Long Game

by Catherine Evans

  ‘It’s different on the sidelines. Don’t you feel that too?’

  Tris nodded. ‘Probably not as much as you, though.’ He looked closely at him. ‘You and Cress have something special, hey?’

  ‘Hope so.’ Quin murmured the response without thinking. Then he looked sharply at Tris. ‘That was sneaky.’

  Tris grinned. ‘But effective.’

  ‘You don’t mind?’

  Tris shook his head. ‘We’re all surprised it’s taken so long. She’s been crazy about you since she could walk.’

  Quin laughed but it was cut short by the national anthem and the start of the game. Cress came into the game on fire. She obviously wasn’t thinking about him, or her friendship with Angie, because her blistering pace left Angie in her wake, twice. It had the Sirens ahead early in the first quarter.

  As the game went on, the other players’ nerves seemed to settle because it became a tougher, harder game. What made it more frustrating for Quin was that Cress was stopped by the Muses. They must have decided she was a match winner because the team, not just her opponent, Angie, was working to keep Cress contained.

  That wasn’t to say that Angie wasn’t working hard to not let Cress get away from her. It was another tight tussle between them. Friendship counted for nothing. Angie and Cress fought for every possession. Defended each other fiercely. Shoulders bumped. Bodies flew as they fought for the ball. They chased, attacked, defended. It was a fierce rivalry that the Kennedys all commented on.

  Only Quin knew that off the field, these girls had become friends. He held that secret close. If Cress wanted to tell her family after, she’d do that. He wasn’t about to say anything.

  By half-time, Quin’s throat was raw and he needed to sit, eat and replenish for the remainder of the game. It was hot, crowded, loud, and a day he’d never forget.

  The score remained close, and each team took the lead for a time before the other would get ahead. It made for a fabulous spectacle with every person in the crowd cheering, their hopes remaining high for a win. Quin thought his stomach would knot into a million tangles.

  ‘I’m biased, but if Cress or that chick marking her don’t get best on ground, I’ll eat my hat.’ Tris shook his head as he sank his teeth into a hotdog. ‘The two of them are everywhere.’ He said that between chews, but Quin was pretty sure that’s what he’d said.

  ‘I’m biased too, so you’ll get no argument from me.’ Quin grinned at his mate.

  In the third quarter, Cress was kept off every ball-up by a bunch of Muses players blocking her. Quin’s ire was raised but it didn’t seem to have the same impact on Cress. She kept her cool, kept at her game, never reacting to the jostles they gave her, or the solid tackles they hit her with.

  Gosh she was impressive. As remarkable as Cress was, the Muses had gotten ahead of the Sirens, and the more they pressed Cress out of the game, the further they seemed to get ahead. Quin was frustrated that the Sirens’ coaches hadn’t anticipated that this could happen; or if they had, there seemed to be no countermeasures in place. As he became angrier in the stands, Cress seemed to become more focused, more determined.

  A ball sailed towards Angie and Cress, with at least three other Muses surrounding and protecting their teammate and keeping Cress off the ball. Except no one had told Watercress how she was supposed to behave. As Quin saw the ball sail high, his heart rose in his throat. He knew, without any doubt, that Cress would go for this ball. She’d done this as a kid, there’d be no stopping her today.

  She held back, and Quin held his breath. She was going to let them think it’d be an uncontested mark.

  ‘What’s she doing?’ Tris asked, astounded and confused.

  ‘Watch.’ Quin’s response held all the awe he felt.

  As Angie went up for the ball, Cress raced into the melee. After a couple of long, fast strides, she leapt high, higher than he thought she’d be able to, and as Angie was caught under the ball, Cress’s knee and shin rested along Angie’s back, right in the middle of her guernsey number. Cress stretched, as if she had all the time in the world, while Quin thought he’d never see what happened. It was like slow motion. Finally, the ball made it into Cress’s hands. Cleanly. Quin imagined he heard the thump of leather meeting flesh, but there was no way he could, it was a trick of his brain. But she’d got it. She’d got up there and taken it. When it wasn’t really hers to take. Incredible.

  The whole stand erupted, but Quin had his heart lodged in his throat. She had to keep hold of the ball and safely return to earth, and he wasn’t cheering until she’d managed that. He’d stood though, because he had to see. To his amazement, Angie didn’t buck Cress from her, and the Muses didn’t push so Cress would land flat on the ground. After the tough time they’d given Cress in the game, he’d expected one or both things to happen, but neither did. Angie’s body cushioned Cress’s fall, and then the Muses’ bodies jostled her as she came down and landed. Injury-free.

  ‘Holy cow.’ Quin looked across to see Mr Kennedy wearing a similar expression to the one he was pretty sure would be on his face.

  ‘Screamer.’ The Kennedy boys yelled out to their sister as if they were in the back paddock. ‘She took a bloody screamer.’

  Quin still wasn’t sure his throat would work. His heart was beating, or rather pounding, so he knew he was alive and well. And then he had a mental vision of his mother and her panic at watching him play. He had to stop himself from chuckling. Fearless, his mother had called him, and he was … when it was him playing. Watching brought a different meaning to the word. But he was proud of her. Incredibly proud.

  ‘I taught her that.’ Tris slapped Quin on the back and then hugged him. ‘Damn, she’s good.’

  Quin could only laugh. The image of her suspended in midair, fully stretched for the ball, her knees in her opponent’s back, would be burned in his memory forever. He hoped someone had caught the image. He’d buy it and get it framed for her. Taking a mark like that, in her first grand final, was something to treasure forever.

  Cress still had the free kick to take and after that adrenaline rush, Quin knew she’d need to take all the time she could to settle her nerves and give herself the best chance of a six-pointer. Her team needed it but she was a long way out.

  As the Sirens jostled for space, Quin saw Geral unmarked, just beyond the goalposts. Had Cress seen her? Was Cress even looking that way? He didn’t think she was. She seemed focused on the sticks.

  She took the kick, faster than he’d expected, and he knew then that she’d seen Geral. The kick went straight to her. Geral slotted the goal. The Sirens went crazy. But it didn’t put them ahead. It hadn’t evened up the score. Although there was still a quarter to go. And Cress was still trying every trick she knew to win this game.

  Chapter 20

  During the last quarter, Cress’s body burned. The game was so fast, and held in the balance, she didn’t have too many moments to dwell on the aches. She’d worry about them tomorrow.

  It was a hard, tough, but fair game. Harder than their last game against the Muses because she seemed to have more than just Angie out to stop her. It was tough finding space. And she wasn’t just trying to outpace Angie either, there seemed to be something like a tag team of players to outpace, and they were wearing her out this time. The best thing about playing against Angie was that playing the best brought out her best—and Angie and the Muses were the best.

  A loose ball just ahead had Cress stretching her stride, racing for it, with the warmth of Angie’s arm brushing against her own. Angie wasn’t getting this one. This ball had Cress Kennedy written all over it.

  Cress bent down, grabbed the ball and handballed it out to Petra as she felt Angie’s body slide across her own. Angie sprawled on the ground. But Cress’s job was done. She took a moment to stick her hand out and drag Angie to her feet. They grinned at each other, briefly, before racing after the play. In many ways, playing against Angie was like playing against her brothers and Quin in the paddock.
Friendships were parked while the competition was heated, but there was respect and good sportsmanship.

  The Sirens kicked a behind. One point. If only it’d been six. Cress couldn’t do anything about it. Everyone was doing their best and that was all she could hope for. If a kick turned into a behind, she just had to suck it up and accept the one point.

  Even if it was so close that one point hurt.

  She ran, bounced, kicked, tackled, and handballed as hard as she possibly could. She was leaving nothing out here on this field. The last game of the season and the Sirens were going to hold that shield if Cress could do anything about it.

  As the minutes ticked by, Cress focused everything she had on beating Angie to the ball. When Angie outran her for a loose ball scurrying on the ground, Cress nailed her in a tackle. A little harder than she’d intended, it momentarily pinned Angie, and she didn’t get the ball away. Holding the ball. Cress had a free kick.

  Cress leaned down and offered her hand to Angie. With a nod of her head, she took the assistance up and handed Cress the ball, before jogging over to try to impede Cress’s view and interrupt the kick. It wasn’t going to work.

  Cress desperately looked for someone free. She kicked and the ball sailed to Mattie who took a nice chest mark. Yes. Then she booted home a goal.

  Six points closer. Cress pumped her fist.

  Within minutes, the hooter went for full-time. Cress looked at the scoreboard. One goal. Her heart sank and she dropped to the ground. They’d lost by one goal.

  Angie came over and offered her hand and a smile, which held a smidge of sympathy in amongst the excitement of her win. Cress took the hand and Angie drew her to her feet. ‘Congratulations.’ Cress hugged her opponent and friend. ‘That was another great game.’

  ‘Thanks. You were brilliant too, Cress.’ Angie took off to celebrate with her team, while Cress staggered to the group of shattered Sirens. Most of the girls were lying flat on the ground, which was exactly how Cress felt. Flat. Depleted.

  Cress hugged the few girls standing, and touched hands with those who could only manage to stretch their arm above their prone body. She hugged Petra, who sought her out. Found Mattie and hugged her too. Ali was trying her best to rally everyone even though she seemed the most shattered of all the players. Cress hugged her. ‘Next year, Ali.’

  ‘I won’t be here.’

  With a gasp, Cress hugged Ali tighter. ‘I didn’t know.’

  ‘Don’t say anything yet.’

  Cress nodded and stepped back, a huge ball of emotion wedged in her throat. She had to push past that. She had a team to rally. For Ali. She turned to the players. ‘C’mon girls. We need to congratulate the Muses. One last show of true sportswomanship.’ Cress forced a grin as she walked around her team, gathering them up, and using her newly created word to make people chuckle.

  The Sirens made a ragtag line to congratulate the Muses. Ali led the way, proudly, with her head held high, and Cress was up following her captain and leader, for the last time. The Sirens may have lost but they had pride, and they’d played their best game of the season.

  When all the congrats were done, Cress collapsed to the ground, along with most of the girls. They stayed that way for the official presentations. Cress had nothing left. She wasn’t even sure she’d be able to walk off the ground. What she’d do for a bag of snakes.

  And that made her think of Quin. He’d be hurting for her now. As would Dad and her brothers. She sat up, looked towards where they were, and gave a salute, wondering if they were even looking at her.

  The announcement for Best on Ground Award caught Cress’s attention. And when Angie won, Cress leapt to her feet and gave a cheer, which caused more than a few Sirens’ girls to stare. She didn’t care. Angie had played her guts out.

  As Angie walked from the dais, she gave Cress a wave of thanks, before she was swallowed in the Muses’ excitement.

  For the rest of the ceremony, Cress remained on the grass. Exhaustion biting hard. She wasn’t sure she could stand again. Maybe they’d bring out a bunch of stretchers to carry them all into the dressing rooms.

  Jolene waved a drink bottle in front of Cress’s face. ‘You need this.’

  Cress took it with thanks.

  Jolene squatted down beside her. ‘Great sportswomanship, Cress Kennedy. I’m proud to have you on my team.’

  Cress smiled as she let the words sink in. Then smiled some more. She sat up and cracked the drink bottle and gulped down the sugary hit. ‘Thanks, Coach. I don’t think I’d play for anyone but you.’

  Jolene grinned. ‘Yes, you would. I reckon you’ll be playing in a nursing home.’

  Cress chuckled. Then she grinned harder. ‘You might be right. You gonna be coaching too?’

  ‘Probably.’ Jolene gave Cress’s shoulder a squeeze.

  After that short exchange, Cress’s heart wasn’t aching as badly. Her body still hurt but she wasn’t quite as shattered about the loss. She’d played hard, done her best, and it wasn’t good enough. Next year, she’d be better, and she’d be where Angie was now.

  Her head dropped between her knees as she sat on the ground, elbows resting on her bent legs. She had a year to prepare for the second W.A.R. season. A year of …

  Quin.

  A shiver scuttled down her spine.

  Before she focused on next year, she had a man to focus her attention on. Popping her head up, she watched the end of the presentation. A fizz of energy started in her stomach and extended throughout her body. She needed Quin.

  As soon as the formalities were over, Cress got to her feet and headed to the section of the ground where her family were. They were lined up against the fence and she hobbled right to them. Muscles were cooling now, and they weren’t happy stretching.

  Glancing at Dad, she shot him a grin before she launched herself at Quin. He caught her, as she knew he would, and while he was hugging her, she caught his lips in hers. She needed him more than a bag of snakes.

  The way his lips parted beneath hers made her think he felt the same way. She could taste him; on his lips, his tongue, inside his mouth. She loved the taste of him.

  He pulled away, slowly, and the noise around them penetrated. Quin’s eyes were shiny as he smiled at her. ‘I’m so proud of you, Watercress. Your game was next level.’ Her stomach tensed and she bit her lips as tears prickled behind her eyes.

  Dad swooped in then, and she was in his arms. ‘Best on ground. It should have been yours.’

  She laughed. ‘Not that you’re at all biased, Dad.’

  ‘No one else took a mark like yours.’ Tris was there, grabbing her, congratulating her. Then Ollie, Damo and Gar. They were all grinning.

  ‘What would you guys be like if we’d won?’ She shook her head. ‘We lost, you know.’

  Damo gave her a shove. ‘The Sirens may have lost, but Cress Kennedy is a winner.’

  ‘Our winner,’ Gar added.

  It went some way towards filling up the void in her heart.

  Quin caught her fingers and stroked his thumb across the back of them, sending a shiver of awareness and need through her. She met his gaze. ‘It’s tough, but you’ll get through this.’ He squeezed her hand. ‘Go find the girls.’ Soft, soothing, and sending her away. It wasn’t what she expected Quin to do. ‘Being with the team is important now.’ She frowned but nodded as if she understood.

  When she finally got to the dressing rooms, she did understand. The mood in there matched hers exactly. Subdued, exhausted, and pained. She sat down beside Ali.

  ‘I’m sorry we couldn’t win.’

  Ali shrugged. ‘There’s always a loser; to every game. Could you have played any better?’

  Cress thought for a moment, before shaking her head.

  ‘So no apologies. We gave it our all, and we came second. That’s pretty good for a team of girls who didn’t know each other six months ago.’ Ali’s smile made Cress’s heart less sore, but her words gave Cress hope. Hope for next season. Hope for
the future.

  ‘And don’t you worry about me,’ Ali said after a bit. ‘All I wanted to do was play the first season. I should have hung up the boots before this, so it’s been a bonus. A lot of girls I’ve played with didn’t get to do that.’

  Cress nodded because that’s what she was supposed to do. It didn’t feel fair.

  It was a dejected trip back to Sydney for Cress. Some of the girls weren’t taking it quite so badly, which made her want to lay blame, or do something more physical. She couldn’t. Because it wasn’t just the game and the loss that had her in this funk. It was the end of the season. The end of living with Quin. Everything ending when she’d only started feeling settled.

  Tomorrow she’d clear out her locker, say goodbye to everyone on the team, and then it was really over. Her first season as a Siren, gone in the blink of an eye. She hadn’t known how incredibly unprepared for this she was.

  As if she were in a trance, she got home, made it to her room and curled up on her bed. She had nothing left.

  Hours later, she woke. The room was dark, she was covered by a sheet, and curled next to a warm body. She blinked and peered into the half-dark but she didn’t have to guess who was curled beside her. Her lips almost managed to crack a smile. Moving away a smidge, she stretched and it hurt, but she forced herself to ease out of bed.

  She padded to the bathroom and on the vanity were snakes. Tears prickled as she opened the packet and popped a red snake into her mouth. The sugar burst against her tastebuds had her mouth watering in seconds.

  Ablutions done, she popped a green lolly into her mouth as she took the packet with her and headed back to bed.

  Quin was amazing. His gentle care and consideration had always warmed her heart, but never more than now. To think of leaving these where she’d find them was almost better than the way he’d held her through the night and massaged her aching muscles.

  Although she’d known him forever, every day she learned new depths of him. He’d always been protective, right from when they were little and he made sure she wasn’t always left behind when her brothers ran off. Or that her skinned knee wasn’t a more serious injury. Now he made sure she didn’t overdo training, ensured she had treats, and surrounded her with positive energy.