New Beginnings By Anna Hadland

The minute she first saw him she knew he was going to be the one for her. His shiny hazel eyes matched his shiny brown hair. The way he walked, dressed or even spoke made her heart flutter. He didn’t know how she felt about him. Which is why her heart is now breaking as she sees him walk over to a blond haired girl at the table next to her and kissed her. This was a part of school that she hated. Having to see Shane and Leila all over each other all day. It made her feel sick. “Hollie? Are you with me?” A voice interrupted.
“Huh? Oh sorry Anna,” She said as Anna sat down. She could see why Nicky liked her. Blondish hair, green-brown eyes. Cheeky smile. It wasn’t even a problem that she was in year 10. A year below the rest of them. All of them looked after her as not many people in her year liked her for some reason. A couple of people would talk to her if they had nothing else to do but that was it. Anna followed Hollie’s stare. “Oh I get you now. I really wish I had someone too.” Hollie knew Nicky liked Anna. But nobody could figure out whether she liked him back. Nicky was the typical Blonde hair blue eyed type. He was mad on football though. Hardly ever stopped playing it unless Anna was around.
“I can’t wait until half term. I’m having a very bad day. Every teacher I’ve had so far seems to be having a go at me for some reason or another,” said Anna. “I think ours are stressed out too. Don’t take it personally,” replied Hollie. “I wonder when Shane is going to see what Leila really is. I heard her talking to her friends in the changing room. She doesn’t even like him. I feel so sorry for Shane.”
“That conniving little snitch. I hate her and now I know why.”
“Hey girls,” Kian said, sitting down next to Hollie closely followed by Nicky who made a point of sitting next to Anna. “What are you doing for your birthday?” Kian asked Anna.
“I have no idea yet. I might just stay at home on my own. That’s how I spend it every year,” she replied.
“Hey is it our fault your birthday is in the holidays and we’re away?” Hollie asked defensively.
“Yes!” exclaimed Anna.
Hollie went back to staring at Shane who was now in line to get some lunch with Leila. They both looked so happy together. Kian followed Hollie’s gaze and his heart split in two. He knew he could never have her love.
“You’re a bit quiet, Nick,” said Kian. “What’s up?”
“Nothing. I was just thinking about football this afternoon. I don’t know if I want to go.”
“I’m going,” said Anna. “I could use some help with my keep ups. You have to come. I’ll get lonely otherwise.” Anna pulled a sad face, which made everybody laugh. Hollie came out of her daydream and threw a chip at her. “What was that for?”
Hollie laughed. “Just for being you.”
“We still love you,” Kian said.

“Hey Anna wait up!” Anna was walking across the playground to the football field after school when she heard her name being called. She turned round to see Nicky running after her dressed in his blue shorts and school football shirt. Anna was the only girl on the team but it didn’t bother anybody as she was a good football player.
The football coach ordered them into two teams. Nicky and Anna ended up in opposite teams. Anna played best as a striker and was up front. She was up by Nicky in his goal when the ball was passed to her. Another one of her team, Jason, was running past in front of her as she kicked the ball. The ball went past Nicky then Anna tripped on Jason’s leg as he went past. Anna fell into Nicky and they both landed on the ground. Nicky was on top of Anna face down. They both stared into each other’s eyes for a few minutes. Nicky wanted so badly to kiss Anna there and then but he didn’t want to ruin their friendship. He got up and pulled Anna up with him. “Are you alright?” He asked her as the rest of the team where whistling at them.
“Yeah thanks.”

“Ok that was a good practice,” Said Coach O’Reilly. “First team is, Jason, Michael, Danny, Kevin, Nicky, Alan, Gary, James, Daniel, Thomas and Anna. The rest of you are subs. Remember this is our last game. We need to win this game to win the school league. Make sure you’re in the gym changed and ready by 1pm.”

“Shane, can I ask you something?” Anna said the next morning before school started. They lived round the corner from each other so walked to school together while the others got the bus.
“Yeah sure.”
“Do you like Hollie?”
“I sure I do. She’s one of my best friends.”
“No Shane. I mean do you like Hollie.”
“As in do I want to go out with her?”
“Yeah.”
“Yeah I do. I’ve heard a few things about Leila but I don’t know whether it’s true or not. People have been saying she’s been seeing another bloke behind my back.”
“Shane, I heard her talking yesterday. She doesn’t like you anymore. But Hollie does. She loves you even.” Anna realised what she had said and started to turn red while Shane stared at her in shock. “Sorry I wasn’t supposed to say anything about that.”
“No that’s alright. I’m glad you did,” Shane said with a smile.

By lunchtime everybody had heard what had happened between Anna and Nicky during football training the day before and about Shane splitting up with Leila. Everybody knew it was going to happen soon but they all thought Leila was going to dump Shane so it was all a bit of a shock. Anna still didn’t know what to make of the spark between her and Nicky. It had definitely been there. She had felt it and was sure he had felt it too.
“Are you alright, Anna?” Nicky asked as he sat down next to her in the gym.
“Yeah. Probably just nerves.”
“You’ve never been nervous before.”
“I know. It is a really important game after all. And there are those football scouts out there. I know they are only here to see you lot but There could be a chance that one day I could play in a premiership team.”
Nicky laughed. “Only if you have a sex change first mate.”
“Thanks a lot. With attitudes like that I might as well have one. It will be the only way I can get in.”
But then I wouldn’t be able to kiss you he thought.

Hollie and Shane sat in the stands together with the others three rows behind them. The wind was blowing quite hard. Hollie shivered. She was only wearing her school sweatshirt so Shane gave her his jacket.
“Thanks,” she said “Won’t you get cold?”
“If I do I could just do this.” He put his arms around Hollie inside his jacked and pulled her close to him. She could smell his aftershave as he leaned down.

Nicky saved three near goals and they won 1-0 as Danny took a final shot just as the final whistle went. They had won the cup and now they were all running to the centre of the pitch where Coach O’Reilly was. All fifteen team members crowded round him laughing and cheering as the crowd in the stands cheered and clapped. Anna felt herself being dragged away from the rest of her team members. She was starting to get cold and felt cold arms around her. Someone’s lips touched hers. They felt warm and tasted sweet. She didn’t fight it but kissed whoever it was back. After a while she opened her eyes and looked into his. His deep blue eyes sparkled with happiness and she put her arms around him to kiss him once more.

“It’s about time!” Kian and Mark said at the same time as they walked towards Nicky and Anna after they had gotten changed and most of the crowd had gone. “Now all we need to do is get Shane and Hollie together,” added Mark. “But I saw them halfway through the game with their arms round each other,” Anna said. “I thought they had got together already.”
“I haven’t seen them since,” said Kian. A pain went through his heart at the thought of Hollie being with somebody else. As long as she’s happy then I am happy he thought.

Anna’s fifteenth birthday came on their last day of school before the Easter holidays. Shane and Hollie had finally gotten together the day before when Shane took her to the park near town. They had sat on the swings for over an hour talking then he finally asked her. He didn’t care whether she said no. As long as he had asked her. But she did say yes. Nicky thought his and Anna’s relationship had been going fine until Coach O’Reilly gave him some news that morning. Now he had to break it to her. Her birthday was the only day he could do it as he would be going to Leeds for the weekend. He hated to do it to her on her birthday but he had no choice.

“I don’t know how to say this,” he said as he sat on her bed watching her do her hair for her party. He loved her so much he didn’t want to hurt her. Especially as she looked so beautiful in her light blue dress.
“It can’t be that bad,” she joked. “You can’t see me anymore until you’re exams are finished?”
“Anna, I have to go to Leeds this weekend.”
“Is that it? I thought it was something serious.”
“It is.” Anna saw the serious look on his face in the mirror and turned around to face him.
“After I’ve finished my exams I’ll be going to Leeds to play football,” Nicky continued.
“What? How long for?” Nicky saw tears in Anna’s eyes.
“I don’t know how long I’ll be over there. I’m sorry.”
“So what’s going to happen with us?”
“I still love you, Anna. I will always love you. I don’t want us to break up, you mean so much to me. I just won’t be around all the time.” Anna started to cry so Nicky put his arms around her.
“I don’t even know what I’m going to do next year,” She cried.
“What do you mean?”
“Well you lot are the only friends I have. I haven’t got any in my own year and by the looks of things none of you are going to be coming back next year.”
“You’ll be fine next year. Hey, I’ll only be a phone call away. Any time of day. I promise.” Nicky kissed her quickly on her lips then wiped away her tears with his fingers. “I love you,” he said as he kissed her on her head. “Shall we go downstairs now? I think I can hear Bryan’s stomach heading towards the kitchen.” This made Anna laugh and they walked downstairs together.

Nicky liked it in Leeds. It was different from Dublin and everybody seemed to do things differently but he was open to the new experience. He wasn’t sure if he was going to cope being away from his home, family and friends but the youth team made him feel wanted. As soon as it had come the weekend had gone.
“What was it like?” Nicky’s dad asked as soon as Nicky had gotten off the plane. “It was alright,” said Nicky. “I’m going to miss all of you when I go though.”

“I can’t believe this is our last exam already,” Hollie said to Shane as they were lining up outside the hall to go in. It was the middle June already and Nicky was going to Leeds in less than a week. Anna was getting more and more upset over it and nobody could seem to help her.
“I just want them to hurry up so I can get it over with,” replied Shane. Kian was in the next line as he was in another class. “What’s taking them so long? We should be in there by now.”
The bell rang and the rest of the school came outside for their break. They watched as Anna went over to a bench at the corner of the playground and sat there alone, almost in tears.
“I feel so sorry for her,” said Shane. “She must feel like she’s losing all of us.”
They started to go into the hall to start their exam. Anna watched them go in and sit down at their desks. Why can’t I be in there with them? She thought.

The next Saturday came. Nicky was leaving on the Sunday and decided to take Anna to the park before going home to have a last dinner with his family. They both sat on the grass by the lake staring into it without saying a word to each other. The sun was shining and there was a gentle breeze in the air. A perfect summer day. Nicky looked at Anna and saw a tear roll down her cheek. He put his arm around her shoulders and pulled her to him. “I’m going to miss everything here,” Nicky finally broke the silence. “Mum, Dad, You.”
Anna looked at him. “Everything is going wrong for me. I’m going to be on my own from now on.”
“No you’re not. You’ll be fine. I’ll be coming back every now and then. I still love you. I always will. Do you know what one of my biggest fears is?”
“What’s that?”
“That you will find somebody else while I’m over there.”
“I won’t. You’re the only one I want. Even if it means I won’t get to see you for a few years.” Nicky kissed her then they got up to walk home.

Everybody crowded the airport to say goodbye to Nicky. His mum started crying as they hugged one last time. He gave his dad, brother and sister a cuddle then moved to Anna. He took her hand and looked her in the eyes. “You’ll be fine,” he said. He kissed her lightly on the lips then went to board his plane. As he got to the gate he turned to look once more. He waved then boarded. The others left the airport in silence.

Everyone went to college while Anna stayed at school. She tried out for the football team again and got in. The only other player from the year before was Jason. All the other players were new year nine and tens. A new girl started in her class at the beginning of the year and the two became friends. Although they were not as close as she was with the others it was enough to last her through the year. Mark and Kian both went on to do Drama and Theatre where they met their girlfriends Jane and Kayla. Kian never thought he would get over Hollie until he set his eyes on Kayla during their first day. Shane and Hollie are still together although doing two different subjects. Nicky played for Leeds United for two years before coming back to Dublin where he went to college with the others. Each of them have now been away from college for three years and have settled down to new jobs and homes. Their friendships getting closer everyday as their new lives start.