His Ex Wife

Chapter 13: Do you like Soccer?

Flashback

It had been a busy week for Mariella. After dumping Iyan in that coffee shop, she had tried to avoid him- the reason was simple, what would she even tell him if he asked?

Luckily they did not even have the same classes together. It became easier to avoid him as well that way. She had been unintentionally looking for him though, she kind of wanted to see him, for the least to say he was her only friend.

She sat at the football ground of the school during the lunch. Hardly any boys came to this corner of the ground though, she sat in the far east corner of the ground, beneath the shadow of a large tree. Her wooden notebook was with her, she never separated that notebook from her, she thought of what to write today though.

Some boys were already on the soccer field practicing by now, she looked up and saw the blonde boy again.

He was probably the most attractive boy in her class or the probably the entire of Edmont High- but that was not her opinion, it was of all the girls in her class. Most drooled over him as soon as he entered the class she had not failed to notice. And some even remained ready to throw themselves his way to have his attention. But since he always sat behind her in most of their classes together, she was not really able to know what all the girls had found so specific in him.

Some rare times, she had felt him intently watching her non stop from the back where he sat in most classes, it had made her a tad bit uncomfortable in the beginning, but then again, she was used to this kind of attention- she had been getting lots already, most boys never stopped staring at her in whichever room she entered.

Mariella had shrugged off on his presence completely however, he was the boy who had stood laughing in the crowd when she was being pranked on the first day at school. He was there laughing at someone’s weakness and it did not make him a good guy, that is all she knew, she had not cared for more.

Mariella sat cross legged on the ground and as she picked up her pen to start to write in her notebook, she felt someone running in her direction and before she could even make it out, the soccer ball hit her knee with all the force.

“What the…!” she had muttered under her breath, getting up spontaneously and starting to rub her knee. Her face had turned into an awry expression by now, her eyebrows drawn together in pure irritation.

First the prank and now intentionally attacking her with the ball, she felt angry- they were clearly taking her in for the long game, testing her patience.

Scott was the one running after the ball, to stop it of course but the ball had been quick.

He approached her panting a for breath and as he bent down to pick up the ball from her feet, she moved a step away from him.

He flashed a teasing smile as he got back up and looked back at her, “Too fragile, aren’t you?”

He saw her little nose fluff in anger like a popcorn, she was so pretty, up close however. Watching her from the back was not going to do anymore, he would want to see her face everyday now.

“YOU don’t get to tell me what I am!” she said strictly, clearly irritated.

“Woah girl, chill out, it’s just a ball, see?” he turned the ball around his fingers like a professional football player, showing off his skills to her. He knew that impressed all the girls.

“I don’t care, what have you guys taken me for?! You think I’m just some toy you can toss and throw according to when and how you like it?? Bully and use according to your needs??” she was exasperated, “you don’t know me yet…” she said the last part looking straight into his eyes with utter seriousness.

Amused, with a small smile on his face, Scott stood there watching her, damn was she a feisty chick- just his type.

He came a step closer to her and said with pure amusement and curiosity in his tone, “Then tell me who are you.” He was firm and fascinated but just as serious as she had been, he met her eyes with determination.

By saying that, he caught her off guard. It was not what she had been expecting from him. Confused, she did not even know what to say to that.

“Okay do you like soccer?” he asked suddenly seeing her face expression switch from annoyed to thoughtful and serious.

For a moment, he had her distracted. Her face impressions had turned from serious to unclear within seconds, she could not read him; was he being nice or still a bully like she had made up his image in her own mind?

His hazel green eyes were deep and just so strong to look at in one go. He made her feel uncomfortable and nervous for a weird reason. But it was not in the sense she had been taking it; he was not trying to bully her, she realized it.

Her brows twisted in confusion and she stepped away from him, still staring at him- trying to read him from a distance for a fraction of a second and then she chose to break the eye contact.

She picked up her bag and her notebook and left the ground, not looking back at him.

“Hey! No one told you it’s rude to leave a conversation like this and go?” he yelled behind her as she moved away nervously.

Scott’s curiosity had just grown by now, he smiled to himself- for some reason, he had perceived her as vulnerable more the first time he had seen her; over the next few days, his perspective about her changed to the ignorant type but after today, she had his attention. He wanted to know her better…