Your eyes.
I snuggled into my bed, picking up my cassette player from the bedside table, sighing funny, laughing at something silly Laura had said. Her head resting in her hands, belly down with her feet swinging back and forth like a child, looking in my direction.
— Oh no, Leora! - I laughed again, now at her irritated sound. Laura raised her hand and grabbed my cassette player quickly, barely giving me time to protest. — You won't hear anything now, I'm here. Give me some attention.
I looked at her with a smile forming on my lips and rolled my eyes. — Attention, really? You've been here in my room for almost two hours. - I leaned towards her to pick up my music player, but the closer I tried, the more Laura pushed it away.
— Leora, No! We have to spend time in sisterhood together.
I couldn't hold back a laugh when the younger girl finished her sentence, so I stopped trying to pick up the Walkman and put my hand on my stomach, trying to control the euphoric laughter. — Laura, we spend every day together! Like literally! - My laughter gradually stopped, and I ended up lying down and turning to face her.
— Yeah, I know. But… - A pout formed on her lips, I'd recognize that face anywhere. She wanted something.
My eyes remained half-closed, watching her with a slight frown. — Laura Lee, we already spend most of our day together at school. Even if we're in different classes because of our ages, it's still the same school. What more do you want?
She sniffled before she even began to speak. Whatever she had to say, it wouldn't be pleasant. — Tomorrow there will be try-outs for some new girls to join the team… And well, I've already kind of signed you up. - Her smile came out forced, with a hint of hope. She shrugged her shoulders, apparently nervous about my reaction
— YOU WHAT? - I jumped up from the bed, my eyes glazed over at her, bubbling with indignation, running my hand through my hair nervously. Before she could think of anything to say, my thoughts flew out of my mouth. — You know I hate it when you do that kind of thing. Argh! Remember that time you signed me up to be an angel in a church play? You had promised that we would do it together, but in the end, I had to do it alone. Or that other time you applied to tutor ME in chemistry! Chemistry! I hate chemistry! - With each sentence, I approached her in an intimidating manner, now with my arms crossed.
Laura got up from the bed, approaching me slightly with her hands in front of her body, as a sign of truce. – That time in the play I got so nervous that I couldn't even step on the stairs and you know it. I apologized to you a hundred times. - she said it in a calm voice, assuming that her tone would change my mind. I knew all her tricks.
— If you come a little closer…. - i looked down at the floor for anything I could throw at her. I quickly crouched down and picked up a coat that was lying around the room, not caring if it was clean or dirty. - This is going to get in your face.
— You run fast. That's what's missing from the team. - i tilted my head, trying to understand his reasoning. Yes, I run fast, but like a ball on my feet? No, that wouldn't work. Laura spoke in an excited voice, almost contagious if I wasn't the least bit angry with her, completely ignoring my little threat.
— I want to spend more time with you. - Her voice was simple and her gaze on me was frank. She was telling the truth, damn it, her genuine manner always unsettled me. - I'm being honest. Soccer could be a way for us to spend some real time together.
Laura approached as if I couldn't tell and I threw my jacket over her face, but she didn't stop, the younger girl ran into my arms, pulling the jacket off her head and hugging me tightly. I rolled my eyes and didn't return the hug, but I could hear a muffled laugh and her gaze going up to my face. - Is that a yes? Or a maybe?
— It's a “I don't know, I'm thinking and angry.”
Laura pulled away only to take my hands and intertwine our fingers, looking at me with her classic tenderness. — Sister, I did it because… - her voice became sensitive, almost as if she was unsure. — I feel we're changing, and I don't want to lose you.
I closed my eyes tightly, undoing our hands and pulling her this time into the hug I hadn't reciprocated before. I ran my hands through her short blonde hair, giving it a little caress. — Don't say that, Laura. You'll never lose me. - my voice sounded sure, but my mind was shaken, I didn't want her to be afraid. We stayed silent for a while, just comforting each other. My voice, almost in a whisper, broke the silence. - I'll think about it, okay?
Even though I couldn't see her face, I could feel her smile.
— Thank you, Leora! I love you.
— I love you too. - i replied in a scattered voice, only able to think of one thing: How in less than 24 hours could I learn to run with a ball on my foot?
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I stared at the poster on the bulletin board. There really were a lot of posters about the soccer team and tryouts, not just there, but in every corner of the school. This was definitely not part of my world.
I held the strap of my backpack on my shoulder, taking a deep breath. Laura was going to owe me something, oh yes. I turned to walk away from the mural and towards the gym, my feet dragging and my body anxious.
It wasn't my first time in the gym, let alone my last, but as soon as I entered, it seemed bigger than all the other times, in a frightening way. Some girls were already warming up while others were kicking balls against the wall or chatting as if it were the easiest thing in the world. It wasn't, it really wasn't.
Laura broke away from her team as soon as she saw me and walked towards me with a vibrant smile, as always. — Are you excited? - she asked, nudging my shoulder.
— Yes. - I said, clearly lying.
— Think positive, my sister! I have faith that God has blessed us with the ability to play soccer; if it's in my blood, it's undoubtedly in yours too.
I let out a sigh. - Amen.
Before she could say anything else, a whistle blew in the gym, drawing the attention of all the girls. The coach introduced himself and began organizing all of us for the start of the tests.
We were separated into groups and told to run around two ends of the gym as quickly as possible.
Well, at least something was in my favor. I knew how to run.
The air in the gym began to feel stuffy as soon as the tests started, girls were running non-stop and the line for my group was getting shorter and shorter. My turn was getting closer.
I looked around with a certain distress, feeling watched. I looked for my sister, but she was nowhere to be seen; she must have taken my backpack to the changing room.
But the feeling still persisted, a chill running down the back of my neck.
My eyes wandered around the gym until they found her. As if they were a magnet, pulling me in.
Natalie Scatorccio.
Her body was leaning against a wall a few meters away, with her arms crossed over her chest. Her dark gaze penetrated me as it always did, in a surreal way. Out of the ordinary. Indescribable.
I swallowed, feeling my mouth go dry. It was as if I was hypnotized, frozen in his gaze.
A beeping sound snapped me out of my trance and a male voice shouted afterwards.
— Go, next! - the coach pointed at me and then at the line on the ground, indicating that I should start running. I nodded at him, understanding his instructions.
I took a deep breath, trying to control the chill in my stomach.
I placed my feet behind the line, feeling my heart hammering almost painfully.
It was stronger than my spirit and before I could think of avoiding it, my eyes rolled to Natalie again.
She was still there, staring at me. Still there.
Natalie arched an eyebrow, tilting her head subtly. It was a gesture that could have gone unnoticed, but I could read it carefully.
“Go on, show me what you've got.”
The heat was on my face, and just as my mind was getting lost in his eyes again, the whistle blew again.
My legs reacted before my head, and I ran.
My feet against the floor echoed through the gym. Every movement propelled my body forward. The air cut across my face, and my arms were in rhythm, helping me keep my balance.
Nervousness now giving way to focus, ignoring the noise around me and the weight of expectation dissipating from my shoulders. My body was in tune.
My lungs were burning and sweat was already breaking out on every part of my body. I reached the other end of the gym.
The second half seemed like an endless road, but I stayed focused. I didn't slow down. I kept going until the end.
When I finally reached the starting point, I slowed down as I caught my breath. I rested my hands on my knees, letting out a sigh.
I lifted my head, wiping my hand across my forehead and my eyes were drawn to her, as if I was waiting for some kind of approval. Her gaze never left me. A faint smile appeared on her lips.
I couldn't decipher the line of her lips, it wasn't a smile of mockery, it wasn't a smile of approval. But there was something, something between the two of them.
I frowned, trying to understand her gesture, almost looking away. When she did something unexpected, in my eyes.
A nod. Quick and small. Lost in the blink of an eye. A nod...Natalie Scatorccio nodded at me, exclusively at me?!
A blush rose to my cheeks and before I could retort, the voice of Scott, the coach, broke in once again.
- Girls, to the circuits now! - The coach ordered, pointing to the other activities.
Still dazed, I just nodded and headed towards where he and the other girls were going.
I touched my cheek lightly, it was still warm. The blush was still there.
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I don't remember how many hours I spent doing each step I was instructed to do. And I'd certainly learned more about soccer in hours than I had in my entire life.
I did something called passing and controlling, where we controlled the ball with precision, with short or long passes, quick or lenses - i had to stare at the ball so that I could make a step without tripping - And I did that other thing that consisted of taking several shots at the goal in different directions, something the coach said was dead ball, moving ball, long ball and several other names that I couldn't remember because I was tired.
The final whistle blew, putting an end to the tests.
My leg muscles burned and my body throbbed with exhaustion, I had no idea the last time I had felt this exhausted.
I wiped my hand across my forehead, brushing away a few strands of hair stuck together by sweat, and let out a heavy sigh.
The gym was gradually emptying - some girls left laughing excitedly, while others left muttering quietly.
As I turned to go, my sister jumped on my shoulder, hugging me with an enthusiastic and satisfied smile.
— I told you so! I told you so! - she shook me in her embrace, clearly proud. It made me let out a laugh.
— I almost fell over, Laura. On my face. - i mumbled, smiling at her and trying to catch my breath.
— But you didn't. - she replied, laughing.
Laura was talking about how she had seen me run and how I had almost missed my turn, she was gesticulating and her voice was excited. I smiled at her.
My sister's voice left my mind for a moment, making me wander. My face passed over the stands, the ground, the pillars. I tried to look for her.
But she had simply disappeared.
Leaving me with a mixed feeling, with words rushing from my throat. And the heat that was once on my cheek rushed up to my chest, like a strange sensation.