see my face yet, but apparently it looked worthy of ‘oos’ and ‘ahs’ and needed much explaining before we could get practice under way, no matter how hard I cajoled.

Once I got them training, progress was swifter. Matt smiled at me as he practised passing with his friend. He was getting a lot better and I was proud of him; though I then realised maybe I was a bit biased.

Why? Because you know his brother? You’re not dating him or anything.

I called for them to start packing up, deciding my Cole obsession, or whatever it was, was getting out of hand. Maybe I should go out with Jaime? If only to get my mind off Cole.

“Hannibal.”

Because that helped…

I turned around, smiling. “Hi.”

“So… I was wondering what you were doing after school on Friday?”

Oh my God, was he asking me out?

“Ah… Well, I usually walk Ben home on Fridays.”

He nodded. “You guys live west, yeah?”

“West Maple.” I nodded.

Oh, God, yes tell him where you live and he can murder you in your sleep!

No, he wouldn’t do that…

He might though.

He wouldn’t, he’s lovely…

He looks lovely.

Oh, shut up!

“You okay?” he asked.

I realised I’d been making faces as my brain ran away with itself. I smiled. “Yes, fine. Thanks.”

“Right… Well, we live that way, about a block before… I thought we could walk together, maybe hang out for a bit?”

I nodded. “I’m meeting the girls at the mall about six-ish, but I have a couple of hours, yeah.”

“Great, sounds great. I’ll uh, see you tomorrow.”

“Cole, did you see my kick?” Matt asked as he came running up.

“Sure did, bud. You’re getting really good.”

“Do you think Dad will come and see my game if I get as good as Rory?”

Cole shot me a look before turning a very fake smile on his little brother. “Maybe, Matty, maybe. But, Aunt Trudy and Grandma will always be there.”

Matt smiled, but he looked sad. I said nothing, not that I had time to.

“Brainless!” I heard Ben yell.

Smiling, I turned around to yell at him and missed the ball, getting smacked in the face for the second time that day. This time though, I didn’t have my mouth guard in; I felt my tooth go through my lip, and I fell backwards.

Today is not my day…

“Oh crap!” Ben skidded to a stop next to me, splattering me with more mud.

“Two things,” I said as I lay on the floor. “One, do not let Mum hear you say things like that, and two, for God’s sake take me home so I can shower.”

“Here.” Cole pulled me up for a second time that day. He looked at my lip, which I could taste was bleeding. “That, I don’t think I should kiss better,” he whispered, his eyes flashing.

I smiled. “Not here, no.”

“Can we walk you home, Rory?” Matt asked, sounding very chivalrous for a twelve-year-old.

“Yeah, come on, Aura, they live real close.” Ben smiled.

“Do they now?”

Matt nodded.

“All right, then. Let’s get bags and go. We might make it home before full dark,” I said, wiping my lip and smearing dirt in my wound judging by the sting. “God, I’m going to need to antiseptic my whole body when I get home.”

Inadvertently, I looked at Cole when I realised I’d discussed my body, which would no doubt be naked when being covered in antiseptic. He smiled at me, but said nothing, as he helped Matt into his bag. When Ben and Matt were saddled up, they wandered off ahead, chatting about God knew what. Ben was super into Halo at the moment, so I expected he was chewing Matt’s ear off about that.

Cole and I walked in silence, hands in our pockets. I wished I’d pulled on my track pants or even my jumper over my uniform, shivering a little as we walked.

“You want my coat?” Cole asked.

“It’ll just get dirty, but thanks.”

“I don’t mind.” He pulled his coat off, juggling his bag as we walked, and threw it over me.

At least my bags were more satchels than backpacks or I probably would have looked like some kind of giant turtle or something.

“Uh, thanks.” I smiled.

“No problem.”

We walked on in silence for a while more, the chatter of our younger brothers floating back to us every now and then. Even though the boys were a year apart, they seemed to get on really well. I wasn’t sure who to be more proud of, Ben or Matt.

“They get on well, huh?” Cole said as though reading my thoughts.

“They do, yeah.”

“I’ve never seen Matt take to anyone so quickly before.” Cole chuckled, “you know, after that first practice, he wouldn’t stop raving about you. It was all, ‘Aurora showed me this’ and ‘Aurora showed me that’, ‘then we did this’, ‘then we did that’.” He chuckled again. “He’s never really been into playing sports, but having you as a coach has really made him enjoy it.”

I flushed with pride, feeling warm inside at the glowing recommendation.

“And, what about his older brother? Is he into sports?”

“No, he’s not. He plays the guitar, though.”

“Really?” I asked.

Cole nodded. “Yeah, picked it up when I was about Matt’s age. Our mum… Well, we were going through a tough time. I used to play for Matt when he was little, try to take his mind off things.” He shrugged as though he was embarrassed or didn’t know what he was saying.

“Do you play at school? Or…”

“I do music. So, I guess you could say yes. But, I don’t play in the orchestra or a band or anything if that’s what you’re asking.”

“So, you’re not good enough…?”

He looked at me, obviously about to defend himself when he saw me smiling. He laughed. “Well played.” He looked up and saw Matt and Ben had stopped on the corner. “We’re down here.”

I saw where we were and frowned. “Far?”

“Want me close?”

“Very cute.” I smirked. “No, just wondering how far down?”

“On this block.”

I smiled. “So are we.”

“I know.”

“You- Matt and Ben have been talking?”

He nodded. “Matt and Ben have been talking.”

“So, you guys back onto the park as well?”

“That we do.” He nodded.

“Come on, Cole!” Matt called.

He looked towards his little brother, a fond smile on his face. “My liege beckons.”

I saw Ben waiting just as impatiently. “Well, mine’s more of a tormentor, but he surely beckons. Maybe I’ll see you in the park sometime?” I smiled, passing him his coat.

“Maybe you will.”

We took our respective little brothers – not that it was difficult to confuse either of them – home.

“So, Cole seems nice,” Ben said in a singsong voice.

“Oh, no. We are not having this conversation.”

“I’m thirteen, not a nun!”

“At this rate, I know exactly what you’ll be...” I muttered as we bounded up the stairs and into the house.