'I think I'm having a full on gay crisis!' - Nick Nelson (Heartstopper season 1)
A/N: Playing with the boys by Kenny Logins makes this chapter that much better (the same song that was playing in this scene in the actual movie). Enjoy! 🎶
SINCE SOME downtime was much needed due to classes and training exercises ramping up, we'd organised a little 'get together' if you will where every pilot at top gun was welcome to play a match of volleyball against each other to cool off and relax for a couple hours. I had primarily dealt with the arrangements (with some help from Goose obviously), setting a date, time and stuff you could bring. Of course, I hadn't actually expected many people to turn up but upon arrival, I was most definitely proven wrong.
Parking up my motorbike under the shade of a palm tree, I dismounted and wondered over to the sandy beach area we'd agreed on. Goose had made his own way here little before me so he stood waiting at the other end of the makeshift volleyball court however, upon seeing me he came bounding over like an excitable golden retriever puppy, grinning and waving. "Hey, hey Mav I thought you'd never get here! What took you so long?!" He asked, clearly all too eager to play.
"Wooah hold up buddy! I'm the organiser of this entire thing! I'm not late, everyone else is just......." I paused searching for the right word. "Early." Is what I'd settled on with a shrug and a small, mischievous smile.
"You and your time keeping skills, Mav! Honestly they really do resemble a carrot in some aspects." Goose mocked. I placed my palm to my chest and gasped, feigning shock and hurt.
"Are you calling me orange and tasteless? How dare you!" I exclaimed dramatically making Goose roll his eyes and grab my arm, dragging me over to our side of the court. I shook my head and laughed. Around me, Goose was rallying everyone up to either join the game or cheer people on from the sidelines. Unfortunately for me, just as my vision returned having previously been obscured by me pulling my shirt over my head, Kazansky and his little 'friend' or rather minion, Slider had decided to participate. I frowned. Kazansky seemed to notice this minute detail.
"What's wrong Maverick? You did say every pilot was welcome. Am I wrong?" He smirked, in an all knowing manner that made my blood boil.
"No you'd be correct I just didn't think you smart enough to read, that's all." I retorted. "By all means, please you're both welcome to play. Unless of course, you're scared?" My brows rose in amusement at the look on Kazansky's face.
"Most certainly am not! You're on Maverick!" He sneered, pulling his grey shirt off, leaving him in only his black & white tracksuit bottoms and a small, sea shell bracelet on his left wrist. Above his tracksuits bottoms, his golden tanned skin and perfect six pack abdomen were visible for all to see and I caught myself (or rather, Goose caught me) staring at him.
"Uhh, hello? Earth to Mav, earth to Mav!" He said, snapping his fingers in front of my face. I shook my head and huffed.
"Sorry, got- got distracted momentarily." My words came as a shock to me. I'd never stuttered before, so long as I can remember (and trust me, you'd be surprised at how much I do remember). So, why was now suddenly a time to start?
"Can we start now or have you quite finished ogling at Iceman?" Goose questioned. I nodded.
"Yeah, we can start. And I wasn't ogling at him just for the record, I was admiring him. They are two completely different things!" I corrected.
"Mmmh hmm, yep sure they are. I'm sure the dictionary will tell me the exact same thing." Goose muttered under his breath.
"What?" I asked, cupping a hand to my ear. "Speak up sunshine." I mocked. This was what we'd always said to each other when we couldn't hear.
"Oh nothing! I just said on with the game! Now, who's got the ball?" Goose asked, brows furrowed as he began searching the sandy court land for the volleyball we'd brought along.
"D'you mean this?" Iceman piped up, making both mine and Goose's head snap up in union, stopping our fruitless search only to see him holding the volleyball high above his head, a smirk covering his stupid chiseled, tanned face. Goose gaped at him whilst I just gritted my teeth. The ball had been over our side I'm sure of it! How did he manage to find it before us?! Neither one of us answered, which only allowed him to continue on. "I'll take that as a yes from the lack of response?" He said, clearly amused by this whole charade.
"That would be correct. Well done Kazansky, you actually got something right for once, round of applause!" I commented sarcastically, clapping. Iceman shook his head and carried on smirking, much to my annoyance.
"Aw, I'm flattered you took the time to notice! Thank you Mitchell!" Ice said with a sickly sweet smile.
"Okay, ladies thank you! That's enough! Shall we start?" Goose asked, breaking the heavy tension that coated the air between us. Both parties nodded as Iceman lowered the ball and swung his forearm up to hit it. He whacked it and it went flying over the net, starting the match.
From then on, it was a tight scramble of bodies clashing against one another and the sand, in desperate attempts to smack the ball over the opposition's side and score a point. Throughout the match, I kept glancing at my watch to check that I was keeping time however, once I did this my attention was diverted elsewhere, allowing Kazansky and Slider to take full advantage of this factor. I looked up from my watch a few seconds too late, only to see that Iceman had just smacked the ball over the net with so much force that Goose had to dive onto the sandy floor to try and catch it. Sadly, he missed and the ball hit the floor which meant that they had scored the point. Knowing they'd got the point, Slider cheered loudly and high fived Iceman.
"C'mon Mav, we can do it! The score's 4 - 7 we can beat them! Those guys are animals!" Goose called, just loud enough for them to hear us and throw an obscene gesture our way. I nodded in agreement.
"Damn straight they are! We can do it though so let's go!" I clapped and rubbed my hands together, brushing some of the grainy sand away. Iceman whacked the ball over the net once again and I had to admit, it was actually a good serve but before I had the chance to voice my opinion, Slider interrupted.
"Oh yeah! Good serve, good serve!" He remarked, congratulating his pilot who nodded and smiled in response. Thankfully for us, I managed to jump up high enough to reach the ball and hit it over in such a manner that made Slider dive down to smack it back. Like Goose had earlier on, he missed, allowing us to gain the point.
"The score gap is closing guys; watch out!" I cried enthusiastically, high fiving Goose in the process.
"Alright! Bring it on guys!" Goose joined in.
"Yeahhhhhhhh!" Slider yelled from the other side, aggressively sidestepping from left to right, pulling his track suit bottoms up a little as he did so. After a few more minutes, we'd managed to score more points so as far as I was concerned, we'd basically won the game.
Quickly checking my watch again, I realised that if I didn't leave now I would be late so I began walking away toward the sideline where I'd dumped my stuff. Noticing my sudden absence from the pitch, Goose jogged after me.
"Hey Mav where are you going? Just one more game, please?? For me? Come on we'll win I know it!" Goose pleaded. I shook my head.
"No, sorry Goose. I got some things I have to take care of. Maybe next time though, yeah?" I suggested.
"Yeah I bet you do." He muttered disappointedly. I really didn't have the nerve nor the time to ask what he'd said so I decided to let it slide. As I mounted my motorbike, Slider called out and swore at me but his voice was dim from the sound of the bike's engine. Once I'd managed to fully start it up, I drove away down the road, still hearing the cheers and excited, buzzing atmosphere of the volleyball tournament. Seems like it had been a success, contrary to what I'd previously thought it would be.
Although, as I continued my journey, I couldn't help but reminisce on the fun I'd had today and the competitiveness I had struck up between me and Kazansky. Maybe it was just me but once we'd got the game underway, it didn't seem so hostile between us anymore. Perhaps it could of been the nature of the environment or the excitement or quite possibly me being delusional I don't know, but things felt different.
Not in any way like they had been before. Could that perhaps be change?
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Word Count: 1543