PENALTY by Annika Sturm (best contemporary novels TXT) 📕

quietly. Tom stared at him in amusement. 'Are you jealous?' 'No.' Alex sounded defensive. Tom laughed. 'Of Kai?', he kept chuckling. Alex couldn't hide some of his embarrassment and Tom felt bad for him, 'oh dear. How to reassure my man?' He pulled Alex towards him and squeezed him tightly. He pushed his friend onto his back and lay on top of him smiling at him with gentle eyes. Then Tom slowly kissed him again, so softly and lovingly that Alex wanted time to stand still. He smiled at him. 'Okay. Perhaps he's not your type after all?' He said cheekily and they both laughed.

Eventually it was time to get ready and they turned up at training together, smiley and cheerful. Felix ran towards them when he spotted them and hugged them both. Their team mates huddled around them. 'What happened last night then? Was Winter really angry with you for the punch Alex?', they asked him, 'good on you, we've all felt like doing that at some point.' There was roaring laughter and they patted Alex on the back.

'Morning. Can I have everyone's attention for a minute please.' All the players turned to look at Winter and sat down around him on the pitch. Their manager explained that Markus would no longer be part of the team and that the management and him had decided to part ways immediately after there was a strong disagreement the night before. Alex and Tom sat next to each as they listened attentively. 'I appreciate that this is a very sudden and unexpected change but I'm asking you to trust the management to have made the right decision on this matter. I also appreciate that, in theory, this leaves you without any captain in tonight's friendly game so we have asked Felix to wear the captain's band in tonight's match,' Felix blushed and stared but Alex and Tom had already jumped up cheering and soon they were joined by all the other team members. Felix smiled and stood up shaking Winter's hand politely before he sat back down with all eyes on him, 'thank you Felix. I will communicate this to the press a little later on today as well,' Winter looked pleased. He turned to Alex, 'you may have noticed that our maverick over here has injured his hand so the doctors will decide whether he is clear to play in tonight's match. But I feel fairly confident that he should be fine,' the boys laughed, 'so, let's get ready for tonight then!' Winter shouted and all the boys cheered.

Alex and Tom smiled at each other. 'Phew,' Tom said quietly. His eyes were looking for Kai. He gently squeezed Alex’s arm, 'back in a second.' Tom jumped up and slowly wandered over to him. Alex was staring after his friend and he felt uncomfortable again all of a sudden. But not for long. Felix tickled him from behind and Alex curled up on the floor laughing. 'Get off me you idiot!', he gasped as Felix chuckled and stretched his hand out offering to pull him up. Alex caught his breath, 'you know damn well how ticklish I am!', Alex protested, accepted his hand and jumped up, 'congratulations man.' He patted him on the back. He looked over to Kai and Tom again and noticed they were having a serious conversation. Tom's face showed anger and disappointment and Kai's gesturing suggested that he was trying to explain and defend himself. 'Looks like Markus wasn't lying about that one,' Felix said quietly and led Alex away to prevent him from staring, 'come on. He's a big boy,' he put one arm around his shoulder and smiled, 'are you happy?' Alex’s face lit up and he nodded. 'More than just happy.' 'I take it you made up for the time you have missed with each other?', Felix winked and Alex blushed, 'excellent.' Felix patted his back when Tom joined them again. He looked serious. 'Tommy, what did he say?' Alex asked nervously. 'Later,' Tom smiled at him reassuringly. He put one arm around Felix and the other around Alex, 'let's kick some ass here!'

The doctors checked Alex’s hand before he was allowed to start the training session and taped and bandaged it securely. He was given the okay to play in the friendly that night and Tom and Alex were starting to get excited about it. The training session was short but intense and Alex enjoyed every minute of it. He felt like a huge weight was lifted off his shoulders and he had finally found his energy again. Tom and Alex combined their game perfectly and they both cheered and hugged whenever one of Alex’s shots hit the back of the net. Everything was back the way it always used to be. And better.

After the session Alex was relieved and grateful to learn that Winter had decided to simply give him a warning instead of a fine and he joined his team mates in the lounge of the hotel to relax and play video games with them for a couple of hours. Alex was glad to be back with all his friends knowing Tom was by his side and their relationship was perfect again.

Tom nudged him after he finished one of his turns on the video games. 'Come on.' He signalled to him to break away from the group. The boys went upstairs to Tom's room, where his friend hugged him tightly taking a deep breath. 'Are you okay?' Alex asked him quietly. Tom looked at him. 'Apparently Kai wanted to protect us. Another one,' he sighed rolling his eyes. Alex frowned at him confused. Tom took his hand and led him to his bed. The boys sat down next to each other, 'he thought it would help if Markus knew about us, just in case it got out somehow. He trusted him and actually thought he'd stand up for us,' he paused, 'he was shocked when I told him how wrong he was.' 'Oh. Really?', Alex was fuming, 'and he didn't bother talking to you first perhaps?' 'Well, that's exactly what I said.' 'And?' Tom hesitated. 'He didn't quite have an answer on that one.'

Alex stood up and walked to the window. He crossed his arms in front of his chest and took a deep breath looking outside. 'I don't believe him. I'm sure he didn't want to hurt you Tommy. But I'm not so sure that the same applies to me.' Tom hugged him from behind and held him kissing his cheek gently. 'Hey. It doesn't matter now.' He whispered. 'He nearly split us up and made our lives hell for a day.' Alex grunted angrily. 'Now, now. That was someone else.' Alex tried to swallow down his anger. Tom kept kissing his cheek and inhaled his scent. 'Hey,' he turned him around and held his head, 'come on. We've got better things to do,' he smiled at him and kissed him gently, 'don't you think?', he kissed him again and again until his friend couldn't help but smile, 'hmm?', Alex slapped him, 'ouch,' Tom laughed quietly, 'what was that for?' 'For being naughty.' Alex said as they started kissing each other passionately before Tom grabbed him and pushed him onto his bed.

When the moment of the international match had come, Alex stood behind Tom in line seconds before they were going out onto the pitch. They could hear fans singing and cheering and the all-encompassing noise carried into the tunnel where all the players were stood. Alex was smiling at the child who he was about to lead onto the pitch. The little boy gazed up at him admiringly and Alex thought of Max and how he would be watching him now with Emma back in Hamburg. As he was chatting to the boy and patting his head he painfully realised that he hadn't really thought of his family at all in the last two days. The fear of losing Tom had taken up all his focus and energy. He hadn't spoken to Emma since they made up on the phone and he knew that this was a sign. A sign that he loved Tom more than her, whether he liked it or not. 'This is it!' Tom had turned to Alex and beamed at him excitedly as Felix as the newly appointed captain started leading his team onto the pitch. 'Yeah. I think you're right.' Alex said and smiled.

The boys absorbed the atmosphere in awe. They had played many international matches together but were overwhelmed again every time. Tom winked at him as he jogged off into his position. Felix patted the back of Alex’s head on his way to shake hands with the Brazilian captain. The whistle was blown, Germany got the ball and the match kicked off.

Alex was focussed on giving his best. He fought for every ball and worked hard. Tom put him into scene a couple of times with clever accurate passes and he had a few good chances of scoring in the first half. At half time Alex was sat on a bench in the changing rooms resting his head against the locker. Winter demanded more pressure and courage and Alex listened attentively as he sipped his energy drink. Tom walked past him and patted his hair. Then Alex could see Kai walking over and he sat down next to him. 'Hey,' he said quietly. Alex stared at him, 'I just wanted to tell you that I'm really sorry,' he looked at Alex and took a deep breath, 'I had no idea this was going to turn so nasty.' He offered him his hand. Alex was unsure. His eyes were looking for Tom, who was speaking to Winter on the other side of the changing room. They both caught his eye and nodded at him encouragingly when they saw Kai's outstretched hand. Alex took a deep breath and finally shook it reluctantly, still feeling angry about it all, 'thank you,' Kai smiled at him, 'you must hate me.' He laughed nervously. 'Too right.' Alex thought to himself. 'Believe me I want nothing more than for Tommy to be happy. And you clearly are doing a very good job at that.' He smiled at him. Alex turned gentler and smiled back at him mischievously. 'As long as you now just keep your big mouth shut please.' Kai laughed and nodded. 'Absolutely!' He got up and patted Alex’s shoulder as he walked off.

It was almost time for the second half when Tom slouched down next to Alex on the bench. 'And?' He looked at Alex expectantly. 'I still don't like him,' Alex mumbled and Tom laughed out loud and grabbed his friend's head pinning it down under his arm, 'get off me!' Alex protested chuckling. 'Time to focus boys!', Winter shouted and clapped his hands, 'I want to see some results out there!' The boys giggled at each other and got in line to march back onto the pitch.

Alex tried to put his manager's strategy into practice and kept working hard at creating chances. Then Tom passed him the perfect ball and Alex could see Kai ahead of him in an ideal position. He sprinted forward, fought to keep the ball and passed it to Kai, who confidently hit the back of the net. Alex could hear Tom's cheers behind him as they ran towards Kai and celebrated the goal with him. Tom joined in and Alex could tell his friend was not only relieved about them having scored as a team but to see Alex and Kai laugh, cheer and hug.

The match ended 1-0 and the team applauded their fans thanking them for their support that evening. Tom and Alex walked off the pitch together wearing their opponents' shirts chatting and giggling. Alex couldn't remember a time when it hadn't been this way. Only that it felt even more special now.