The Warm Up
AJ
Kyle has been in my room, sitting on my bed for the past forty minutes, and has only said four words. Those four words were the worst four words I’ve ever heard, but now he won’t talk. Won’t look at me. I put a hand on his shoulder and squeeze it.
“Wanna play a game of EAFC?” I ask, hoping to lift his spirits.
I’m moving to London. How can those four words cause so much pain?
Kyle nods his head, meaning yes. So, we have some progress, but there is still a tightness in my chest. My room is big; it’s filled with random stuff all related to football.
My bedspread is a super unique design of our team’s crest. I’m lucky to have and not need, but the only thing I want is moving away.
I’d give up everything to have my best mate with me.
I try to make as much chit-chat as I can, but it’s evident he is not ready to talk about it. One thing’s for sure, his dad sucks. And so does Coach. How can they break up the best strike force the league has ever seen? How could…how could they take my best friend away?
I wave goodbye to him from the pavement by his house. He puts his hand up in return, and then he looks away. I watch the car go out of sight with tears freely running down my face. We’ve promised to stay in touch. To call each other and play online weekly. So why do I feel like this?
My phone buzzes in my pocket. It’s my dad. At least mine isn’t an asshole.
“Hey Dad, what’s up?”
“Come home. We’re celebrating tonight.”
The last thing I want to do is celebrate anything, and I’m about to tell him as such until he cuts me off: “I wanted to keep this a surprise for you, but you’ve got in.”
“Got in? Got in where? What are you talkin—” Wait, it can’t be. My dad cannot be serious.
“You’re in the City Academy now, son. I just got off the phone with the coach. I’ll explain it more over dinner.”
The best news of my life comes on the back of the worst moment of my life. Football, eh? It really is “the beautiful game”. At least I get to stay up north and with my family. My heart goes out for Kyle. London is a big place, and it’s…it’s far away from me.