I Like Me Better by Robby Weber

Author:Robby Weber
Language: eng
Format: epub
Publisher: Inkyard Press
Published: 2023-03-06T16:27:23+00:00

20

True to Form

Whenever the team went through rough patches, we’d find something fun to do that wasn’t soccer and we’d all bond and joke around and have a good time. Somehow, it’d seem to fix whatever the problem was, whether it was a teammate going through a breakup, a fight between two of the guys, or something as simple as a set piece we couldn’t get right.

So, today we’re team building.

Warm sunlight is filtering down through the canopy of pine trees and the dirt of the forest floor is covered with needles and fallen leaves. Farther into the woods, one imaginary castle has been formed, complete with a jail and a hiding spot for a green flag. Outside of the trees, on the other side of a slightly overgrown field, another castle is envisaged, with its own invisible prison for opponents and a well-hidden scrap of bright red fabric.

The turnout is pretty weak, which I guess is to be expected considering how the summer has been going. Part of me wanted Beckett to show up, but another part of me was glad he didn’t.

Meyers takes a selfie to send to Hope, posing with Theo and Stefan in their green T-shirts. I’m in a red shirt, just like Dennis and Noel. It was all decided randomly, and I’m optimistic Noel and I can make this work after our little heart-to-heart, until I realize he is decidedly more irritable than usual.

“There’s literally nowhere I’d rather be less right now,” he says as we all gather together.

I guess Rome wasn’t built in a day. But I’m not letting Noel’s angst mess up my day.

“Everybody knows the rules?” I wait for confirmation in the form of nods all around, pulling on my foot behind my back to stretch a little before the competition starts.

Meyers raises a brow. “Remember, if you get tagged on the opponents’ side, you have to go to jail, and you can’t get out until one of your teammates comes to tag you.”

“We know.” Noel nods, eyes rolling back and weight shifting to one side. I’m not sure if he had a rough morning or what, but this feels like a one-eighty from the progress we made at Sustainability Day.

Meyers and I exchange glances.

We’re all standing in a circle in the middle of the trees. The line is about to be drawn and the game is about to begin.

“Last call for any final questions or concerns,” Meyers says.

Dennis winces. “I should have used the restroom beforehand.”

“Fuck’s sake,” Theo groans.

“Just go in the woods,” Noel scoffs, starting to walk to our base out past the field.

“All right, guys!” I clap a few times, not wanting Noel to get too far without us. “Everybody to your bases, and when both teams blow their whistle, we’re on!”

It’s up to Dennis to blow the whistle for the red team, and Meyers has the green.

I jog to catch up to Noel, and Dennis follows behind us.

“I’m not guarding the flag,” Noel says in a low voice when I reach him.

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