The next day, Bella woke up feeling determined. She wanted to support Donald, but the memory of their fight hung in the air. She knew he was training hard for the big game against Jake's team, and she wanted to help him focus.
At school, Bella found Sarah waiting for her at their usual spot by the lockers. "Hey! You okay?" Sarah asked, noticing Bella's worried look.
"No, I'm not! I need to talk to Donald, but I messed things up last time," Bella replied, running her fingers through her hair.
"Just be honest with him! You care about each other. It'll be fine!" Sarah encouraged, giving Bella a supportive smile.
"Yeah, but what if he gets mad again?" Bella sighed, feeling anxious.
"Then you'll work it out! Just go for it!" Sarah said, nudging her playfully. "And remember, I'm here for you!"
Bella smiled, feeling a bit better. "Thanks, Sarah. I really appreciate it."
After lunch, Bella gathered snacks, chips, energy bars, and Glucose in a big bag. She planned to surprise Donald at training. "He needs fuel for all that training," she said to herself, feeling excited.
When she arrived at the football field, the sun was shining, and she could hear the sounds of laughter and shouts from the team. Donald was already warming up with Mike and Ryan. He looked intense as he stretched, and Bella's heart raced. She wanted to show him she cared.
"Hey, everyone! I brought snacks!" Bella called out, waving her bag.
Donald turned, surprise on his face. "You didn't have to do that!"
"I wanted to! You need fuel for all that training!" Bella said, smiling brightly.
As the team gathered around, Bella handed out snacks. The mood lightened, and Donald cracked a genuine smile. "Thanks, Bella. This is awesome!" he said, grabbing a sandwich.
Mike chimed in, "Yeah, Bella! You're the best! We need you here more often!"
"Totally! Keep bringing the snacks!" Ryan added, grinning.
Just then, Jake sauntered over, leaning against the fence with a cocky grin. "Nice snacks, Bella. Too bad they won't help him win," he teased, crossing his arms.
"Shut up, Jake!" Bella shot back, feeling her anger rise. "You're just trying to mess with him!"
"Oh, come on! Just saying what's on everyone's mind," Jake replied, smirking.
"Enough! We're not letting you ruin this!" Donald shouted, his fists clenched, ready to defend.
Jake shrugged, "Whatever. Just wait for the game. You'll see who's really better."
As practice continued, Bella felt a rush of adrenaline. She cheered for Donald, hoping to keep his spirits up. "Come on, Donald! You got this!"
He glanced over and gave her a small smile, but she could see the tension in his shoulders. She wanted to reach out, to help him let go of some of that stress.
"Let's get serious, team!" Coach Harris called out, clapping his hands. "We're going to run some drills. I want everyone focused!"
As the team moved into position, Bella felt a mix of excitement and worry. She watched Donald push himself hard, running faster and practicing his shots. He was determined, but she noticed he was sweating more than usual.
"Donald, slow down! You're gonna wear yourself out!" Bella shouted from the sidelines.
"I'm fine! I have to train harder!" he yelled back, determination in his voice.
Bella felt a knot in her stomach. "What about us? I feel like you're forgetting everything else!"
"Maybe I need to focus on football right now!" Donald replied, clearly frustrated, as he jogged back to practice.
"I just want to help!" Bella shouted, feeling tears prick her eyes.
"Help? It feels more like pressure!" Donald snapped, and Bella took a step back, hurt by his words.
"Fine! If you want to train all alone, go ahead!" Bella shouted, turning away, her heart racing.
As she walked away, she felt a mix of anger and sadness. She wanted to support him, but it felt like he was shutting her out. She could hear laughter from Jake and his friends in the background, and it made her blood boil.
Later that night, Bella lay in bed, staring at the ceiling. She missed Donald so much. They had so much to figure out, but the anger between them felt like a wall. She hoped he would come around.
The next day at school, Bella decided to show Donald how much she cared. She packed even more snacks and drinks, determined to lighten the mood. She even brought some of his favorite cookies.
When she arrived at training, she spotted Donald running drills. He looked intense and focused on the task at hand. Bella's heart raced as she approached.
"Hey! I brought more snacks!" she called out, waving her bag.
Donald turned, surprised again. "You really didn't have to do this."
"I wanted to! You need to keep your energy up!" Bella said, smiling brightly.
As training continued, Bella watched Donald push himself harder. He was running faster, shooting harder. She admired his determination but felt a bit worried. Was he pushing himself too much?
"Come on, Donald! You're doing great!" Bella cheered, trying to keep the spirits high.
But as he sprinted down the field, Donald suddenly stumbled and fell, hitting the ground hard. Bella gasped and rushed over. "Donald! Are you okay?"
He sat up, looking shaken. "Yeah, I'm fine. Just tripped," he said, shaking his head.
"Maybe you need to take a break," Bella suggested, kneeling beside him.
"I can't! I have to keep pushing!" Donald said, determination in his eyes.
"Don't be stupid! You'll hurt yourself!" Bella said, feeling panic rise.
Just then, Coach Harris walked over. "What's going on here?"
"Donald fell. I think he needs a break," Bella said, glancing at Donald.
"I'm fine, Coach! I just tripped!" Donald insisted, getting back on his feet.
"Listen, Donald. You're working hard, but you need to know when to take a step back," Coach Harris said firmly. "You can't push yourself too hard."
"I know! I just want to be ready for the game," Donald replied, looking frustrated.
"Taking care of yourself is part of being ready," Coach Harris said. "Now, take a breather."
As the coach walked away, Bella turned to Donald. "See? You need to listen. We want you at your best, not risking injury."
Donald sighed, looking defeated. "I just feel like I have to prove myself."
"You already have! You don't need to prove anything to anyone, especially not Jake," Bella said, placing a hand on his shoulder.
"Yeah, I guess you're right," Donald admitted, looking down.
"Let's just focus on what's important with us," Bella said softly, hoping to break through the tension.
Just then, Mike jogged over. "Hey! You guys okay? I saw Donald fall."
"Yeah, just a little trip," Bella said, trying to lighten the mood.
"Just don't let Jake get to you, man. You're better than him!" Mike said, giving Donald a fist bump.
"Thanks, Mike," Donald said, a small smile creeping back.
As practice continued, Bella felt a renewed sense of hope. Maybe they could work through this together. But just then, her phone buzzed again. It was a message from Sarah: "I have an idea for the game day. Trust me!"
Bella's heart raced. What was Sarah planning? Would it help bring her and Donald closer? She felt a flicker of excitement. Maybe there was a way to fix everything after all.