Chapter 32: A Simple Connection

"Hey Jane, are you all right?" Madeline asked as she peered over and stared intently at Jane's face.

It was after school and the two of them were currently out in the school grounds, observing various school activities held at different areas. Both of them were sitting together on a bench, in front of the soccer field while watching a couple of students try out for the soccer team. Madeline actually had something in mind for Jane to do, hence the reason why they were at the field.

"Huh… yeah… I'm okay…" Jane muttered and slowly turned away from Madeline. She looked down at the clipboard she had on her hand and the notes she had taken down so far.

"Oh yeah, I asked Sabrina and Vicky to do something… they should be here by now…" Madeline said and giggled a bit. She stood up from her seat and looked around until she could spot some familiar faces coming towards her. She waved at them, in which both Sabrina and Vicky quickly approached her. Vicky was carrying a sports bag on her shoulder. "Oh, you guys found it?"

"Yep, we did… but why do you need those things?" Sabrina asked while Vicky handed over the bag to Madeline.

"Yeah… I mean… does Jane even know how to play soccer?" Vicky asked and slightly scratched her head while looking at Jane skeptically.

"Wait… hold up… what are you guys up to?" Jane interrupted as she quickly stood up and stared at all of them suspiciously.

"I want you to be the goalkeeper for these new applicants, Jane," Madeline exclaimed and she giggled while handing over the bag to Jane. She placed her hands on her hips, watching with delight at how surprised and irritated Jane was. "Now get dressed, everyone's waiting!"

"You're not even part of the soccer club! How the hell did you even convince them to involve me in this?" Jane asked while holding the bag in her hand.

"Well… it's a secret~" Madeline teased as she winked. Then, she went behind Jane and started pushing her. "Come on, we're going to the locker room so you could change~"

"Hey! What… I didn't even agree to this!" Jane protested while Madeline kept pushing her until the two of them were out of sight.

"Really… does Jane even know how to play soccer?" Vicky muttered to herself and sighed.

"Oh… I wonder if you've heard of the soccer team of Centralville Elementary School, while we were still in sixth-grade," Sabrina said and Vicky turned to her. "I don't remember much, but their goalkeeper was a girl and she could block all of the shoots of the opposing team."

"Well, I just moved here when I started seventh grade, so I wouldn't know anything before that," Vicky remarked and folded her arms across her chest. "Are you saying that goalkeeper back then was Jane?"

"Who knows… It was a long time ago and I don't remember much about it since I wasn't interested… so…" Sabrina muttered and laughed nervously. "Anyway, I'm even more surprised at why Madeline is doing this… I mean, I don't think this is really going to help Jane with her current problem."

"True, but at least, it would probably make Jane less grumpy… or something," Vicky added and shrugged.

.-.-.-.-.-

"Hey you guys… I appreciate the fact you're all helping me carrying my things… but the way you're staring at me would scare any girl…" Emily muttered and groaned while she pressed her hand on her face.

"But Miss Hayward, we can't help it…" Marcus said and laughed nervously.

Emily was walking along the hallway until they got out of the school building. The boys behind her were carrying some of the books she borrowed from the library and even her bag. With the cast on Emily's arm, it would be impossible for her to carry all of those things by herself. There were a couple of students they passed by while walking, and some of the students could be seen by the school grounds and the field. Then, Emily saw someone waving at her from a distance, and the person was standing next to a parked mustard-colored Subaru Legacy car. As Emily got closer, she knew it was none other than her mother. Her mother had long blonde hair, in which she had her shades on her head. She was wearing a turtleneck purple sweater with a white vest over it, black skinny jeans and sneakers.

"Oh? So you've met some more new friends?" Mrs. Hayward remarked and giggled while observing the boys behind Emily, who were carrying her things. "Thanks so much for helping my daughter."

"Ahh… yeah…" Emily muttered wearily. Then, she turned to them and stared at them exasperatedly.

"It's no problem," Marcus said and laughed nervously.

"We're happy to help Miss Hayward here anytime," Fred added and smiled sheepishly.

"She could ask us anything if she needs something," Joey said and grinned meekly.

"Well, then… maybe we should get going," Mrs. Hayward said and opened the door of the car, leading to the backseat. Then, she approached the boys and each of them handed over Emily's things to her. After that, Mrs. Hayward placed the things inside the car, on the backseat, and closed the door. Then, all of the boys bowed down for a bit and quickly ran off.

"Their behavior is really weird…" Emily remarked and she sighed while she placed her hand on her hips. Then, she turned to her mother. "Anyway Mom, where's Dad? I mean… he's the one who usually picks me up since you're always busy with your events…"

"Oh, your father thought that he should be in charge of at least an event since I'm always doing all the work," Mrs. Hayward explained and giggled. "Besides, it gives me a chance to see your school… and your friends."

"Just for the record Mom, they're not my friends… just some weird nerds," Emily interrupted and looked exasperated while her mother continued giggling. She noticed some students passing by and one of them was Nicole May. She wasn't with anyone, and she was holding on to the strap of her bag hanging on her shoulder. Emily looked around the area and noticed that behind her mother's car, was a navy blue Lexus car. The car itself was unique as there were only a few of those models in Centralville in different colors.

"Oh… that girl looks familiar…" Mrs. Hayward remarked while Nicole May was coming towards their direction. "I could have sworn I've seen her somewhere at one of the events I managed…"

"Eh?" Emily quickly grabbed Nicole May's arm and pulled her closer to them, startling her at the same time. "You've seen Nicole May somewhere before, Mom?"

"Hey, just what do you think you're doing, Hayward?" Nicole May exclaimed furiously and stared at Emily exasperatedly. She quickly pulled her arm away from Emily and then turned to the adult who was with Emily. Then, she remembered something after realizing who she was. "Huh…? Aren’t you Rhonda Mitchell? One of those event managers from so long ago whenever my mother makes an appearance in those posh gatherings back in New York…"

"Ah… yes, I remember now! You're Sandra Rustford's daughter!" Mrs. Hayward exclaimed and giggled. "It's been too long, I'm already married, in case you didn't know…"

"Um… something's not right here…" Nicole May muttered and looked skeptically at both Emily and then at Mrs. Hayward carefully. She looked confused since both of them didn't look that much alike.

"Oh, she's my step-mother… well… not anymore, since she adopted me," Emily explained and laughed nervously.

"That's right," Mrs. Hayward added and smiled. "So, are you two good friends since you know each other?"

"Not particularly…" Nicole May muttered and slowly turned away from them while still looking exasperated. "She's my classmate, and also we're both part of the school newspaper…"

"Oh, don't mind her Mom… she's just in denial of our passionate rivalry," Emily remarked and giggled. Then, she went closer to Nicole May. "Isn't that right, Rustford?"

"Who said anything about our rivalry being passionate?" Nicole May protested and became even more exasperated.

"School rivals eh? As long as it's a friendly rivalry, I don't mind," Mrs. Hayward said and giggled. Then, she looked at the watch on her wrist and then turned to Emily. "Well, time for us to leave, I do need to check on that event your Dad is at…"

"Yeah, see you next week, Rustford!" Emily exclaimed while she opened the door of the car and went inside.

"It would be nice to manage another event involving Sandra…" Mrs. Hayward muttered to herself as she went to the other side of the car and got inside. Then, as soon as the doors were closed, the car's engine started revving and it eventually drove off the road.

"Geez… who would have thought…" Nicole May muttered to herself as she approached the navy blue Lexus car and saw her driver standing beside it. She handed over to him her bag. "Hey Dan, I'm staying at school for a bit more… just stay here for the meantime…"

"Of course… but what for, Miss Rustford?" Dan asked while he held on the strap of Nicole May's bag.

"I wanted to see this soccer try-out they're doing. Something bothered me when I saw that poster…" Nicole May muttered as she folded her arms across her chest. She could recall the soccer ball that Phil was holding from earlier before she and Avegaille went to their class.

"As you wish… I'll be inside when you need me," Dan said, in which Nicole May left quickly afterwards. Then, he opened the door of the car and placed Nicole May's bag on the seat.

.-.-.-.-.-

"Oooh, looks good on you Jane," Sabrina remarked as she slowly nodded and placed her hands on her hips.

"Maybe Jane should be the school's model," Vicky added and chucked.

The field was still busy since some of the students were still doing their try-outs. Other members of the team were practicing or doing some exercises on the other side of the field. Also, there were some students who were watching from the side and some were sitting on the bleachers, which was at the opposite side of the field to where Sabrina and Vicky were.

"Why did I even agree to this?" Jane murmured bitterly while she folded her arms across her chest. She was now wearing one of the soccer team's goalkeeper outfits. She was wearing a maroon long-sleeved V-neck shirt, in which the long sleeves and the inner turtleneck shirt were black while the collar was white, black shorts, white socks that reached up to her knees, cleats and gloves. "And where the hell did you guys find this uniform?"

"Well… I know someone who can answer that for you," Madeline replied and pulled in someone who was wearing the same uniform as Jane. "Jane, this is Bridgette, the team's current goalkeeper!"

"Ah… so… you're the president of the student council?" Bridgette asked curiously and laughed a bit. She had long curly ginger hair tied to a ponytail and had a fair skin tone, possibly due to soccer practices. She was also taller than Jane by a couple of inches. "Too bad all of us are graduating next year… I wish I could find another student who's really good at goalkeeping…"

"Yeah… so… I'm wondering… why did you even agree with Madeline about this?" Jane asked and then, looked at Madeline skeptically.

"She told me that you might brighten up a bit if you started blocking shoots," Bridgette explained and smiled. Then, she looked at Jane seriously. "Besides, you were the goalkeeper for Centralville Elementary School's soccer team four years ago, even if it was only for a short time. I'd like to see if you still got it!"

"Ahh… so, that's why…" Jane muttered and looked down on the ground. Then, she looked up again. "How did you know about that, anyway?"

"That… well, from your friend there, of course," Bridgette replied, turning to Madeline.

"Hehe… when I saw you catch your little sister's kick, it reminded me of something while I was still studying at Greenvale Elementary. Our school was having a friendly match with Centralville Elementary and then, I saw that the goalkeeper was a girl. Of course, it was so long ago I don't remember how she looked… so, I asked your mother if you played soccer back then," Madeline explained and laughed nervously. "Then, she told me everything… how you used to play soccer back then and even taught Avegaille how to play it. But then, you stopped playing soccer after your little sister got injured."

"My… Mom?" Jane's left eye twitched for a while and then, she slightly shook her head.

"Oh… hey! Aren't you Avegaille?" Megan asked as she approached the seniors and they immediately turned to her. She noticed that there was something different about Avegaille… well, Jane rather, and looked very confused. "Strange, you're taller than usual…"

"What? How could anyone mistaken me for that little shrimp?" Jane exclaimed furiously as she clenched her fists, which scared Megan while everyone else around her laughed.

"Hahaha, oh, no! Avegaille's her little sister… this is Jane," Madeline explained while she held onto Megan's left shoulder. On the other hand, Sabrina tried to calm Jane down by slowly massaging her shoulders. "Anyway, what's your name?"

"Ah, it's Megan," Megan replied and laughed nervously. "Well… I have to be honest… they do almost look alike… except that Jane is taller."

"Pfft, don't worry, that's not the first time this happened," Vicky remarked and giggled. Then, she turned to Jane. "Hey, why don't you do some practicing with Megan here while the other students are still at the other side?"

"Yeah, that's a good idea… here Megan!" Bridgette threw the soccer ball she was holding with her hands to Megan, in which she caught immediately. "I'll be at the other side of the field if you all need me."

"Okay, I'm all fired up!" Megan exclaimed as she ran off to the middle of the field while Jane walked slowly towards the goal post.

.-.-.-.-.-

Nicole May was standing besides the bleachers, watching some of the students doing various tasks on one side of the field. Some of them were wearing the soccer strip and others were wearing their P.E. uniform. She could even see Phil doing various tasks with the other students. Then, she noticed a familiar figure and went closer to her. Avegaille was all alone, by herself and intently watching how Jane was blocking all the shots that Megan was doing, despite the fact that it had been a long time since Jane last played soccer. Nicole May slowly tapped Avegaille's shoulder, in which Avegaille turned to her quickly, looking at her surprisingly.

"Ah, Nicole May… what are you doing here?" Avegaille asked nervously.

"Nothing. I just wanted to take a good look around here… that's all," Nicole May replied and slightly turned to the direction where Jane was blocking shots at the goal post. "Is that your sister, Jane? I never knew she was good at defending."

"Yeah… she was the one who taught me how to play soccer… I really wish I could remember how or at least some of it," Avegaille replied and smiled weakly.

"Well, tomorrow is the day you two will do some bonding together… have you at least thought of a place you want to go with Jane?" Nicole May asked as she folded her arms across her chest.

"Ah, yeah… I've been drifting off too much, trying to remember what we both used to do… or liked so much together… that I haven't thought of that…" Avegaille muttered and her cheeks blushed slightly while she placed her hand behind her head.

"Why not go to the shops around town? Some of them have quite interesting specialty stores which you can't find in the mall," Nicole May suggested.

"Oh yeah, that area where we saw Elizabeth some time ago! They have nice restaurants there too… There's a place there that I always loved going to when I was younger… but I can't remember exactly," Avegaille muttered and closed her eyes while she folded her arms across her chest.

"Maybe you'll remember it once you two start walking around there," Nicole May remarked as she sweat-dropped. She looked at the field again where Jane was with some of the players of the team and all of them were taking a break. "Hey, how come your sister isn't part of the soccer team? I know right now she's playing with them, but I don't think she's part of the team… like, if she was so good at it, why didn't she join them in the first place and became the student council president instead?"

"Oh, I wish I could remember… but I think she quit playing soccer after I got injured," Avegaille replied meekly and sighed. She turned to the direction where Nicole May was watching and saw Jane sitting down on the bench and Megan was talking to her. Then, she saw Madeline waving at her and Avegaille quickly turned to Nicole May. "Hey, why don't we go over there?"

"Sure, I don't mind…" Nicole May nodded and followed Avegaille until the two of them got to the other side of the field where Jane and the others were.

Sabrina and Vicky were busy doing some ball dribbling tricks with the players. On the other side of the field, the try-outs were over and Bridgette was announcing the names of the students who made it in the team.

"You two saw how Jane was blocking all those shots?" Madeline asked excitedly while Jane stared at her exasperatedly. "So, how was it?"

"Ehehe… well, she hasn't lost it, that's for sure," Avegaille remarked nervously while Jane just stared at her for a bit and then, continued drinking on the sports bottle given to her earlier. Then, Avegaille looked up in the sky, and saw that it was almost nearing sunset. "Wow… didn't realize we stayed here so long…"

"Hey, Avegaille!" Phil exclaimed and Avegaille quickly turned to him while he waved his hand. Then, he quickly ran up to Avegaille and started panting. After he regained his composure, he grinned at her. "I made it to the team, so that means I'll be attending after school practice from now on!"

"That's great!" Avegaille exclaimed happily and smiled. "I never knew you were good with soccer. I mean, you always played basketball when we were younger…"

"I know some basics, so don't worry," Phil said and puffed out his chest.

"Besides, with all the practice we're doing everyday, he'll be as good as anyone on the team," Megan added as she placed her hand on Phil's shoulder. Then, she looked at Nicole May, who was looking away from them. "Oh yeah, who is she? One of your friends?"

"Ah… yeah, she's Nicole May," Avegaille replied while she took Nicole May's hand, which surprised Nicole May. "Nicole May, this is Megan, she's one of the players of the team."

"Nice to meet you, then," Nicole May muttered and slightly raised her hand.

"Hey shrimp, have you finally decided on where we're going tomorrow?" Jane interrupted while she stood up from the bench and Avegaille quickly turned to her.

"Oh yeah… you know that part of town that has lots of stores around?" Avegaille asked and smiled sheepishly. Megan and Phil moved to the area where Sabrina, Vicky and the other players were while Nicole May stood next to Madeline.

"Yeah… I think I know what you mean…" Jane muttered while she took off the gloves on her hand. "There's that nice café there that you always wanted to go to when we were younger…"

"Oh, it is still there?" Avegaille asked and looked at Jane curiously.

"Sure, that place is quite popular," Jane replied and then, smiled at Avegaille. "We could go there tomorrow if you want."

"Okay then!" Avegaille exclaimed happily.

"I'm quite envious of them," Madeline remarked and Nicole May slowly turned to her. Then, Madeline giggled for a while. "Well, at least, Jane's happy for now. Although, I wish I had a little sister of my own…"

"It must be nice then…" Nicole May added and smiled while she watched Jane and Avegaille laughing together.