Chapter 1 The Pitch

Chapter 1: The Pitch

DAMON'S POV

Damon Savage sprinted down the football pitch, the scorching sun beating down on his skin like a relentless drumbeat. The smell of freshly cut grass filled his nostrils as his feet pounded the earth, sending shockwaves up his legs. The sounds of the game swirled around him - the thud of the ball, the shouts of his teammates, and the distant hum of traffic from the nearby road.

He was in the middle of an intense training session with his teammates, and he couldn't afford to let his focus slip. Sweat dripped down his face, stinging his eyes, but he didn't dare wipe it away, not even for a second.

As he ran, he caught sight of a girl standing on the sidelines, looking around uncertainly. She was a distance away, but Damon's eyes were drawn to her bright pink hair, which stood out against the dull green of the pitch like a beacon. The girl looked lost, and Damon saw her approach one of the other players, who was sitting on the bench, sipping water from a bottle.

She asked him something, and the player pointed down the road, giving her directions. Damon watched as the girl nodded and smiled, her eyes lovely and filled with gratitude. She turned and began to walk in the direction the player had pointed, her legs striding confidently across the grass.

For a moment, Damon was distracted, his eyes following the girl as she walked away. The sound of his teammates' shouts and the thud of the ball faded into the background as he watched her disappear into the distance.

But then he snapped back to attention, remembering that he was in the middle of a training session. He refocused on the game, chasing after the ball with renewed intensity. The sun beat down on him, the sweat dripped down his face, and the sounds of the game swirled around him once again.

As he played, Damon couldn't shake the feeling that he had just seen something interesting. But he pushed the thought aside, concentrating on the game at hand.

***

Damon Savage cruised down the road, the warm evening air blowing through his hair as he chatted with his friends in the car. They were all still high on adrenaline from their intense practice session, and the conversation was lively.

"I'm telling you, Damon, you're going to be the star of the team this season," his friend, Tunde, said from the passenger seat.

Damon grinned. "I don't know, man. I've got some tough competition."

His friend, Femi, who was sitting in the backseat, chuckled. "You're just being modest, Damon. You're the best player on the team."

As they approached a bend in the road, Damon's eyes landed on a familiar figure walking alone on the sidewalk. It was the girl with pink hair, whom he had seen earlier at the pitch. She was walking quickly, her eyes fixed on the ground ahead.

Damon's curiosity was piqued. He slowed down the car and pulled over to the side of the road. "Hey, wait up!" he called out to Rain, rolling down the window.

Rain looked up, startled, and their eyes met for a brief moment. Damon shot her a charming smile. "Need a lift? I'm headed in the same direction."

"How are you certain we're headed same direction?" Rain's expression changed from startled to wary. She shook her head quickly and picked up her pace, walking faster down the sidewalk. "I'm good, go away!"

"What's going on, Damon?" Tunde asked, looking at Rain with interest.

"I don't know," Damon replied, shrugging. "I just saw her earlier at the pitch, and I thought I'd offer her a ride."

Femi chuckled. "You're such a ladies' man, Damon."

Damon's face deepened in a frown. "Shut up, Femi."

He slowly pulled the car back onto the road, driving behind Rain at a snail's pace. Rain, however, seemed to be getting more and more agitated. She glanced back over her shoulder, her eyes wide with fear, and suddenly took off in a sprint.

Damon's friends laughed. "Dude, I think you're scaring her!" Tunde joked.

But Damon's instincts told him something was off. He quickly pulled over to the side of the road and turned off the engine. "You guys go ahead and drive home," he told his friends. "I'll catch up with you later."

Femi raised an eyebrow. "You're going to chase after her? Damon, what's going on?"

Damon just shook his head. "I don't know, man. I just need to talk to her. I'm not used to getting turned down."

His friends exchanged confused glances, but eventually, Tunde got out of the passenger seat and slid into the driver's seat. "Okay, man, but be careful," he said, before driving off.

Damon watched as Rain disappeared around the next bend in the road. He took off after her, his long legs eating up the distance. But he wasn't really trying to catch up to her. He was just curious about why she was running away from him.

As he chased after Rain, the sounds of the city faded into the background, replaced by the pounding of his feet on the pavement and the sound of Rain's ragged breathing. The sun was setting, a golden glow over the scene, and Damon felt a thrill of excitement.