Chapter 6
KAI
“Over here!” I shouted, waving my arms. “Campbell, I’m open!”
Henry Campbell jogged over to take the corner, and I moved into position. I was the distraction - the fake-out . One of our go-to plays. It was only training, but we needed to nail it before Sunday’s match against the Westley wankers.
Last season, Belrose came out on top. We got the cup. It was a lovely end to year eleven. But it was close. Closer than any of us liked to admit. And the first game back after summer was always messy - everyone rusty, timing off, legs still remembering how to work together.
Campbell’s eyes flicked to me, then to the box. I sprinted forward, dragging two defenders with me, giving Callum the space he needed behind.
“Nice!” Coach yelled from the sideline as Callum connected cleanly with the ball.
As predicted, the defenders peeled off me and sprinted straight for Callum, leaving me completely unmarked. Exactly what we wanted.
Henry slipped the ball through Isaiah Johnson’s legs - clean, perfect - and suddenly it was at my feet, inches from the goal. No pressure. No need to blast it. Sometimes the quiet finishes were the most satisfying.
Fred was in goal. And Fred was good. But not good enough for the old fakey.
A smirk tugged at my mouth as I shaped my body toward the right corner. Fred took the bait instantly, diving full stretch.
At the last second, I tapped it left. Soft. Simple. Beautiful.
The net rippled.
Fred groaned.
And Callum - along with the rest of the blue bibs - erupted like I’d just solved world hunger.
“YES, FIELDS!” Callum yelled, sprinting at me with his arms wide like some overexcited toddler.
The others piled in behind him, whooping and clapping me on the back, acting like we’d just won the league instead of scoring in a training drill.
I couldn’t help it - I laughed. The kind that shakes out of you before you can stop it.
“Just like that!” Coach Lorenzo shouted, his thick Italian accent more prevalent with his toothy grin as he clapped his hands. “You play like that on Sunday and we’ll have Westley eating out of our hands.”
“You’re damn right we will, Coach!” Callum yelled back, buzzing with adrenaline.
“Alright, red bibs on clean-up. Blueys, go get washed up.” He said, smoothing back his dark gelled hair.
“You got it, Coach.” Campbell chimed, throwing the ball at Johnson, who caught it before it winded him.
We broke apart, still riding the high of the play. Callum jogged past me, bumping his shoulder into mine like he couldn’t help himself.
“That fake-out was filthy,” he grinned. “Fred’s gonna be crying about that one all week.”
I laughed under my breath, wiping sweat from my forehead.
“As long as he’s not crying in goal on Sunday, we’ll be all good,” I said, shaking my head with a laugh.
Callum barked out a loud cackle. “Mate, we’ll be solid on Sunday. Because we’ve got a secret weapon.”
“Oh yeah? What’s that then?” My brows raised, studs sinking into the neatly trimmed grass.
“You, mate.” Callum slapped my shoulder like he was trying to knock it off. “We should change our name to Fields the way you carry the team.”
“Mate, I wouldn’t have scored that without your play, and don’t even get me started on that nuts.” I patted him on the back. “Johnson didn’t know what hit him.”
“I know it was class.” Callum grinned like he’d just invented something genius. “But still Belrose Fields FC kind of has a ring to it. Or just Fields FC. Rolls right off the tongue.”
“Yeah, I’m sure Coach would love that,” I said sarcastically, shaking my head.
“Coach would tattoo it on his forehead if it meant beating Westley,” Callum shot back.
A couple of the lads overheard and started chanting “Fieeelds! Fieeelds!” like idiots, and I couldn’t help laughing. It was stupid, but it was the kind of stupid that made training the best part of my day.
The hot water beat down on my shoulders, loosening the ache in my joints as I stood in the communal showers. Training always hit hard after a break, but I’d been doing this since I was nine - since Dad died and I decided I’d carry on what he started. Make him proud. Keep moving.
My schedule was strict, but it didn’t suffocate me anymore. It kept me steady. Focused.
Cardio before school from six to seven-thirty - a run around Belrose or the treadmill in the home gym. Weights after school on non-training days - arms Tuesday, legs Thursday, rest, then repeat. Football on Monday, Wednesday, Sunday. Epsom bath every night.
Routine. Structure. Something to work toward. My endurance was solid. My focus even better. And with scouts sniffing around this season, I’d pushed myself harder than ever.
“Hitting the bar after school with us? Johnson’s got a fake ID,” Callum said, stepping under the shower next to me, water running down his face.
I snorted, rinsing the last of the shower gel off my chest. “I think I’ll pass.”
Callum groaned dramatically. “Mate, you’re killing me. One drink won’t ruin your precious routine.”
“But it wouldn’t just be one drink now, would it?” I sighed, grabbing my towel off the hook.
Callum shook his head like I was hopeless. “Come on. Won’t a little extracurricular activity help with your stress?” He laughed and thrusted his naked hips forward, and I knew exactly what he meant. “Jessica is going to be there.” He sang in a high-pitched tone.
I kept my eyes trained on his raised brows.
“Hey, careful where you’re swinging that thing.” I couldn’t help the laugh that escaped me. “The answer is still no,” I said, turning the shower off and wrapping the towel around my waist.
“You’re a better man than me, Cap. When was the last time you got that dick wet - Violet was it? Year nine? Oh no… would have been Louise last year.” He smiled, shaking his wet hair like a dog. “Surely those balls need releasing.” He said, looking down at mine like he was in pain.
“Shut up talking about my balls.” I scowled. “The only balls you should be focusing on are the ones on the field - especially the one you missed today.” I deadpanned, and he groaned.
“That pass came out of nowhere.” He defended, his dark hair slick to his forehead.
“Cos you were too busy looking at Amanda over in netball.” I joked with a seriousness.
“Can you blame me, though? Those short skirts paired with those legs.” He made a chef’s kiss and dramatically sighed. “You think I have a chance with her?” he asked with hope in his eyes.
“You big idiot.” I hit him on the arm and began drying myself off.
“She’s so fucking hot, and have you seen those jugs?” He exaggerated the last part of his sentence, cupping his pecks.
“Maybe try talking to her like she isn’t just a pair of tits, and you might have a chance.” I joked. “Remember, look her in her eyes, not her chest.”
He stared at me like I’d just given him ancient wisdom.
“That’s… actually good advice.” He patted me on the shoulder.
“But seriously, I don’t know how you do it - if I had half the restraint as you I’d be a saint.
Every girl in this school wants a bit of you - how you manage to say no, I have no idea.
” He smirked and finally pulled his top over his head.
“The day Cap decides to release his inhibitions will be the day there are no chicks left for the rest of us.” Johnson joked, still in his towel.
“We should be happy he’s in his nun era,” Josh added, jumping in.
“I’m not in my nun era. I told you before, I’m focusing on football. It would be fine if any of them just wanted a shag, but they all want to talk about their feelings and shit.” I groaned, pulling my trousers up.
“That’s called foreplay, lad.” Callum laughed, pulling his socks on.
“Yeah, then next thing you know, you’re bringing chocolate home for them when it’s their time of the month.” Bryce palmed his forehead and smirked.
“How long you and Frankie been together now?” Callum asked, running his hands through his still-wet hair.
“Three years.” He said almost like he was in pain.
“That’s a sentence, mate. You get less for shoplifting.” Johnson joked, and I couldn’t help the laugh that escaped me.
“I love her.” Bryce said, getting soppy, and the boys all gave him an ‘ahhhh’, giving him hugs and squeezing him.
“You love her huge ass.” Callum bantered with a huge grin.
“Talk about her again, and I’ll bury you, kid.” Bryce scowled.
“So you can call my mum a milf but I can’t tell you your girlfriend’s got a perky ass.” Callum shook his head.
“I said watch it,” Bryce said, spraying deodorant on his pits, only stopping midway to give Callum evil eyes.
“The world’s on its head, brother. The double standards these days.” Callum gripped my shoulder, his eyes rolling back.
“It’s alright, mate, leave it,” I said, shaking my head for what felt like the tenth time in this changing room.
“Yeah, go cry to your milf of a mother,” Bryce said with a wink.
“Go cry on your girlfriend’s ass cheeks.” Callum bit back.
“You asked for that one, mate,” I said to Bryce with a laugh. “Come on, let’s get out of here before one of you takes it too far.”
“Good call, Cap,” Campbell smirked, his freckles dancing in the light. “Don’t want those two babies going at it again.”
“Who you calling a baby?” Callum and Bryce snapped in unison, suddenly united like they hadn’t been arguing thirty seconds ago.
“You’re all babies,” I said, grabbing my bag. “Now, can we please get out of here before maintenance locks us in?!” I let out a huff. “We’re a team. Act like it.”
“Yes, Cap.” Callum gave a dramatic salute, earning a round of laughter from the boys.
“Later, Fields,” Bryce said, dabbing me up before grabbing his bag. I shook hands with a couple of the other lads in the way that guys do. All hard grips and brief hugs, trading quick goodbyes, then headed out with Callum.
“Cool for a lift?” Callum said, scratching the back of his neck, football bag slung across his shoulder.
“Like you even have to ask,” I said, unlocking my black BMW 1 Series. “Your mum still got your keys then?”
“She sleeps with the bloody things, won’t let them out of her sight.” He opened the back passenger side, chucking his bag in before slumping down in the front seat like he owned the place, foot up on the dash, worn black Air Max’s on show.
“In all fairness, you should count yourself lucky; if my mum caught me driving drunk, she would have my head and all, not just my keys,” I said, getting into the driver’s side and starting the car.
“Well, if I could go back now, I wouldn’t have had that fifth j?ger bomb, now would I?” Callum deadpanned, like it was a simple mistake. As if getting behind the wheel on four would make it better.
“You chat out your ass, mate,” I said with a chuckle, turning onto the main road. “Nothing can keep you away from booze. It’s bad. You’re like a dog with a fucking bone.”
“Boner more like.” He retorted and I almost steered off the road.
“What?!” I said, narrowing my brows. “Please don’t tell me you’ve got a fucking hard-on in my car.”
“Relax, mate. It’s just a semi.” He laughed, opening a can of coke.
“You better be joking,” I warned, my grip suddenly tighter on the steering wheel.
He burst out laughing. “I can’t help it - the exhaust on this car makes me want to jizz right here.”
“Keep your jizz in your balls mate, or you can get out here.” I sneered, trying to contain my laughter.
“I’m only joking. But seriously, can you pull in here?” He pointed at the shop on the corner. “I need a few bits.”
“You’re ridiculous,” I said, shaking my head but turning into the car park anyway.
Callum jumped out the car, slamming the door, and I followed.
I screwed my brows at him. “Any harder and you’ll blow the hinges off.”
“My bad, I don’t know my own strength,” he said, flexing stupidly in the car park. The looks from the old ladies walking past made me laugh.
“Careful, you’ll pull something.” I bantered.
“Hopefully your mum,” he shot back with a wink.
“You wish.” I pushed him playfully. “She’s working a double at the hospital tonight.”
He stopped abruptly. “Maybe I should pull something then. See if I can get some special treatment.” He grinned, like a fucking idiot.
“It’s going to be a long walk home for you, mate.” I sighed, shoving my hands into my pockets.
“Not if I can blues-and-twos it. Call up the ambo,” he said, winking again. “I’m coming for you, Kate.”
“The only place they would take you is a fucking psych ward.” I joked, in all seriousness. He was fucking insane.
“Could be worse.” He shrugged. “Free drugs.”
I shook my head in my hands. “You need help.”
He grinned like the menace he was.
“No, I need nicotine.” He said walking through the automatic doors, and I palmed my face for the third time today.