Chapter 9 Soccer Day

ZAC

"Hey babe." Zoey strutted over to where I was changing into my sportswear in the men's changing room and kissed me, I kissed her right back, much to the delight of my teammates.

The whistles and howls only got louder every second my mouth stayed glued to Zoey's.

She finally broke off. "Have a great game."

"Well, that's a surprise. I thought you didn't like soccer."

She shrugged, grinning. "You're right, I don't. I'm not here to watch you play. I just wanted to kiss you, for good luck. I have an appointment in twenty minutes."

"Wel, that's sweet of you." I kissed her again, but it was brief this time.

I didn't need to look to know who had just come in and approached the locker opposite mine.

"We have a serious game, Leroy. Decide if you want to be a man whore or a soccer player."

Before I could say anything, Zoey rounded on him as a furious feline would. "Stop being such a pathetic ex, William Redford. We've broken up and I'm now with Zac, either you accept it or die trying!"

"I don't go back to my vomit." He sneered.

But Zoey was unfazed by his insults, rather she smiled. It was an unfriendly, sharp one. "Tell your teammates how you used to cry out my name whenever you were in bed with this 'vomit'." She gestured to herself.

Ooohhs and chuckles from the guys followed her statement.

I leaned against my locker to watch. I felt the hum of something familiar in my locker. I opened it and brought out my phone.

It was Dahlia.

Silently excusing myself, I left to the washroom for some privacy.

"Hey, what's up?" I kept my tone considerably low.

"Hi Zac." Haven's small, cherry voice instantly lit up my face, drawing a smile from me.

"Hey, little Einstein. How are you?"

She giggled at the name. "I'm fine. Me and mommy, we are about to enter the ball field."

"It's called stadium, honey." Dahlia corrected from the background.

"Stadium." Haven repeated, accepting the correction.

That girl would go really far in life and I wouldn't mind helping to make that happen.

"Alright. Me and my teammates will be out soon. Promise you'll be in front?"

"I cross my heart. But you also have to promise you'll say hi to us."

"I cross my heart."

Another delightful giggle that surprisingly warmed my heart.

"We have a deal." I heard the grin radiate through her tone.

"Alright, I'll see you soon."

"Bye."

The line went dead.

I went back to the changing room.

"...you stupid loser" Zoey was yelling now.

The coach came in just as I was about to put all of this ruckus to an end. She immediately quieted down, turned to me and placed a soft kiss on my lips.

The angry furrow gone, replaced by an adoring smile.

I had to blink. Zoey really was dramatic. She was really fit to be an actress. One would find it difficult to believe she was the same person who'd been lashing out earlier.

"I'll see you later, yeah? I need to get going before I miss my modeling shoot."

I waved her goodbye as she left. Will wouldn't stop glaring at me.

"Now listen up, guys." The coach, Mr. Bradford, began. "We need the give this match our all. We're up against the toughest team, so far, their streak is unbeaten yet." He glanced at me. "We hope Leroy's presence will make up for our team's weakness. To the best of our knowledge, his talent has helped his previous team back in England, leveling them from underdogs to top dogs. Let's hope he does the same for the team."

"Once a fat loser, always a fat loser." Will scoffed, his words low and bitter.

I heard but ignored. Some others too but they didn't understand so didn't pay much mind to his words.

"Leroy, I've seen your games. We need that talent and energy here." The coach sounded as though he was pleading.

The team wasn't a small team but they'd been flopping recently that it was beginning to affect their ranks and reputation, it was even a struggle to score against small teams. The last strikers were more or less dead weights.

"Will try my best, coach." I replied.

"Alright." A satisfied smile appeared.

"Captain, let's sail this ship." He bump fisted Will.

The stadium is filled to the brim with fans of both my team and the opponent team.

There was a division; blue with gold stripes on the left which represented us - Vinexx FC and on the right are the green-themed fans of our opposing team - West Ridge FC.

We spilled out from the tunnel. This was the West Ridge's home and they have the outstanding record of never losing a match in their home.

It was going to be a tough match indeed, I noted, seeing the team's first eleven spill out from the other side of the tunnel that read 'West Ridge'. I knew some of them on a personal level, personal enough to know how good they were.

Before the anthem started, I scanned the bleachers filled to the brim with supporters, looking especially at the front row seats.

My gaze swept past a tiny wave, shifted back immediately to notice the hands belonged to Haven.

She was also clad in a blue-with-gold striped custom-made jersey. Her mother, Dahlia, carried her. She was also in her own custom-made jersey. And waved at me, her smile was pretty but there was something cautious about it.

It was as though she was holding back on a full-blown, genuine, eyes-lit smile.

I'd always had a crush on her back in high school. Seeing her that day, wearing old clothes that looked to big for her too-thin body, made me realize I'd not gotten over it yet.

I had the money, the looks and the body. Everything girls wanted. I attracted girls more than ants to sugar and wasn't shy or cautious around any one of them, not even Zoey.

But with Dahlia, I still felt like the bullied boy from years back. Too shy to speak. But even if I did speak, it was never going to be possible.

I was with Zoey now, plus Dahlia would never want me. Not in the way I wanted her. To her, I'd always be the bullied guy who got lucky in life.

Helping her and being her friend was all I was after now. I'd had one of my bodyguards follow her that day from the restaurant. And also keep an eye on her life, including Haven's.

I waved back and gave a mock-salute which Haven responded in like-manner.

Then she yelled in her tiny voice, and amidst the buzz of excitement, I managed to pick it up.

"Show them who's boss, Zac! I'm supporting you!" She pointed to her jersey.

That had me chuckling.

She blew me a kiss, I caught it and rubbed it against my chest. She giggled and waved the small flag in her hand.

It was time for the anthem. I turned to stand in line. Will frowned at me, his eyes glancing at the stadium full of people and back to me.

The curiosity obvious in his gaze; he wanted to know who I was interacting with.

I ignored him, ready to sing the anthem.