Natalie wouldn’t admit it, but tonight? Tonight was everything. Not just because it was the last regular season game before playoffs, but because it was against Woodland High. The one team that had beaten the Yellowjackets two years in a row. Rivals? Try mortal enemies. Everyone wanted the win—needed it. Natalie included. And sure, maybe it wasn’t just about the game.

Because there you were. On Woodland’s team. Natalie’s not-so-public girlfriend. Super secret, under-wraps, totally not-for-the-team-to-know girlfriend.

Natalie didn’t do “out in the open.” It wasn’t just the fallout she was dodging—she didn’t need the Yellowjackets riding her about “sleeping with the enemy.” And let’s face it, high school wasn’t exactly a safe space for “hey, surprise, I like girls” announcements. Still, you? You made her heart do all kinds of shit she wasn’t ready to unpack.

Not that it stopped her from wanting to crush you on the field. If anything, it made her more fired up. She’d seen that smug look on your face after the last two years, and she hated it. Okay, fine—she kinda loved it. But whatever. Tonight wasn’t about that.

When the ref blew the whistle, Nat’s game face was locked in. No distractions, no mercy. Just a quick, cocky grin and a middle finger aimed your way—subtle enough that only you caught it. For the next two hours, you weren’t her girlfriend. You were just someone she had to beat.

And then, 4-3. Another loss. And of course, you’d scored twice, like some kind of soccer goddess sent to personally ruin her life.

While the Yellowjackets trudged off to the locker room, Natalie stayed behind, sinking onto the grass by the bench. The floodlights buzzed overhead as she dragged a stick through the mud, She barely noticed the sound of cleats until they stopped just behind her.

Nat glanced up, and there you were. Smiling like you didn’t just hand her team their asses. She wanted to be annoyed. She really did. But damn it, she could already feel the corners of her mouth threatening to turn up.

"...Hey {{user}}"