Chapter 4: Team Bonding
The late afternoon sun cast a golden glow over Ridgeview's soccer field, making everything look softer than it felt. For the players, the heat was brutal. Cleats tore at the turf, voices echoed, and Coach Mendoza's whistle was relentless.
Sheik Jin was sweating through his shirt, trying to push through the last few drills. He felt the usual pressure—to be fast, sharp, reliable. But today, something tugged at his focus.
When he glanced toward the bleachers, he saw her.
Andrea Mei.
She stood with one hand on the fence, watching. No clipboard, no laptop. Just her, in jeans and a plain white tee, eyes fixed on the field like she belonged there.
Sheik almost missed his mark in the drill.
Practice ended with the players collapsing onto the grass, groaning. Sheik grabbed his water bottle and jogged over to her, chest still rising and falling with effort.
"You always this intense?" Andrea asked, arms still crossed but with the faintest smile.
"Only when I know someone smart is judging me from the sidelines," he said, grinning.
Andrea rolled her eyes. "Don't flatter me. I came because I needed a break. And, okay, maybe I was curious."
"Curious?"
"Wanted to see if you actually played the way you talk about the game." She gave him a playful glance. "Turns out, you do."
Sheik laughed, genuinely pleased. "So? Impressed?"
"Moderately."
Just then, Lucas trotted by, sweat-soaked and still buzzing from the drills. He glanced between the two of them.
"Ohhh," he said. "Is this the girl?"
Andrea blinked. "The girl?"
Sheik sighed, unamused. "Lucas, this is Andrea. She's the one who makes me look bad by being smarter than me."
Andrea raised a brow. "Only slightly smarter."
Lucas gave a low whistle. "She's got a comeback and everything. Nice."
Sheik shook his head. "Ignore him. He's been concussed like three times."
"I heard that," Lucas called, already walking away.
Andrea laughed—actually laughed—and Sheik couldn't help but stare for a moment longer than he should've.
"Anyway," he said, gathering courage, "we're doing this team night tomorrow. Just something casual—pizza, games, bad movie choices. You should come."
Andrea blinked. "Team night? Why would I go to that?"
"Because you already act like you're on the team," Sheik said. "And because I want you to come."
She hesitated.
"I mean, you don't have to," he added quickly. "But… it might be fun."
Andrea looked at him, then down at the laces of her sneakers. "Okay. I'll think about it."
"I'll save you a slice," he said with a smile, before heading off to cool down with the rest of the guys.
The Next Night
Andrea stood in front of the dorm lounge holding a bag of chips and a pack of cookies, feeling completely out of place.
She could hear the noise from the hallway—shouting, laughter, someone complaining about FIFA. She hesitated, her fingers tightening around the snack bags.
Sheik appeared in the doorway.
"You came," he said, surprised but clearly happy.
Andrea gave a half-smile. "Yeah. I brought bribes."
"You just became everyone's favorite person. Come on."
Inside, it was pure chaos. Players sprawled on beanbags and couches. Two guys were locked in an intense FIFA match. A movie was paused on the TV, stuck in the middle of an argument over which one to actually watch.
Sheik led her to a quieter corner with a couple of other players. He introduced her like it was nothing, like she belonged there, and to her surprise, no one questioned it.
They ate, joked, and talked about everything from worst away games to guilty-pleasure TV shows.
At some point, Andrea leaned over and whispered, "Your team's actually... kind of great."
Sheik glanced at her, his voice low. "Told you. We're a mess, but a loyal one."
For a second, Andrea forgot to feel awkward. She just felt there—welcome, even if she wasn't sure why.
Later, when most of the team was wrapped up in a heated Mario Kart match, Sheik pulled her aside.
"Thanks for coming," he said so quiet.
Andrea looked up at him, her voice just as soft. "Thanks for asking."
They stood there in the soft buzz of dorm lights, the sound of yelling and laughter just behind them, but in their little corner—it was quiet.
Comfortable.
Close.
Something was building. Neither of them named it yet. But it was there.
And it wasn't going away.