by Talisa White
“I’ll get it from Rob.”
Rob stared at Mark as if he was from another planet. “Why do you need her number? She doesn’t respond to my calls,” he disclosed to Mark.
Rob gave Megan’s number hesitantly.
Without hesitating for a moment, Mark send a text message to Megan. It read: Hello Megan, this is Mark, a member of the Eagles Team. Can we meet tomorrow? It’s something urgent.
Megan’s bland reply came after a few minutes: You can tell me through text. We don’t need to meet.
It’s too sensitive to be texted, Mark responded.
Megan did not reply.
“Coach, it’s best that you see her personally,” Mark informed the team’s coach. “If we don’t act now, we might lose the final game.”
“Damn it! Where’s Rob?” the coach was in a panic too.
Rob was in his flat wallowing in his heartache. The coach had to ring the doorbell a dozen times before he opened his door.
“What’s wrong with you, huh?” the coach yelled at Rob; his angry voice could be heard a block away. “Get a hold of yourself, man. It’s the championship game after next week.”
“But what can I do, coach?” Tears welled-up in Rob’s eyes. “I can’t get her off my mind, no matter how hard I tried.”
“Get dressed and come to the practice. That’s an order,” the coach left Rob in exasperation. He had to do something about it, or he would lose his topnotch player and the championship.
The coach decided to meet Megan. It was easy to find her whereabouts through the help of Mark.
Chapter 11: Mending Fences
“I don’t see any reason why you should see me personally, coach,” Megan told the coach in no uncertain terms.
“I’m here to ask you, to please be with Rob just until our final game,” the coach begged.
“I’m sure he can amuse himself with all the adoring women he has around him.”
“He’s only thinking of you. Can’t you talk to him?” the coach pleaded. “Just until the game is over.”
“And why would I help a team, who looks down on me?”
The coach wasn’t able to comprehend what Megan meant because he was not aware that Megan had been a guest during one of the wild parties of the team.
“What do you mean?” he asked, confounded.
“You’ll have to ask them,” Megan replied, standing up. “I’m sorry but I have to get back to work.”
They were in Megan’s workplace, and he was unable to do anything when she hurried back to her post.
The coach went back to the team’s hideout, deep in thought. What had the boys done this time?
“We invited her to our party as a victory gift to Rob,” Lex informed the coach. “Perhaps, she must have hated Rob’s cockiness.”
“Or she may have been embarrassed,” Lance contributed.
“Why?” the coach was curious.
“She did a sexy dance and flirted with us all,” Ted informed the coach. “but we didn’t get to touch her boobs,” he laughed.
“So, you think this is funny, huh?” the coach reprimanded them. “She said you had looked down on her.”
“Did we, boys?” Lance asked his teammates.
“Well, I did because I thought she was a tease,” Ted replied. “But now, I think I understand where she’s coming from.”
“Don’t be cheeky,” Lance said, not knowing whether to be mad or to be amused.
“Seriously, I don’t understand all her ‘high and mighty’ attitude, when she was the one who gave us all the wrong impression the first time we have met her,” Ted insisted.
“We don’t know why she accepted that dancing gig, but from what I observed, she’s a legit, decent girl,” the coach disclosed his own judgment.
“I think so, too,” Lance contributed. “She may have needed the money for school. I heard she was going to night school.”
“Really?” Mark paused thoughtfully, “She must be embarrassed. We have to give her back her self-esteem and pride,” Mark remarked, comprehension dawning on his face.
“Our championship game is next week. You’ve got to act now. If Rob remains half-dead, we’ll surely lose the game,” the coach retorted.
”It sucks, coach, but what are we gonna do?” Lex lamented. “Rob seems hopeless.”
“We’ll have to convince Megan that we respect her,” the coach proposed, “After that, we must convince her to meet Rob,” the coach continued. “Buckle up boys, let’s go and win her to our side.”
The 11 members of the Eagles team entered Megan’s workplace in subdued silence. The coach had warned them to behave - or else. The team was complete, except for Rob. Rob didn’t know of their secret plans.
They quietly ordered hamburgers and cola, and waited patiently for Megan to be free.
Chapter 12: The Test
Mark tried to catch the attention of Megan, but she pretended not to notice them. She had passed by their table several times with unseeing eyes.
“Holy crap! This is more serious than I thought,” Mark remarked, perturbed.
“Must we wait until kingdom come, for crying out loud?” Lex sniggered.
“Pssst, patience is a virtue,” the coach whispered, trying to calm them.
They waited patiently until Megan’s work shift was over. When she was coming out in her civilian clothes, the coach approached her.
“Can we talk to you for a minute, please?” he asked.
“Has this something to do with Thomas?” Megan replied with her own question.
“Please?”
The members of the team were all eyes on them from their table; they were holding their breath in anticipation. It was obvious they had been cowed and were there to plead their case.
Megan relented a bit, “Okay, I’ll give you fifteen minutes. I have a class at 7.”
They all sat around one of the big tables in the food store. They had to order food to be able to occupy the table. No one wanted to speak first.
“I guess no one wants to speak; I’ve got to get going. I’ll be late for my class,” Megan uttered regretfully.
“No, wait,” Mark held her back. “We’re here to apologize for our behaviour towards you,” he declared in one breath.
Megan seemed astonished. She stood there scanning their faces, as if making sure whether they were sincere or not. She sat down with a defeated sigh.
“Yes, we’re sorry, please accept our apology,” Lex seconded, rubbing his palms together.
“We know now, you’re not that kind of woman,” Ted voiced out his own opinion.
“You’re actually a student trying to make both ends meet by doing extra tasks,” Lance piped in.
Megan’s dark face seemed to appear brighter.
“Hmmm, I see,” she stated, scanning their faces anew.
“I don’t really blame you for thinking that I’m a loose woman because you saw me dancing first, but still, never give rash judgments,” Megan lectured the team.
There were murmurs of consent around the table. “We know that now,” Mark remarked.
“So, will you meet Rob now?” the coach asked Megan.
“Coach, I don’t have time to waste for the temper tantrums of a spoiled boy,” she replied. “Thanks for apologizing. I’ve got to go now,” she nodded and started for the door.
The team watched her depart, not knowing what to do next.
Chapter 13: The Sea of Doubt
It was the Eagles team’s last workout before their championship game the following week. Rob was physically present but his thoughts were meandering some place distant.
What’s happening to me? Rob thought. I have to pull myself together. The team is counting on me.
But no matter how hard he tried, his mind was just not in sync with his body.
“C’mon Thomas,” the coach yelled at Rob. “Put your act together.”
After the team’s practice, the coach said: “Thomas, can I have a word with you?”
They hud
dled in one corner of the dugout.
“Why can’t you move on?” the coach asked Rob in annoyance. “Megan isn’t interested in you.”
“I’m trying my darned best, coach. But what can I do? I can’t forget her.”
“Are you serious? You mean you fell in love with her?”
“Yes, that can only be the explanation. I have never felt something like this before, coach,” Rob’s voice trembled with emotion. “And what hurts most is that she has a boyfriend.”
“Well, if she’s already taken, you should give up.”
“I can’t. She’s not married yet,” Rob was insistent.
“Okay, go, see her for the last time and express your sincere feelings. If she tells you-to your face - that she doesn’t love you, you’ll have to be man enough to let her go for good.”
Rob remained silent, thinking of the eventual consequences of his planned actions.
The coach grabbed him by the shoulders and shook him, “Act like a man!”
Rob’s mood lifted with the thought of meeting Megan once more. What if her boyfriend is with her again? He shooed the thoughts away and continued waiting for Megan at the school’s gate.
At 10:15 p.m. Megan appeared in his sight. The tightness in Rob’s chest disappeared when he saw that she was alone.
He approached Megan with a lilt in his steps, “Hi, Meg, may I take you home?”
Megan was apparently startled. “What the…,” she teetered on her feet. Rob had to hold her in his arms to steady her.
An electric shock passed though Rob’s body. What was that? He looked at her to see if she had felt it too. But her eyes were drilling into him menacingly.
“Sorry, I didn’t mean to frighten you,” he said, letting her go abruptly.
Once more, Megan became outbalanced and he steadied her again. His body experiencing the same electrical shock he had undergone the first time.
With hurried movements, Megan freed herself from his arms. Her emerald, green eyes were gleaming at him in the semi-darkness.
Rob’s respiration doubled and his throat went dry. He wanted to enclose her in his warm embrace and never let her go. He wanted to kiss her half-opened, inviting lips and let his craving tongue touch the sensitive spots in her mouth.
“What do you want?” Megan demanded from Rob.
“Can we talk for a while? Just 30 minutes,” Rob pleaded. “No, just 15 minutes.”
Megan viewed Rob’s disgruntled appearance; he must have been desperate to talk to me, she deduced inwardly. Why?
She led him to one of the chairs inside the school’s premises.
“I’m sorry for whatever I and my team did that disrespected you,” Rob started his confession. “Please accept our apology.”
“I did, so are we done now?”
“I came also to…,” Rob stopped for a full minute.
“Go on, I’m listening.”
“I love you, Megan,” Rob finally released his pent-up feelings, his voice tapering at the end.
Megan stared at him like he was from another planet. She was speechless.
“I know you may not trust me because of my previous behaviour. If you accept me, I’m willing to stay loyal and faithful to you,” Rob completed his confession.
Megan was still digesting his shocking revelation. Rob knew it was hard for her to accept his pronouncement in view of what he and his team had done before her.
“If you haven’t noticed, I have a boyfriend,” Megan found her tongue at last.
“I’m willing to wait until you get married.’
“Suit yourself,” Megan stood up. “Actions speak louder than words,” she stated with conviction and left him hurting.
Chapter 14: The Final Game
From that day onwards, Rob waited patiently for her after her evening classes to take her home. He was lucky her boyfriend was not around. He walked behind her, staying a safe distance away, when she warned him not to stay beside her.
“I don’t think my boyfriend would be happy if he sees you here,” Megan had warned Rob several times, but he would not listen.
For the five succeeding days before the Eagles’ final game, Rob had been busy proving his love to Megan. Her voice still rang in Rob’s ears; “Actions speak louder than words.”
Rob did all she knew to woo Megan; he sent her flowers every day with sweet notes of his love for her; he fetched her from school daily – even if he had to walk behind her; he went to eat at the food store just to have a glimpse of her – even when she barely noticed him; he wore his heart on his sleeves for everyone to see. However, Megan seemed not to be aware of him at all.
On the last day before the Eagles’ championship game, he waylaid her before they reached her house.
“Our championship game is tomorrow. Please come, it would inspire me if you watch the game,” he declared boldly. “I dedicate the game to you.”
Rob noticed a happy glint in Megan’s eyes, but it passed quickly. Please, God, let her decide to come, he prayed.
“I’m not sure if I can come,” Megan replied plainly. “Don’t count on it.”
Rob watched as Megan entered her house without looking back at him.
Was his love hopeless? He wondered.
“And now, the Eagles Team in their blue uniforms are entering the stadium with a loud cheer from their fans,” the commentator’s voice boomed over the speakers.
“There’s Thomas,” the sports caster announced. The roar of admiration echoed inside the stadium; a sea of blue color rose from the bleachers. “He’s expected to score more touchdowns in this final game,” the sports caster continued.
“Go Eagles! Go Eagles!” the Eagles’ fans chanted, waving their small, blue flags and pompons up in the air. “Go Blue!”
The other team, the Green Archers, was announced, but it was obvious that majority of the audience cheered for Rob’s team.
Before the championship game kicked off, Rob’s thoughts were on Megan as he sauntered towards the center of the field of play.
Please come, he prayed fervently, hoping Megan would magically appear out of nowhere. He scanned the bleachers for a sight of her but he felt a heavy cloud descend upon him when he didn’t see her.
It was a series of loses for the Eagles team that time. The score was 2-0, in favour of the Red Archers.
The commentators were busy doing their job:
“Thomas bounces off some hits, but failed to score...”
“Thomas buckles and loses the ball…”
“The pass was intercepted by Thomas, but he failed to score. He had hit the woodwork. Oh, my goodness! What’s happening to Thomas? This is the worst play I’ve seen from him.”
The crowd had quieted down in the stadium, apparently downhearted with the way the game was progressing.
Clearly, the commentators were not happy either with Rob’s performance, as less and less praises were heaped on him.
After the first half of the game, the coach huddled with the team in the bunker, his face was red with anger.
“Thomas, what the fuck is wrong with you?” he bellowed at Rob.
Rob had no words to defend himself. He, himself, did not know what was happening to him. He stood there, his sweat dripping on his face, enduring his coach’s furious tirade.
“Get your act together, Thomas. The team depends on you. Don’t let them and your fans down.”
The second half started with the Eagles’ fans chanting, ”Beasty Rob, Beasty Rob.”
It was painful to watch them egging on an already broken horse, Rob thought to himself. No matter how hard he tried, the wind beneath his wings, simply wasn’t enough to let him fly.
The Green Archers’ fans cheered jubilantly as the players flashed victory signs in the air. “Archers, Archers!” They countered the Eagles team’s cheers. They were confident of a win.
Before the second half, Rob scoured the bleachers once again, hoping against hope that Megan would be there. But she wasn’t, and it broke his heart that h
e wanted to wail in sorrow and walk out from the game. Perhaps, his team would do better without him?
His eyes watered as he trudged wearily towards the field.
Chapter 15: A Ray of Hope
At the Eagles’ dugout, Mark had remained behind because of an injured ankle. “Hey, Mark, a lady is trying to catch your attention,” the gofer boy informed him.
“Let her be,” Mark replied, frowning from the pain in his ankles.
“She seems desperate,” the boy replied, pulling him aside and pointing to the lower bleacher nearest them.
Mark didn’t recognize her at first because of her wide-brimmed hat, dark shades and flashy, yellow dress. The woman waved and that was when Mark realized that it was Megan.
“Megan!” Mark exclaimed in elation. “Thank God, you’re here.”
Mark wanted Rob to know that Megan was there, but Rob was already at the centerfield of the big stadium, preparing for the next half of the game.
“Wait,” Mark shouted to Megan.
Looking around and wandering what to do, he caught the glint of Megan’s sunglasses under the glare of the sun.
A mirror! Mark thought.
He rummaged hastily through his backpack and brought his handy mirror out. Hastily, he positioned the mirror against the sun and it glared visibly. He directed the glare towards Rob, who was hundreds of feet away from him. He moved the mirror’s glare up and down to catch Rob’s attention.
When the team was going on formation, Rob saw a tiny glare coming from the Eagles’ bleachers. It was flashing on and off, trying to catch his attention. Rob stopped and looked at the source of the glare. Mark was pointing to someone on the lower bleachers. Rob squinted his eyes to see who it was.
He grew heady when the woman’s face came into focus. She had removed her sunglasses and her lovely, oval face were readily discernible in the distance. Although, Rob was unable to see her green eyes, he knew instinctively that it was Megan.
His spirits soared, and he knew he can take on anyone in the universe. He felt like He-Man and Superman rolled into one. He raised his arm in acknowledgement and pumped it high into the air.
