“Yeah, I get it,” she said. “But you’re all grown up now. You’re a football star already! You’ve accomplished your father’s goal. Don’t you think it’s time you went after your own dream?”
I gave her an odd look, confusion creeping into my heart. “Becoming one of the best football players in Windfield was my dream.”
“Are you sure? Is it just that?”
Suddenly, an image of me traveling the world and taking beautiful pictures formed in my mind. It gave me a sense of self-fulfillment and joy, different from the emotions that overtook me when I was playing a good game of football. “I guess… I do want to pursue photography if I could.”
“You can,” she told me confidently, smiling widely. “You can do it, Stryder. I’ll help you.”
I gave her a doubtful look. She motioned to the camera and smiled at me even more. “You’ve got pure talent here. It’d be a waste to just keep it to yourself, right? Come on, I believe in you.”
A tinge of hope began taking form within me, swirling with mixed emotions. Her words echoed in my ears, making me feel optimistic. Perhaps she was right. The fact that she believed in me meant so much, possibly enough to reignite a dream I had long buried.
Greatly inspired, I spent the rest of the afternoon shooting with my camera as we made our way back. I was so engrossed that I hardly noticed Tasha watching me from a distance. She was far back behind me, content with just observing what I was doing.
At first, I felt conscious because I wasn’t used to having someone watch my every move. But later on, my focus shifted more to what I was doing. I soon lost track of time as I clicked away at various sceneries and took macro shots of birds and insects.
Suddenly, I heard a scream from afar. I dropped the camera and quickly scanned the grounds. Tasha was nowhere to be found. I took off, sprinting to the direction we’d passed earlier.
As I rounded a curve on the trail, I spotted her sprawled on the ground, her face scrunched in pain. She was gripping her ankle, but did not seem to show any sign of a serious injury.
“Tasha!” I shouted, running to her direction, my heartbeat quickening in pace.
Her head whipped around to face me. She was about to say something when a large figure from behind a nearby tree appeared and knelt down beside her.
My eyes flickered with annoyance. Without thinking, I balled up my fists as I watched the familiar man crouch down and check her ankle. They seemed to be talking.
I was frozen for a while, but then something within me budged, slightly pushing me forward. And with every step I took closer, my chest filled with renewed determination. The only thought left in my mind at that instance was that I needed to get to Tasha before that man whisked her away.
As I came close, I recognized the guy. It was her ex-boyfriend Brad. Suddenly, I felt rage brewing inside. What the hell was he doing here? Why did he keep injecting himself into the story—our story?!
“Tasha,” I said curtly, completely ignoring Brad. “What happened? Are you okay?”
“I’m fine,” she answered weakly. “I tripped over a pile of rocks and sprained my ankle.”
“I have you,” Brad said immediately, positioning himself to lift her up.
But then I stepped forward and said, “It’s okay, I got her. We were together, so she’s my responsibility.”
Brad turned around to face me squarely, his eyes flashing with irritation. He tried to look me down but we were just about the same height. I refused to be intimidated or even to step back—not unless Tasha herself wanted me to.
“She’s not your business, so you can leave now,” I told him, trying to remain in control.
He was certainly pissed. “Really? If you’re in charge here, then why’d you let her get hurt? You weren’t even around to take care of her.”
He had a point, but I refused to back down. I wanted to punch him in the face just as a retort came to my lips.
“Stop it, guys!” Tasha ordered before I could utter anything. Then looking at Brad, she said, “Brad, it’s okay. It was my fault. Besides, this is just a small thing. We can make it back home easily.”
It was a good thing Brad listened to her and eventually stepped back. He gave me a sharp look, though, before turning to say goodbye to Tasha. “I’ll check on you tonight, Tash,” I heard him murmur before he left.
I glared at him before stooping down to carry Tasha. She wrapped her arms around my broad shoulders, hanging on tightly. The proximity gave me a warm feeling, though I was still terribly bothered by her ex’s sudden appearance.
“Are you sure you’re okay?” I asked Tasha as I walked slowly, carrying her.
She nodded. “But you’re the one I’m worried about,” she said. “You won’t be able to carry me all the way home. It’s still quite far.”
“It’s fine,” I said, moving slowly. “I can manage.”
“No,” she said firmly. “Put me down and just let me lean on you. I’ll hobble.”
I hesitated for a while before following her instructions. “Just don’t put weight on it,” I told her.
She grinned up at me and gave me a quick peck on the cheek. I was taken aback but I didn’t say anything.
For a while, we were quiet, just making our way forward carefully. My head was swimming with confusing thoughts, my chest churning with mixed emotions.
“Hey,” she suddenly said. “You okay?”
“Yes,” I answered. Then I couldn’t help it anymore, so I brought up the topic that had been bothering me. “What was that guy doing here? Was he stalking you or something?”
“No, of course not,” Tasha answered, laughing a bit. “Brad said he was on his way to the cave when he heard me scream.”
“So he often went there before, huh?” I asked.
“Yes, he enjoys hiking and exploring caves and all that stuff.”
My heart began to beat faster as a thought occurred to me. “You two used to go to that cave together a lot?” I asked without hesitation. I just needed to know.
She was the one who hesitated before nodding. “That was a long time ago, Stryder…”
“Hey, no worries,” I immediately said.
She gave me a look of concern and confusion. However, she didn’t say anything. We both stayed quiet for the rest of the way, with me supporting her as she hobbled on one foot and barely used her injured one.
When we finally got to the lake, we both plopped on the ground exhausted.
“I should’ve known to bring a first aid kit,” she muttered. She then told me where to grab some supplies to bandage her foot properly and for cold compress.
Later, I came out with ice wrapped in a cloth, which I gently applied on her ankle. I propped it up on a big rock I found so we could elevate it. After a few minutes, I bandaged it with great care, all the while aware of her eyes on me. I could sense the growing tension between us—not a negative kind, but a deeper connection forming.
It was strange how much she affected me and how much I seemed to care for her. It was all so new to me.
Many times I wanted to just run away or hide from the overwhelming, unexplainable feelings that kept swirling inside of me. But there was a big part of me that kept pushing forward, wanting to be with her, yearning to take care of her.
“Thank you,” she said softly when I was done. Then she took my face in her arms and brought me up to her until our lips pressed together in a sweet, meaningful kiss.
Though unsure of where we were headed, I felt like I only wanted to live for that moment and not worry about the future for now.
Chapter Thirteen
Tasha
That evening, I was resting in the living room when Brad coursed through our front door, confidently striding toward me with a huge smile on his face and a big blue box in his hands.
I was suddenly reminded of the many times he’d glided into our house and the beautiful memories we shared. He was an important part of my growing-up years, a significant figure in my past, whom I will never ever forget. Bu
t that didn’t mean I was ready to go running back into his arms now that he was back for good from Canada.
Everything was just too complicated at the moment. Nevertheless, I felt happy to see him.
“How are you?” Brad asked, sitting next to me and placing an arm around my shoulders. It felt natural and comfortable, but I was somehow afraid of what Stryder might think if he walks in on us like this. He could be done showering at this time.
“I’m good,” I said, smiling at him but shifting my position so that he’d take the hint to remove his arm from around me.
He did, fortunately. With a bothered look on his face, his eyes narrowed as he gave me an intent gaze. “Tasha, is he your boyfriend now?” he asked straightforwardly. “Our friends said you guys aren’t really together…”
I hesitated before speaking. “We aren’t together. It’s kind of hard to explain.”
“Well, do you love him?”
“I… I don’t know,” I told him honestly. “I mean, we’re just getting to know each other.”
“So you’re not dating exclusively? That means I’ve got a chance, right?”
“What are you talking about?” I said, my heart racing slightly, confusion settling in. “We can’t just pick up from where we left off years ago. That was such a long time ago, Brad.”
He took my hand and gently squeezed it. “I regret ever leaving you, Tasha, but I didn’t have a choice at that time. Now I’m back and I want to be with you again. I know you can feel it, too, that you and I belong with each other.”
I couldn’t say anything. I did feel a connection that was still there, but I knew very well that a lot of things have already changed. I had changed.
“Give me a chance, Tash,” he said. “I’m willing to start over. At least let me show you how much you mean to me.”
“We’re still friends, Brad,” I assured him. “That’s as much as I can offer right now.”
He took a deep breath and looked at me straight in the eye. “Okay, I’ll accept that.”
To my relief, he began to share stories about his trip in Canada and then we got to talking about how our families were. I found out that he was working as a freelance website developer and was planning to talk to some prospective clients in Windfield. Now that was going to pose a problem.
“I’m hoping I can see you there sometimes,” he suggested. “Maybe have coffee or dinner in the city?”
“Maybe,” I said uncertainly. I did not want to raise his hopes or promise him anything.
Mom and Pop came out of the room then and saw Brad. They were of course ecstatic to see him again, so the three of them sat down to chat. They asked him to stay for dinner, which he obliged to naturally.
My heart almost stopped when Stryder came down and instantly scowled at the scene that greeted him. He went out the back door before I could stop him. Even if I wanted to run after him, I couldn’t. Besides, a voice in my head kept reminding me that this man wasn’t willing to commit to me unlike Brad, no matter how I felt about him or how he actually seemed to care about me.
Did I really want to be with a guy like that? Maybe Brad was coming back into my life for a reason.
During the next few hours, I tried to focus on Brad’s presence instead and how he fit so perfectly into my life—just like the old times. However, this town and my family life with my parents were just a small part of my current existence. I’m not sure how Brad would fit into my new adult life.
Dinner was surprisingly a pleasant and relaxing experience, except for the fact that Stryder was nowhere to be found and was not answering my calls either. Mom’s sister and her family dropped by to join us for dinner, but it was a good thing they had to go early. I made up an excuse for Stryder, of course, when they all asked about him. Deep inside, I was hoping he hadn’t gone far and was going to come back.
After coffee and dessert, Brad left already because I told him I wanted to rest. Luckily, he did not inquire anymore about Stryder. When Brad had gone and my parents were already sleeping, I lay awake in my room wondering where the hell Stryder was. His car was still parked out front, so I was still very much hopeful he’d come back.
My eyes were still wide open when I heard footsteps in the hallway. Using the crutches that Pop had found in the basement, I went over to open my bedroom door and peek out. That’s when I saw Stryder getting into the guest room. He looked normal except that he reeked of alcohol.
“Where did you go?” I demanded, not helping the accusing tone in my voice.
He turned toward me and laughed. “Why should you care?”
“Well, because you’re presently staying in our house, for Christ’s sake!” I hissed in frustration, afraid to wake up my parents downstairs if I spoke too loudly.
Stryder scoffed. “I’m sorry, Tasha. I should’ve told you or at least sent you a text message…”
“Where did you go?” I repeated the question.
“Nowhere interesting,” he answered, looking bored. “Some bar called Red Barn. I did meet a couple of interesting locals who had more to say about you and your boyfriend.”
I gave him a curious look, but did not probe. “I hope you got to eat dinner and not just drown in booze.”
He chuckled. “I did, don’t worry. I’m sure you guys had a lot of fun over dinner, right? Your parents seem to like that guy very much. And I think you two look really cute together.”
“Stryder,” I said sharply, moving closer to him in the hallway.
“What? I’m telling the truth,” he said. “I’m entitled to my own opinion.”
“You should have answered my call,” I said, annoyed.
“Yeah, well, don’t worry, it won’t happen again,” he assured me sarcastically. “Because I’m never agreeing to go with you anywhere else again.”
That was totally harsh, especially the way he said it. I knew I shouldn’t have been affected, but I was deeply hurt. I felt tears rushing to my eyes, but I blinked them back and hoped he couldn’t see them in the dark.
“I understand,” was all I said, my voice barely a whisper. “Have a good sleep, Stryder.” With that, I hobbled back to my bedroom and shut the door behind me before I let the tears flow down my cheeks, my chest heavy with emotional pain.
I hardly slept that night. The next morning, I breezed into his room coolly, knowing that he was all packed and ready to go.
“I’m staying here a few more days,” I told him. “Anyway, I’m useless with this kind of injury.”
“How will you go back to Windfield?” he asked. I was surprised he even bothered to ask.
I shrugged. “Maybe Pop will drive me… or I can just take the bus.”
He nodded and hauled his huge backpack as he moved to the door where I was standing. “Okay, then. Goodbye, Tasha. Thank you for everything.”
The way he said it was so final that I wanted to cry again. But I stood my ground and took a deep breath, facing him squarely. “Goodbye, Stryder. Thanks for everything, too. You take care on the way back.”
He gave me a weak smile and then passed me by, quickly heading down the stairs without looking back.
Chapter Fourteen
Stryder
“Cooper!” I heard the coach’s voice yell, making me snap to the side after I messed up another offensive play. My mind was totally floating, and I knew I was botching up the practice game real bad.
“Sorry, Coach!” I said loudly, feeling a bit ashamed. I didn’t dare look at my teammates.
“What the hell’s wrong with you?” Coach Ford demanded as he approached me.
I shrugged, not wanting to look him in the eye. I knew I haven’t been playing my best for a week now since I got back from Green Meadows.
“Take a break, Cooper,” Coach Ford said with a huge sigh and a shake of his head. “If you don’t straighten up your act this afternoon, you’re not playing on Saturday.”
“Yes, sir,” was all I could say. Feeling totally frustrated and even angry at myself, I trudged back to the d
ugout and sat with my shoulders slumped.
The first championship game against our strongest opponent was only two days away. My dad would never make me hear the end of it if I’m not out on the field on that day. The prospective consequence was too vexing, so I really had to get my act together.
I tried to focus on football, to keep my mind from straying. But no matter what I did, I always saw her face in my head wherever I went. I thought the nagging discomfort would eventually go away, but it only got worse as days passed by. There was a slight pain in my gut that I could not explain. Sometimes, I even lost my appetite.
“Hey, what’s up?” a deep male voice came.
I looked up, still distracted. My eyes focused on Ivan’s face, which was presently filled with concern. He sat beside me.
“Women problems, huh?” he teased.
I scoffed and didn’t say anything.
“Or should I say a specific woman problem?” Ivan probed. “Come on, I know it when I see it. What happened to you and Tasha?”
“Nothing, man.”
He nudged me with his shoulder in a friendly manner. “Hey, it’s fine. I’ve been there, too. You’ve finally fallen hard and you just can’t admit it.”
I almost laughed, but somehow he was striking a chord in my chest.
“You’ve got to talk to her, man,” Ivan said. “Look, it’s none of my business, but I’d hate for you to miss the first championship game because of this. We need you.”
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