37 Welcome Back, Bastard

October 21st

"This shit is very easy. Look carefully, you bastard." Terry did a bicycle kick with ease, but he failed to hit the back of the net and found the side netting.

"I'm going to pretend you didn't brag and miss." Cameron looked on in disdain at his friend's failed attempt on screwing with him. "Here, I'm gonna show you how it's actually done. Move aside."

Cameron waited until the football machine's pass was around his height, before doing the overhead kick with ridiculous precision and quality, with his foot almost parallel to the ground. The back of the net shook with a lot of power as Cameron fell back flat on the ground.

Just like the way it did against Southend.

The ball was hit dead in the center by Cameron, who landed as a slew of feet tried to stop the strike from crossing the goal line.

Cameron's ears had already blanked out by then. His brain short-circuited as well after the overhead strike. He didn't even have any recollection if that thing did end up at the back of the net… at least until several sweaty, yelling bodies have piled up at the top of him.

"Fuck! You can actually do something flashy like a bicycle kick?" Terry was directly on top of him, yelling at his ears.

"You madman! That was magical!"

"It's ridiculous, I'm having goosebumps!"

"How could you be a showstopper type?!"

"Ya bastard!"

Since it's the first round of the FA Youth Cup, if the game is tied at the end of regular time, the game will go straight to a penalty shootout. That wonder goal, sent them on the way there.

The thing is, a penalty shootout doesn't care about whoever has the momentum. It only cared about the penalty taker, and the one that's under the most pressure, the goalkeeper.

Well, the star Southend goalkeeper crumbled against the odds.

The first 6 penalties of the shootout went to the back of the net without a hitch, piling even more pressure toward the two shot stoppers. After the 4th Southend attempt was palmed away by the Sheffield keeper, Terry Quinn stepped up to the penalty spot.

He easily sent the keeper the wrong way with a cool and collected finish, giving the Blades a lead for a few minutes, before the home team equalized again with their 5th penalty.

For the final kick of the game, the Southend keeper steeled his resolve. He had saved a penalty in his debut game for the senior team, so he's channeling his peak abilities to at least save the final penalty to have a chance. This is make or break for them...

The goal scorer Cameron swung his feet as he glued his eyes at the ball…

And the game was over…

***

November 3rd

After their win against Southend, and their video meeting the next day, the Sheffield Under 18s enjoyed a fairly long break from the 23rd of October to the 2nd of November.

The team members enjoyed the time off to be with their families, play games, go on a vacation somewhere, and catch up with their friends and girlfriends. Some even paid Blaise a visit.

At least, except for one.

Blaise was still feeling the pain for most of his break. It was only once the calendar flipped to November that he felt the pain was almost gone. Slowly but surely, he exercised using his right ankle with caution before he went straight to Sheffield's physios for the clearance to return to training with the team again.

He succeeded. The physios confirmed that his ankle healed properly and without any lingering issues, he was allowed back to return to full training by the 4th or 5th of November.

Blaise clenched his fists. He doesn't want to waste any more time, any more games, and any more opportunities to injury.

***

November 5th

Training is back in full swing, as the future of the Blades enjoyed this rare morning of calm with only light warm-ups and fitness drills.

Terry was already sweaty, as he has been going full throttle for quite a while now even if it's just light drills.

Cameron, looking at him from the side, was liking the sudden increase in the work ethic of this guy. He thought about commending him, but backed down when he thought a second later that a high work ethic is the least that is expected of them as football professionals.

It should not be weird, but normal for football pros. That's what he said to himself.

The lads were just about to complete another lap jogging around the pitch, when a young man with his back straight, brown eyes, and a smile you can only see on movies barged in.

The lap wasn't finished by anyone except Cameron anymore.

"Look at who the fuck's back!"

"Blaise, you wanker!"

Someone just went and stopped Blaise's right foot from moving. "Are you sure it's alright now? No hidden injuries? No pain? No discomfort?" Of course it's Terry.

"Welcome back, Blaise sir." The small Callum was already writing something in his journal after he finished talking.

Blaise smiled. "Yeah, I'm in fine form right now. A little rusty sure, but that's because I haven't touched a football in weeks… at least with my right foot."

He removed his right foot from Terry's clutches and slapped his good friend's head. "Stop that. It makes me feel like you have developed a foot fetish all of a sudden."

Everyone laughed.

"You've been well since we last met?" Right as the ruckus died down, Cameron had finally finished the lap no one bothered to finish.

"I ate good food, furthered my knowledge in football, didn't slack off much, and my ankle healed… I guess that's what I can call well."

"Good." He started walking away. It wasn't until he's around ten yards or so when he turned around and said, "Don't you ever injure yourself like that again, hear me?"

"That guy missed you, he just doesn't want to say it to your face." Terry teased. "Well, that goes for all of us too though."

"Yeah, you struggled so much. I can tell." He stopped, and thought carefully about what he's gonna say next. "Hmmm… so don't rely on me too much from now on."

"Why do you sound like the manager now?"

"No, I want you guys to think that if I continue standing out like this… I'm gonna get promoted to the senior teams in no time…"

"You bastard, are you bragging?" Terry put his arms around Blaise's shoulders. "We know that, of course… that's why… I'm working hard now…"

"Good grief." Blaise returned to his footballing activities with a smile on his face.