I Stand Amazed
Chapter Three
The remainder of the first half I spent enjoying the game and getting to know the boys, laughing and joking around, just being myself, which I could tell they appreciated. I told them about myself and where I was from and we also talked soccer. When the referee blew his whistle sharply three times, indicating the end of the half, I sat back smugly, my arms behind my head.
“And y’all said Americans couldn’t play. Hmph.”
They glared at me jokingly, and Louis protested, “The ref didn’t call that foul in the box! That goal shouldn’t have counted!” I snorted. “Whatever. We scored fair and square. You’re just all pissy because we’re winning.”
Niall chortled while Louis muttered, “Damn right I’m pissy.” Niall moved over a seat to sit next to me, as Harry had left for food and drinks. “So, Maddie, do you play?” he asked, jerking his head toward the field. I nodded eagerly, “Yep, I’ve been playing for fourteen years.”
The four of them look impressed; Niall and Zayn raised their eyebrows and Liam whistled softly. Louis just rolled his eyes. I stuck my tongue out at him. I was surprisingly feeling very comfortable around them, perhaps more comfortable than I usually feel with people that I’ve been around back at home.
“What position?” Zayn questioned me and I told him.
“Well, when I was younger I used to play defense—“
“You played defense?” Louis interrupted, “But you’re so tiny!”
I flushed and said, “I know, I know, I’m short…I actually haven’t grown in about six years…but I’m not a bad player at all! I really love it.”
Niall smiled, “I’m sure you’re very talented,” he said warmly. I returned the smile, fascinated by his attractive features. His piercing blue eyes accented his blond hair nicely, even though I knew he dyed it. I loved the faint flush of his cheeks that seemed to always be there; I found it charming and rather adorable.
We kept talking about soccer and I told him how I used to play for both a private and school team and on an indoor team during the summer. “I also enjoy coaching, too,” I told him, “I once coached a little six year-old team to earn volunteer hours in high school and help out some friends.”
“Wow, that’s really cool,” he murmured. I grinned and accepted a water bottle from Harry, who had just returned, passing out food to everyone. He sat down in the seat Niall had been sitting in and offered me some popcorn.
“Thank you so much! God, I’m starving!” I moaned as I took the bucket from Harry, practically inhaling the popcorn. They stared at me like I was some sort of freak, which I’m sure I was.
“What?” I mumbled around a mouthful, attempting and failing to raise one eyebrow at them. Niall laughed adorably and took a handful from me, stuffing his face as well. The others shook their heads and began to whisper amongst themselves. Niall and I started talking again, waiting for the second half to start.
“So what do you play now, then?” he inquired, and I responded, “Well since I’m left-footed, one day my coach wanted to try me out as left wing, so I could get some good crosses off, you know? And I said, ‘why not?’ So then I just played midfield from then on.”
“That’s sweet! I’m a lefty, too!” he exclaimed, beaming. “But I always liked to play forward.”
I nodded, understanding. “I’ve played striker a few times, but I prefer playing back a bit.”
“When you’ve quite finished…” Louis said pointedly.
Niall and I laughed, realizing the game had resumed. We each cheered for the teams and when the US scored again I jumped up, yelling in their faces while they rolled their eyes and dejectedly sulked in their seats. Half an hour later, the game ended, and I proudly reminded the boys of my nation’s 2-0 victory over theirs.
“Hey, I’m from Ireland,” Niall protested, “so you haven’t beat my team!” I just grinned. “Yet.”
He narrowed his striking blue eyes, pretending to be menacing, and I laughed loudly at his poor attempt. The other boys smiled at us and whispered to each other a bit more, but neither of us noticed.
“And y’all said Americans couldn’t play. Hmph.”
They glared at me jokingly, and Louis protested, “The ref didn’t call that foul in the box! That goal shouldn’t have counted!” I snorted. “Whatever. We scored fair and square. You’re just all pissy because we’re winning.”
Niall chortled while Louis muttered, “Damn right I’m pissy.” Niall moved over a seat to sit next to me, as Harry had left for food and drinks. “So, Maddie, do you play?” he asked, jerking his head toward the field. I nodded eagerly, “Yep, I’ve been playing for fourteen years.”
The four of them look impressed; Niall and Zayn raised their eyebrows and Liam whistled softly. Louis just rolled his eyes. I stuck my tongue out at him. I was surprisingly feeling very comfortable around them, perhaps more comfortable than I usually feel with people that I’ve been around back at home.
“What position?” Zayn questioned me and I told him.
“Well, when I was younger I used to play defense—“
“You played defense?” Louis interrupted, “But you’re so tiny!”
I flushed and said, “I know, I know, I’m short…I actually haven’t grown in about six years…but I’m not a bad player at all! I really love it.”
Niall smiled, “I’m sure you’re very talented,” he said warmly. I returned the smile, fascinated by his attractive features. His piercing blue eyes accented his blond hair nicely, even though I knew he dyed it. I loved the faint flush of his cheeks that seemed to always be there; I found it charming and rather adorable.
We kept talking about soccer and I told him how I used to play for both a private and school team and on an indoor team during the summer. “I also enjoy coaching, too,” I told him, “I once coached a little six year-old team to earn volunteer hours in high school and help out some friends.”
“Wow, that’s really cool,” he murmured. I grinned and accepted a water bottle from Harry, who had just returned, passing out food to everyone. He sat down in the seat Niall had been sitting in and offered me some popcorn.
“Thank you so much! God, I’m starving!” I moaned as I took the bucket from Harry, practically inhaling the popcorn. They stared at me like I was some sort of freak, which I’m sure I was.
“What?” I mumbled around a mouthful, attempting and failing to raise one eyebrow at them. Niall laughed adorably and took a handful from me, stuffing his face as well. The others shook their heads and began to whisper amongst themselves. Niall and I started talking again, waiting for the second half to start.
“So what do you play now, then?” he inquired, and I responded, “Well since I’m left-footed, one day my coach wanted to try me out as left wing, so I could get some good crosses off, you know? And I said, ‘why not?’ So then I just played midfield from then on.”
“That’s sweet! I’m a lefty, too!” he exclaimed, beaming. “But I always liked to play forward.”
I nodded, understanding. “I’ve played striker a few times, but I prefer playing back a bit.”
“When you’ve quite finished…” Louis said pointedly.
Niall and I laughed, realizing the game had resumed. We each cheered for the teams and when the US scored again I jumped up, yelling in their faces while they rolled their eyes and dejectedly sulked in their seats. Half an hour later, the game ended, and I proudly reminded the boys of my nation’s 2-0 victory over theirs.
“Hey, I’m from Ireland,” Niall protested, “so you haven’t beat my team!” I just grinned. “Yet.”
He narrowed his striking blue eyes, pretending to be menacing, and I laughed loudly at his poor attempt. The other boys smiled at us and whispered to each other a bit more, but neither of us noticed.
5/19/13