I had last seen Lukas on Saturday morning at football practice in Mildmay Park, the day before Mum had VANISHED INTO THIN AIR. Lukas was playing, I was watching. Football is more of a spectator sport to me. I’m not very good at any form of activity that involves moving objects hurtling towards me at lightning speed.

Lukas is the star striker of the local under 15’s. Unfortunately, NEIL THE SCHOOL BULLY is also a striker on the team and is often known to barge Lukas out of the way in order to try to CLAIM ALL THE GLORY at the LAST MINUTE. Even though they are meant to be on the SAME SIDE.

Luckily, Lukas isn’t even slightly afraid of Neil and usually manages to keep hold of the ball under the most adverse circumstances and still holds the record for the highest number of goals scored this season. MUCH TO NEIL’S ANNOYANCE.

This Saturday was no different from any other. Just as Lukas had managed to tackle a lanky midfielder from the away team and was running down the left side of the pitch, hurtling past their defenders who looked UTTERLY GOBSMACKED as he shot past them, Neil dashed across the playing field to try and STEAL THE BALL and LUKAS’S THUNDER at the same time.

Even with Neil holding on tightly to his shirt, hanging off him like a FERAL MONKEY WITH RABIES, Lukas still kept hold of the ball, struggling his way into the box, and SCORED THE WINNING GOAL.

That just shows how amazing Lukas is at both FOOTBALL and TRIUMPHING OVER SEVERE ADVERSITY. He really is THE BRAVEST PERSON I know.

‘Yes! Go Lukas,’ I cheered, loud enough to really wind up Neil and show Lukas how proud I was that he was MY BEST FRIEND at the same time.

‘Thanks,’ Lukas shouted as he ran across the field to high five me. Or as I thought he was running over to high five me.

In actual fact what happened was that I raised my hand enthusiastically into the air like I had a spare arm and watched in TOTAL DISBELIEF as Lukas sailed past me to high five the person standing next to me.

I was left looking like a TOTAL WALLY, and you’ll never guess who Lukas was high fiving instead of me? It was only NERDY NORA, the TOTAL SWOT from my Tuesday afternoon English class, the one who always knows all the answers to ABSOLUTELY EVERYTHING and isn’t afraid to show off it.

I hadn’t the slightest clue that they even knew each other. I wondered when they had become SUCH GOOD FRIENDS. I obviously hadn’t been paying enough attention and it wasn’t the type of thing Lukas would casually drop into conversation. He can be pretty shy when he’s not on the football field.

By the time I had started to recover my wits, Lukas was already heading back across the pitch to celebrate with the rest of the team. I made a mental note to ask him about Nora after the game was over.

After football, we went back to Lukas’s house to play on his PS4. Thankfully, I am much better at computer games than actual physical exercise.

‘You were amazing at football this morning,’ I said. ‘I can’t believe how brave you were standing up to Neil like that.’

‘It was nothing,’ Lukas replied, stoic as ever. ‘You have to stand up to people like him. You can’t let the bullies win.’

It was easy for Lukas. Even though he was clever and wore glasses and looked a bit geeky, everyone at school RESPECTED HIM. Not just because of his mad football skills but because he didn’t take ANYTHING from ANYONE. Not even Neil.

‘I wish I could stand up to him the way you do,’ I replied, sighing as I thought about having to deal with Neil again on Monday morning when we got to school. ‘He just makes me so nervous.’

‘Forget about Neil. He’s not worth your time,’ Lukas said. ‘Let’s concentrate on killing some husks.’

‘OK.’

I knew I could park my worries about Neil temporarily and enjoy playing Fortnite with Lukas for now, but I also knew you couldn’t solve a problem by PUTTING IT OFF FOREVER even if you wanted to. Neil would still be there, waiting for me, on Monday.

That’s when I remembered about Nora and what had happened at football earlier that day. I was about to ask Lukas how he knew her so well but I was DISTRACTED by his avatar making a sneaky attempt to try and KILL MINE.

As I made a hasty recovery and tried to defend myself, we were LOCKED IN DEADLY COMBAT for the rest of the afternoon and by the time we had finished playing, it was almost five o’clock and I had to run home or I’d be LATE FOR DINNER.