BackBone

Call Back

"Woooooo" I scream, cheering at the top of my lungs and clapping loudly at Keith.

"Hey!" Leo yells, pausing, ball under a foot as he points at me, shirtless "that's not fair" he points at Tori "babe cheer for me too".

Tori sighs heavily "Babe, I can't, I lost my voice, remember?" She winks at me with a smug smile on her face.

"Yeah, I really believe that" he concentrates on kicking the ball back to Keith, and Keith blows me a quick kiss before rushing to stop the ball from passing him.

I chuckle and relax in the chair, lifting my glass of orange juice.

I don't know how to describe the past six months. One thing I can say for sure is, I moved past Backbone. I wished and wished to get back in by some miracle, but I didn't, I failed with flying colors, and I did it to the watching eyes of everyone.

It took a whole month for me to stop getting weird stares and glances at school, finally everyone got hooked on watching the game, it obviously got hotter. So I did my best to tune out any news, gist or rumors about the game, I avoided Leo a lot now, since he watched Backbone every chance he got, not like Tori and Keith didn't too, but they respected my feelings more.

Keith! Yes! We've been... together. We are together, just not officially, we've been like this the past months, and we agreed we liked the way we are, no overly possessive behaviors, just cool in-feelings teenagers. Although we did everything couples did, calls, texts, kisses, outings, probably much centered ourselves around each other, we still always made sure not to get to... attached. Not that there was any competition on my angle, I didn't have the time to share my attention, besides, no guy tickled my fancy before Keith, and no one probably will. I'm content like this.

The first month after my elimination from Backbone was some rough month for me, the dreams never stopped, and then I started having dreams of the game I played and failed. It was on repeat every night that month and I'd be a walking mood switch. My mood switches were so bad that hanging out with Tori became difficult, because I was usually not up to discuss or she'd just stay silent and pass small talks when she could. Her level of tolerance was amazing. Although, I hardly got mood swings around Keith, seemingly because we hardly saw that month.

But as awesome as it feels, the next month was less tough, the dreams started to slow down, until it finally stopped. I've been dream free and mood swings free and I love, everyone loves it, even Dad and Mum.

Today, Friday after school, we are hanging out at Leo's, we've been hanging out as much as we can together, and today is yet another one of those days. We're at the back, Keith and Leo playing football with me and Tori relaxed at a table under a big umbrella to shade us from the hot sun. I don't know how they play in such sun.

"Look at you smiling all stupid". Tori says and chuckles mockingly.

I tear my gaze from Keith's shirtless figure, I can stare at him forever, but that'd be weird. I consider myself lucky to actually want to be with a particular kind of a guy or a particular guy and have him. I've wanted Keith for a long time and the bliss still hasn't settled, he excited me all the time.

I laugh "Stupid?" I sip my juice.

"Yeah. I mean, it's cute, both of you looking at each other like that" she leans forward on the table "and it's all because of me, you chicken!". She wiggles her brows at me.

Another laugh "Okay. I know you want praises, so, yeah, you're my lucky charm".

"Dang right I am!" She points at me "and I'm your personal chicken rescuer".

I chuckle at her.

Just then Leo and Keith join us, all sweaty and panting, shirts draping across one shoulder.

Keith takes my still chilled juice and gulps it down.

"Rude!" I say but a smile sticks on my face.

He lets out a long refreshing breath once he's done and smiles clumsily at me "Sorry. I really needed that, I'll refill for you when I'm done taking a shower, okay?". He drops the glass on the table.

I shrug "I can handle it".

"Ew!" Tori screeches, slapping Leo against the chest as he tries to kiss her "Go shower babe! Now you made me touch your sweaty chest, you're sweaty" she rubs the back of her palm against his shorts and curses "just shower".

Leo doesn't pay attention to her blabbering, he grips her cheeks and kisses her even as she protests against his lips.

When Leo pulls away Tori glares at him, trust Leo to find it amusing, he smirks at her "I love you babe" then straightens and starts walking towards the back door.

Tori raises a finger to me and Keith "Excuse me" she says behind gritted teeth, then gets up and sprints towards Leo, determination itched on her face as she tries to jump on his back, but Leo counters it, quickly spinning around, grabbing her and throwing them into the pool.

Keith and I laugh as they brawl in the pool...well, that's if Tori struggling and Leo pinning her against can be considered brawling. Then finally they melt into a very disturbing kiss. Yup, my cue to look away.

Keith does too, still smiling "I'll go shower now, I'm beginning to wonder how you keep up with their episodes, although I think they're great". He leans in and presses a quick kiss to my lips "be right back".

I blush as he walks away. Sigh. He makes me happy.

Tori walks over, hair dripping, clothes dripping, utterly wet and yet, she plops down on the chair.

"So" I start grinning"that was hilarious".

She smirks "I don't even know how I put up with that i***t!"

"Ahh" I say with risen brows "i***t? Perfect choice of words. You just love him a lot".

She giggles, shrugging "Yeah. Duh" she reaches for her lime juice.

My phone's beeps on the table and I pick it up, freezing when I see the message I got in my email.

"What's wrong Cassy?" Tori asks.

I tap the message, it pulls up, and my eyes skims the content, my heart beating faster, how much of a possibility is this?!

"Cassidy!" Tori yells.

"They're calling me back, I have to be there tomorrow" I smile widely at Tori "They want me back in Backbone".