not so hard to get — lottie matthews.
summary: she’s been acting different since you ghosted her. when you finally show up at her soccer match, things get better. fluffy ending. part one.
it’s been a few weeks since the last time you spoke to lottie.
you’ve been doing your best to ignore the thoughts that invade your brain every day, such as the memories, the what-ifs, the echo of her voice and laugh.
avoiding her became part of your routine. you don’t even let yourself meet her eyes in the hallway or during class.
and yet, it’s hard not to notice how you see her less around school than before. less parties. less noise. still, one thing keeps replaying in your mind, over and over. “i really wanted this to work. this only happened with you.”
you shake the thought away when you spot mari waiting for you during lunch break. she’s leaning against a bench, already halfway through a granola bar when you reach her with a smile, or at least something you try to pass as one.
“hey, how was yesterday’s match? did you guys win?” you take a sandwich from her tray like it’s your own and start eating.
“don’t even get me started. we get worse every game! i mean we’re so close to nationals and lottie doesn’t even bothers to show up at practice like—” she cuts herself off, and your breath catches the second you hear her name. “i’m sorry. i didn’t mean to bring her up.”
“it’s okay, don’t worry.” you look down as you pronounce the (not very) convincing words. “do you guys have talked to her about it?”
“well.. yeah. jackie did. but she wouldn’t listen to any of us. it’s like she doesn’t care anymore.” and there’s silence. an uncomfortable one. “but she still asks about you, you know.”
“c’mon, mari.” you chuckle at her words. “i’m being serious. she’s been acting so different since you came here, and even more different when you stopped talking to her.”
you don’t say anything. you just take another bite of the sandwich that doesn’t taste like anything anymore.
“look, i’m not going to pressure you anymore. and i know what i’ve said about her before, because yeah, i thought she was playing too. but now?” she pauses, watching you carefully. “i think she meant it. she really misses you. and i can tell you miss her too.“
you hesitate, your voice softer. “do you think she changed for me?”
“not for you,” mari says. “but because of you. and that’s better.”
you were about to open your mouth to respond when the bell rang. as you both stood up to head back to class, mari caught your attention one last time.
“i’m going to make sure she shows up to the match next week,” she murmured. “so.. if you want to give her another chance, you should come. but if you don’t, that’s okay too. i just want you to feel better again.”
so you start thinking about it all weekend.
you think about her. about how she looked that afternoon by the classroom door, the hurt in her eyes when she realized you didn’t believe her. you also think about mari, who has never been the biggest lottie matthews defender, and yet she believes she has changed for good. not for you, but because of you.
then match’s day arrives. but not just any match, this is the one that decides if they go to nationals, the biggest game of the season. of course you had to assist.
you don’t even tell mari you’re going. you just show up, hands buried in your pockets. you sit higher in the bleachers this time, hoping not to stand out, at least not yet.
the stadium’s louder than usual, more people, more pressure. the team is warming up when you arrive, and that’s when you spot her right away.
lottie is focused, a little more serious now. like she’s carrying something on her shoulders and trying not to let it break her.
you don’t think she has seen you. but halfway through the first half, she glances toward the stands, and then stops. her gaze locks on yours, frozen for a few seconds before she turns back to the field.
but then everything shifts. she starts playing like she needs this. like every move is for something bigger than just a win. you heard she hadn’t been herself in the last few games, but now? she’s electric. she owns the field, she controls the game.
when the final whistle blows, it’s official, they’ve won. they’re going to nationals. her teammates scream, jump, throw their arms around each other. but lottie doesn’t celebrate. she turns, breathless, scanning the bleachers again, searching for you.
you think about leaving before she finds you. you even stand up, taking a step toward the exit, but you don’t move any farther. and she notices that.
minutes later, you’re still standing at the edge of the bleachers when she finds you. she’s covered in sweat, her cheeks flushed from the nerves of seeing you again. neither of you says anything at first, the noise of the crowd fading around you.
“i didn’t think you would come.” she breaks the silence, her voice insecure, like she’s been holding something in for too long.
your heart beats fast. “i didn’t think i would either.” she laughs under her breath, but it’s not bitter, just tired. “i meant what i said,” she adds, softer now. “back then. i still do.”
and finally, you really see her. not the version you built in your head, the flirty, careless girl everyone warned you about. that’s not who’s standing in front of you now, and you know it.
“i’m sorry i didn’t believe you, lotts. but i do now. and i miss you more than anything.”
“then prove it.” she says without hesitation, smiling. a real smile, one she hasn’t worn in a long time.
you just step closer, wrapping your arms around her neck confidently. her hands find their way to your waist, like that’s exactly where they belong. and then, you kiss her.
it’s slow, careful, like you’re both still afraid it might break. but it doesn’t. around you, the crowd is still celebrating, but for once, lottie matthews isn’t chasing a win. she’s holding it in her hands.