A small crowd of people watched the game between the high school squads, boys vs. girls, the A squads versus the B squads. Due to the limited size of the team, some of the players played for both squads, tweeners that Coach Rodriguez wanted to test out more.
Nik ran down the middle of the field, ball dancing at his feet, as he threaded a needle pass to one of his strikers. The striker had zero time to react to the slide that dispossessed him immediately the moment before the ball would have hit his foot.
Up to her feet in a flash, the tall, athletic brunette streaked down a flank, looking for any and all support for a counter-attack. None of the girls could catch up to the speedy defender, and a few of the boys also had trouble as she nutmegged a couple out of arrogance.
Some of the parents cheered at the athletic, Maradonna-esque display, but Nik had other ideas. Unlike the real World Cup moment, where the midfielder just hovered in the background waiting for someone else to get the job done, Nik beelined right for Tiffany. He studied her moves during practice and games, anticipating what she’d do next.
Homing in, he returned the favour by sliding in from a side angle. He got the ball and her feet in the process. She fell over his legs with a hard tumble, rolling over the grass haphazardly. The ref blew the whistle. Tiffany got up quickly and gave Nik a shove, hard enough it pushed him down on his ass. Some of the team gasped in shock while others laughed.
“Fucker, what was that for?” she yelled at him.
“I got the ball first. It is a contact sport, Tiffany. Toughen up, cupcake,” he retorted, getting up.
“Bullshit! It is a fucking exhibition game. You could have snapped my leg in two!”
“Hey, shut it, you two!” Coach Rodriguez yelled from the sidelines. “Get your asses over here, now!”
The two stared daggers at each other as they walked off, being replaced by two subs. The tension couldn’t be cut with a knife; it’d melt before being pulled out of the sheath.
“Seriously, this is an exhibition game. What the shit are you two doing, especially in front of your own folks!?” she not so quietly cursed at the two stars.
In the stands, parents tried to go back to the game, whispering amongst themselves. Veronika looked concerned.
“The coach looks pissed. That Latina blood won’t die down any time soon,” Viktoria commented. “Looks like Nik is in some serious trouble.”
“Why did he have to go and do a stunt like that?” Veronika asked.
“Ask Krystal. He probably got it from watching her on TV. Have you forgotten how insane she was when we were in school?”
“You don’t need to remind me. Mom and dad were livid for a month after she broke that girl’s leg in the semi-finals.”
“Tiffany doesn’t look too hurt, just her pride. This was the girl Nik always hung out with?” Viktoria asked.
“Yep, they used to be so close I had to give him the talk just in case.”
“I don’t think you’ll need to worry about that anymore. I swear if she were a he, Nik would have slugged her on the jaw by now.”
“Hey, what is the big idea with your kid!?” an angry Asian woman said, walking up to the pair.
“Don’t yell at me, Jinny. I didn’t tell Nik to sweep the leg. Besides, he got the ball first,” Veronkia snapped back.
“This is Tiffany’s big year. She has scouts coming to see her during the season. I don’t want your kid fucking it up for her or else my husband will have to take care of things,” Jinny said, angrily.
“Big words, going to hide behind your husband’s pants?” Viktoria goaded her.
“Stop it, Vikky, we don’t need a brawl in the stands as well. Look, Jinny, just take a walk. Your daughter is fine and it is just a game. Don’t make a scene in the stands and make everything worse for your kid. We get kicked out of here, who knows what’ll happen to both our kids on the team.”
Veronika tried to be the voice of reason, even though it got her another tongue lashing before Jinny got her fill and left in a huff to the other end of the stands.
“Someone needs to get laid more,” Viktoria commented. “If Tiffany is anything like her mother, I think even if Nik and her got together, it’d end up as World War 3. The firecracker has still not shut up over there...”
Viktoria poked Veronika on the arm, motioning for them to move to one of the standing areas to keep watching, and keep away from the drama.
“Okay, okay, okay, Tiffany, just shut up. Sit at this end of the bench and Nik go chill out at the guy’s bench. I don’t need this headache right now while I’m trying to coach both teams solo. I’m disappointed in both of you right now,” she lectured them.
Nik went off, still glared at by Tiffany. He found his spot on the bench and riffled through his gym bag. The practice game was done for him, and now he wondered what would happen with the armband he worked so hard to acquire. Giving out a long sigh, Nik looked at the crowd to see how they reacted.
Most of the parents had gone back to watching the game, still, there were groups obviously chatting amongst themselves and he didn’t know if it was about the tackle or just general chit-chat. A hot brunette waved at him from the crowd, and a second, instantly making him forget what just happened.
They didn’t look pissed or angry, instead smiling as best he could tell from being so far away. Now he felt regret in the pit of his stomach. Aunt Viktoria watched the game, and it might be the only game she could watch of his. Fifteen minutes into the game and gone.
“I’ve got to make sure we win. I want her to see me win a game. If we make it to the championship, she’ll surely come and watch me,” he thought to himself.
The rest of the practice games went by quietly. Nik and Tiffany kept apart from each other, and never said a word once the games were finished. He sat on the bench, sorting through his gym bag when Zoya walked over to him. The rest of the teams had already bolted in a flash after the coach’s post-game pep talk, wanting to enjoy the rest of their Saturday.
“Nik, I don’t think I need to explain to you the stunt that happened today backfired. Next practice; keep the leg sweeps for the opposing teams.”
“Yes, Coach, I’ll take it down a notch during these games,” he replied.
“Look,” Zoya said, wrapping a comforting arm around Nik, “Shit happens. Tiffany didn’t get hurt, controversy over. I’m hard on you cause you’re going to be the captain. That means the bar has to be set higher for you than anyone else.”
Nik nodded, understanding what she meant. From afar, however, Veronika looked on, shifting in her seat uncomfortably at seeing Zoya wrapped around Nik.
“Damn bitch better get her hands off my boy,” she cursed under her breath.
Zoya held Nik platonically. It appeared no more than a coach comforting a player, despite the gender difference. However, something inside of Veronika couldn’t handle the appearance.
“You say something?” Viktoria asked.
“I said she better not touch him.”
