A DIFFERENT KIND OF TRUST
1082 Words
Chapter Twelve — A Different Kind of Trust
I thought about Ethan's words all evening.
When the time comes, I'll tell you.
I didn't know what that meant.
I didn't know how long I was supposed to wait.
And honestly, I wasn't sure I wanted to wait at all.
But I had promised myself I wouldn't force him.
So the next morning, I tried to focus on football.
The championship was getting closer, and Coach had made it clear that every training session mattered.
I arrived at the field early, just like I had been doing all week.
Ethan was already there.
He was sitting on the bleachers, tying his shoelaces.
When he noticed me, he smiled.
“Morning.”
“Morning.”
I dropped my bag beside the bench.
“How are you feeling?”
He looked at me knowingly.
“You mean my side?”
“Yes.”
“Better.”
I studied his face.
“Really?”
“Really.”
I wasn't completely convinced, but I decided not to argue.
Instead, I sat beside him.
For a few seconds, we watched the empty field.
“You know,” Ethan said, “you're different lately.”
I looked at him.
“How?”
“You don't yell at me as much.”
I laughed.
“Maybe I'm improving.”
“Or maybe you secretly like me.”
I turned toward him.
“Don't push your luck.”
He laughed.
“There she is.”
I smiled despite myself.
Then Coach arrived.
“Everyone on the field!”
We stood up.
Training began.
---
Coach decided to run a full-team scrimmage.
This time, I was placed on Ethan's team.
Sophie was on the opposite side.
The whistle blew.
The game started quickly.
Sophie immediately took control of the ball.
She was fast, confident, and determined.
I chased her down and managed to intercept her pass.
“Nice try,” I said.
She smiled.
“Again?”
“Anytime.”
We continued.
The competition between us was intense, but it wasn't hostile.
I was beginning to respect her.
She wasn't trying to make me look bad.
She simply wanted to earn her place.
And I understood that better than anyone.
A few minutes later, Ethan passed the ball to me.
I ran forward.
Two defenders moved toward me.
I passed it back to Ethan.
He caught it and moved toward the goal.
Then he suddenly slowed.
His hand moved toward his side.
My heart dropped.
He kept going anyway.
I ran beside him.
“Ethan.”
“I'm okay.”
“You're not.”
“Keep playing.”
I looked at him.
He was trying to stay focused.
So I did the only thing I could.
I trusted him.
I ran ahead.
Ethan passed the ball.
I caught it and scored.
The whistle blew.
Our teammates cheered.
Coach nodded.
“Excellent teamwork!”
Ethan smiled at me.
I smiled back.
For a moment, I forgot about the rivalry.
Forgot about the scholarship.
Forgot about everything.
We had simply played together.
And it had felt right.
---
After the scrimmage, Coach gathered everyone around.
“I've been watching all of you carefully,” he said.
“The championship is approaching, and I need players who can trust each other.”
His eyes moved toward Ethan and me.
“Lena and Ethan, your teamwork has improved significantly.”
I glanced at Ethan.
He smiled.
Coach continued.
“Keep working like this.”
After the meeting, everyone began leaving.
Sophie walked past me.
“You two are really good together.”
I smiled.
“Thanks.”
She looked at Ethan.
“Don't get too comfortable, though.”
Ethan laughed.
“Wasn't planning to.”
She walked away.
I looked at him.
“She likes competing.”
“So do you.”
“Maybe.”
He smiled.
“Definitely.”
---
Later, I was packing my bag when I heard Ethan behind me.
“Lena.”
I turned.
“Yeah?”
He hesitated.
“Thanks.”
“For what?”
“For earlier.”
“You mean when I trusted you?”
He nodded.
“Yeah.”
I shrugged.
“That's what teammates do.”
He looked at me for a long moment.
“You really mean that?”
“Yes.”
His expression softened.
“I haven't had many people who do that.”
I didn't know what to say.
So I simply smiled.
Then he looked away.
“I should go.”
He picked up his bag.
As he walked past me, I noticed something on the floor.
A small medical strip had fallen from his pocket.
I picked it up.
“Ethan.”
He stopped.
I held it out.
He looked at it.
For the first time, his confident expression disappeared completely.
He took it from my hand.
“Thanks.”
I watched him carefully.
“Is that for your injury?”
He was silent.
Then he nodded.
“Yes.”
My heart tightened.
“So you really are injured.”
He looked at me.
“I told you I would explain when I was ready.”
“I know.”
He slipped the strip into his pocket.
“But now I know it's serious.”
He didn't answer.
“Ethan?”
He sighed.
“It's more complicated than I made it sound.”
“How long have you been dealing with it?”
He looked toward the field.
“A while.”
“Does it hurt when you play?”
“Sometimes.”
“And you still keep playing?”
“I don't have a choice.”
I frowned.
“Everyone has a choice.”
He looked at me.
“Not when your future depends on it.”
I understood immediately.
The scholarship.
His future.
The pressure.
It was all connected.
I wanted to tell him he should stop before he made things worse.
But I knew what it felt like to have your future hanging over your head.
So instead, I said,
“Just promise me you won't ignore it.”
He hesitated.
Then nodded.
“I promise.”
I smiled.
“Good.”
We walked out of the training facility together.
For the first time, I didn't feel like I was walking beside my rival.
I felt like I was walking beside someone who trusted me with a part of himself he was afraid to show anyone else.
And that changed something between us.
I just wasn't sure what yet.
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