My Goalkeeping System

Chapter 20 Getting Somewhere

<You know you could have kept that out if you had used your skill, double jump>

'I was so keen on trying to focus on the ball that didn't come to my mind.' Dave replied as he slowly got up from the floor.

<No you were under pressure and that's one of the main causes of your mistakes>

"Hey, you did great," Clark said, walking up to him with a smile on his face. "But I guess we should have started with level one."

"Wait, what level was that?" Dave asked.

"Level two," Clark replied. "But keeping three out of eight shots at this level is a good start."

"No it's not Clark, I'm a professional goalkeeper, this shouldn't be so hard for me," Dave said before walking past him heading towards the door.

Emma expected the meal table to be quite lively with the two men talking about testing out the ball blaster and the other pieces of equipment in the garage but what she was seeing now was the opposite.

The table was abnormally quiet with Dave saying nothing to her and Clark not trying to raise any conversations.

Emma knew her boyfriend very well to know when things weren't exactly okay with him and judging by the fact that he had not said anything to her since they started eating breakfast, he knew there was something wrong.

"What is wrong with you two? Did you guys have a beef out there?" Emma asked, finally letting out the question.

"A beef? You know I can never have a beef with Dave." Clark quickly said in defense.

"Then what happened, you two have been acting strange since you returned from testing out the ball blaster?" Emma said.

There was no response from the two as Clark turned his gaze to Dave who was looking down at his plate now.

"He's upset that he was only able to keep out three balls out of eight in level two of the ball blaster." Clark finally said.

"Really?" Emma said, turning her gaze to Dave. "That's why you're acting like this?"

"I'm a professional goalkeeper Emma, something like this shouldn't be hard for me," Dave said, raising his gaze to look at her.

"I know you're a professional goalkeeper but these equipment were bought to help you improve not make you feel sad," Emma said.

"That machine has five levels and look how poorly I did at level two," Dave said.

"You didn't do poorly bro, you kept out three balls," Clark said.

"Those were easy saves, I couldn't keep out the tough ones and it's still a failure since I wasn't able to keep out at least half of the balls," Dave said.

<I think your main reason for being like this is the fact that you weren't able to complete the quest>

"Why are you taking this so seriously man, it's not a champions league final?" Clark said. "It was only a training practice and just like Emma said that blaster was bought to improve you not put you in this state after one try."

There was a little moment of silence in the room as Emma kept her gaze on him for a while before deciding to say something.

"Many people in different career fields didn't start their career on a high note but with determination and hard work, they were able to get somewhere." She said,

"She's right," Clark said.

"Feeling sad just because you think you performed poorly in a training session won't get you anywhere," Emma said.

"I'm not feeling sad, I'm just disappointed," Dave said.

"That still won't get you anywhere," Emma said. "I've told you to stop thinking of yourself this way Dave, you have the talent and skills you just need a few ingredients to spark up things and you just bought a whole lot of those ingredients today."

"Yeah man cheer up, you're still at the starting point of your career," Clark said.

"My career started three years ago," Dave said.

"Yeah but a footballer who's twenty-one years old is still at the starting point of his career," Clark said.

"He's right Dave and you know that," Emma said. "I would love to see a smile on your face please." She said but there was no response from him.

"Won't you smile for me, baby?" She said, blinking her adorable eyes.

Dave tried to hold it in but he couldn't do it for long as a smile had appeared on his face and that smile was quickly followed by a little chuckle.

"Well, that even worked on me." Clark said with a smile on his face.

After having their breakfast, Clark helped Dave move some of the gym equipment to a room upstairs to create space to use the ones in the garage, and now it was time for Clark to leave.

"I'll see you around then," Clark said as he stood at the entrance.

"Yeah, thanks for your help," Dave said.

"Bye Emma." Clark said with a little wave.

"Bye Clark," Emma said from where she was standing.

Dave watched Clark walk out of the area before he closed the door and turned to Emma.

He stood there and stared at her for a while before he slowly walked to her and wrapped his hands around her waist as she placed her hands on her shoulders.

"So what did you want to tell me before Clark arrived?" He asked, staring into her eyes.

"I thought you had already forgotten about that by now," Emma said.

"Well, I'm still worried about what it may be and it's not easy to forget something that gets me worried about you,," Dave said.

"I told you it was nothing to worry about," Emma said.

"Then what is it?" Dave asked.

"I told you I was just here for the weekend right?" Emma said.

"Yeah but I don't want you to leave," Dave replied.

"Well, I'm not," Emma said.

"Huh?" Dave said with a confused expression on his face.

"I have an appointment tomorrow, an appointment with Unique City publishing company. I applied for the position of a reporter." Emma said.

"Really? If you get the job that means..."

"I'll have to move in with you." She said with a smile.

"That would be great, you're definitely going to get that job," Dave said.

"I hope so," Emma said.

"You'll get it for sure," Dave said, giving her a kiss. "You know I won't be here tonight because we'll be heading to Spree to settle down for the game tomorrow."

"I know, I can handle myself," Emma said with a smile.

"I know you can," Dave said, letting go of her. "I'm going to the garage to spend two hours of my time, hope you won't miss me that much?"

"I definitely won't," Emma said as she walked to the couch and grabbed the remote control. "Because I would be watching a very long episode of my favorite soap opera."

"Shouldn't you be preparing for your interview tomorrow instead?" Dave asked.

"I've already done that." Emma said.

"Okay," Dave said heading towards the door. "I am surely not going to miss you."

"Yeah, me too," Emma said, turning the television on.

<It's just two hours, the both of you have been away from each other for a way longer time than this>

'I don't think you understand what sarcasm is, Catherine.' Dave replied after walking out of the house.

<Of course I do>

____ ____

Dave was running on the treadmill as he was in the final minutes of his two hours of working out.

He had started with the treadmill before moving to the other equipment and now he was ending his workout session with the treadmill.

"Just one minute." He said with a panting voice as he checked the time on his watch.

It didn't take long for the one minute to come to an end as he reached for the treadmill's controls and turned it off.

[ Daily quest complete ]

[ Spend two hours in the gym ]

[ Quest rewards ]

[ +20 exp ]

[ All stats have received a +1 boost ]

<Now you're getting somewhere>

****

Hope you enjoyed the chapter?

A few power stones and golden tickets would really be appreciated.