I've played soccer since I was 4. The summer after my 16th birthday I decided I wanted to really work hard and become better goalkeeper. I went to a very high level camp, where the other keepers in my group were all in college. During one particularly grueling day, the coaches decided to do PT... pressure training - the most terrible kind of workout on the face of the planet.
As 100 of the best goalkeepers from their leagues took their positions and training began, 45 explosive seconds on, 45 much needed seconds of rest. After our second water break, and over 10 insane exercises, people began to drop. When you're working that hard and you're that tired, its just easy to get hurt, and your body cries for you to surrender, just give up. When you're working that hard, its like you're dying inside.
After our fourth water break, 20 exercises, over 25 keepers, the best of the best in this region, were being carried off the field. And just as I was about to give up, our eyes met. That exhausted, drawn out smile we shared, was all that kept us from collapsing.
The fifth water break was a godsend. We fell into each others arms on our way to the water. Standing there, embracing, I whispered "I'm Anthony, incase your mommy asks." She laughed, and told me her name was Christina. Gosh, what a beautiful name.
The last five exercises were hell... what was left of us, gasping for air, broken and bloody [and muddy
]... Christina’s smile kept me going. Finally, the last whistle blew, I did it! It was time to stretch [we partner stretched, its far more effective], and Christina was standing alone in the middle of the field. We laid together, more massaging each other than stretching. The only boy-girl pair, smack dab in the center of the group. The coach looked up and saw us, our lips half a breath apart, and he yelled with his silly english accent "STEADY TIGER!" We all laughed, tiger, hey, cool nickname :-P
Later that night, while everyone was in the hall, I was laying in the grass outside, looking at the stars. In buffalo not many stars show at night because of the lights from the city... out there, the night sky was utterly breathtaking. Then, there she was. Not the sweaty, adidas-covered girl from earlier, no. Her hair, no longer drawn in a pony tail, fell upon her uncovered shoulders... who brings a Monroe-cut sweater to a soccer camp? But who was I to talk? I was the best dressed guy on the whole campus, coaches included.
I learned more about myself in that one star-crossed night than any night prior, in all my 16 years.
At one moment, I thought I saw a shooting star [it was actually a distant plane, lol], I decided aloud that I was going to make a wish anyways... shooting star or not! Christina leaned closer, and put her hand softly on my chest and whispered, “You’re too cute.”
Heaven on earth.
She inched closer, resting her head on my shoulder. Never in my life have I felt such tranquility, not to this day. And just as we were drifting to sleep 10 other campers came out.
We talked about our time at the camp, our lives waiting for us at home. In the crowd Christina and I drifted apart, each talking to our own friends. I knew she was behind me, and I could see everyone’s eyes move from me, to her, and back. Still we drifted apart, further and further, until her best friend asked everyone in what was now our two groups a question... this terrible cafe food aside, what would hit the spot, right now?
For the first time since our friends came, my eyes found Christina’s. 10 people isn’t much of an audience while talking about favorite foods, especially when they’re all good friends.
I took two steps into the middle of our circle of hungry campers and held out my hand to Christina. She took it, and I pulled her close. Drawing her soft, Latin hair behind her ear with my hand, I leaned close. 10 people held their breath, Christina exhaled and put her arms around my neck, I don’t even remember breathing.
As we un-tangled ourselves and said goodnight, her hand slowly slipped out of mine. On the path to the guys-dorm, I remember thinking it was all so pure, that few hours of my life was something special.
As I stepped into the dorm the cheers of 50 or so guys came from every room or lounge with a window to the lobby. Campers I didn’t even know, guys from the field player camp, they ran up and hugged me, they all tasted my evening vicariously through their window shades... the most wonderful date of my life was more than that, it was an inspiration, a show, for anyone who has ever doubted the opposite sex.
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