Tyler stepped forwards, pacing himself on the shortly cropped grass. He rubbed the toes of his boots into the ground and felt his studs tear the earth. He twisted his neck from side to side and listened to it crack from the stress he was currently under. He flipped the ball in his hands into the air then slammed both hands into the side of it, making a loud slapping sound.

He bent over and placed the ball lightly on the ground, spinning it slightly before him onto the white dot that marked where he was to take his kick from. He looked up at his target, searching for any kind of opening. Something that would show him what to do. The whole season was coming down to this one kick.

He straightened his back again and looked back at where his team mates stood at the halfway line. They looked as nervous as he felt. All the effort the whole team had put in for the last five months was coming down to one little kick.

He paced slowly backwards, away from the ball, away from the goals that were his target. He kept his eyes focused on the ball. He didn't want the goal keeper distracting him as he was thinking. Though at the top of his vision he could see the goalie testing his gloves and planting his feet.

The game had ended in regulation time with one goal each, forcing it into overtime. Even overtime hadn't separated the two teams, with neither of them scoring. With this being the final for the season, the top two teams in the league facing off with each other to decide who is worthy of wearing the crown of victory, the game had gone into penalties.

David, Terry and Gavin had all come before him, placing the ball squarely in the back of the net. Only Dennis had missed his shot, the goalie getting his fingers to it and pushing it into the post. Dennis had been devastated. But it had been all good. Scott had saved two of the oppositions goals, out of their five attempts. This rested the entire match squarely on Tyler's shoulders now.

He was ready though, he had trained long and hard for a moment like this. It was the kind of moment that would define him as a player. He bounced on his feet for a moment, waiting for the referee to blow his whistle signalling that he could take his shot. The screech of the whistle came.

Tyler started off slowly, then moved quicker and quicker, getting to running speed in the few short steps he had before he reached the ball. His left foot planted just to the side of the ball, and the goalie crouched a little. His right foot swung down, toes pointed at the earth, arms swinging to keep his balance. His foot connected with the ball.

It seemed to happen in slow motion to Tyler and everyone watching. The ball absorbed the impact, squashing into a funny oval shape before exploding in the direction of the goals with a force unequalled. It span in a blur and was heading straight for the goalie. But then it started to lift and slide off to the right. The goalie sprang from his feet, his hands reaching out for the ball, stretching and hoping, knowing this was his moment to shine too.

But he had been a little too slow to react and the ball entered the goals and stood spinning in the top right corner of the net before slowing and settling on the ground with a few bounces. Tyler looked stunned for a moment, then raised his arms before him in victory, crying out his triumph and turning to face his team.

They started running down the pitch towards him, screaming with him, their voices all merging into a roar. They reached him and lifted him into the air for a few moments before dropping him unceremoniously to his feet again. They clasped hands and knocked shoulders to each other in turn, rubbing some of the younger players on the head, smiles all around. Their hard work had now paid off.

The referee blew the whistle, signalling the goal and the end of the game. Their opponents walked dejectedly off the field towards the dressing rooms while Tyler and his team were swamped by the crowd that was watching them play. It wasn't a huge crowd, not like an English Premier league final. But the University Cup also pulled a crowd. Almost the whole University had stopped to watch them play. It was the first time in many a year that the Emerald University had been in the top eight, let alone the final. It was a joyous day.

Slowly they made their way back to the dressing rooms, pushing through the crowd of students. The dressing rooms were a plain affair, a brick walled room, a few showers, and a bench around the wall. Their bags were piled everywhere and everyone went off to sit at one part or another of the bench.

“Was worried he had you there Ty,” David called from across the other side of the room, “He nearly got his fingers to it.”

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Tyler looked up at him as he dropped a sweat drenched sock onto the floor next to his worn out boots.

“Ah, he had no chance. You know you can count on me.” He let out a huge grinned and looked around the room.

Jeremy nudged him in the side with an elbow from next to him on the bench.

“But you've got Scotty to thank for making that final save to give you the winning kick.”

“Oh, Scotty had that all planned. I worked it out with him beforehand, letting the first three in to keep it interesting, then saving the last two to bring my final kick to the forefront. You know as well as I do that he could have saved them all.”

“Little conceited there are we Tyler?”

“Not at all, just putting the praise where it needs to be. Scotty did all the work, I just swung my foot,” his face took on a more sombre look as he looked over at Scotty who was getting ready for a shower, “But what happened with that goal of theirs? Strange for you to let one in like that. I didn't see, so it’s not my spot to call.”

“Ah, its fine Ty. Was partly my fault, partly our defenders. They shouldn't have let the bastards get so close to the goals in the first place,” Scotty turned and watched as all the defenders faces turned red and looked down at their dirty boots, not matching his eyes, “The ball spun oddly, I think the player miss-kicked it. I got my hand across to hit, but couldn't get a grip. And suddenly there were three of them bearing down on me, with the ball near the tips of my fingers. I didn't stand a chance.”

“No worries Scotty. Come on everyone, give it up for our keeper. Doing a bang up job all through the season. I hope he sticks around next year.” This prompted the team to let out three cheers for their keeper.

“I'll be here, don't you worry about that. But what about you Ty? Our star striker? Was there a game this season you didn't score a goal in? Will you be here next season? I think the team would be lost without you. Where would our main tactic go?” He spread his hands in the air as if rolling out a banner, “Kick the ball to Tyler.”

This let out a roar of laughter from the rest as they started one by one to get into the showers. There weren't enough for everyone, so some had to wait for others to finish before they could wash the sweat of hard work from their bodies.

Tyler dropped his head and shook it slightly.

“You know Scotty, I am not sure at the moment. Aaron is pushing the folks to make me study harder. They want me to get a degree, and he doesn't think I am working hard enough to get one. He wants me to be more like him. Damn it's hard being a twin and being so different. He's all books books books.”

“I know what you mean, but you can’t let your brother push you around like that. Move out, find a place of your own.”

“Can’t afford it. There's gotta be some way I can work around them though.”

“I am sure there is. You just need to find it”

“Damn Aaron.” Tyler slammed his hand onto the tiled wall of the shower and let the water fall over his head. He needed to come up with a way to allow him to play soccer next season. He had time to think on it though.

* * *

Aaron closed the lid of his laptop and stood up. He gently packed it back away into its case then pushed his glasses back onto his eyes properly. The game had been enjoyable to watch and he was now the last to leave after finishing the part of the assignment he was doing.

He knew his brother had some skill, and he was show classing here today. But he still had a long way to go. Aaron though, wanted so much to be out on that field, kicking and sliding and slamming into each other like the rest were. But his studies were more important at the moment. He knew where his future lie. He wished his brother could see that too.

Sydney might be a big city, with high rises and hotels and apartments and so on. But it wouldn't give him the chance to go after a soccer career, not like if he was in Europe or South America. He needed to start using his brain more, apply himself to his studies. Like Aaron had.

Aaron watched as his brother walked out of the dressing rooms surrounded by all those that were his friends. That had been one of Aaron's prices to pay. He had lost all his friends to his study. He couldn't do any of the things he used to. But he had seen at the end of high school what needed to be done. And he was now doing, reaching for that spot where he could stand firm and hold tight against what might happen.

Tyler was still flitting in the wind. But at least he was having fun doing it.