19.Rugby Team
Matt
Lia went off to spend time with Simone. She drove off, leaving me with Rain. But the two of us were supposed to head to the college to practice.
I kept thinking about my conversation and moment with L. My hand still tingled, something I was embarrassed to admit. Rain waved his hand in front of my face suddenly, making me jerk back.
“Rain, what the hell?”
“You dazed out, “Rain said, grinning sheepishly. “And we’re just sitting here in the driveway with the car running so I figured you’d want to hurry up and be on our way.
I sighed. “Yeah, I’m going.”
”
The rain kept snickering in the seat beside me. I was tempted to slam hard on the breaks but that would make me pout and no one wanted a pouting Rain.
“So how are you and Lia doing?”
“I think you already know how the two of us are doing.”
Rain blinked. “Well, I have an idea but I want to hear about t from you.”
“We talked,” I told him, but then I realized this wasn’t going to have any effect other than making him want to keep pestering me with questions. “I realized that I was acting this way because I felt guilty about bullying her. Becoming her mate made me realize that I had no right to be her mate, but that’s what I am. What we all are.”
He sniffed. “Yeah, I had the same conversation with Lia the other day. I almost cried. She almost cried. We both almost cried together. It was a little strange. But it did help clear up a few things.”
“Don’t you think you could’ve told me this before?”
“I don’t know if you would’ve listened, Matt. You are stubborn. Guess Jesse could’ve said something because you listen to him more.”
I sighed. “Only if he’s in one of his scary moods.”
The college was quiet at this time of night. Rain and I exited the car, heading to the field. Colby and Jesse were already there. My eyes locked with Jesse. He smirked.
“I guess you and Lia patched things up.”
“How does everyone know this?”
Colby laughed. “Rain sent us a text saying that you and Lia had reached a new, comfortable point in your relationship.”
“I hate all of you,” I grumbled but they all knew I didn’t mean it. “Let’s just get some practice in. We have a big Game this weekend, followed by our finals. Hard to believe we’ll be graduating soon‘
H
From there we were all hoping to get an official offer with the state’s rugby team. All five of us were hoping to become professional rugby players, but in case it didn’t happen we all had back–up plans. My backup plan was to become a coach. Still, let me stay in rugby but instead, I could teach the younger generation.
“Wait, Michael isn’t here,” Rain reminded us.
Colby sighed. “Yeah, Michael is busy with his mate. They did just officially mate so the coach understands.”
+25 BONUS
19 Rugby Team
“Then I guess we’ll just have to practice without him.”
I tried not to sound disappointed. The four of us hadn’t seen much of him over the past two weeks he had been living with his mate. It was something I had to get used to.
They were forming their pack just like the four of us were forming our pack with Lia. I was almost still waiting for the last pin to drop, afraid that we might not get along as well as we used to do.
The fact of the matter was these guys were the best friends anyone could ever have. I didn’t want anything to happen or get in the way of their friendships. But I heard fights breaking out when more than one person shared
the same mate.
We all got into our gear, ready to get straight to practice. I kept glancing over my shoulder, almost as if I hoped that Michael was going to show up at the last minute.
Rain
This practice was one of our most successful yet! I earned a few new bruises and marks, but this was rugby. It wasn’t a sport that was meant for the faint–hearted. But when we walked off the field and into the locker room, I had a grin on my face.
Hey isn’t a recruiter coming to the next game?” one of the guys on the team said.
I was half–listening, not wanting to worry about recruiters coming to the game. Unlike some guys on the team, I did have a backup plan. Computers were my other interest and something I excelled in. Jesse was interested in tech as well, Matt coaching, and Colby and Michael’s business.
We all knew the importance of having a backup plan. Even he, the resident goofball. I had enough sense when our counselor talked to us at the beginning of college!
Colby nudged me. “If anyone is going to impress the recruiter it’s going to be us.”
“Yeah, we are pretty good but I don’t want to get cocky, Colby. What if one of us doesn’t get in?
“Well, then we support the other. That’s all we must do,” told him, grinning
“Rain you can be so cheesy.”
“Hey Colby, I am the one who always lifts everyone’s spirit around here and I take my job seriously.”
Sometimes I could get down, but I had a genuinely helpful attitude. You know, except for the bullying I engaged in. Lia had said something like what she said to Matt. She doesn’t forgive or forget but she wants us to try to move forward.
Crazy how we all ended up here. If someone had told me I would end up as a future mate to Lia, along with the rest of my friends, I would’ve laughed in their faces. There was just no chance of that happening!
“Let’s head home. I’m exhausted,” I muttered, throwing my bag over my shoulder.
Matt and I piled into the same car while Colby and Jesse piled into the other. Out of the corner of my eye, I noticed Matt kept wincing.
“You okay?”
“Yeah, I think I hurt my shoulder back out on the field.”
My eyes widened. “Matt, my dude, you should ice it as soon as we get back to the house otherwise it could get
