Soccer Camp

Shopping

"What are you doing?" I asked as Matt raided my closet and my chest of draw. It was Saturday morning and we didn't have to supervise any groups for the weekend.

"Choosing what's acceptable" he held up a pair of jeans, my favourite ones that I've had for three years, and threw them in a pile near the door.

"Acceptable for what?" I asked as I stared at his process helplessly from my bed.

"To wear. Now that we're a couple, people will be looking at you, especially Jesse. You have to look sexy and untouchable."

"That might take years" I mumbled as I got off the bed and looked at myself in the mirror. My skin complexion has gotten darker since I've first gotten out here. The humidity had sweat-out the perm that helped kept my hair under control and I didn't bring anything else; I didn't think I would need it.

"Couldn't we just give up? I really don't mind admitting I lied." This whole thing was making Matt act crazier, as if that was even possible.

"Are you kidding? I finally have something to do at this summer other than teach kids and organize a soccer game."

"What soccer game?" this fascinated me.

"At the end of every summer, we have a large soccer game between our doc or players and another team from another camp. The players are couching the younger kids now but it's like a warm up for them before the big game. It's pretty intense. "

"You mean there are other soccer camps around here? How many soccer camps does that state of California need?" I rolled my eyes

"Apparently more than one. Anyways, since Jesse is practically famous in Spain, it turns into a big thing. His dad uses it as promotion for the camp and Jesse becomes more famous in the United States"

Win, Win, I thought. Well except for me. He'll have women begging to get with him, why the hell would he want me? I sighed as I stared at Matt going through my things. I want to tell him to stop, that he was wasting his time, but he was sold on this. He didn't know it but he was my only friend and a very nice one at that. Even though this was probably pointless, the least I could do was play along for him.

"Alright, we have six dresses, two shirts, and a pair of shorts that's acceptable." He was staring at the smallest pile in front of him.

"What about these?" I asked, pointing to the pile near the door.

"I want to burn those" he said simply. "But since they're yours, we will lock them away for the summer and never look at them again."

"You're joking! I can't rotate between those small amounts of clothing." I pursed my lips.

"I know that. That's why we're joining the group of councillors heading into town today."

"I don't have money" I shook my head. My mom offered but I didn't think I would need money in the woods.

"I'll take care of it. As your new man, I will provide" he smirked. He really was gorgeous when he smiled. He took up a dress from my pile and threw it at me. "Get ready"

We were dressed and heading outside to the bus where people were loading on. "Did we really have to wear the same colour? It's kind of cheesy."

"It's cute" he promised as he held my hand, waving as people walked by us. They smiled and started talking to him. I walked beside them gracelessly with my head down. Before we got on the bus, Matt's hand tightened and he pulled me back.

"Shouldn't we get on?" I wondered.

"Not yet. Jesse usually sits at the back with Nicole but since they're not together, he'll be sitting alone. We need to wait for the bus to be full, where there are only single seats so we have to sit apart."

"Wait, how do you know that?"

"Babe, I have been coming to this camp with these people for years. Trust me!"

I nodded obediently because there was no point of arguing. Suddenly, he was pulling me on the bus. Before I could protest, I saw Nicole and her friends making their way over. "Go." Matt whispered in my ear "sit down, smile, laugh, and touch him"

"What? I'm not touching him" I whined but he pushed me up the steps of the coach bus and I headed to the back without another word. People were busy talking when I entered. I spotted Jesse talking to his friends, and as Matt said, the seat beside him was empty. I swallowed the bile in my throat and looked behind me.

Matt was already sitting and playing around with people I didn't even know; but I didn't know anyone so that wasn't saying much. My legs felt weak as I continued to walk to the back of the bus.

"Is anyone sitting here?" I mumbled as I reached Jesse. He looked up from talking to his friend and actually smiled at me.

"Hopefully you are." He smirked playfully. My heart moved to my throat and I stared down at him awkwardly without breathing. He laughed as he touched my hand, pulling me down beside him. "No, no one is sitting here"

"Oh" I swallowed as I watched him continue to hold my hand. I felt his thumb brush against mine continuously as he turned back to his friends. It was like he forgot he was holding my hand. Didn't he know what he was doing to me?

I heard my name a few times but I was zoned out. He released my hand only to raise my chin so our eyes could meet. "You okay?" he asked quietly, his eyes burning a hole through my very soul. No, you're touching me!

"Mhhm" I nodded slowly as I stared back into his eyes completely bewildered. His fingers brushed my lower lip slowly, his eyes moving to my mouth. What's happening? I felt my chest compress oddly and my palm becoming sweaty.

"This is Justin and Alex" he introduced when he finally stopped staring at my lips. His friends looked at each other and smiled before they turned back to us. They were kneeling in the seats in front of us when we shook hands, uncomfortably on my part.

"I'm Amber" I smiled the best I could with my heart beating out of my chest.

"We know" Justin laughed as Alex pushed him playfully. They knew? I have never met these people in my life...

Then it hit me. "The night I was drunk" I muttered in embarrassment. Jesse was with his friends that night, it must have been them.

"That was you?" Alex chuckled.

"Jesse talks about you a lot." Justin disclosed before he got up and hopped over to another seat before Jesse could stand to his feet. Jesse sat back down and rubbed the back of his neck as he turned to look out the window, his face turning red.

I groaned inward at the things he was possibly telling them, like how I stare at him constantly, how he saw my damn underwear, and how I am social awkward. This can't be good!

"Umm, excuse me?" I snapped out of my self-pity and looked up into light brown eyes. Nicole was standing in front of me with her face screwed up as if she smelt something bad.

"There is already someone there... Are you blind?" Justin asked as he made his way back over to the seat.

"Shut up Justin!" Nicole brushed off as she turned to him quickly and then back to me.

After a moment of awkward silence, I realized that she was waiting for me to actually move. "Oh..." muttered in realization as I go to stand up. Jesse's hand held my knee before I could properly stand, sending tingles through my body. My nerves began to fire sparks and fireworks, lighting my body on fire. Without thinking, my hand reached out to touch his, my fingers caressing his arm.

I stopped what I was doing as soon as I realized it and held my head down, my throat becoming dry.

"You have to be kidding me." Nicole laughed without humour.

"You jealous?" I heard Alex asking in a teasing tone.

"You choose her over me?" she asked in disbelief. I couldn't believe it either and I didn't know what to believe.

"Nicole, you're making a scene" Jesse's voice was low and husky.

"Oh, you haven't seen a scene yet Jesse." she spat. I looked up to see her stomping down the aisle to her friends.

"Sorry" I muttered quietly as I turned to stare at him.

"For what?" he whispered as he rest his head against the head rest, the hands still caressing my knee.

"I don't know" I blinked wildly as I peering up into his eyes as if I was lost. Which I was! He was really messing with my thought process.

He exhaled with great emphasis as he stared at my face with longing. I looked away and down the bus as we pulled out and onto the road.

Matt was waving at me.

"Excuse me" I said unwillingly causing Jesse to let go of my knee as I stood up, fixing my dress. As the bus began to rock and go over potholes, my balance became worst. I fell onto someone after great effort to try and stay on my own two feet. Did I mention I was uncoordinated?

I heard quiet and sudden laughter from different areas of the bus. "I'm so sorry" I pleaded as I got up quickly and walked over to Matt. "Did he see?" I whispered as I covered my face with my hand. I was referring to Jesse of course.

"Bambi, you're in a bus, not a large forest. Everyone saw" he laughed as he held my hand soothingly. "It was cute," he promised as he looked behind me "he's smiling at you"

"He is?" I asked in disbelief. The people around us seemed too busy to be paying attention to our conversation.

"Yes, but the b***h tripped you on purpose." Matt looked behind me again and this time I did too. Nicole and her friends were giggling among themselves. It wasn't even that funny, I tripped all the time without anyone's help. "Forget her, what's happening?"

"He keeps staring at me so I think there is something on my face." I said honestly as I ran my fingers over my facial features in an attempt to clear whatever it is off my face.

Matt shook his head at me and sighed as if I was missing something. "When we get to the plaza, just stay with him. I'll do all the shopping; you don't need to worry about anything."

"Are you sure?" I asked nervously. I don't think I could be able to handle all that time near him without fainting... and that accent... huh!

"Yes, Bambi. He's starting to look pissed off so I think you should head back."

I sighed and headed back to my seat passing Nicole and her friends as they glared at me dramatically before I finally sat down.

"So how long have you and Matt been together?" Jesse implored in a husky tone. I swallowed and replied the best way I knew how. Avoiding it.

"How long have you and Nicole been dating?"

A small smile graced his lips and my breath hitched in my throat. His hand brushed against mine subtly, sparks appearing. He continued to stroke my fingers with his own and I began to have a miniature heart attack. "We're not"

We continued to stare into each other's eyes as he held my hand. My body tingled and my heart ached. He pulled me closer by our entwined fingers as he smiled down at me. Unexpectedly, his lips came closer to my face and my heart began to race faster.

"He might be your boy friend, but I intend to have you for myself." He whispered softly, his lips then brushing against my cheek.

I died. No, I really did. My heart stopped beating, I stopped breathing, and my soul went to heaven. I tried my best to swallow the bile in my throat without success. I began to hyperventilate because of the lack of oxygen flowing through my body.

He chuckled as if he was pleased at what he was doing to me. He pulled me into his body as I continued to fight for air, and kissed my forehead causing me to hyperventilate even more. I tried to calm myself down but he was making it difficult by rubbing his fingers against my back, my legs, my arms... and just about everywhere else.

As my head laid against his chest, I could smell his delicious sent. I could feel his muscles under his shirt against my cheek. When am I ever going to be this close to him again?

When he laughed with his friends, I felt his chest vibrate. I lifted my hand and rested it against his stomach, gliding my hand against his shirt to feel his muscles under my fingers. He growled deep within his chest... it was so sexy!

"Usted esta jugando con fuego, chica" You are playing with fire. He whispered in my ears seductively.

I didn't know what he said but it sounded sexy coming from his lips. The bus stopped and we all got off outside a shopping center. Weirdly, there was a group of kids and adults calling 'Jesse' and taking pictures. He waved at them happily without any hint of being nervous or surprised; he was clearly use to it. After we got passed them as a large group, we made our way into the mall.

"It's a good thing you're here" he said as he peered down at a list "The kids made a list of things they wanted. It shouldn't be too hard though, there's mostly candy written here" he laughed ... and what a sound that was.

"Alright, so where do we start?" I asked helplessly as I glanced at the many stores in front of me.

"There's a store at the end of the mall" he offered

"Alright" I began to walk towards the back of the mall before I felt him take my hand into his. I stared down at his hand and then into his eyes. "If you know I'm with Matt, why are you so forward?" I asked in pure curiosity.

"If you felt what you did for him as you do for me, you wouldn't be walking with me now. You'd be over there in that women's store with him" Jesse pointed to the store a few feet away. Matt waved at me with a smile, a mini skirt in his hand. I shook my head vigorously at the skirt but then stopped when Jesse's eyes turned to me again. "And I wouldn't make you as nervous as I do." He smiled as he brushed a finger along my cheek and down my jaw line.

My heart began to accelerate quickly, and judging from the smile on Jesse's lips, he could hear it too.

"I'm an open book" I admitted honestly as I kept my eyes straight ahead. I didn't want him to see the embarrassment in my face.

"Eso es lo que me gusta" That's what I like.

"You do understand that I have no idea what you're saying, right?" I blurted causing him to chuckle. We continued to the end of the mall until we spotted the store.

---

When we got back to the camp, I was tired and exhausted. It was sundown meaning we spent the entire day shopping. Well, I spent the entire day with sexy accent, Spanish speaking Jesse.

"Bye, Amber" Justin waved

"Later" Alex joined in.

I stared at them as they walked to their cabins, wondering when we all became friends.

"Look at that, my little angel made new friends all by herself." Matt smiled at me as he kissed my forehead. He had a larger amount of bags in his hands, more anyone else on the bus. We were walking back to the cabin when I heard my name being called.

"I'll meet you in the room" Matt mumbled before heading in by himself. I turned and watched as Jesse walked his way over to me or should I say glided his way over to me? There was just something about men who played soccer...

"You were going to leave without saying good night?" he asked as he smirked at me. I was standing in front of him, his frame towering over me. I intertwined my fingers together nervously as my eyes became trained on them.

"Good night" I mumbled softly into his chest. I felt like I was sweating bullets and my nerves were still on high after the whole day with him. His fingers held my chin and raised my head.

"Buenas noches, chica" Good night. He stared down at my mouth, his finger brushing against my lower lip. I bite it softly, my nerves taking over my body. "No puedo esperar a probar estos labios" I can't wait to taste these lips. He kissed my cheek gently, and then walked away without another word.

I entered into my room completely dazed and astounded. Matt was sorting out the clothing he bought today when I walked in.

"What happened?" he asked half interested, his attention on the blouse in his hands.

"I think I need to learn Spanish" I fell in the bed, a smile plastered onto my face.