Chapter 39: Let's go to war!

My life was a disaster and I was continuously being reminded. For years my plan was to separate them and now when Meredith announced post-phoning the wedding, I felt like a fool. My dad was at her side every passing minute of the day, watching her sleep, and making sure she ate. I was jealous at first, but then I was reminded that she used to be there for him non-stop when he was lost. She needed him now more than ever.

Her cries kept everyone awake at night, my father was patient with her and gave her the space she needed. But, he didn’t go far to hear her calling him back. By, Thursday she looked better. The bruises started to fade, the color in her face has returned and the hope was back in her eyes. But, we didn’t talk to one another and when we did it felt awkward. I didn’t blame her for blaming me for their wedding not happening.

This Friday, Meredith was expected to be at court for Jonah’s fathers’ case. She was not only a witness to all his past failures, but the information she handed the lawyers was solid and it helped them to build a case against him. There were rumors that the information handed could keep him behind bars for a while.

I kept silent about my game on Friday, for now, they had to focus on her case.

Friday morning was completely chaotic. Meredith’s lawyers were already here and they were going over the notes. While I was upstairs packing my sports bag for this afternoon’s game. I packed in my uniform and all the necessary items for the game. I grabbed my sneakers and started to make my way down the stairs when I heard Brandon’s car outside.

I was still in the middle of zipping up my bag when Meredith made her way up the stairs. A frown on her face as she watched my actions. “Do you have a game this afternoon?” She asked looking at my sports bag.

“Uh, just a friendly match nothing important.” I lied. “Will you still be able to fetch Jonah from school, I don’t know how long this thing at court can take?” She asked. “Yeah, sure.” I answered skimming past her down the stairs while trying to get to the front door. “Good luck with today.” I said to her. “I’m sure everything will work out for you.” She looked surprised. “I need to go.” I said hearing a car’s horn. I called Jonah and together we made our way out of the house and towards Brandon’s car.

“You lied to her.” Jonah said. “I know. She’s got more important things to worry about now than my game.” I took his bags and put them in the back while Brandon got out and pushed his seat forward so that Jonah could climb in at the back. “But, you are also important.” He said before greeting Brandon who greeted him with a fist pump. “Sup, little man.”

“You okay, Adams?” Brandon asked coming over to help me put the bags at the back. “I’m good.”

“Liar.” He said closing the boot door. “I hate that you can see right through me.” I admitted. “Well, we have been hanging around each other for too long, I was about to catch up.” I just shook my head at his reply and got into the car. He drove us over to Jonah’s school and helped him get out of his bags. “See you later, little man.” Brandon said before getting back into the car.

“You sure it won’t be a problem to pick him up?” I asked. “Nah, you got a game to worry about. I’ll make sure to pick him up.” I was grateful. Brandon found an open parking spot at school, and helped me with my bags and together we entered the school building where the whispering still continued. A rumor about Brandon surfaced the school Tuesday morning and it spread like a wildfire and soon everyone knew. But not one person had the right version of his attack or what he did.

“Here comes trouble.” I told Brandon as I watched Clarissa making her way over to us. Brandon’s mother had a word with her and asked her nicely to stay away from him, but you think she listened? Rumour has it, she was in love with him. Who can blame her? “You want me to leave?” I asked when I caught Daphne at the end of the hall waiting for me.

“Nah ah. You stay right here like a good little girl.” I rolled my eyes at his remark. “I’m far from being a good girl.” I mumbled. “Is that so?” He playfully challenged. The corners of his mouth turned up. "I thought that you know me by now?" I replied. I tried to keep breathing when I realized that our faces were mere inches apart. He too seems to realize it as he quirked an eyebrow. Was it a challenge to see if I would make a move?

We didn't quite get to that part as we were interrupted by someone clearing their throat trying to get our attention. We turned our heads in unison and found Clarissa standing in front of us scowling. "Hey, Brandon." She greeted ignoring me. "Can we talk?" She asked forcing herself between Brandon and me. I tried to stifle a laugh at how desperate she was.

He was looking at me for some kind of insight. I pulled up my shoulders. "Sasha and I were actually in the middle of something." He said making up a terrible excuse. "Please, Brandon. I believe we can fix things between us." She begged. "I can't Clarissa. It's over." He told her nicely. "But, I love you, Brandon." Okay, time to go.

He didn't even stop me when I walked away. Daphne looked at me suspiciously when I walked up to her. "What was that?" She asked when I neared her. "Your sister laying out her feelings." I answered. "I mean before her rude interruption." I looked at her with confusion. "It almost looked as if you two were going to have a hot make-out session right here in front of all these people."

"You are delusional." I walked away from her when I heard the school bell ringing. "Am I?" She asked catching up.

Brandon and I haven't seen each other during the whole day, I believed that he was still shocked with Clarissa declaring her love to him. Daphne accompanied me to the field where we got in a few hours of practice before the game starts. Our time soon came to an end when the other team showed up. They looked ready. They strolled in with confidence while we stood there watching them with not so much confidence.

The nerves were picking at each player of my team even the locker room was filled with uncomfortable silence. The coach couldn't even talk sense into us. A game we needed to win and here we are counting our shoe lasses. We left the locker room when we got called to the field, the stands were already warmed up and when we made our entrance we got nothing but a crowd booing us.

"Don't listen to them." I suddenly said loud enough to make a point. The girls look petrified even it they listened to me and continued making their way on to the field while I stayed behind with our coach. "I thought we were going to be ready for this." I heard her mutter. "We were until we saw them strolling in with their game faces on." I replied.

The game started out and it was not going so well for us. They kept breaking through our defense lines. I was pacing up and down while watching the game. I watched as Casey finally got the ball with a lucky shot. "Pass the ball, Casey!!" I yelled as I watched her being surrounded. Nicole was yelling for the ball, but she didn't think and lost the ball. "Dammit!" I cursed. "Adams, calm down." The coach ordered. I wanted to get out there and share my fair share of frustration. I looked over at the other team and saw that they had visitors from various Universities. "That's the Scouters." The coach said. "I figured." I replied.

The coach and I looked at each other with confusion when Casey made her way over to where we were standing. "You are up, Adams." She said. Did she really just say that? I looked at the coach for conformation, she nodded and sent me off to go play. I grabbed my hockey stick and made my way. The girls looked hopeful when I made my way over to them.

"Okay look. I'm no god and I don't have magical powers to get us to win or get points on the scoreboard. But just like all of you, I want us to win so that we can continue playing the rest of the season and maybe stand a chance at the top 5." The girls just nodded. "Each of you is talented. Never think otherwise. And all of you are on this team because you are good enough to make a difference. Together we can put points on the board, what do you say?" They cheered. "Now let's do this."

I felt the pressure as each girl's eyes were on me from the other team. They didn't look convinced, because they didn't know who I was. I tightened my ponytail and got into my position. They played the ball in front of me like I was an amateur, it got me to steal the ball and pass it down to Nicole who passed it back down to me when I had an opening. We went for our first goal and got our first points on the board.

I smiled to myself when I saw the look of astonishment on the other team's faces. They didn't expect that play from me. With every play, my team's confidence slowly returned and with every defense line, we broke through their determination grew. And once the referee called the game to an end we were crowned as the winners. Watching every girl break out in tears from happiness made me smile. This is the break we needed and we got it. We finally stood a chance.

Even the coach had tears in her eyes when she overwhelmed us. I didn't believe in miracles, but we were given one tonight. I looked up from the girls to see Brandon, Jake, Daphne, and Jonah making their way over to me. Brandon overwhelmed me with a hug and then lifted me up into the air. He put me back down on my feet and gave me another hug. "How are you feeling?" He asked. "Let me get back to you on that." I answered with a chuckle when everyone else hugged me.

I was then surprised when my dad and Meredith made their way over to us. "Dad?" I left them to walk up to my dad. "How did the case go?" I asked looking at Meredith. "He's not coming out soon." She replied smiling. "Meredith told me that you had a game and I couldn't miss it." My father said handing me a piece of paper. It was my permission slip for the weekend.

"I found it in your room. I don't know why you think that you are not important to me." He started and then overwhelmed me with a hug. "You are by far the most important thing to me."