CHAPTER 57: I present to you the 100th edition of Cuckoo Caleb

I inhale a sharp breath as the exhaustion starts building up and I throw a puny kick to one of the players on my right.

"Kick it properly, Summer!" Jason shouts from a few feet away from me, hands on his hips, and throws me a glare as he positions some of the boys on the other side of the field.

"Don't be such an ass, big brother. Replacing the coach temporarily does not entail bossing around like a prick." I walk past, hitting his shoulder in the process. Caleb runs up to us, his hair sticking to his sweaty forehead, looking glorious as ever. He smiles at me and I look down at my cleats to hide my own grin.

"You wanna win the game or not?" Jason pushes and I turn towards him, sighing.

"All I'm saying is I'm tired. Actually, I speak for everyone when I say that. Keep this up and you'll see tired bodies dropping in seconds." I counter, crossing my arms as Caleb stands next to me in silence.

"I know." Jason sighs and runs a hand through his hair before looking at me vulnerably. "I just want to make this right. Without Coach here, without the necessary pointers we need, I don't know if I can lead this team to win the tournament."

"You have been the captain for long, Jason. I can think of nobody better than you to lead us to win." Caleb smiles and pats Jason's shoulder, leaving me in a state of bloody awe and surprise.

"Thanks, man." Jason blows the whistle around his neck and calls practice off. I sigh in relief but my exhaustion is at its peak and my rumbling tummy does not help calm my nerves at all. I glare at Caleb and he pouts childishly.

"Are you still upset with me?"

Jason laughs at us before wiping his forehead with his tee-shirt. "Man, you should have seeing her practically moaning while Aaron was having pizza yesterday."

"Oh, I'm sorry. Am I bothering you with my intolerable hunger and inability to eat anything delicious?" I scoff and cross my arms, marching away from the idiots as I spot Maddie waving frantically at me from the other side of the field. Caleb and Jason quickly catch up to me on either side.

"Trust me, were it not for him, you would not be able to practice for these many hours." Jason chimes in and grins at Caleb.

"I told you all before that dieting is so not my thing but no, no, no. It has become a mission for you to watch me starve."

"You don't starve, drama queen. You have a salad in your bag." Caleb points out, nodding at Jason.

What is this silent communication these two crack-brains are having?

"Yeah, well I am a human, not a damn cow," I mutter, vexatious at the game today and the little nagging feeling of potential incompetence I may achieve if I screw anything up. Maddie hands me my bag and a bottle of water before sitting on the nearby bleachers as if she owns them.

"People are buzzing with anticipation for the big game today. It's so- hey, are you blind?!" She suddenly screams at some kid who is trying to clean the bleachers, no doubt for the upcoming audience about to fill them for the 'big game', as Maddie put it. The knot in my stomach gets bigger but at this point, I wonder if it is the trepidation of the game settling in and growing by the minute, or the uncontrollable hunger. On top of that, today of all days is my birthday, where I finally turn eighteen.

Wow. This is the moment where I deliver the one-liner that life does indeed pass fast.

I got pissed at Aaron today morning for waking me up with a loud hooter and scaring me to the point where I fell off my bed, which triggered Jason's loud guffaw and he dropped the tray of nice breakfast which he was apparently bringing me.

THERE WERE PANCAKES! YOU DO NOT DROP PANCAKES!

But at least my day improved when Caleb placed a quick kiss on my lips as he wished me when I came for practice. Quick because of my idiotic brother who necessarily had to play the 'elder brother' card. Consumed with the nerve-wracking thoughts of the game, I have not had the time to even think of what to do on this day. It does not even feel like a birthday in the first place. Dinner with friends should do the job, I guess. Besides, that is if we win this game. It is the final game of the season and the tournament, plus Jason's last game for the school. Soon enough in two weeks, I will be seeing Jason graduate and leave for college.

Oh my God. He is leaving.

True that we still have no updates on his acceptance but we all have been having high hopes. As much as I don't want him to go away, it is something he has been waiting for meaning I cannot hold him back.

I gulp down my water in disquietude as all these thoughts glut my already overwhelmed mind and do nothing to calm my nerves. I look around and my gaze stops on Caleb who stares at me quizzically, his eyes perusing my face. I shoot him a small smile while nervous butterflies dance in my stomach, awaiting the big game in the afternoon.

***

Zero.

A big zero.

That stands for the number of goals we were able to get in till half time, plus the number of efforts I've probably put into the game. The guy handing out the water bottles is currently looking at me with a bemused expression on his face, wondering where the hell all those bottles are disappearing within me. My apprehension and fear are killing me and shaking the focus and determination Maddie put in me right before the game. Her words were loud and clear but as soon as the ball started moving in between feet, my brain cells went haywire and I lost my shit. All that the audience is probably seeing me doing is run with an expression that says 'Serial killer behind me'.

After throwing out yet another water bottle, I stand a few inches away from the discussion huddle on my right. Jason seems to be in a moderate panic mode but to be honest, he does not need to, considering the goal attempts he's had. Were it not for that asshat goalkeeper, he would have scored and my tension might have gone a tad down. Every passing minute takes my nervousness a notch high and soon enough, I have fingernail marks all over my hand.

"Stop that." A swat on my hand drags me away from my panic mode for a few seconds and I glare at Caleb. I cross my arms and sit on the first empty bleacher which is for us players.

"How are you feeling?" I ask him, hoping his answer would be somewhat similar to mine if not exactly like it.

"Nervous."

Sigh.

"You?"

"Very nervous."

He sighs and sits next to me, putting his arm around my shoulder. The fact that the entire school is possibly watching us does not entirely register in my head as my body collapses into his. He rubs my arm in small circles, almost – almost - successfully effacing the emotional pandemonium happening within me.

"Come on, birthday girl. This is supposed to be your happy day. You look far from that."

"Not every 18-year-old has to celebrate her birthday stuck in a soccer field as an entertainment display for a bunch of people, battling sweat and heat."

A chuckle escapes his lips as soon as I speak and I find myself smiling after a few seconds as well. He stands up and pulls me along with him, taking my hand in his.

"Game is about to start. Jason is going to go batshit crazy if you go in front of him and I know you will too. So, let's take a deep breath and play to our best, yeah? Play for your dad and imagine him watching you. Now, we have to win, right?" His posed question and imagination of dad watching me play somehow raises my hope and will power to win this damn game. We advance towards our positions as the referee is about to blow his whistle, commencing the second half.

As if Caleb dragged the luck to my stars, I have the ball at my feet in a few seconds and I start dribbling it towards the goal post. I pass it to Blake who then passes it to Jason. One of the opponent players snatch the ball from Jason and I mutter colorful words under my breath, seeing as we were so close. I curse out loudly as the player attempts a goal but luckily, our goalkeeper, Hayden, saves it.

I bite my tongue as Jason looks at me with an amused smile and shakes his head, waving at me from a distance. The game goes on and soon enough, Caleb skillfully dodges most of the opposing players and makes his way towards the goal post. Obviously, the rest of the opponents run after him and surround him and Shawn as they constantly pass the ball to each other. Looking ahead and noticing only one player I could easily dodge, I shout at Caleb and wave frantically at him. His confused face looks around me and he finally throws a high kick and I easily knock it with my head. A sheen of sweat slowly forms on my forehead as I run as fast as I can, kicking the ball away from the other players. I grunt and kick it as hard as my might allows me without looking where I'm kicking it, images of dad swarming my head. I take a deep breath and look up. Shouts and cheers fill the entire audience area as people stand and holler at the top of their lungs. In a fraction of a second, I'm lifted high by a bunch of boys and a laugh finally escapes my lips as I register our team's victory.

With only five minutes remaining, we play in full spirit and ensure the other team does not score which ultimately makes us the winners of the tournament. Excitement and happiness courses through me as I see everyone cheering on and on, the smiles on my team members, the relieved look on Jason's face.

I finally did it, dad.

Playing differently against everyone else's wishes, I finally made you proud.

After a while, the soccer league association members proceed towards the award ceremony part and the team players are allowed to freshen up. Laughing and still celebrating our victory, we jog towards the locker rooms in order to change.

"Hey there, champ." I smile at Caleb's voice as he tackles me in a side hug and pulls me tightly against him.

"Oh, please I- screw it. Thank you, thank you." I grin at the compliment thrown my way and wink at him, earning a chuckle from him.

"You truly are something, Summer Jones." He mutters and looks into my eyes, eventually separating us from the rest of the team. The pad of his thumb skims across my cheekbone and lower lip, burning every inch of skin he moves through.

"So...we both are obviously not good at this, but...will you be my girlfriend?" My breath hitches in my throat at his words and I freeze. I finally laugh a little at how nonchalant he wanted to sound but equally ended up sounding so nervous.

"Grow some balls, Anderson. You are not asking her if she wants pineapple on her pizza!"

I snap my head towards a frustrated Maddie who incredulously stares at Caleb.

"Um...Mads?" I ask, raising an eyebrow at her and moving my gaze towards Caleb then her.

"What? It's true. The boy-

"Sorry! Take your time. Let's go, woman!" Blake exhaustedly speaks and whisks away a mumbling Maddie. I shift my gaze back at Caleb and I smirk, running a finger down his jaw. He stiffens at my touch and clears his throat.

"You were saying something...?"

"Yeah...uh...whatever you heard."

"Yes." I chuckle and kiss him, ruffling his hair in the process. He smiles into the kiss and tightens his hold on my waist.

Wow.

I'm kissing Caleb Anderson right in the middle of the school field without a care in the world.

And he's my boyfriend.

Damn you, 18th birthday.

***

"Yeah, I know it's high time I got a boyfriend. You don't have to rub it on my face now that you have one."

"I'm not rubbing-

"I might just grab any random guy I see, honestly. I cannot believe how long it has been since I had something going on with a boy." Maddie slaps her forehead, complaining how behind her love life currently is, and Caleb continues laughing at her silliness. Currently driving back from school, I'm stuck in the passenger seat with Caleb and Maddie bantering back and forth.

"Even Shawn?" Caleb asks and smirks at her, ultimately gaining a growl from Maddie.

"I am not that desperate, asshole. Be glad you're now her boyfriend otherwise you would be out of the car, lying in a ditch."

"Here we are. Thank goodness." I shout and get out of the heated situation in the car before Caleb even has the chance to park it properly.

"Act civilized, would you?" I mutter to Maddie and glare at Caleb.

"It was him!"

"Oh, totally. I'm the one who insulted my beautiful car."

"All I said is that it's a piece of shit. You're an Anderson who should be driving...some Lamborghini or like that."

"I'm perfectly happy with my Ford."

I roll my eyes at their bickering and I begin the torturous 'hike' up the stairs to my apartment. We all left earlier than expected from the tournament because Maddie practically dragged me away from there. The corners of my lips lift as I reminisce the proud moment when our team was awarded today for winning the tournament, that too without any trained coach by our side.

Thank you, Dad, for being with me all the while.

Caleb and Maddie, behind me, quiet down after a few seconds as I jiggle the keys around the doorknob. As soon as I step in, I'm met with worried expressions etched on my brothers' faces.