| �Can I ask you something?� Tremonti said slowly. �Sure,� she said, pulling her mask down over her face. �Why do they call you Lucky?� �It�s my call sign,� she said. �Any reason for it?� Stapp asked. �The first few games I played with the team, I made some stupid mistakes that could have cost the game, but didn�t. I have a tendency to get myself into sticky situations, like having four or five people on me, but I can somehow pull it off,� she said, pulling the plug out of the barrel of her gun. �And this whole cancer thing� I�m pretty lucky, ya know?� She fired a few shots at a tree, then directed Stapp, Phillips and Tremonti on how to play well. �Tremonti, you go up and around to the other side. Scott, you stick with me. Phillips, you run and grab the flag straight off. I�ll cover you. Try to get up and around, since it�s just Preston and Jake, and get the flag to Tremonti on the other side. Holler when you get there and the game�s over. Just don�t shoot the refs,� she said with a slight laugh. They nodded and got ready. �Bands ready?� the ref shouted �Yep,� Lucky returned. �Non-bands ready?� Jake and Preston shouted back. �5, 4, 3, 2, 1, go! Go! Go!� The ref shouted, and they took off. Fifteen minutes later, the game was over. �What happened?� Michal asked as she came out of the woods and removed her facemask. Tremonti was sitting at the table, paint splattered on his neck. �Jake got me.� �Did Phillips get the flag?� Tremonti nodded, smiling. �Awesome.� �Wow,� Jake said, plopping down next to Michal. �Good game.� She nodded, lighting a cigarette. �Good strategy.� She smiled. �Thanks, I try.� Jake nudged her and laughed. *** �You leavin�?� Michal turned to see who was speaking and shook her head. �Nah � I�m outta gas.� �Want some company?� �Sure,� she said, smiling at Tremonti. They walked slowly towards the farmhouse. She stopped suddenly. �Aw, shit,� she moaned. He watched her spit something out into her hand. He raised his eyebrow, then chuckled as he watched her screw the ball back onto her tongue bar. �You�ve got your tongue pierced?� She nodded. �Cool,� he said. �Did it hurt?� �Hell yeah. I couldn�t talk for three days.� He laughed. They walked in silence. �So�� Tremonti cleared his throat. �You got a boyfriend?� �Nope,� she said, watching the ground in front of her. �Wow.� �What?� Michal raised her eyebrow. �A pretty girl like you, single?� She laughed. �Whatever,� she said, kicking a rock in front of her. �What about you?� �Nope. I don�t have a boyfriend either.� She shook her head, laughing. �You know what I mean.� �Oh, a girlfriend? No,� he said chuckling. �Why not?� She stopped and turned to him. He stopped as well. �My job keeps me, uh, traveling a lot,� he said, shifting his weight as though he were uncomfortable. �Yeah, it�s gotta be tough to be on the road all the time,� she said, walking away slowly. He followed. �Yeah,� she continued, �playing shows in front of a screaming, sold-out crowd. Tough job.� He chuckled and she smiled at him before walking into the farmhouse and up to the counter to get her gun filled with CO2 again. A few minutes later, she walked out the door and ran into Tremonti. �Oops,� she said, smiling. �Sorry. I didn�t think you�d still be here.� She walked past him and headed towards the courses again, and he jogged to catch up with her. �You up for a speedball game with the team?� she asked him. A lazy grin spread across his face. �I don�t know�� he trailed off. �Aww. C�mon. It�ll be fun,� she said, smirking. He sighed. �I�ll watch your back.� He smiled and reluctantly agreed. Jake, Preston, Stapp and Phillips were heading towards them and stopped to chat. �Ya�ll leavin�?� Jake nodded. �Yeah. I�m beat.� She chuckled. �Baby.� He just nodded and smiled. �Well, Mark�s gonna play a game of speedball with us. I�ll take him home if you want me to,� she said, her eyes questioning Tremonti. He nodded, and she turned to Phillips. �Sure. Catch up with ya later, man.� Tremonti nodded at him. Michal thanked them for coming. Phillips gave Michal a quick hug, as did Stapp, and turned to go. �Later, man.� *** �Aw, you weren�t that bad.� �I was out in, like, two seconds,� Tremonti laughed. �That�s not bad for a first game. Those guys are pros out there, man. You did good for the first time. You�ll get better.� She smiled. �I promise.� They were in Michal�s car and on the way home. Tremonti rubbed his neck, and Michal glanced over after stopping at the light. �Oh man,� she said. �What?� �You�re gonna have a killer bruise,� she said, leaning over to gently touch his neck. �That�s gonna hurt.� She smiled sympathetically. �Yeah, well, it was worth it.� She raised her eyebrow. �How�s that?� She laughed. �Well,� he started, �I had a lot of fun, and I met a great girl.� She smiled and blushed slightly. �Hey,� he said. �Hmm?� �You might want to drive,� he replied, pointing out the windshield to the green light. She laughed and drove away. He shook his head, laughing to himself. *** �Thanks for the ride,� Tremonti said, unbuckling his seatbelt. �And for the quick game.� Michal laughed �No, thank you.� He smiled at her. �Hey,� he said quickly. �What?� �How �bout dinner?� He blurted, before he could chicken out. �You don�t have to do that, Mark.� �I know. I want to.� �Um�� she stammered. �Sure.� He smiled, and she returned it. �Great. I�ll pick you up at�� he glanced at his watch. �Seven?� �Sure,� she said, nodding slowly. �Okay. I�ll see you then,� he said, closing the door. She watched him walk up the stairs to his hotel and disappear behind the door. �Wow,� she said to herself. �I have a date with a rock star.� As she sat and thought for a moment, a grin spread across her face. �I have a date with a rock star!� She screamed, before pulling away to head back to her apartment. |