Make It Count | ✓

06 - zephyr

"Take a picture of me," she said, extending her phone to me, and I reached out to receive it.

I smirked before she reeled around, displaying McMiller 07 on her back. Something funny swarmed in my chest when I saw her wearing it, a feeling that what I could only describe as amazing. And as I thought of this, I tapped the screen to take a shot of her.

And it wasn't long before I realized that she was my pride, perhaps more than what I could gain if we would win; I would surely make her proud today. With this, I had come to a decision to confess to her after the game once and for all. This idea had been constantly crossing my mind but I thought this was going to be the right time, though I would do all that I could to let our team win first since I wanted to be close to perfect.

Before finally separating since the game was about to start minutes from now, we shared a brief kiss that I still found equally special from the long, full-on kisses that what we'd already shared. Belle then sat on a spot that was close to the team's bench, but not before we took a picture together with Chabe between us.

"Wish me luck, Chabe!" I said, grinning, ruffling our pet's head.

"Break a leg!" Belle cheered, springing her knees in that sunny fashion of hers, only to sober up when she blushed after I tossed her a flirty wink.

Two minutes prior to the game and I found myself strutting towards the field. The people were cheering for the side they were rooting on. I searched for that familiar pretty face that kept me motivated. Belle waved at me, and I tossed a flying kiss in return and chuckled. Well, I admit, that was downright cheesy. Who cares? I was in love with her.

"Woah," I heard a booming voice within my earshot. It was Jordan Cross, Stockton High's quarterback. And a major asshole. "'Sup, lover boy?" He plastered a shit-eating grin on his face; I wanted to punch his blond meat of a head if only we weren't on the field.

"New quick fuck?" he mocked, glancing at Belle, and I almost lost my shit.

I clenched my jaw, my sight nearly setting him on fire. Everything's different now. Belle wasn't just another face in the crowd that I wanted to be on my bed for the night. She had my heart and this bastard was going to regret it if he would carry on.

"Does your ass hole get jealous from the shit that's coming out of your mouth?" I countered caustically, narrowing my eyes at the dickwad.

He snickered like a hyena, ducking his head for a moment or two, grasping his knees that his laugh looked overdramatic to me. "You're one to talk, McMiller," grumbled Jordan later on, a sour look etching on his already sour looking face. "Don't come clean as a hound's tooth. We both know you stole my girlfriend."

"Ex-girlfriend," I corrected. "And for the record, she dropped her thongs first. She served me the dessert, I was just applying the whipped cream."

"Fuck you," he hissed, a muscle ticking in his jaw. "What if I steal your girl now, huh? She looks fuckable."

I was so close at the end of my tether that it took me a great amount not to hit him square in the face. To pounce this jackass wasn't worth it and I couldn't afford to undo all my work for this day, either, though I was sure as hell going to make him pay one of these days.

"Don't you fucking dare lay a finger on her, Cross! I wasn't playing the field and your girl threw herself at me, but I'm trying to wipe the slate clean here even if they all knew what to expect from me the first time; including your chick."

He sobered up, my words hitting home. Jordan Cross was short on looks, let's put it that way, although there were still girls who'd spread their legs for him. But I called the shots over that category and I wasn't even kidding here without sounding conceited. I hadn't dated anyone but girls made it easier for me on the physical part. That was the sole purpose of both parties anyway, as much as I was concerned.

Heather might had already been bored with him and gave the hint right off the bat the moment I came within her radar. I didn't want to sound like an animal and wanted to bang her the second time around but the girl was hot.

But she wasn't Belle.

"Whatever," he countered flatly. "Once a playboy, always a playboy."

I smirked, because if anything, his words merely inflated my ego a little bit more. "I take that as a compliment."

He was about to reply when in came the signal. In one swift motion, I shoved him hard, not a single second wasted to run, and I could only hear faint cheers from the crowd since my mind was transfixed more on the matter at hand.

My eyes fleetingly glanced at the scouts, studying the game, just as I jumped high, catching the ovoid ball from my mate, Doug.

Cross's minions were blocking me but I faked a right throw and turned to the left, hiding the ball then sped up towards the opponent's end zone, slamming the ball on the ground as our first touchdown moments later.

I did a quick nae nae-our team always made a small party dance whenever we aced the game. Although I didn't fancy dancing, I couldn't help but celebrate. But it was too soon for victory, I decided.

As though a second nature, I glanced at Belle; she was clapping her hands, waving at me with full enthusiasm. I pounded my fist on my chest twice, the other hand stretching out to point at her. My uniform clinging to her made me pumped up all the more. Belle tenderly smiled at this and she blew me a kiss and I randomly caught it, a super, whipped grin breaking out of my face.

For the next couple of minutes, the game escalated to a critical point. Stockton High was just a couple of scores short from ours, Fairville High. I found myself in full tilt, twisting my waist to make a nice throw as good as I could, passing it on my boy, Kazuki. The team zeroed in on the ball closely as we ran, aiming close to our base.

Kazuki threw it back to me since I was one of the players everyone relied on and I wasn't planning to disappoint them; and so Cross blocked me as I attempted to grasp the ball, but the moron beat me to it.

"Shit," I muttered, glimpsing at Belle. She tossed me an okay sign and I nodded. Turning on my heels, I bumped Cross to steal the ball. I did it as swift as I could that he even froze for awhile, clearly confused where the ball was. Before he could finally notice, I stormed away, tackling the opponents whenever I had the chance, guarding the ball in my arms. I dodged Stockton High's defenses as I increased my offense for the last quarter of the game.

Everything was in slow motion.

The shitheads were behind and in front of me and I was seconds away to the zone. If this were a movie, then I was sure the camera's focused on me, and I could've sworn that I felt all eyes were on me, holding their breaths, anticipating if I could do it or not.

As if time righted in its original pace, I placed a kick through the goal, earning a loud cheer from the crowd when we earned the field goal. Fairville High nailed the game if not for my coach and my mates. We fucking won.

"Shit, yeah!" I yelled, the boys gathering towards me. They simultaneously whacked my head gear in a playful manner as we did our bro hugs. Everyone shouted a string of curses; a guy thing whenever we were so thrilled. We all did weird dances then they hoisted me up in the air, my fists raising in pleasure. "Woohoo!" I pumped my chest twice once more, pointing at Belle. She jumped for joy, running down the bleachers towards the field.

Of course, I got a kiss. A steamy one at that.

We were both in our own world regardless of the boys whistling around us, and all I could mechanically do was to grope her nape, my rough skin grazing against her smooth neck so I could pull her in to press my forehead to her.

We both heaved our elated smiles like we were on top of the world, staring at each other, like, even at the most crowded situation, all we could pay attention to was the moment within a moment.

Belle was my lucky charm and I was going to confess to her later.

And I wasn't looking forward to what I was about to face that day.