Chapter 4
“OK, what’s got you smiling like that on this rainy day? I mean, NO ONE, could possibly be happy in this,” Wallace yelled toward Rider who was still five yards away from him. Wallace looked like a drowned rat as he stood on the field with the rest of the team. Rider just continued to smile as he skipped his way past his teammates who looked on with sour expressions.
Seeing Naylene without any words was the most joyful thing he had seen in his life. The way she stood up to him and acted angry just made him like her even more. A girl with a strong fighting spirit. He liked that. She would fight to the death for any given cause, he was sure, and yet deep within, he could see she needed someone to be there for her, since her mother and father were gone for a few weeks.
Rider started to hope he could win Naylene’s heart as soon as possible. If he did, he was sure he could ask for her hand in marriage when her parents returned and . . . Woah, wait a minute, why am I thinking about marriage? Rider came to an abrupt halt and turned around to face Wallace. The smile faded from his face and a shocked expression replaced it.
“OK, the rain finally got to you too, huh? Man, just when I thought I’d have one happy member on the team.” Wallace stretched his neck as Steve handed him a football. They were going to practice their drills.
Rider knew his team needed all the practice they could get before their first game. The week before, at tryouts, Rider was chosen to be quarterback and Wallace the running back. Rider’s other friends, Steve and Jerry became guards.
“Well, are you going to tell me what got you smiling and then moping within seconds?” Wallace asked.
“Yeah, the least you could do is tell us who she is,” Steve said. Jerry had been standing right beside him and became interested once he realized a girl was the main topic.
“I didn’t realize you had yourself a girl. Who is she?” Jerry asked. “And does she have any sisters for us bachelors? You didn’t forget about us, your teammates, right? The least you could do is bring along some females for us to get to know!”
“OK, wait a minute. She’s not ‘my girl’ and . . .”
“But you like her, don’t you?” Wallace asked.
“And she’s pretty, right?” Steve said.
“And she’s . . . yeah, I got nothing,” Jerry said as Rider chuckled.
“OK, here’s the deal. I like her.” Rider brushed his hand through his damp hair. See, that wasn’t so hard to admit, was it?
“NO WAY . . . shocking,” Jerry, Wallace, and Steve exclaimed as they gave each other knowing looks.
“What’s she like?” Drew asked as he came up behind Rider and tossed a football to Steve. Steve quickly caught the ball and for the next few minutes they all threw it back and forth while Rider talked about ‘his girl.’
“I know she doesn’t like me . . .” he began.
“Well, at least you know that much,” Drew laughed as the others joined in.
“But I’m deeply in love with her already. I want her for my own . . . to keep.”
“OK, that’s creepy.” Wallace tossed the ball directly toward Rider. He quickly caught it.
“What do you mean by, ‘that’s creepy’?” Rider threw the football back. “I was thinking it was more like love at first sight . . . or love at first tackle,” he mumbled under his breath.
“Let me explain, you’ve what, seen her twice and you say you want her for your own? You act like she’s a pet you can easily buy and train. It’s not that easy; take it from me.”
“How do you know it’s not easy, Wallace?” Steve asked as he caught the ball Drew had thrown at him.
“Because I tried to win a girl’s heart once. You’re better off taming a wild bear.”
“Maybe you could change her mind,” Jerry said. “You know, the win her heart approach.”
“I’m hoping so,” Rider said.
“Go on, at least tell us what she looks like,” Steve said as he caught the ball Jerry had tossed to him. Jerry, Wallace, Drew, and Steve all stared at him.
“She’s the prettiest thing you’ve ever laid eyes on. She’s got long brunette hair, nice and curled at the edges. Her golden-brown eyes sparkle like fireflies in the night sky. The way she talks and acts all stubborn is so beautiful and the perfume she wears could captivate any man’s heart. Oh, and I haven’t even told you how soft her hands are.” Rider sighed contentedly before looking around at the men surrounding him. All their mouths hung open. “What?” Rider asked.
“You’re gone . . . gone,” Drew said as he began to throw the football to the others.
What did he mean by that?