| “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. |