Helping my crush

Chapter sixteen - My lucky charm

Chris's POV:

Bella still finds it hard to concentrate in class. I am trying to help her with what I can. Mister Evans is still in the hospital. The doctor said that he could put him in rehab for two weeks. I never thought that they had rehabs for alcohol addiction. I thought it was for something more serious. It's not like alcohol isn't. You can still die from it if you drink too much. At least he will be sober for a couple of days. What the therapist said to Bella was true. She needs to make him realize how important she and her sister are to him. I am starting to think that mister Evens thinks of his daughters as a gift. It's not like having kids isn't the most beautiful gift, but you have to take care of them. When you get older, they will do it. I'm saying that Bella's dad is still capable of taking care of her and Emily. I don't know why he decided to give up. Life didn't end. Since he is still alive, it means that no one wants him to die. I know it's hard for him to move on, but he has to think about his daughters. Maybe there is still hope for him. Mister Evans may not realize it, but without Bella, everything would fall apart. Emily is still young, and she can't do many things, but Bella is what keeps everything in order. She gave up on her teenage years to start taking care of everything, including him. I understand why he is acting this way, but this doesn't mean he is right. I hope that soon he will be who he used to be. I know that Bella will be happy.

Today is my first practice for the season. We have a game on Friday. I hope that Bella will come. I haven't asked her yet, but I want her to come. Something that I didn't tell her is that she brings me luck. Maybe it's not true, but I believe it. I think that thanks to her, we will win the game. I just feel good when she is around me, and I think this can help me on Friday. I hope that she won't deny it. My parents said that they would come before I managed to ask them. I'm glad that they support me in everything.

I woke up and went to get ready. I wanted to have my breakfast with Bella. I planned to ask her today if she would come to my game. To be honest, I want her in my practice as well, but I don't know how my team would feel about this. The cheerleaders will be there anyway. The suggestion was accepted, and now they will open every practice of ours as it is a game. When I was ready, I took my backpack and left. I would gladly get my sister, but I don't want to do it today. I knocked on the door, and Emily opened it.

- Hey, Emily. Is your sister here?

- Yes. Where is yours?

- She is at home.

- Oh, ok. Come in. Bella is in the kitchen.

I walked in and saw her cooking. My girl in her natural habitat. Bella needs more free time. I hope that I can be the one who will give it to her.

- Hey, chef.

- Oh, hi, Chris. What are you doing here?

- I came to take you.

- Thanks, but I'm not ready yet.

- Don't worry. I came for something else as well.

- Can I know what it is?

- I wanted to ask you something, and I hope you will say yes.

- It depends on what it is.

- This Friday is my first game. Will you come to watch it?

- You want me to come and watch your game?

- Yes. I need my lucky charm.

- Let's pretend I didn't hear the last thing because it's not true. So, about the game. I will come, but you have to find someone who will take care of Emily.

- My parents will come with Jasmine. You can take your sister with you. What do you think?

- Ok, I will come.

- Really? Thank you.

- No problem. - Bella said, smiling

- One more thing. Today is my first practice. Can you come?

- Don't you want too much?

- Please.

- Fine. I hope this is the last thing which you will want from me.

- Actually, there is one more thing.

- Chris!

- I'm kidding. I don't want anything else from you.

After breakfast, Bella and I took Emily to school. I saw my mom, who was with Jasmine. The girls walked inside, and we went to our school. We received a couple of looks, but we ignored them. Mostly it was from Jessy and Riven. I talked with him, and he told me that Bella was a distraction. It's not like the cheerleaders are not. Now, since they will be at every practice, I'm sure that he will watch them all the time.

- Do you think it's a good idea for me to come to your practice?

- Yes, I do. Don't worry about what other people say.

- If you say so.

Bella and I took what we needed and walked to class. We sat in front of Dani. He is the only one from the team who likes Bella. She is not a bad girl, but I don't think others see her that way. For them, she would always be the antisocial girl. I told my friend that Bella would come and he was happy to hear it. I know she will feel uncomfortable, but I hope she can get used to it. I plan to take her to every game of mine.

On the lunch break, I had to sit with my team. We need to make some strategies for the game. It's not like the coach won't help us. After all, that's why he is with us. I only hope that no one will bother Bella. When we finished with the important things, I walked up to her. She didn't notice me. Her head was somewhere else.

- Hello. Are you ok?

- Oh, hi. Yes, I'm fine.

- My practice is after school.

- But I have to take Emily.

- Mom will take care of it. Moreover, yesterday Jasmine told me that she has a project to do with Emily.

- I didn't know about that.

- Maybe she forgot to tell you.

- In that case, I will come with you.

- Awesome. Thank you, Bella.

- No problem.

Until the end of the classes, I was talking with my friend. I told her what she could expect but also not to worry. Mostly, I expect Jessy to be mean to her, but I will be there and won't let her do anything. When the last class finished, we walked to the field. The cheerleaders were already there. I noticed how Jessy looked at Bella, but I didn't do anything. Now it's not the time for drama. Soon the whole team came, and Jessy with her team started their practice. I have to say that they are good. The thing is that I don't like this sport. If this is a sport, because I don't think it has been announced officially.

- Look, I have to go and play. No matter what any of the girls tell you, don't listen to them. They only want to upset you.

- Chris, I am not a little kid. - she said, chuckling

- I know, but I want to say it.

I hugged Bella and went to play. We don't have a complete strategy, but we are working on it. While I was playing, I noticed that Jessy was talking with her. I want to make her go away, but I have to focus. Otherwise, what Riven said will be true. Bella is not a distraction for me, but I don't want it to look like that.

- Stop! What are you doing? That is not how champions play. Boys, the game is on Friday. I want all of you to concentrate. - the coach said

- Tell this to Chris. - Riven said

- Maybe I should tell you this. Except for competing with Chris, you didn't do anything else. You have a five-minute break.

I was walking to the benches when I noticed Bella was going away. I will kill Jessy. Not for real, but I will talk with her. I ran after Bella and found her in the hall.

- Bella! Wait!

- Chris, I want to go home.

- You can't leave.

- Why? Nobody wants me to be here. I don't want to sit here and listen to how everyone is talking sh*t about me. - she said with tears in her eyes

- I want you to be here. Please, Bella.

- No. I'm sorry, but I can't. I won't come to the game on Friday.

- What? You can't do this.

- I'm sorry.

- Please, you have to come. Otherwise, we won't win. I didn't tell you this, but you bring me luck. Bella, I need you.

- What? Really?

- Yes. You are important to me. I need my lucky charm. - I said and grabbed Bella's hands

Both of us were looking at each other without saying anything. It will be a lie if I say that I don't want to kiss Bella. Now is not the moment for that. I want her to be with me.

- I will finish my practice soon, and we can go home. Can you wait for me?

- Yes. I can.

- Thank you. - I said and hugged her

We walked back to the field, and I continued with my practice. I know that Jessy wasn't satisfied, but I don't care. When I finished, I took Bella, and we walked home. The girls were in the living room, drawing something. Maybe it's for their project. Jasmine didn't tell me what it was. Bella and I walked into the kitchen. Since they have occupied the living room, we can study in the kitchen. I can offer my room, but it's a bit messy.

- I want to take a quick shower. If you want, we can study in my room, but it's messy.

- I don't mind.

- Let's go then.

When I walked out of the shower, I was surprised. My room was clean, and everything was in order. Did Bella do all of this? I didn't ask her. I won't lie that I am happy about it. I looked at her, but she didn't notice me. My friend was doing her homework. I sat next to her and made her look at me.

- Thank you, but there was no need to do this.

- I didn't do anything.

- Bella, I know that you cleaned my room.

- No, I didn't. - she said, innocently

- I know you won't admit it, but I appreciate your help. - I said and kissed her cheek

I promised not to do it again, but I have tried to avoid this since the day she told me. It's not easy. After all, I still have a crush on her, no matter that she has no idea.

- I'm sorry. I know what you told me.

- It's ok. I don't mind. Can we do our homework now? I want to go home.

- Sure. With what should we start? Maybe Math again.

- You don't have to do this.

- Why?

- Because I did it.

- Bella!

- I wanted to help.

- You started helping me too much, don't you think?

- Fine, I won't help you anymore.

- I didn't say that.

The rest of the day I spent with Bella. She wanted to go home, but I convinced her to stay for a little longer. I know she won't admit it, but my friend likes to stay at home. I try everything possible to make her stop thinking, even for a while. She told me tomorrow she would go to see her dad. Let's hope that he is in a better state. I would gladly go with her, but I have football practice again. This time it will be longer. Two days left until the game, and we need to have a positive start to the season. Since Bella is there, I know that we'll win. My lucky charm will help me.