Saved by the Whistle

two || retiform

"We'll see you at the game later!" Antonio called as he walked with a group of guys in the opposite direction of her. She smiled, for it was a huge rivalry game and their school was big into soccer. It was the football of Blue Lake High School, for no one showed up to the football games anymore since soccer was established. The only game that was big was the homecoming game, which filled the stadium once a year.

Georgia found herself parked at a stoplight behind the bus an hour and a half later, Allison in the passenger seat. They were singing along to the game day playlist Allison had made at the beginning of the year during their track season, so they knew all the songs from then. After the song that was playing, Allison turned the music down and looked to Georgia with pleading eyes.

"Okay GJ, spill. What's happening with Antonio?" She asked, and she let a sigh escape her lips as they turned at a light.

"Nothing is going on since the last time you asked." Georgia responded with a grunt.

"You guys looked so cute at lunch today, though! There's got to be something you're not telling me." She pried as they pulled into the parking lot of the stadium. 

"There's nothing going on. I still like him and he's oblivious." She stated, shutting off the car and unlocking the doors, ending their conversation. She got her soccer bag out of the back seat and closed the door, waiting until Allison got hers before locking it. They followed the rest of the team as they got off the bus and went into the locker room, the junior varsity team already taking the field. The girls who were not changed yet like Georgia and Allison got changed into uniform and went out into the stands as the game began, sitting near the student section that the Blue Lake Chieftains set up in the away bleachers, but the section remained scarce, for it was just the junior varsity team playing at the moment. Coach Carter sat with them, and they all talked about who they were up against and what they needed to do. Westview was one of three rival schools in Portland that they were up against, but the Chieftains typically came out on top. They were state title winners three years in a row, no one coming in to take their title yet.

The game wound down as the Chieftains took the lead, and the varsity team began warming up on the side of the field, Allison warming Georgia up before they went into their drills on the field, the junior varsity team winning two-one in their first game of the season. By now, the student section was filling up, and the boys varsity team was leading the rally. She spotted Antonio along with some of the other guys, and his eyes were on her the entire time. 

They moved to the field and continued to warm up, Georgia getting some shots on net before her and Allison were called to the sideline to take care of their captain duty. They won the coin toss, for tails always won, and got the kick first half. They all huddled around each other as the whistle blew for the teams to get out on the field, and Coach Carter took the time to get them pumped before Georgia took over, for since her freshman year she had broke the team down.

"Alright ladies, this is it. First game of the season, and probably one that will determine our season. We can't bear to lose this game, for it is a rivalry game and we would never hear the end of it, so let's go out, play our game, and win this. Alright Georgia, break us down!" Coach Carter said, rallying them up as Georgia took a knee, raising a gloved hand into the air as others piled on top of it.

"Let's kick some ass, ladies. Chieftains on three! One, two, three-" Georgia started, shouting with the rest of the team "Chieftains!" as they broke apart and took the field. Allison and Georgia did their handshake as she went to her side of the field, and she knew this was going to be a good game.

The wave of the referee's arm, the blow of the whistle, and the time beginning to count down on the scoreboard signaled the start of the game. She watched as the home team immediately started pressing against the Chieftains, forcing them backwards to the defense. One of the defenders, Riley Truman, passed it up field for Allison. She looked around, making a move around a midfielder on the opposing team before passing it off to forward Madison Dewerk, who crossed the ball from outside the eighteen yard box towards the penalty spot, but their goalkeeper punched it away, falling to the turf as she did so, giving Allison a wide open shot. She took it, and although a defender tried to step in front, the ball went just past the spikes of her cleats and the ball hit the net. They all celebrated the first goal of the season, and Georgia found herself going towards midfield to hug her best friend before going back to the net. They could all hear their student section roar with excitement, reciting their fight song as the whistle blew for play to continue, possession in favor of the Westview Wildcats in the twenty-third minute. They sent it forward then backwards to give their wingers time to head up field. There was a long ball to the left side of the field, and Hannah got on it instantly, jockeying the opponent and tracking her every move. After a fake turn, the midfielder got around her, looking up to make a cross to dangerous territory. Georgia read the ball as it soared towards the penalty spot, and she came out and jumped, grasping the ball in her gloves as bodies clashed into her, causing her to be knocked to the ground with the ball in her hands. She heard the whistle blow as Allison helped her to her feet, Georgia setting the ball on the turf and quickly sending it to an outside midfielder to get their players in deep before the Wildcats' defense could get back. The Chieftains got down the field quickly, Hannah raising a hand from across the field, looking for a cross, looking to get up two-nil before going into halftime. Grace sent the ball to Allison and she backheeled it to Hannah, who took a curling shot to the upper ninety, but the keeper got a hand on it before it could cross the line.

Halftime was called, and they all talked about things they needed to improve upon in the second half. Georgia and Allison contributed to the team conversation with their coach, for they saw the field better than anyone on the field. Ten minutes later they were on the other side of the field, Allison and her doing their handshake a second time before getting ready for the half to start. The whistle blew and the clock started to count down, the Chieftains leading by one over the Wildcats.

The rest of the game was fairly uneventful, the ball going back and forth between both teams attacking thirds, and although both teams created great chances, the score remained one-nil, which meant the first win of many for the Chieftains, ans the first shutout of the season for Georgia.

Hands wrapped around her waist as she stood at the trunk of her car to put her bag in the back. She elbowed whoever it was and turned around, shutting the trunk and looking at the figure who was doubled over in pain, realizing who it was.

"Oh my, Antonio I'm so sorry." She apologized as she got him to stand straight, both of them leaning against her trunk. He laughed, then winced.

"I always forget you're extremely strong and know where to hit a guy." He commented, causing her to let out a small chuckle.

"It's why you don't mess with me in the first place." Georgia responded, taking her hair out of her ponytail. She hand changed out of her jersey while she was still at the field, but remained in her uniform shorts until she got home.

"You played good today, GJ." Antonio stated with a smile, his teeth bright in the setting sunlight.

"Thanks, but I know there's a 'but' in there somewhere." She responded sarcastically, crossing her arms.

"But, I think you've got to work on your punts. They're a little short of the other net." He answered, and they both began to laugh, the both of them knowing her punts sometimes led to assists on her end of the field.

"I've got to get going. I still have a lot of homework to get going on." She said with a ghost of a smile, twirling her keys in her hand.

"Oh, alright." He said with a disappointed look on his face.

"What?" She asked with a grin.

"I was going to ask if you wanted to grab something to eat, but if you've got to go, I understand." Antonio responded with a hidden broken look on his face, which made her heart shatter.

"How about after the game on Friday?" She suggested, restoring the goofy grin that had been on his face seconds before.

"Okay, okay." He studdered with a smile, then started to back up. "I'll see you tomorrow, GJ!" He added before turning rowarss his car, and she found herself with a huge grin on hee face as she started her car to head home and start the two hours of homework she had that night.