Goal:

I didn't get back to houses until 2AM. I nearly missed curfew and would have been screwed. Although we did get an awful lot of freedom at St John's once lessons were over, there was still a curfew for houses, and if you weren't back by then you would have to find your own place to stay. Not that that was an issue for most kids here.

After the awards, dinner was served, and everyone made forced conversation with each other. It was weird seeing the team with their parents. They were so different and so much more mature, like actual men rather than children. It didn't take long for me to split off from Elliot and his family. They were lovely, but so was their son. And I couldn't sit near him for any longer otherwise I wouldn't be able to stop myself from kissing him right there and then. How he looked in a suit was insane, and I couldn't even begin to describe the way he made me feel. Especially knowing he thought I was pretty.

My phone began to buzz, waking me from my soft slumber. I groaned and grabbed it, answering before even looking at the caller ID.

"Hello?" I murmured and whoever it was laughed on the other side.

"You have 15 minutes to get here before Coach comes over to houses and gets you himself." The boy said and hung up.

Coach?

Coach.

Boys?

Shit. The game.

I jumped out of bed and ran around my room, forgetting about showering, forgetting about make-up and forgetting about everything other than having a clean face, clean teeth, brushed hair and some clothes on. I picked out the first, comfiest thing I owned; a pair of light blue, high waisted skinny jeans, a v-neck, thin strapped white crop top and a chocolate chunky knit, long lined cardigan along with some brown loafers. I grabbed a medium sized brown handbag that matched my cardigan, and chucked my laptop, a notebook and a pencil case inside.

I had 3 minutes to get there.

I caught sight of my bare skin as I left and cringed. I hadn't gone out without make-up for years. I stuck some sun-glasses on to hide my eyes despite the fact the sun wasn't out and let my still curly hair cascade over my face as I sped through the campus, running when there wasn't anyone around. Once I got behind the buildings, I sprinted through the gates of the stadium to the changing rooms. Once I was there, I knocked on the door and waited. I bent down, hands to my knees as the stitch in my stomach cramped and I panted. One of the boys, I think his name was Bradley, answered the door, looking down at me with an amused look on his face before he left the door open for me to walk in.

"Isla...You're...-" Coach boomed as I walked in. He looked down at his watch before chuckling. "-Actually, on time. Wow." He said and I rolled my eyes but realised he couldn't see me. "Why are you wearing sunglasses? It's basically dark outside." Coach asked and a wave of embarrassment ran through me. All the boys were staring up at me, I was in the middle of the changing rooms, and they were all in a circle around me. More than 11 pairs of eyes trained on me, watching, waiting, judging me.

"I didn't have time to put make-up on." I admitted and there was a moment of silence before a few of them burst out laughing.

"Is that it?" Coach asked and I nodded, fiddling with my hands behind my back, feeling more embarrassed than before. "Oh Isla." Coach tutted and stood up, coming face to face with me. He gently pulled the sunglasses off my face and laughed. "Stop talking crap and sit down." He ordered, keeping my glasses in his hand. I looked down at them and frowned, sulking as I went to sit where he was – not noticing who was next to me.

"Are you actually sulking because he took your sunglasses off of you?" A deep, recognisable voice whispered into my ear, sending goose bumps all over my body. I quickly looked down at my lap so he couldn't see my face because of my hair hanging down in the way and shook my head.

"I'm not sulking." I murmured back and I felt Elliot lean down so that his head was next to mind. I could feel his breath in my ear, and it made me shiver. Butterflies flooded my stomach and I swallowed nervously.

"Oh yeah?" He asked, still in a whisper. His hand rose and travelled lightly down my arm before he grabbed me by my elbow, emphasising my crossed arms. "What do you call this then?" He asked and shook my elbow, causing my arms to move. I quickly uncrossed my arms and pulled up my t-shirt; suddenly very aware that when I crossed my arms, I had a lot of cleavage on show – especially when my arms jiggled.

"Shut up." I whispered and looked up, seeing Coach talking to everyone but not hearing a word he said. I was only aware at how close Elliot still was to me. I noticed him lick his lips out of the corner of my eye as he stared at me, a cocky smirk on his face. He sat back up straight, and I did too, just praying he didn't think I was suddenly ugly due to my lack of make-up. That smirk stayed on his face for the whole time Coach was talking, and I could sense him staring at me, making me sit up straighter and ignore him. But he kept brushing his shoulder against mine and I began to wonder what game he was trying to play. Because if he was trying to make me uncomfortable then he was most definitely winning.

But I refused to lose. I couldn't.

/ / / /

"Good win boys! I knew we could do it!" Elliot screamed over the sound of the boys hooting in the changing rooms. They had won 3-1 in a friendly against a rival academy team and they were hyped. They all screamed back in response as they all high fived and hugged each other. The sight made me smile. I never saw teenage boys supporting each other in this way and it was refreshingly lovely.

"Group hug!" Theo shouted and they all grabbed each other. I smiled but stayed back. Instead, I grabbed my phone and snapped a quick picture of the scene. It would look good in my report.

"Well done boys! That's what we like to see!" Coach enthused and they all cheered in response. He began to spout more inspirational stuff and they all stood opposite him in a big group. I was sat behind Coach and I caught Elliot's eye, a big grin spread across his face which led me to smile too. I hadn't seen him so happy. He was normally moody. In fact, I had never seen any of them this happy. Maybe to some of them, this was more than just a game. This was a way of life, a sense of happiness and pleasure. This was a family.

"Right. Start getting changed then, I'll meet you all in the restaurant." Coach finished and immediately they all began taking their tops off. I screamed to alert them that I was still there and ran out after Coach, hearing a few of the boys laugh as I left.

We both headed towards the restaurant and he explained to me that he didn't need me to write a report for friendlies, but he wanted me to get into the habit of being there for every match and into the habit of taking notes whilst watching a game.

"You're getting there, kid." He said as we reached the restaurant. I smiled at him and he walked off straight to the food. I slowly trailed after him, leaving my bag in the same seat I sat in next to Theo the first time I was here and grabbed my food. Once I had it, I sat in my seat and began to slowly eat. Coach had gone to sit with the other managers of the other team which only left me. A few of the players from the other team came in. A few staring at me as they did so. I ignored them and went on my phone. But when one of them slammed their tray down in front of me I had no choice but to acknowledge him.

"Can I help you?" I asked with a polite smile.

"I'm sitting here. Can't have a pretty girl by herself, can we?" He asked. I noticed the blue band around his arm and realised he must have been the captain of the rival team. Elliot and he had been quite hostile towards each other during the match, a few people had noticed it. When I was sat watching there was a few people milling around – apparently, they were locals who came to support the boys at most home matches. I had got chatting to a lovely old man sat in front of me who said he made it to every game and this team were the only ones the boys truly hated. He had mentioned that the captains hated each other but it hadn't clicked in my head that that was Elliot and this boy in front of me. The boy had slicked back black hair, long and tied into a man bun. He was very tall and large, not fat but extremely stocky and with his height he seemed rather intimidating. I sat back, shocked and with no words. Was this against some type of untold protocol? It felt wrong. This was where the boys sat. Where they always sat. These seats were theirs and I didn't want someone to take that from them.

"I'm alright actually, thank you. The boys will be sitting here shortly." I smiled at him politely and he laughed.

"I don't care if they normally sit here." He said harshly and I flinched back at the venom in his tone. I pulled my tray closer to me and smiled awkwardly.

"But I think they would, so I don't think-"

"Oh, shut up would you." He snapped at me and I gulped. "I told you I don't care. I want to sit here with you so be honoured. I'll sit where I want." He growled. "And if I want to sit with you, you don't really get a choice."

I was torn. I was never one for confrontation, but I was insulted. An honour to sit with him? I didn't think so.

"I'm sorry but I think you should leave." I said softly. I didn't want to hurt his feelings, but I was uncomfortable with him being there. He laughed.

"Aw, you're sweet." He said and leant forward. I scooted my chair back and laughed.

"I don't think you understand. I don't want you to sit here, and I'm sorry if that offends you but I-"

"You heard the woman. Get up." Someone said sternly from behind the boy. I had been so engrossed in getting away from the boy I hadn't realised that Elliot and Theo and the rest of the boys were stood behind him. They all looked angry, with stoic expressions and their arms crossed. The boy laughed and turned around.

"Elliot." He smirked. "Didn't realise she was yours. What an upgrade." He laughed and Elliot showed no expression. My eyebrows furrowed. An upgrade?

"Get out." Elliot shouted suddenly, making me jump. He glared at the boy and he laughed, his hands up in surrender.

"Alright. Don't worry, I wouldn't go for your nasty seconds ever again." He snarled and after a few seconds of glaring at each other he walked away. The boys immediately snagged their usual seats, but Theo and Elliot headed straight for the food. Theo placed a hand on Elliot's shoulder and whispered things to him. The other boys were watched the pair also. I turned around to them with shock on my face.

"What was that about?" I asked and Jack Hodgeson laughed.

"I'll let Elliot tell you sweetheart." He muttered and the other boys murmured in agreement.

A few minutes later Elliot placed his tray opposite mine and sat down, and the rest of the boys got up and went to get their food. He didn't look up at me, and instead glared down at his food.

"Are you ok?" I asked tenderly and he looked up at me from his food. He forced a smile and nodded.

"Fine." He mumbled and began to eat. I stared at him for a few more seconds before sighing.

"Thanks for sort of saving me even though I had it covered." I mumbled and he looked back over at me with the faintest of a real smile.

"Sure you did." He mumbled sarcastically and I giggled.

"But thank you. He was creeping me out a bit." I said and Elliot stopped suddenly.

"You didn't think he was attractive?" He asked, almost in shock. I stared back at him like he was crazy.

"What? No! Never in a million years!" I exclaimed and a look of relief passed on Elliot's face. We both laughed but when it went quiet, I tilted my head and looked at him curiously. "Whys that?" I asked him and he paused for a moment before shaking his head.

"Most girls just do, that's all." He muttered and looked down at his food.

And it was then, when he looked down with such vulnerability that I had an idea as to why Elliot hated that boy. Though I couldn't make assumptions I thought it was obvious.

And I wanted to know the story.