The Tryouts

In a world filled with diverse passions and pursuits, there existed a unifying force that transcended borders, cultures, and backgrounds—the beauty of sport. From the smallest villages to the grandest stadiums, this magical phenomenon weaved its tapestry, captivating hearts and minds with its inherent grace and raw emotion.

Sport possessed a unique ability to transform ordinary individuals into extraordinary beings. It taught them the power of discipline, the importance of teamwork, and the resilience required to overcome obstacles. In each contest, the human spirit took flight, defying limitations and reaching for greatness. Whether it was the sprinter pushing themselves to the limits of their physical capabilities or the gymnast defying gravity with elegant flips and twists, every athlete personified the relentless pursuit of excellence.

The beauty of sport lay not only in the physical prowess displayed but also in the stories that unfolded within its arena. Each game, each match, held the potential for a hero's journey or a moment of triumph against all odds. It was a spectacle where underdogs rose from the shadows, where unbreakable bonds were forged between teammates, and where tales of redemption and resilience were written.

Sport was not confined to the elite, nor did it discriminate against age, gender, or social background. It was a universal language that spoke to the hearts of all who dared to listen. From children chasing a ball in the streets to seasoned veterans competing on the grandest stages, sport invited all to partake in its grandeur and discover their unique abilities.

Beyond the fierce competition, sports created a sense of unity and belonging. It united strangers from different corners of the world, who would come together to cheer, cry, and celebrate. In those moments, differences melted away, and only the shared passion for the game remained. Sport had the power to bridge divides, to foster understanding, and to teach valuable lessons about respect, humility, and the celebration of diversity.

The beauty of sport extended beyond the field of play, spilling into the realm of inspiration. Athletes became beacons of hope, symbols of what could be achieved through dedication, sacrifice, and an unwavering belief in oneself. Their triumphs and struggles became mirrors reflecting the human experience, reminding us of our capacity for growth, resilience, and the pursuit of our dreams.

As the world marvelled at the beauty of sport, it became a testament to the indomitable human spirit. It reminded us that within each of us lies the potential to soar, break barriers, and create moments of magic. In the tapestry of life, sport wove its intricate threads, painting a picture of strength, passion, and the relentless pursuit of the extraordinary.

"Why are we here Alex?", Haley asked her sister.

Without looking at Haley, Alex responded, "Zephyr and I had a bet. The loser had to do two things for the winner and this is the second thing he asked me to do".

"Then what was the first?", Haley questioned curiously. Alex's face reddened at that and she mumbled something under her breath. "What did you say? I didn't hear your mumbling"

"My number", Alex muttered, her face gaining a deeper crimson hue.

"Aw, look at you. Being all adorable. Already got the number of your boyfriend", teased Haley.

At her words, Alex shook her head, "There's no way I like him. He's just so annoying".

A smile crept itself on Haley's face at her words, "So you wouldn't mind it if I took him away?"

"NO!", Alex shouted, realising too late that she fell into Haley's trap.

"Aw, why the reaction? Afraid that I'll steal him from you?", questioned Haley.

Alex pouted at her words and looked away, "You're older than him. Besides, you've got Dylan already".

"Dylan's hot and all, but he's ...", began Haley.

"Dim-witted. Stupid. An idiot", answered Alex.

"Not exactly", said Haley, "but Zephyr's the whole package. I'd be surprised if someone hasn't snagged him by the end of next year".

Alex's eyes widened at her words, and she fisted her hand while she muttered, "I won't let them". However, after a few seconds, she shook her head and thought to herself, 'What the hell am I thinking? What's this weird feeling?'.

"Look at you, so angry at the idea of someone stealing your boyfriend", teased Haley.

"He's not my boyfriend, we're just friends", argued Alex.

"Sure, I believe you", drawled Haley before returning to her phone to text her friends.

Seeing that Haley was no longer paying attention, Alex mumbled under her breath and took out a book from her bag and began reading. She spent the next 15 minutes or so reading her book before being snapped out by Haley's voice, "Look, he's come out".

Looking up from her books, she looked down the pitch and noticed that Zephyr had indeed come out. He was wearing the Palisades Middle School P.E. kit which consisted of dark navy shorts and a light blue short-sleeved t-shirt. As opposed to the trainers normally worn, Zephyr had black football shoes with blue highlights.

Unlike most of the boys in the tryouts, Zephyr was one of the few students who had a muscular build, hinting at his interest in sports.

After having all of the students line up, the coach blew his whistle before shouting, "All right! Separate yourselves into 4 groups: goalkeepers, defenders, midfielders and forwards".

Hearing his words, the group of students separated themselves into 4 groups. There were 3 goalkeepers, 7 defenders, and 7 midfielders but 15 forwards. Seeing the uneven distribution of players, a scowl marred the coach's face. "Get into teams of 4. We're going to have 4v4s to see how good you maggots are", before blowing his whistle once more.

After a few minutes, 8 teams of 4 were made. Zephyr, who played as a midfielder, was in a well-rounded team. His team consisted of a goalkeeper, a defender, a midfielder (himself) and an attacker.

The first match he was playing was against a team which consisted of 3 forwards and a goalkeeper. The other team were going to start and seeing that both teams were ready, the coach blew the whistle.

Immediately, the first forward, who was blonde, passed it to the left winger, who had black hair. The forward from Zephyr's team immediately broke the formation and rushed to the winger. Seeing the forward coming towards him, the winger smirked before effortlessly dribbling passed him. Just as he was about to pass the ball, he felt heard the whooshing of wind before feeling the ball disappear. Looking around, he noticed that Zephyr had tackled him and was running towards the goalkeeper.

The right winger who had chosen not to go forward stood in his ways. Seeing him, Zephyr began doing some stepovers before performing a rapid scissor feint, beautifully dribbling past him. Once past the defender, he used his right foot and took a shot which whizzed through the air and into the top left corner.

Seeing his goal, the entire stadium was quiet, not believing what they had just seen. Even the coach was rubbing his eyes and pinching himself, telling himself he wasn't dreaming. Once sure, he picked up the whistle he had dropped and blew it, "1-0".

Although the coach had managed to recover, most of the spectators hadn't yet. Alex had her jaw dropped. Even though she didn't have much interest in sports, she could tell that Zephyr was incredibly gifted. To be so skilled at such a young age was nothing beyond miraculous. Seeing the match resume, some students and parents took out their phones and began to record the match.

After the first goal, the other team were far more cautious. As the three forwards passed between them as they made their way forward, one of their passes was intercepted by Zephyr who made a slide tackle. Upon seeing he had the ball, the three forwards became resigned but chose to preserve their honour and tried blocking him together. As the right winger went for a tackle, Zephyr knocked the ball from his right foot to his left foot before using the left foot to move the ball past the attacker. As the second attacker was right in front of him, he stopped the ball with the outside of his foot, shielding the ball from his opponent before performing a roulette to pass him. With the last attacker in front of him, Zephyr performed an elastico and threaded the ball through the attacker's legs and ran past him. Just as he reached the right side of the pitch and was outside the box, he passed the ball with the outside of his left foot which curled through the air into the perfect position for the forward to header it in.

As soon as the ball went in, everyone who was watching cheered or applauded the phenomenal performance. Even the coach was no exception. Blowing his whistle, he said, "2-0! Match over". With the match over, Zephyr and his team walked off the pitch with his teammates congratulating and thanking him. Looking up, he analysed the spectators and a smirk formed on his face as soon as he saw Alex.

Walking up the stadium, he made his way towards her and was soon standing in front of her. Seeing his smug smile, Alex turned to look away, an action that Haley took note of. "How was the show?", he asked a broad smile on his face.

"It was nice", Alex timidly replied.

"Aw. Look at you. Acting so cute", said Zephyr.

Alex spluttered as soon as she heard his words and her face became a bright shade of red, "C-cute?" she muttered. Next to her, Haley's eyes widened as soon as she heard his words.

[Commentary]

Haley

"Cute. A boy actually called awkward, nerdy Alex cute", said Haley while looking at the camera with disbelief, "First he asks her for her phone number. Then he invites her to watch him play soccer, a sport he excels at. And then he calls Alex cute. There's no way he doesn't like her. But Alex is so socially awkward she probably hasn't realised it. Gah", squealed Haley, "I wish my first boyfriend was as hot as Alex's. I deffo have to tell Uncle Mitch. He'll know what to do".

[Commentary ends]

"Well yeah. Your face is so red and you spluttering so much", he said as if it was the simplest thing in the world, "There's no way you don't look cute".

"Th-thanks", Alex mumbled, "You look really nice", she said while smiling.

"Thanks. You should smile more. It makes you look beautiful", he said as he began to walk away, "Gotta go. The coach is looking for me and I don't want to give him an excuse to not put me on the team".

"He'll definitely put you on the team", Alex blurted out before feeling embarrassed again.

In response, Zephyr smiled, "Thanks for the confidence. I'll come to cheer you during your lacrosse tryouts".

[Time Skip]

As soon as she enters the house, Haley shouts, "Mom! Alex has a boyfriend!".

"No I don't", screamed Alex.

However, her words fall on deaf ears as Claire comes rushing from the kitchen, "What? Alex has a boyfriend? Who is he?".

Haley smirks at Alex, who's trying to stop Haley, "It's that boy who came to study with her".

"We're just friends", argued Alex.

"No, you're not. You gave him your phone number. You went to his soccer tryouts, where you cheered for him. You called him handsome and he called you cute. He also said he'll go to your lacrosse tryouts", Haley responded.

Claire was speechless. She looked at Alex and asked, "Is this true?"

Alex blushed but argued, "Well ... yeah. But he made me give him my phone number and go to the tryouts because of the bet we made".

Instead of paying attention to what she said after, Claire grabbed her chest, "Oh God. I'm going to have a heart attack. Phil! Phil!".

Within a few seconds, Phil came into the hallway with Luke and asked, "What's happening honey?"

Claire gulped and said, "Alex has a boyfriend. It's that boy, Zephyr, who came the other day".

"Really?", Phil asked, "He was so cool and handsome. And did you taste the cake he made, it was amazing".

"That's what you focus on?", Claire asked, dumbfounded.

"Of course. The cake was soooo much better than the ones you bake", Phil replied.

Claire put her hands on her waist and said, "Oh. So you don't like my baking huh? Well, why don't you go ask Zephyr then, huh?".

"You know what, that's a great idea", Phil said and grabbed Alex's hand, "Alex, let's go. You can convince your boyfriend to bake me, I mean us, a cake".

"Dad!", shouted Alex.

"Phil, I was joking", said Claire while rubbing her forehead. Just as she was about to say more, their doorbell was rung.

Phil opened the door and was met with the sight of Mitch, Cam and Lily standing outside the door. As they entered, Cam asked, "Oohh, what's the gossip?"

Haley quickly said, "We're talking about Alex's boyfriend while Dad's talking about the cake he made".

As soon as he hear, Mitch pushed Cam away, and said, "Oooh. Alex has a boyfriend. Tell me everything".

Mitch however was immediately pushed away by Cam, "Is he the boy who was at the party. So he was the one who baked the cake". Turning to look at Phil, he said, "Phil, we need to get that kid in the family".

"I know right", said Phil, "Alex, let's go".

Phil grabbed Alex's arm and was about to leave with Cam when they were stopped by Claire, "Do you guys even know where he lives?"

This stopped Phil and Cam in their tracks. Cam then asked, "Where are we going to find his address".

Alex mumbled something which caught everyone's attention. "What are you saying honey?", asked Phil.

"He lives at 313", she said, her face becoming redder by the second.

"Now that we know where he lives, let's go", said Phil.