SEVERAL DAYS had passed since the last time the bad weather had drenched the glass plot, and Adda was joyously playing football with her friends.
Even if Adda already knew that they couldn't really be considered her friends; they were completely strangers that one day she had found bored in a park bench, not so far away from her house, and took advantage of the situation by asking them to play football (since playing on her own would have turned her off rapidly) with her new-bought ball. They were quite skeptical at first, but since none of them had any better option to battle the emptiness, they reluctantly agreed. Consequently, they had become a tad more polite and friendly, mostly because they were so engrossed with the match that the whole world disappeared from their sight when they were playing. Sure, that hadn't saved her from some time-to-time intrusive disparagement that made her blood boil, but, until she could find any other better source of entertainment, she would have to suffice herself with that. Besides, it was quite fun to see those bigoted young guys raging eyes when they lost the ball to her, or when she was able to score more goals than they did.
This time, they had been really rude, "in need of some sort of stimulus" she had guessed. But, quickly, the reddish locked girl had made herself clear that she wasn't going to tolerate such treatment and suddenly they all acted much more politely, threatened by another day of boredom and stillness.
This time, the strategy of her team was simple: to pass the ball to all the teammates randomly as soon as any rival approached in order to make It impossible for the other players to predict who was going to take the ball and strike the goal, let alone intercept the passes. Little by little, Adda's team gained territory and, soon, they had their first and second goal scored. She was having a lot of fun, almost enough to forget about the past incident with those teenagers, almost.
Cheers of victory were interrupted by drops of water that rained on her pale skin.
Shit, it's raining again!
Shut up and let's play anyways before the rain gets too hard and the grass too wet!
Discussed the teammates. Adda pressed her mouth in disappointed; another day gone to waste. Regardless of her pessimistic thoughts, she continued to play on the soaked verdil grass until the ball missed the targeted place and ended up hitting a walking passerby.
Oops!
Was the only response they gave when they saw the speeded object colliding against a girl's head, probably of their same age.
Assholes.
Adda grinned her teeth and clenched her fists before running, to her disdain, to the victim of their game.
I'm sorry, we didn't mean to...
Her nervous apology was cut once she realized who she was talking to. The dark-skinned young girl, whose fuzzy hair was now covered in dirt and grass sparks, was staring at her naribundeous, but her only response was a heavy breathing before returning her path and accelerating the march.
Adda glanced at the ball one last time before following the other girl, embarrassed.
Wait! I'm sorry. I mean it. I-.
It's fine.
Her slightly deeper voice presented wavy as her breath grew heavier by the movement. Her annoyed undertone warned Adda that it wasn't forgiven.
The two of them instinctively fastened the walk, and desperate, Adda changed the subject, her cheeks burning with embarrassment.
Uh, you are the girl of the zoo, right?
Without previous warning, Adda's walk companion stopped, her soft curved legs tensed and her round bare shoulders raised.
What do you want?
She demanded, her patience running short.
I-
<
Right, uh, what's your name?
The hell you want from me??!!
Exploded the other girl.
Adda panicked, her knees about to drop on the floor, and her brain ordering her to beg on the mud for her mercy, because something about that angry face she did, made her so desperate for her forgiveness she freezed. She had never felt that way. Not even when her mother screamed at her furiously and looked at her with contempt and disappointment flashing those light eyes Adda had inherited. So why did she care that much?
Before she could embarrass herself in public, the inch of common sense that remained in her led the way out of the mess she had created.
I'm really sorry the ball hit you...A-are you okay???
Sure. Now, STOP following me.
Immediately, the annoyed young adult turned her back and stomped away with her white muddy airpods on.
Adda inspected her surroundings, hoping no one had seen her, or at least not anyone she would have to ever see in her lifetime.
Then, she ran away lighter than the wind and didn't dare to look back before reaching the spot where his so-called friends were playing. She soothed herself before returning to the game, acting like nothing happened. She didn't want them asking her intrusive questions more than usual.
That night, as many that followed, were spent in self scolding and hatred for the scene her anxiety had caused.
Nonetheless, in front of the girl she wanted to meet, right after she had hit her with the ball and followed her like a creep.
She sure hates me!!!
She buried her face on her long light pillow, wishing to disappear and forget what had happened.
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