Soccer Camp

Game Time

I stood on the bleachers as the screaming fans cheered on, my nerves on edge. They were losing by three points and it was all my fault.

Every night when we would meet up, and he would make me feel beyond normal, he would remove his lucky socks - and I wouldn't stop him.

I wasn't suspicious or anything, but if they lost this game, I was going to freak.

"Relax Bambi," Matt pulled me down onto the seat beside him "they still have time. By the way, did you hear about Nicole?" he smiled, his attention no longer on the soccer match.

I turned to him in wonder but then snapped back to the game as Jesse took the ball from his opponent, passing it off to his team mate. They pushed down the track as a team of three, working the field.

Back and forth they went, passing it between each other as the other team ran from one to the other.

"Shoot already" I screamed as loud as possible, the tension getting too much for me.

Taking the cue, the ball sped into the goal, passing between the goalies legs.

"Yes!" I screamed, rising to my feet. I cheered ecstatically as I watched Jesse smile at his team, clamping them on.

I sat back down and then turned to Matt finally. "What about her?" I breathed, relaxing on the bench.

He shook his head with a smile, dismissing my sudden obsession with soccer. "She was removed from the premise last night"

"You're lying!" I gasped in surprise.

"I never lie... unless it's for my benefit." he smirked, placing his hand on my knee. "Security and everything."

"Why did they ask her to go?" I mean I wasn't complaining or anything, but it would be nice to know.

"Apparently the team complained about her, no doubt about her clinginess" he fanned off.

David finally returned with the popcorn and M&Ms. I refused his offer to take anything, my stomach on edge.

It was overtime and they only had five minutes to score two points. It was a done deal. I sat at the edge of my seat and prayed.

Within the last two minutes, they scored one more goal, but evidently, the game was over. I sat on my seat and listened to the roar of the crowds.

Each group was defending their teams as the players worked their way over to each other to shake hands.

"Let's go" Matt took my hands and pulled me behind him as we followed the crowd out of the stadium.

"I'm going to go find him" I informed Matt as I turned towards the other hall. He waved and nodded as we separated, heading towards the celebration party.

Instead of entering the dressing rooms, I sat on a bench around the locker corner.

What did I do? If this wasn't my fault then something had to be wrong. I shouldn't'... we should't... I mean this was Jesse's life. He lived and breathed soccer. God, he was famous for it! What would this do to him? Would he blame me for this? Could I blame him?

I sighed in exhaustion and rested my head in my palms. I had no idea how long I stayed on the bench thinking about what happened until I heard the roars of happiness. A large group of boys headed towards me as I gazed down the hall at them. They were laughing and joking about the game, their gym bags and shoes in their hands. I stared in shock when I saw that it was Jesse and his friends.

He didn't look like how I thought he would. He seemed to be having fun. When his eyes fell from his friends' and found mine, he smiled wider.

"Hey" I waved as happily as I could.

He stopped in front of me and helped me to my feet, brushing my hair from my face. He waved to his friends and then gazed down at me. "Hey" he whispered back, leaning in to kiss me slowly.

"I'm sorry" I mumbled when we pulled away, my struggle to catch my breath becoming easier.

"For what?" He questioned.

"I made you take off your lucky socks and you lost. We should't hav-"

"Hey" he interrupted. "Don't do that. I took off those socks because I wanted to. They weren't the reason why we lost. It just wasn't our year."

"But it was your luck" I frowned, still holding on to self-pity.

"You're all the luck I need"

"And look how well that turned out" I grumbled.

"Were you playing today or was I?" He joked, pulling me closer until our foreheads were touching.

"I just want you to be happy" I whispered as he pulled my bottom light gently with his teeth.

"As long as I have you I'm happy" he finished. I moaned quietly as he placed small kisses down my neck. Flashbacks of last night came to mind and how he demanded my body.

"We should head to the celebration" I defused. If we started now, it would never finish.

He sighed but nodded.

We headed home on different buses that night. I slept the whole way, exhausted and excited to not have the share my room with more than one person. I had reached my limit with all the socialization obligations I was held to. Matt insisted that it was now apart of my 'duties' as the captain's girl friend, but I don't remember signing any agreement.

But I played along, making sure to play my part. And now, I was tired. Matt disappeared with David the minute the bus parked in the camp lot so I headed in alone.

I slowly and drowsily made my way to the cabinet entrance. Jesse's bus was a good hour behind us so I would try to wait up for him, I thought.

A tall image stood at my door, the hallway poorly lit.

"Hello?" I called out, scared to go any further.

"You had me kicked out of the camp" she mumbled harshly, her figure moving towards me. I relaxed when I heard her voice, happy that it was someone I knew.

"I have no idea how that happened." I admitted honestly.

"Did you tell him?" she hissed.

"Was your assault in the middle of the cafeteria a secret?" I asked rhetorically.

"Of course he would make them ask me to leave," she rolled her eyes "I just hope for your sake, you don't give it up too easily" she said.

"What are you talking about?"

"Do you really think you're the only one after him? There are many innocent virgins running around here and around the world," she emphasized "that would love to have him pop their cherries." She came closer to my face. "Take my advice. Don't give it to him, because when you do, this hold you seem to have on him will disappear."

"Have you been drinking?" I glared

"Take it how ever you want" she walked passed me and down the hall. "But do yourself a favor and not w***e yourself out"

"What's your problem?" I snapped.

She turned to me. "My problem is you. The fact that you think you two will be together beyond this camp. Let me give you a hint. This camp ends, your relationship ends. He goes back to his stardom and glory and you return to your dull life. He returns to Spain with photoshoots and competition games, and you return to your dorky little books and your country ass state." she placed her hand on her hip. "Just save yourself the embarrassment and stop acting like you're better than everyone."

"I think you got us confused. No one thinks that." I shook my head.

"You're right, because no one knows you two are honestly together. To everyone, you're just the summer's flavor. If you don't believe me, then just ask anyone." She left the cabinet, but I sat down beside the door, unable to go in.

When my roommate eventually came in along with a few other residence, I followed her in. "What do you think of Jesse and I?" I asked innocently.

"Yeah, you two are cute together" she nodded. It was clear she was tired, but I wanted answers. She pulled off her pants and crawled under the sheets.

"Be honest, do you think we will last after next week? When the camp's over?" I mumbled.

"Honestly?" she clarified.

"Yeah" I muttered as I sat down for her answer.

"He lives in Spain, Amber. You guys are young, so likely no one is moving from their country, so best chance is a long distance relationship. You're a smart girl so I'm sure you're planning on attending college. He plays soccer professionally, and between your schedules, where is the time?" She asked me, her back still turn to me and her voice drifting off.

She was right. Summer was over.

It was time to come back to reality.