Chapter Five - The Best Seat in the House
876 Words
The shrill whistle echoed across Ashton University's football stadium as students filled the stands.
It was the first home match of the season.
Green and white banners waved through the crowd while music blasted from the stadium speakers. Vendors shouted over one another, selling drinks, popcorn and university scarves.
Vincent stared at the ticket in his hand.
He still wasn't entirely sure how William had convinced him to come.
"You've never watched a football match?"
Jake looked horrified.
Vincent adjusted his glasses.
"No."
"Not even on television?"
"No."
Jake placed a dramatic hand over his heart.
"William was right."
Vincent frowned.
"...About what?"
"He said you'd probably think offside was a scientific equation."
Vincent considered it.
"...It does sound like one."
Jake burst into laughter.
"You two spend way too much time together."
"I don't—"
"You do."
Before Vincent could argue, the stadium erupted into cheers.
The players jogged onto the pitch.
William led the team.
Wearing the number 10 jersey.
The captain's armband rested proudly around his upper arm.
He looked completely different from the easygoing roommate Vincent knew.
Focused.
Confident.
Like he belonged under the roar of thousands of voices.
William scanned the crowd.
For just a moment...
His eyes landed on Vincent.
A smile spread across his face.
He raised a hand in greeting.
Vincent hesitated...
Then awkwardly waved back.
Jake noticed.
"So that's why he kept asking if you were coming."
Vincent looked away.
"...He invited everyone."
Jake laughed.
"No."
"He invited you."
The referee blew the whistle.
The match began.
Vincent had absolutely no idea what was happening.
Players sprinted across the field at impossible speed.
Someone blew a whistle.
Half the crowd groaned.
The other half cheered.
Vincent leaned toward Jake.
"What just happened?"
"Offside."
"...What's offside?"
Jake stared.
"Oh, this is going to be a long afternoon."
For the next twenty minutes, Jake attempted to explain football.
Each explanation only seemed to create more questions.
"So they can't pass forward?"
"They can."
"But not then?"
"Correct."
"...Why?"
Jake sighed.
"I regret sitting next to you."
Meanwhile...
William couldn't stop glancing towards the stands.
Mason ran beside him.
"Dude."
"What?"
"Eyes on the game."
"I am."
"No."
Mason smirked.
"Your engineer's here."
William rolled his eyes.
"He's not my engineer."
"You've looked at him six times."
"I have not."
"Seven."
William opened his mouth to argue—
The ball landed at his feet.
Instinct took over.
One touch.
Two defenders.
A sharp turn.
The crowd rose.
William struck the ball.
GOAL!
The stadium exploded.
Students leapt to their feet screaming.
Jake grabbed Vincent's shoulder.
"He actually did it!"
Vincent found himself standing too.
Without thinking...
He smiled.
A real smile.
Down on the pitch...
William searched the crowd again.
There.
Fourth row.
Vincent was clapping.
Just once.
But he was clapping.
For some reason...
That felt better than hearing thousands of people chant his name.
The match ended 3–1.
The university celebrated late into the afternoon.
Outside the changing rooms, students crowded around the players asking for photographs and autographs.
William finally escaped thirty minutes later.
He spotted Vincent waiting beneath a tree.
"You stayed."
"You asked me to."
William smiled.
"So..."
Vincent folded his arms.
"I still don't understand offside."
William laughed.
"I'll explain it one day."
"I doubt it."
As they walked across campus together...
A loud voice interrupted them.
"William!"
A glamorous young woman hurried across the path.
Long blonde hair.
Designer handbag.
Perfect smile.
She wrapped William in a quick hug.
"You haven't answered any of my messages."
William looked surprised.
"Emma."
Vincent slowed his steps.
"You know each other?"
Emma smiled brightly.
"We dated."
Vincent's expression didn't change.
Not even slightly.
"Oh."
"It didn't work out," William explained quickly.
"We're still friends."
Emma looked at Vincent curiously.
"So..."
She smiled knowingly.
"You're the famous roommate."
William coughed.
"What?"
"I've heard all about you."
Vincent blinked.
"You have?"
Emma nodded.
"William doesn't usually talk this much about people."
William looked ready for the ground to swallow him.
"Emma..."
"What?"
She laughed.
"I'm just saying."
Vincent looked at William.
William suddenly found the pavement very interesting.
For reasons he couldn't explain...
Vincent felt strangely... relieved.
That evening...
The dorm was unusually quiet.
William sat on the floor, stretching sore muscles after the match.
Vincent looked up from his textbook.
"You played well."
William stopped.
"...You think so?"
"I don't know much about football."
William waited.
"But..."
Vincent looked away shyly.
"...I know you made everyone happy."
For a moment...
William forgot how to breathe.
Out of every compliment he'd ever received...
That one meant the most.
Not because Vincent praised his skill.
But because Vincent noticed what mattered to him.
Making people smile.
William grinned.
"Thanks, Vin."
Vincent nodded.
"You're welcome."
Neither of them realised...
That simple conversation would stay with them for years.
Later that night...
Connor Wynne sat alone in his office overlooking the glittering skyline.
A folder rested on his desk.
Inside...
Photographs.
Vincent laughing.
Vincent watching football.
Vincent smiling at William.
Connor closed the folder slowly.
"He smiles more around this boy."
His assistant nodded.
"Yes, sir."
Connor's eyes hardened.
"Then perhaps..."
He stood and looked out over the city.
"...it's time to remind Vincent why attachments are dangerous."
- Writer
