#12 Just like before?

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I open my door to move out when my phone starts ringing. I see the name. Josh? Why the hell is he calling me? 

"Hey, Josh! How's the practice going?" 

"Um...Actually not that great. That's why I have called you. We have a problem. We won't be able to play tomorrow." What!?! 

"Kyle got injured and Rick is out of town. So we technically do not have a goalkeeper for tomorrow's match. I was hoping you would know someone. If not then we will have to surrender, tomorrow." 

Oh. Kyle was the goalkeeper of the boy's team and Rick was the substitute. And now, there is no one. So it seems we'll lose tomorrow. 

"Vanessa? You there?" Josh snapped me out of my thoughts. 

"Yeah, I am there. Just shocked. Um...I'll, see what I can do." 

"Yes. Please. Even the boys are trying to think of someone. Stefan even took some tryouts but no one was capable of blocking a single goal." I could imagine Josh rolling his eyes at the lack of soccer skills in our school's boys.

"If I find someone, I'll tell you." 

"Yep. Thanks."

"Can't you guys just use Tessa as your goalkeeper? I'll paint a mustache on her face if you want." I chuckled. 

"Oh. You think I did not think of using her. But it would be against the rules obviously. And we will get disqualified." He answered. As if I did not know that. 

"I know, Josh. I'll let you know. Bye. I hope we find someone. We can't lose this year." 

"Bye Vanessa. Thanks again." He ended the call. Okay. Now I have to think of someone. Let's see... 

Stefan- already in the team. 

Ryan- plays Basketball so he might be capable. But Stefan would have thought about him before I did. 

Melvin- same as Ryan. 

Ash- Excellent soccer player. 

Ethan- not in the school and the worst soccer player. 

Wait a minute. I quickly run downstairs.

"Do you still happen to play soccer?" I asked Ash. 

I and he used to play soccer when we were young. Selena would never like it when we used to play soccer. She was always a basketball player. 

"Um...Actually, I did play. But then, last year, when I changed my school, they didn't have a soccer team. So I am kind of not in practice. But I can still play." He answered, clearly confused about my sudden outburst.

"Great! I'll help you practice. I know you'll get in shape in no time." 

"But why?" He raised his eyebrows. 

"You are playing tomorrow's homecoming game," I smirked, making his eyes widen. 

"I don't know, Cupcake." 

"Oh. Come on Ashy. I don't want my school to lose tomorrow. And the boy's goalkeeper got injured today. So you are the goalkeeper for tomorrow's match." I deadpanned.

"Still the same 'I don't like losing' I see." He smirked. 

"You are tomorrow's goalkeeper. And that's final. I am not asking you. I am telling you. So now we are going to the school for some practice and then again tomorrow, we are going to practice." I ordered him. 

"Still the same bossy one. You have not changed a bit, Cupcake." He chuckled.

"Come on. Go, get ready." I tell him. "You can borrow something from Ethan for now. Go." I said, pushing him towards Ethan's room.

After some time, I saw both of them coming downstairs. Ash had changed into one of Ethan's tank tops and some military track pants

"Bro, I do not want them smelling with your sweat. If it does, you are going to be the one to wash it." Ethan whined. 

"Hey! I didn't plan on this. Ask Nessa to wash it." Ash whined. These boys are even worse than girls. 

"Hey, you two Girlies. Stop arguing. Ash will wash them if you want, Ethan. Come on, Ash. We don't have much time." 

"But-" he tried to protest but shut up when he saw me glaring at him. We climbed inside my car and drove off to school.

"So, how's your Mom?" I asked.

"Yeah. She is good. She actually started dating a guy. I don't know his name but he seems to be good. She is staying in Australia. I felt a bit weird when the guy used to be there around. So I asked mom and came here." He informed. 

"Good decision." I smiled.

Ash's father died when Ash's mom was pregnant with him. So he has never actually seen his dad. My dad was always like a father figure to him. But the irony is that my dad doesn't consider myself as his daughter now. So, technically, he is not my father, even though I consider him to be one. We kept talking and catching up with each other's life until we reached school.

"Hey, Josh!" I called as I walked towards him. 

"Vanessa, please tell me you have someone. If not then I have to go and type the letter for surrendering the match and its reason. And email it to Mr. Henderson. And you know how good I am with computers." Josh sarcastically said. 

I smiled at him. "You should improve your computer skills, you know, "I teased him. 

His face dropped. "Oh. That means you couldn't think of anyone." 

"Let me finish. I said that you should improve your computer skills because you might need them someday. But fortunately, that 'someday' is not tomorrow." I smirked. 

His face lit up. By this time, the team members had circled around us. "Hey everyone! Meet Ash. He is your goalkeeper for tomorrow's match." I pointed at Ash.

There was commotion everywhere. Obviously, no one knew him. He had just enrolled in the school and was starting tomorrow. 

"He is new in town. And will be starting school tomorrow. And by my experience, he is pretty good." I smiled at Ash. 

"I will be the judge of that, Princess." I knew who said that. I turn around to see Stefan, glaring at Ash. 

"Oh really. How about a tryout?" Ash smirked at Stefan. The whole team started cheering. 

"Josh, can I get some gloves for him?" I asked Josh. Josh handed them to Ash and we all headed towards a goal.

Ash stood in front of the goal while Stefan got ready for a penalty kick. Stefan kicked the ball, towards the goal and Ash easily blocked it. The whole team cheered. Stefan looked frustrated. 

"That is just his luck. One more. And I will not go easy this time." Stefan glared. 

"Bring it on buddy," Ash smirked. 

Stefan got ready for the second penalty kick. This time, Stefan aimed for the right corner. As soon as the ball was kicked, Ash dived towards the right and blocked the goal. I was very happy to see Stefan's ego get busted. He needed it.

I went towards Ash and hugged him. "Good job, Ashy. You are still the best." I smiled at him. 

"Thanks, Cupcake." He smiled and kissed my forehead. Then we separated and I went towards Josh. 

"What do you think?" I raised my eyebrows.

"I can always count on you, Vanessa. He is good. He only needs to improve his technique. Then he might become the best we have." He said, glancing at Ash.

I smirked. "So, I think, tomorrow we will be winning?" 

Josh smirked. Even though Josh was a teacher, he never acted like one. He was always the cool one.

"I'll help him practice. He would be fit to play tomorrow." I suggested and Josh nodded. 

I made my way towards the boys' team. Everyone was still cheering. What the hell is going on? As I moved closer, I saw Stefan holding Ash's collar, ready to throw a punch at him. I quickly run towards them. 

"Leave him, Stefan. He has to play tomorrow." I shouted.

 Stefan left him and turned towards me, anger clear in his eyes. 

"Oh. The girlfriend comes to save the boyfriend. So cliché. He can't even take care of himself." Stefan glared at me. 

"Firstly, I am not his girlfriend. Secondly, I have no idea why you are so angry. And even if you are, you should use it for the better thing. If you could channel your anger properly, you might win tomorrow's match. Thirdly, this is not how you treat your teammates. They are supposed to be your family." I shouted at him.

"Firstly, you are not allowed to tell me what to do. Secondly, he is not on my team." Stefan said, pointing at Ash. I was about to reply to him, buy Ash cuts me off. 

"Oh really. I am not on the team. Well, if I am not there, your team wouldn't have a goalkeeper. And I don't think you found someone else to fill up that position. I am not the needy one here. You are. So shut up." Ash smirked. He knew he had hit a nerve.

Stefan was fuming with rage. I could actually see smoke coming out of his ears. He stepped towards Ash but I quickly stood between them. 

"Stop it, Stefan. Enough is enough. Ash is playing tomorrow's match and you will act good with him. Now get back to practice." I shouted at Stefan. 

"Of course you would blame me for the fight. A girlfriend never sees anything wrong with the boyfriend." Stefan glared at me. 

"How many times do I have to tell you that he is not my boyfriend. And about the fight. I know him very well. He would never start a fight. Unlike you." I glared at Stefan and turned towards Ash. 

"Come on Ash. We have to practice." I said and walked away, pulling Ash with me.

I was seriously pissed off. Who does he think he is? He is not as good as Messi or Ronaldo to judge everyone like this. 

"Ash, go and stand at the goal. I'll be shooting." I glared at the air. 

"Just like before?" He smiled and all my childhood soccer memories flooded into my mind, calming me down and bringing a smile on my face. When we were small, I would always ask Ash to be the goalkeeper even though he did not like it. 

"You always know how to bring a smile on my face." I smiled, making him chuckle. "We need to practice now," I said and our practice started.

**********

After one hour of practice, we finally headed back home. Currently, we were sitting at the dining table, eating, dinner. 

"I'll wash it for you,  Okay?" Ash said to Ethan. I couldn't believe that they were still fighting on that same topic. 

"Yeah, you have to," Ethan said. 

"Oh, come on, you two. There are so many things in the world other than sweaty clothes, that you can discuss right now." I said, rolling my eyes. 

And after that, they finally changed the topic, which got shifted to celebrity gossips. Oh, God! These two are seriously worse than girls. But at least this topic was better than sweaty clothes. 

**********

After dinner, we played some video games on Xbox. Then I offered to drive Ash to his apartment, as he did not have a license yet. We reached his apartment. It was a fully furnished 3 bedroom apartment. How the hell did he afford it? 

"Wow!" I gasped as he opened the door.

"I know right? Your dad helped me with it." He said.

What!?! So my dad knew about this? And he helped him with the apartment? 

"He was the one who suggested that I shift here. He said it would be nice for Ethan to have some good company when he was not here." Ash continued as he roamed the living room. Obviously, my father said that. He obviously does not think of me as a good company. Typical him. 

"Why are you still waiting at the door? Come in." Ash said to me, a big, happy smile plastered on his face. He seemed to like the apartment a lot. 

I stepped in, seeing what my father had bought him. I don't think he would ever do this for me. Not to sound jealous or anything, but Ash gets the love from my father, while I don't. Even if I am his own blood. 

"Seeing the look on your face, it seems that you haven't resolved the problem with your dad." Ash snapped me back from my thoughts. I stayed quiet. 

"Oh come on! I don't like that sad look on your face, Cupcake. You know what? There is an ice cream parlor down the street. Let's get some ice cream for you." The word 'ice cream' gained my attention and my face lit up. 

"What are we waiting for?" I chuckled and went outside. Ash followed me and we went to the ice cream parlor.

A/N:

Hey guys!

Hope you like this chapter!

What do you guys think about Ash? 

And what do you think will happen in the game? Will Stefan keep his ego aside and act good with Ash or something else?

See you soon...

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