Chapter 1

They say, "To succeed, you need to find something to hold on to. Something to motivate you. Something to inspire you."

"Touchdown!!" The crowd went wild, "The point is given to the Lake Water University! Go Mallards!"

I stood there in the field proudly with my team, scanning through the crowd. I cannot see her face but I can still hear her voice every time she'll cheer for the team. For me. And then it hit me. It was over. Madeline Rice broke up with me.

"Are you okay, man?"

"Yeah," I lied.

"Look, I shouldn't be telling you this, but you look miserable. You haven't been yourself for weeks now," my teammate sighs.

"What do you mean?" has it really been weeks since then? I wonder how she's doing now. I remember things getting busier for the whole team for our upcoming game. I remember the stress built up every night I come home late from practice. I still can't understand how the romantic dinners we had turned to meaningless fights and now that she's gone, I never will.

"You used to be in such a good mood and make jokes and just...play well, but now it's like everything's changed. It's weird not to see her usual seat during a game."

"Let's go guys!!" My other team mate pat on both of our shoulders, heading towards the center for the awarding and giving of trophies.

"And there goes the Mallards! And their MVP, Jenson Valdez!" Not that I care anymore. We headed towards the locker room. Everyone was hyped, recalling the previous game and cheering all together. I feel more tired than usual.

Sigh.

"Maier's in the house people!"

"Really? Where's he?" I asked in disbelief. Maier as in Tony Maier is here?

"In here, yeah, but if you don't like seeing me here, I can always leave," a familiar voice said, a hint of teasing in his voice.

"Heya! How've you been, dabbling Mallard?" he asked, placing an arm on my shoulder.

"You're still calling me a mascot, huh? Could be better, honestly. How about yourself?" I admit seeing an old friend lifted my mood a bit. We haven't seen each other since his graduation. I was still a freshman back then and he was the captain of the football team.

"Not too bad, I think so? And why not? You might've gotten taller now, but you're still a duckling," he chuckles.

"I'm about six foot and two," I pushed his arm away and grinned, "And I'm still young and growing. Unlike you, old man."

"Well, six foot... Hey, I'm not that old!" I laughed with him. I noticed a few girls behind him.

"Err... You brought your fan girls?" I asked, raising an eyebrow at this playboy before me. Maddie used to complain about the boy's locker and here he is... showing no delicacy.

"Fan girls? No, no!" he says in exaggeration, shaking his head constantly.

"Excuse this duckling, ladies. He knows no manners on how to respect you, girls." You seriously can't blame me! What kind of girls go to the locker's room after the game? Fan girls, that's who!

"So...?," I asked, getting impatient. "Two of them are close friends and one is a future girlfriend of mine. So please at least try to make a good first impression as my old friend in the team," I laughed at the last line. Might as well as go along, then.

"Alright, sorry about earlier. Erm, my name's Bailey, actually."

A girl with a refreshing smile greeted, "It's okay. I'm Monica. Nice to meet you." Her hair was tied in a neat ponytail, and the old design of Mallard's cap uniform...? Hm... she's probably the girl Tony's into.

"Don't worry too much about it. I'm Lou, pleased to meet you," greeted the brunette. She was wearing a t-shirt that says "TWO COOL" with shades on the two O's of the cool. It was a masterpiece.

"I like your shirt."

"Thanks."

The last one among them was too busy untangling her hair. It was indeed windy outside. "The name's Cass. It's not okay though, but nice to meet you too." She gave a nod to acknowledge my existence.

"Is there anything I can do to make it up to you?" I asked.

"Imagine... being called a fangirl of who? This guy?" A knot was forming on her forehead still trying to fix her hair. I don't know if she either hates Tony that much or if it's the tangles.

"Don't worry about it. She is just joking," Monica waved her hands gesturing me to just ignore her.

"Or is she?" Lou grinned crossing her arms.

"Am I joking or am I not? Which is it?" Cass cross her arms as well, giving up on fixing her hair. She glared up on me. I look over Tony behind me, which seems to be having fun watching this situation.

Andrew stand beside him, whispering as if we can't hear him, "he is not good with the ladies. He's scared of them now."

"Is that so?" Tony smirked.

"He just went through a break up." These guys are seriously roasting me.

"So?" Cass raised an eyebrow.

"So?", I repeated. This girl is definitely not joking. Did they really have to bring that up? They should know it's a sensitive topic.

"You heard me," annoyance getting more obvious in Cass' tone. "Man up."

"Easy, girl. Give him a break. We don't want to make him avoid girls for the rest of his life. He might end up marrying me. Just let this one slide," Andrew tried easing the tension but it was no use. Thanks, man. I just got one.

"I mean... look at Tony. Do I look like his fan to you?" She asked Andrew. I have never met anyone getting offended to being called a fan of Tony. Tony was often called 'the perfect guy', how can he be disliked?

"Alright. I'm sorry," I tried to say calmly, getting a bit annoyed. Why are girls being so mad at simple things or nothing at all. Reminding me of someone I used to know.

"Okayy. I'll forgive you. But you don't sound sincere so pay up for the damage you caused," Cass reached out her hand to me like a beggar.

"Alright, cut it off," Tony stand between the two of us, placing a hand on our shoulders. Cass cringed.

"She started it--," I tried to argue only to be cut off by Tony, "--I don't care who started it. I'm stopping it." he said firmly. Cass glared at him, murmuring something I didn't caught up on.

I let out a weak sigh, my eyes moving back at her. Cass stopped moving away from Tony. I will never forget this girl. Monica gave her a soft pat, telling her to calm herself down. Lou said something to her in another language and her expression, I think, become softer. She smiled and I don't know whether to be amazed or be scared on how her before deadly eyes turned beautiful and now calm.

"Let's make up and be friends. In honor of our former Captain's visit and to celebrate our victory, why don't we get ourselves a tasty dinner? I know just a place and it will be Tony's treat!" Andrew exclaims, clapping his hands to catch our attention.

The Mallards went wild, deafening to whatever Tony was saying. They were all together yelling and jumping. Some even took off their shirts, waving them in the air.

Cass turned her heel, about to walk out of the locker room when..."Where do you think you're going? You'll be having dinner with us," I immediately grabbed her wrist.

"I'm going to the C.R." she said staring at my hand. CR? Where the hell is that? My grip loosen.

"Dude, I'm going to the toilet. Stop being clingy! I'll come back!" Cass pulled her arm back and walked away.

"Sama ako," Lou followed.

"See you guys outside," Monica waved goodbye.

"I still don't understand why girls had to go to the toilet together," Andrew takes off his uniform.

"You guys smell bad so it might be just their excuse," Tony pat our shoulders and proceed to bully the new faces. "Hey! Your feet stinks!"

"...Aren't girls not supposed to be in a boy's locker?"

Mr. MVP here, already in his towels. He slaps the stomach of the other player. "Shut up, nerd! Be happy that girls visit us!"

"You are just flexing your abs," he slapped back Jenson.

"Hard, isn't it?" Jenson boasted.

I sighed and shake my head, going to the shower. The stupidity is getting in these moron's head.

---