Best Friends

Best Friends  1

“Michael!” I called out, darting in front of the defender. All of a sudden, I was no longer offside. Without even glancing, Michael passed the soccer ball perfectly to me. I whooped; it had gone right through #12’s legs. “Salade!” I cried, grinning. Deftly, I manoeuvred the ball around and through the defender’s feet. What a clumsy oaf; he just wasn’t good enough! I saw a shadow make its way from my right. A mid-field had made his way back to help defend. Crap. He was on my left, (because the shadow was on my right) and there were two more in front of me.2

“Morgan, man on!” I heard Michael’s tense voice ring out. My long hair was whipping around. Damn it.3

“Where the hell are you?” I shouted, keeping the ball at my feet. The guy behind me was suddenly at my side.4

“Hi,” he sneered. I knew why, but I didn’t let him get to me. Being the only girl on an all-guy’s team sometimes made things complicated.5

“Bye!” I said, smiling sweetly. I popped the ball in the air, it went over my head and his. His eyes followed the object in the air, but his feet were too slow. He hadn’t expected that. I dashed around him, got the ball again and moved over to the two defenders. Ah, this would be interesting.6

“Up the field, Morgan. David’s open,” Michael said, loud enough for me to hear. His voice was fairly calm though. He knew I could handle this. What he didn’t know was that I had no intention of passing to Dave. No matter, Michael would figure out my plan soon enough. I whipped around, pulling a fantastic Maradona. The ball and I were around the first defender’s legs. The second one was going to be bit of a problem.7

“Bitch!” He spat out. I wasn’t surprised; he seemed to be the ‘all talk’ type. I wasn’t going to waste my breath on this jerk. I feinted left, then right. He moved with me, but jerkily. I saw a familiar pair of cleats behind him.8

“Boo!” I shouted, neatly tapping the football through his feet and straight to Michael. The defender’s face turned a brilliant red, and I grinned at him. I wasn’t prepared for what was going to happen next. He rushed me, and shoved me to the ground, just as the crowd started to roar. From my position on the ground, I saw Michael do the airplane and high-five David. In dismay, I noticed that the ref hadn’t seen me get fouled.9

Gingerly I got to my feet. A sharp pain shot up my ankle. Damn, I’d twisted it. Or more accurately, #4 had twisted it for me. 10

“Did you see my goal?” Michael asked excitedly, walking over to me. Seeing the look on my face, his expression changed. “What happened; you ok?”11

“Some jerk fouled me,” I muttered.12

“How come the ref didn’t call it?” Mike asked, concerned. He hated when any of his team-mates were injured, but I knew there was another reason for the edge in his voice. Often times we’d been cursed with biased refs who didn’t call fouls on me, just because I wasn’t a boy. 13

Mike and I had known each other since we were both 5. We’d met when our parents introduced us. I was apparently his neighbour. We got off on a rocky start, what with the ‘cootie craze’, but after a while, things eased up. We had been best friends through thick and thin, and I had recently helped him through a particularly nasty break-up. Cheerleaders just weren’t the committing type. 14

It had been Michael who’d asked his coach to let me try out for the boys’ soccer team. After a lot of headache with officials, and a bunch of papers that we signed, I was allowed to play. We ran a lot more during practises, and the boys were better than some of the girls I’d played with in my old league. I noticed with some surprise that though some of the boys pulled off some amazing moves, they weren’t all that better than the girls when it came to strategy. Mike and I and the coach came up with some great plays, that worked most of the time. 15

The guys on the team became good friends, and the Coach was pretty cool with having a girl on the team. They quickly learned I was no pushover, and that I knew my game. Off the field, Michael and I practised together in his backyard for hours on end. I became the team’s ‘secret weapon’, because the other team always ended up underestimating my skills.16

Unfortunately, some of them felt the need to foul me on a regular basis. I almost always ended up with more bruises than the rest of the team combined.17

“No, the ref didn’t call it; it happened right when you scored,” I said.18

“That sucks,” he said, running his fingers through unruly brown hair. “I’m sorry.”19

“Why? You scored the game-winning goal!” I exclaimed. The score had been tied 1-1 until Mike had scored. There were maybe 2 minutes left in the game, and our defenders wouldn’t let a goal get by. And even if they somehow did, Jake was a fantastic keeper. Michael’s sombre face broke into a grin.20

“That I did,” he said not too modestly. “David got a wicked assist though. Man, what a header!” David was tall, and lanky. He had the advantage when the ball was in the air, and he used his height in the match. He practised hard for it though. He would place the football atop a cone, and then have someone throw it to him. His goal was to knock the football off the cone. He did this from several different distances, and from different places. 21

The ball was once again in the centre of the field, and the rest of us stood around it in our assigned positions. It was pretty pointless as the game would be over in a few seconds. The ref blew his whistle, and then, before anyone moved, whistled again, signalling the end of the match. We cheered and high-fived each other. Dave picked me up from behind and swung me around. The rest of the guys whooped and laughed.22

“Hey, come on! Dave, put me down,” I said, giggling. He was a good friend of mine. Michael and I had both been there when he came out to us, telling us that he was homosexual. The poor guy had looked pale for weeks, but after he told us, his face had brightened considerably over the next few days. I had a feeling the rest of the team sort of guessed it, but they didn’t mind either, for the most part. There was always the question of whether or not he was crushing on one of them, but David never made a move and they didn’t ask.23

“She shouldn’t be allowed to play!” I heard a furious voice come from behind us. Dave dropped me on the ground, and I winced. My ankle was really killing me. Hobbling, I turned around and came face to face with #4. The guys were quiet. They’d learned that I preferred to fight – and win – my own quarrels, but they also made it clear that they had my back.24

“Why is that?” I asked casually, but there was a glint in my eyes.25

“You’re a freaking girl, can’t even chest a freaking ball! Besides there’s no way girls will ever be as good as guys on the field. You’re setting yourself up to fail.”26

“First of all, I can chest better than you ever could. And as for me being as good as the guys on the field…Hell, I’m better than you. If anything, you should work on keeping those legs closed…God knows it’s easy to slip a football between them.” I turned around, signalling the end of the conversation, and the guys on my team surrounded me, blocking me from the defender’s view.27

Later, Michael, Dave and I were walking in the parking lot, trying to find Michelle. She was David’s elder sister, and had offered to pick us up from the game. Michael and I didn’t have a license (though I was taking my test in the fall), and Michelle wouldn’t let Dave touch her car, so his license was pretty much a moot point.28

“You guys, over here!” We heard a familiar voice call out to us from the right. Michelle was sitting in the driver’s seat, waving a tanned arm out the window. Her bright red hair framed her face, and though it was slightly dishevelled, she looked quite pretty. Her green eyes were set at an equal distance from her small nose, and her lips were full and red. 29

I frowned, and gazed at the several scrapes on my knees. (Shin-pads didn’t protect them.) I knew there was probably sweat dripping off my face. Hastily I scrubbed at my cheeks with an equally dirty jersey sleeve. Strands of black hair were coming out of my once neat pony-tail, and I knew I looked like a total wreck. How did guys come out of playing football without looking like they’d been in a car accident? I glanced at Mike who was laughing. He didn’t look as terrible as me. Neither did Dave. Seeing Michelle always made me feel uncomfortable. She was so elegant and refined. Compared to her, I looked like a giant specimen in a mad scientist’s laboratory. She seemed to bring out the clumsiness in me. 30

I sighed, getting into the car and buckling myself in. Wistfully I let my mind wander to dating. An activity, which I, in my entire 17 years of living, had never done. And who would ever associate dating with me? Girls liked football stars who were guys, guys liked cheerleaders with enlarged body parts. I wasn’t exactly small for a girl, and I suppose there was some truth to #4’s words; I probably couldn’t chest a football as well as some guys. Still all that was hidden under a large jersey. Besides, it wasn’t as though I wanted some guy to like for my physical appearances. Yeah, like that would ever happen!31

“Hello? Earth to Morgan!” Michael was waving a hand energetically in my face.32

“What?” I snapped, irritated. My thoughts were still on dating.33

“PMS!” Dave coughed into his hand. His sister and Michael laughed, and my face turned into a tomato.34

“I do not have my – I’m not –” I broke off, my cheeks scarlet.35

“Calm down, we’re just joking,” Michael said gently.36

“Yeah I know,” I said, still a bit grouchy. “Hey, can I ask you something?”37

“Sure, shoot,” Mike said agreeably.38

“What do guys look for in girls?” I asked plaintively. My answer came from the driver’s seat.39

“Morgan, Morgan,” Michelle tsk-tsked me. “All they want at this age is some flesh where it matters.” I was sorry I’d asked.40

“I mean, besides that,” I said.41

“Sweetheart, there is nothing else!” She said, smiling at me from the rear-view mirror. “Isn’t that right boys?”42

“No!” Mike said hotly. I knew why too. He was one of those caring kind of guys, who would do anything for the girl they were dating.43

Dave quickly jumped in with, “Yeah, you know what Michelle? You keep your eyes on the road, and we’ll tell Morgan about guys…since we are of the male species, you know!” Michelle sighed in a ‘Fine, do what you want’ kind of way.44

“Aside from the physical stuff, we like girls who’re kind, and caring,” Dave said, with a completely straight face. I would have gawked openly at him, but of course, his sister was here and she didn’t know about his sexuality.45

“Really?” I asked faintly.46

“Yeah, and they shouldn’t be users, and they should try once in a while to talk about football with us, if we agree to go shopping with them,” Michael said.47

“And they should wear short skirts and tight tops,” Dave added.48

“See, Morgan?” Michelle said triumphantly. “You heard it from the horse’s mouth.”49

“I was joking!” Dave said exasperated. “And who’s calling me a horse?”50

“I am,” Michelle said smugly.51

“Well, if I’m a horse, and you’re my sister, then what does that make you?” Dave responded.   52

"You're adopted, didn't Mum tell you?"53

"No I think you're the one that's adopted...from Mars!" Mike and I looked at each other and laughed. Those two always fought.54

“All right you guys. We’ve reached your houses,” Michelle’s voice rang from the front. Mike and I scampered out of the car. I noticed the sky was getting darker now. 55

“Thanks, Michelle!” I called, waving to her.56

“We’ll see you later,” Mike added. The car pulled out of the driveway and was soon out of sight. Mike and I sat on the porch steps of my house as was custom after a match.57

“What a game,” Michael said, leaning against a brick column. His dark eyes sparkled, even in the dim light, and I couldn’t help but smile back.58

“Yeah, it was fantastic,” I said, rotating my ankle. A silence passed, but it was a comfortable one.59

“Mike…” I started. I had been wanting to ask him for some time now. He was such a good liar, never revealing his emotions. I could tell though, I always could.60

“What?” He asked softly.61

“How are you?” I asked, looking him in the eyes. He grinned, but it was a forced one, and it looked more like a grimace. He attempted a laugh, but it rang hollow.62

“What do you mean? I’m fine,” he said shrugging off my question.63

I touched his arm forcing him to acknowledge my question. He refused to. I searched his face.64

“You’re still pining for her,” I said finally.65

“I am not,” he said forcefully, shaking his arm away from my hand. He looked away from me. “I’m not,” he repeated, quietly.66

“Mike, I can handle it if you are. Come on…We tell each other everything.” This was true, though it had gotten a little awkward over the recent years, what with physical and emotional changes we both experienced. He turned to me, and I was shocked to see tears glistening in his eyes. Michael never cried. In all the years I’d known him, he’d never shed a tear. Not when his dog died. Not when his cousin committed suicide, and never over a girl, no matter how much he liked her. Until now.67

“Can you handle it, Morgan? Because I sure as hell can’t,” his voice broke.68

“What happened? Mike, what…” I realized he wasn’t listening to what I was saying. Well, they always said actions spoke louder than words, right. Hesitantly, I reached over and put my arms around him. His arms snaked around my back and returned the hug.69

“Morgan, I’ve never felt like this about anyone,” he said into my ear.70

“I know Mike,” I said.71

“She’s beautiful, she’s smart, she’s just amazing.” He was blabbering pointlessly, but that didn’t matter.72

“Shh. It’s ok, ” I murmured, patting his back. He pulled away for a second and looked at me, as though for the first time.73

“She’s great at football,” he said shyly. It took me a second to process his words. He looked down at the porch steps, and then up at me again, looking slightly embarrassed.74

“What – what are you saying?” I asked, hardly daring to believe.75

“I thought I was in love with someone…I was wrong. I kept searching for these girls that I thought would be ideal. I mean, I put them up on pedestals that no-one could match,” he was speaking extremely fast, but I heard what he was saying. “I thought Mandy was the one. I fell so hard for her…  then I saw this streak of cruelty in her. She could be so vindictive when she wanted to be! It scared me, and then suddenly she was out of my life, as though she never existed.” 76

He swallowed, and then looked at me, dark eyes boring into mine. “And every time I stumbled, you were always there, helping me up.” He shook his head, as I blushed crimson. He continued, “God, I feel so stupid! Here I was searching for the perfect someone; searching everywhere, high and low, and all I ever had to do was look at the girl next door!”77

I smiled at him, as shy as ever. I’d thought of dating Mike a couple of times, but I didn’t think he’d ever see me as anything different than a good friend.78

“Why were you crying?” I asked, quietly, curious.79

“I…I was pining for her. Mandy still does something to me…I was so confused, and so hurt, I guess…I’ve never felt like that in my life. But I also felt something for you, which confused me even more. Then you hugged me, and everything made sense.”80

“You’re my best friend,” I said, simply.81

“Only your best friend?” He asked in a low voice, laced with apprehension and hope.82

“I’m your best friend always, but that doesn’t mean we can’t be something else too.” He smiled at my words, and my heart just stopped. I giggled suddenly.83

“What’s so funny?” He asked, surprised.84

“I take it this means you’re cured of the “Lovesick over Mandy’ disease?” 85

He flashed me another brilliant smile and said, “This means that I’m catching a new virus.” I breathed in sharply. He was speaking in a low, husky voice I'd never heard him use before. 86

He leaned in close to me and closed his eyes. I leaned in as well…and we bumped noses. We both laughed and he tried again, this time with his eyes open. I kept mine open too, and our lips touched softly. He tasted like salt and oranges (which made sense, as we’d just finished playing football). Slowly, we both closed our eyes, our arms locked around each other. Finally, after an eternity, we pulled away. With a start, I realized that I had just experienced my first kiss.87

The sun had long since set, and it was really dark out now. We both stood up and Mike hugged me once more.88

“I better get going,” he said, smiling at me.89

“I’ll see you tomorrow,” I said, returning his grin.90

“My backyard, 10 a.m.” He said, pointing at me. “Be there!” Of course. Football.91

“You bet!” I replied enthusiastically.92

He jumped off the porch and I saw him enter his house. Quietly, I slipped into mine.93

“Well, you’re grinning like you scored the winning goal!” My father said, when he saw my face.94

“No, actually, Mike did,” I said, my smile widening. I walked by him, leaving him confused. Without another word, I went upstairs to take a shower and change into my nightclothes. My ankle was feeling much better. I climbed into bed, with a smile on my face. I knew what I’d dream about tonight.95

-Morgana 96