Chapter 16 #2
“Yeah, they’re getting destroyed out there.” Wes had a huge grin on his face as he looked at the large scoreboard that towered over one end of the field. “We’re already up three goals. They’ll be lucky if they score one.”
“I think it’s because they’re too scared to go anywhere near Noah,” Anna said. “It’s like he’s on a mission tonight.”
“Yeah, he looks great,” I murmured.
Anna nudged her shoulder against mine. “You’ve only been here a week, and I see he’s already made an impression.”
I hadn’t meant to say that out loud, and my cheeks flushed. “I mean, he looks good out there. He’s playing really well.” I corrected myself before quickly changing the subject. “Your brother’s playing well too, Wes.”
“Yeah, he’s been okay,” Wes agreed. “He’s looking a little slow out there though. I think he’s missed one too many early morning fitness sessions.”
“I don’t blame him,” Anna said with a shudder. “I don’t know how anyone gets up before school to train.”
Wes smiled. “I like mornings.”
“Me too.” I shared his smile. Mornings were my favorite time of day, and I was looking forward to when my ankle was fully recovered so I could get back to my morning runs.
The thought made me pause. What if I came across Noah out in the woods again?
A nervous tremor ran down my spine, and I couldn’t tell whether it was because I liked the idea of bumping into Noah again or not.
Music started playing over the speakers, and Anna began bouncing on her feet as she turned to the field. “It’s time for Cress’s halftime dance number.”
I grinned and joined Anna and Wes as we clapped and cheered the dance team onto the field.
As soon as they kicked off their performance, I could tell the girls really knew what they were doing, and I felt a swell of pride as I watched my friend perform her dance so perfectly.
I’d seen her practicing a few of the more difficult moves in our room this week, but it was exciting to see them put together with the rest of the team. She made it look so easy.
The energy in the crowd was electric by the time the soccer players returned to the pitch.
If the Langley Prep boys had any hope of turning the game around, it quickly diminished as they trudged out of the locker room only to be greeted by the mass of cheering Weybridge fans.
There was no fighting the swell of excitement churning through the stadium, and all of it was directed at the home team.
The Eagles completely and utterly dominated Langley. By the end of the game, Weybridge had seven goals while Langley couldn’t score one. It seemed that had mostly been down to Noah. He played defense, and no one could get the ball past him.
“Now can you see why everyone makes such a big deal about the soccer team?” Anna asked as we made our way from the stadium. We’d lost Wes in the crowd, so it was just the two of us.
“I guess they’re pretty good.” I didn’t know all that much about soccer, but even I couldn’t deny the team was impressive. Especially Noah.
Anna scoffed. “Pretty good? They just annihilated the second-best team in their division.”
My eyes widened with surprise. “That’s their biggest competition?”
“Uh-huh.”
“I just figured they were a bad team.”
Anna shook her head. “No, they’re actually considered to be quite good. Weybridge is just a whole lot better.”
I couldn’t believe it. The two teams I’d just witnessed didn’t look close to being evenly matched.
The crowd started to thin as we headed into the parking lot.
We were planning to meet Cress there before making our way to the burger place in town, and I spotted her leaning against a flashy pink convertible.
She was still wearing heavy makeup from her performance but had changed out of her dance costume and into something more casual.
She grinned brightly as we approached. “So, what did you think?” Despite her confident smile, there was a nervous edge to her voice, and her body was tense as she waited for our verdict.
“You guys were amazing.” It was easy to compliment her when she’d done so well.
“You think?”
“Yeah, Cress, you killed it,” Anna agreed.
“You guys didn’t notice me miss the beat on one of my kicks?”
We shook our heads.
“Everyone looked perfectly in sync the whole dance,” I reassured her.
She finally seemed to relax. “It was our first performance of the season, so there were bound to be a few hiccups. We’ll definitely be better next time.”
“Only you could think there were any hiccups with that dance, Cress.” Anna laughed. “Anyway, are you guys ready to get burgers? I’m starved.”
“You and your stomach,” Cress replied as she opened the car door.
Anna leaned in close to me. “She may mock me, but just wait until you taste the burgers we’re about to eat.”
“That good, huh?”
“Good doesn’t even begin to cut it. Forget the soccer match. The best part of the night isn’t going to be what you watched; it’s going to be what you put in your mouth …”
I stared at her for a moment before the two of us burst out laughing.
“I really hope you’re still talking about the burgers, Anna.”
She winked before hopping in the car. “Well, that and the fries.”