I run through the streets of Northridge with extreme urgency. I can’t believe I did this. I think as I jump over a homeless man sitting in the middle of the sidewalk. “Sorry!” I call out raising my hand in the air. I guess that means its parkour time now. I think about my destination in relation to my current position, it’s just around this neighborhood, maybe two miles, but if I just go straight through their backyards I could be there in just a couple minutes, I think there’s an obvious choice here. I throw my soccer ball over the fence as I begin scaling it, I jump off, landing in the stranger’s back yard. I pick my soccer ball up and do the same thing with the next fence. As I hop down from that fence into the new yard I hear a light jingle. I turn to see a massive Great Dane behind me, snarling its teeth at me. His eyes are blood shot and drool is pouring from his saggy lips.
I stand still for a moment and use my periphs to find my soccer ball. Once in sight I stare at the dog for a second and let out a nervous laugh. Immediately the dog starts to let out a booming bark, quickly I run to the ball I pick it up and chuck it over the next fence. I hear a faint “ow” on the other side. I jump and clutch onto the next fence and pull myself over. I turn to see five teenagers in a pool staring at me, I ignore them as much as possible, I run poolside clapping my hands.
“Pass” I command and a brunette tosses me the ball, I start running but stop for a second to get a second look at that boy who threw me the ball. Damn he’s cute. I snap myself out of it and start running again. “Pay no attention to the girl in your backyard!” I chant as I reach the next fence, throwing the ball over once more, as I easily hop over the next fence.
I grab my ball and I have the park in my sight I sprint over to where I see the coach.
“I’m here to try out, Ariel” I say as I approach, completely out of breath.
“You’re late” the British man says to me “look” he turns his clipboard around and points to my name, its crossed out “I crossed you out that means you lost your chance”
“No please coach”
“I’m not your coach!” The man yells “Now get out of my sight!” he says turning to face the girls on the field. I grab my ball and walk away from the park.
“Stupid British coach” I mumble, but bring my voice up to a yell “You’re not better than me just because you have a cool accent!” dang why can’t I have a British accent. Anger boils inside of me as I take a few steps I drop the ball and my right foot punts it—far. Into the backyard with all the teenagers “Ugh!” I moan, at least it wasn’t the dogs backyard. I sulk over to their home as I think to myself. I don’t need that stupid British team, I’ll start my own team. What are you talking about Ariel? You don’t know the first thing to starting a soccer team. I’ll just have to occupy myself with something else.
I knock on the door and seconds later it opens revealing that same brunette, he must’ve just hopped out of the pool to open the door. Because he isn’t wearing a shirt which shows off his perfect ‘V’ shaped upper body, his hair is soaking and its flipped back over his head. His hazel eyes stare at me as he smiles. Damn just look at that magnificent jaw. I quickly snap out of my trance.
“Oh hey, I think my ball might’ve landed in your yard.”
“Yeah I thought it was yours” He flashes his smile. “Come in, I’m Rocky” he puts his arm around my shoulder.
“Ariel” I say back, smiling. He walks me through his house and to his backyard where everyone is.
“Everyone!” he calls out to get their attention “This is Ariel, Ariel this is,” He starts pointing “Ryland, Rydel, Riker, and Ross” they all wave.
“Hi” I say a little overwhelmed “I actually just came to grab my ball”
“Nonsense,” Rocky says “stay for lunch”
“Uh well I guess I have some free time” I consider that I just freed up my afternoon by missing tryouts.
“Great!” Rocky says squeezing my shoulders.
“So what’s for lunch?” his smile simmers.
“Oh, we didn’t plan anything” I giggle at him, smiling. He taps his chin for a second “Let’s just go out and eat!” he grins grabbing my hand.
“Okay wait a second while we go change!” Ross says climbing out of the pool.
“Sorry, too slow” Rocky pushes him back in and rushes through the house, dragging me behind him. He grabs a shirt and some keys and rushes out the door. We get in a car and he drives off while putting on his shirt.
“So pizza?” he says nonchalantly. I just giggle to myself, nodding my head. And he sighs smiling.
Once we are at the pizza parlor we get a peperoni pizza and take a seat.
“Ariel,” he says taking a bite of pizza “I’m curious as to why you were running through my backyard earlier” I blush extremely embarrassed.
“I was uh—“ I laugh “late for soccer tryouts” he nods his head as he takes a bite.
“How’d you do?” I choke slightly and cover my mouth while speaking with it full of cheese.
“I was late, so I got automatically DQed” I feel slightly frustrated again.
“Oh well that sucks” he chews some more “you can join my team” I look at him questioningly.
“You play on a soccer team?”
“Depends what’s your definition of a team”
“Well to start you need at least ten people—“
“Oh darn I don’t qualify then” he smirks “We could play a little one on one though?” he slowly leans in holding my chin up slightly and gently he presses his lips against mine. I indulge in the kiss for a moment but jump back once I realize what’s happening. I just met this boy and basically on a lunch date with him and now we are kissing. My mom will kill me if she hears about this.
“I—I have to go” I quickly leave the restaurant and start walking home, which is about an hour away by foot.
I walk.
Five.
Ten.
Fifteen minutes undisturbed. Then I hear the car pull up and his smooth voice say my name.
“Ariel” I turn to look at Rocky cruising next to me as I walk “you forgot something” he grins holding up my soccer ball, spinning it on his fingers. I stop as does he.
“Give me that” I demand.
“I will if you let me drive you home” he winks. I sigh and open the door, and then sit down “You wanna tell me why you left?”
“I don’t even know you” I say simply.
“Well you should make an attempt to, I’m really a swell guy” he laughs at himself. I think about how I just freaked out and didn’t give him a chance.
“And how am I supposed to know that?” I question back.
“Well for a start I just drove you home, free of charge.” He smiles while stopping in front of my house I roll my eyes at him, chuckling.
“Well yeah..”
“So does that mean you’ll be willing to see me again?” I contemplate for a second, but easily nod my head eagerly in response. He kisses me again, this time longer, but there is still an interruption.
“ARIEL!” I hear my mother scream and my eyes widen “GET OUT OF THAT CAR RIGHT NOW YOUNG LADY!” I sigh as I back out of the car.
“I’ll see you later Rocky” I grab my ball. “Call me” I say as I prepare myself for the wrath of my mother.
