by Alex Morgan
Mom laughed. “That doesn’t surprise me, Devin.”
Mom dropped me off at the Carmella College athletic field a little before the eight-thirty check-in time. Jessi met me at the gate, and I noticed that most of the other Kicks were milling around the check-in table, including my co-captain, Grace, who smiled and waved.
“Are you ready to rock this soccer clinic?” Jessi asked, bouncing up and down with excitement.
“Let’s show them what the Kicks have got!” I said.
After check-in one of the players from the Carmella Cougars instructed us to head onto the field for warm-ups. As we jogged, I glanced around at the other players who had shown up. I didn’t see Sasha or anyone else I recognized as being from the Roses.
The Cougars player had us line up and start jumping jacks. Emma and Zoe lined up on my right, and Jessi and Frida stood on my left. I glanced over at Emma and Zoe, and they looked perfectly normal. I guess their fight is all over with, I thought.
A minute later Sasha and ten of her teammates ran onto the field and started warming up with everybody else. Sasha waved, and called, “Hi, Devin!”
I waved back as I continued my jumping jacks. I was glad to see that she and some of the other Roses had made it.
After more jumping jacks, some squats, and a jog around the field, another soccer player named A.J. came out to teach us some tactical drills.
Emma nudged me with her elbow. “He’s supercute, don’t you think?” she whispered.
I shrugged. He was okay, I guess, medium height with curly dark hair and brown eyes. But I was more interested in what he was saying!
“When you do tactical drills, you think ahead about where and when you are going to take your shots,” A.J. explained. “You anticipate what the other team is going to do. You make sure you are always using your peripheral vision. And above all, you need to all be on the same page as a team.”
We did some passing and receiving drills before A.J. broke us up into teams for a scrimmage. I noticed that the Roses players were quiet, focused, and intent on learning. They definitely seemed to be on the same page!
After the scrimmage, A.J. had us run even more tactical drills. Next we moved on to technical training with a young woman named Elle. We worked on attack, defense, juggling, and more.
“Four!” Jessi yelled as she kicked the ball and launched it over my head. We both started giggling. We were learning a lot but also having fun.
I noticed Sasha working on a defensive passing drill with her teammates. There were no wisecracks or loud laughs. The Roses were concentrating and taking everything in.
Sasha passed the ball to one of the other Roses, slipping it agilely across the defender who was trying to block her. Her teammate scored, and then I saw them both smile before slapping palms. The soccer clinic seemed like it was helping the Roses a lot!
I felt like I was learning a lot too. After the technical drills were over, we took a water and snack break while we got a lecture about nutrition for athletes.
Frida sat there, nodding her head as if she’d been eating like a health-food fanatic her entire life, not just for the last two weeks.
“Wouldn’t you recommend almond milk over cow’s milk?” she asked the lecturer.
Jessi nudged me and whispered into my ear, “It wasn’t too long ago that she was begging me for some of my hot Cheetos!”
I laughed. Frida never did anything just a little bit. She always dove in completely, and headfirst. So this new attitude about food and nutrition didn’t surprise me.
After the lecture two players from the women’s team took over—Kim and Julia.
“We’re going to do some mini-tournament play,” Kim told us. “Line up. We’ll be counting off the teams by four.”
Grace, the Kicks’ co-captain, nudged me. “Let’s line up so the Kicks stick together,” she said in a low voice, and I nodded. There was some chaos as all of the players got in line, because other girls were trying to do the same thing with their teams.
We quickly grabbed the blue jerseys to slip over our shirts, and we faced the yellow team for fifteen minutes of play. When the round ended, we’d won, 5–2.
Next we faced the red team, which was made up of Sasha and some of the girls from the Roses.
“This oughta be easy,” Grace said to me with a grin, but we were in for a surprise.
The chaotic and frenzied Roses had become focused and energized. We had to hustle to stay on top, and we won the match by only one goal. When the game was over, Sasha ran up to me and fist-bumped me.
“This was a great idea, Devin. Thanks,” she said. “I feel like we’re getting better already!”
“You are,” I agreed. “You’re doing great!”
Grace was nearby, and I saw her shake her head. Then she walked over to her friend Megan and started whispering. I could tell that Grace was upset. I didn’t care. I wanted to focus on the clinic and not get into drama.
After lunch we got to participate in a really fun shooting game before working on more techniques. It was a soccer fanatic’s dream day, and I loved every second of it.
As we were getting ready to leave, Sasha came over to me again.
“Devin!” She gave me a hug. “Thank you for all of your help! We had an awesome week of practices. Coach Flores must have given Coach Doyle some tips. We did all new drills, and Coach Doyle said she’s going to do everything she can to help get us a win. And it’s all thanks to you!”
“No problem!” I said. “I’m glad I could help.”
Sasha grinned. “Now you’ve got to be on your toes the next time you play us. We are in it and ready to win it!”
“Bring it!” I said. “I always want to play against the best. It makes me a better player. But the Roses will have to make the play-offs if you’re going to face us again.”
“We’re working on it,” Sasha said confidently. “Thanks again, and see you later!”
She waved and walked off, and I went to find Jessi because her mom was supposed to be picking us up. I walked past Grace, who was whispering with all the eighth-grade Kicks now and not just Megan. Grace looked right at me so I knew they were talking about me.
Jessi walked over. “Something’s up,” she said. “You’d better talk to Grace.”
I sighed. Grace and I had had some rough times in the past. I’d thought that was all behind us. But it looked like something new was brewing. Honestly, I had no idea what Grace was upset about now—but I was about to find out!
Chapter Seven
“Fine. I’ll talk to her,” I said to Jessi.
“You need backup?” Jessi asked.
“No. You need to look out for your mom,” I replied. “If you see her, tell her I’ll just be a minute.”
“NP,” Jessi said, and she darted off.
I moved toward Grace and the eighth graders. Grace was the tallest of the group, and she was both a great player and a cool, calm leader. She was with Megan, her best friend; Jade and Zarine. Zarine and I had played together on the winter team, the Griffons, and we had become pretty friendly.
I don’t like confrontation, but I didn’t want anything to jeopardize the great season the Kicks were having. So I went on the offensive. (But in a nice way.)
“Grace, I’m wondering if there’s a problem?” I asked. “You seem upset about something.”
Grace fixed her blue eyes on me. “Yes, I am,” she said. “We were wondering why you are helping another team.”
“You mean the Roses?” I asked. I knew she had heard Sasha talking to me.
“Yes, the Roses,” Grace said. “Did you tell them about this clinic?”
“Well, yeah, but the clinic is open to everybody,” I pointed out.
“But they wouldn’t have come if you hadn’t told them about it,” Megan chimed in.
I thought about it. “No, I guess not.”
“That’s what I mean, Devin. The Roses are our rivals,” Grace said. “Why would you help one of our opponents?”
/> I felt my face getting flushed. Grace was being totally unreasonable!
“Well, first of all, the Roses are in last place right now,” I said. “We’ve already played them, and we won’t play them again unless they get to the play-offs, which is unlikely. And second of all, isn’t it just, you know, good sportsmanship?”
“That makes sense,” Zarine said in a small voice, but Grace didn’t take her eyes off me. Her face softened a little, though.
“Listen, Devin, I know you’re a nice person,” she said, “but maybe you’re being too nice. Like, aren’t you also friends with Jamie of the Rams? After all she did to us?”
Jamie was the captain of the Riverdale Rams. In the fall her team had messed with our equipment and stuff to try to get us to lose, which was a pretty serious thing to do. But I’d gotten to know Jamie on the Griffons, and I’d realized that she wasn’t a bad person, just a person who, for complicated reasons, had an intense need to win.
“I wouldn’t say we’re friends,” I answered. “I mean, we’re friendly. But what does that have to do with anything?”
Megan made a humph noise.
“What?” I asked.
“It’s just, I’ve seen you and Jamie hanging out, and being friendly at the games and stuff,” Megan replied.
“So what?” I asked.
“You’re our co-captain, Devin,” Grace answered for Megan. “Your loyalty should be to the Kicks.”
“I am loyal to the Kicks!” I protested, my voice rising.
“Then stop helping the Roses,” Megan said. “We were in last place once too, remember? And we made it all the way to the finals. The Roses could still do that too.”
At that moment Jessi ran up. “Mom says if she doesn’t get a chicken taco in five minutes, she’s going to freak out. You done?”
“Yes,” I said, and I jogged away with Jessi, shaking my head.
“What was that all about?” Jessi asked as we climbed into her mom’s car.
“You’re not going to believe this,” I said, and I told her everything that had happened.
“Seriously?” she replied. “No way. But wait—did you help the Roses?”
“Well, Sasha came over the other day when I was drilling with Maisie, and we talked,” I admitted. Jessi raised an eyebrow, but I continued. “The Roses were having the same problem with their coach that we had with Coach Flores. So I talked to Coach Flores for them, and she talked to Coach Doyle, and . . .”
“Does Grace know all of this?” Jessi asked.
“No,” I replied. “All she knows is that I told them about the clinic.”
“Then make sure she doesn’t,” Jessi said.
“Why? I didn’t do anything wrong,” I said. Then it hit me. “Do you think I did something wrong?”
“No—I mean, not really,” Jessi answered. “I think you were just being nice. But maybe it’s a tiny bit weird that you’re helping another team so much. Even one in last place.”
Jessi’s mom chimed in from the front seat, and I realized she had been listening the whole time. I also realized that we had come to a stop in front of Taco Barn.
“I think Devin is exhibiting good sportsmanship,” Mrs. Dukes said. “Now, I am going inside to get tacos. You two can join me if you want, or you can keep talking.”
“She’s pretty cranky these days,” Jessi whispered to me as we got out of the car and followed her mom. “I think it has something to do with carrying a tiny human around in her belly all the time.”
“It has everything to do with that!” Mrs. Dukes called back to us.
“Wow, Mom. Does pregnancy make your hearing better too?” Jessi teased.
Her mom sighed. “That might be the only thing it makes better. Now let’s get your baby sibling a taco.”
A few minutes later the three of us were eating chicken tacos with guac and chips and queso. The food was delicious, but I was feeling pretty down.
“I just don’t need tension with the eighth graders again,” I said. “It’s like A.J. said. We need to be on the same page as a team.”
Jessi nodded. “Yeah, that’s true,” she said. “At least Emma and Zoe aren’t fighting anymore. Can you imagine? It would be like a tsunami of Kicks drama.”
“No kidding,” I agreed, and then my phone beeped with a text from Sasha.
Good luck on ur game tomorrow! Maybe we can drill again soon?
I stared at the words, not sure what to reply. I liked Sasha, and I wanted to help her. But could I help her and still be loyal to the Kicks?
“Who was that?” Jessi asked.
“No one,” I said, and I put the phone facedown on the table.
Chapter Eight
On Sunday morning Mom, Dad, Maisie, and I headed to the Victorton Middle School soccer field. In the fall season we had lost to the Victorton Eagles once, and then beaten them the next time we’d faced them.
Dad parked the minivan, and I stepped out onto the bright, sunny field. When we’d left the house, the temperature had been 87 degrees, and it was only supposed to get hotter. Mom was already fanning herself with her hand.
“Ugh, another heat wave,” she complained. “I thought it was always supposed to be a perfect seventy-two degrees in Southern California?”
“It’s not that hot,” Dad said. “And anyway, would you rather be scraping ice off your car windows every morning for months on end? Isn’t this better?”
“Some ice sounds pretty nice right now,” she said. “I’m going to go set up my camp chair.”
The Victorton soccer field had only one small set of rickety bleachers on the opposing team’s side, so most people who came to see the game brought camp chairs with them. Mom’s was fancy, with a canvas canopy on top, because she loved the shade.
I jogged out onto the field to meet up with the team. We had twenty girls on the Kicks roster, because Coach didn’t cut anyone who wanted to play. Then she subbed out players during the game. But it looked like there was a bunch of girls missing.
“Is everyone late?” I asked Jessi.
She shook her head. “No. Coach says there’s some stomach bug going around. Hailey, Brianna, Jade, Gabriela, Taylor, Alandra, and Olivia are all sick and can’t play.”
My eyes got wide. “All of them?”
Jessi nodded. “Yeah. That leaves us with only, like, three subs,” she said.
Hailey, Brianna, and Taylor were some of our strongest offensive players, and Jade was great on defense. But we still had plenty of strong players left.
“We should be fine,” I said.
Jessi shrugged. “Let’s see.”
“Girls, form a circle!” Coach Flores cried. “We’re going to try a new drill.”
Curious, I jogged into place. I was always excited to learn something new.
“Grace and Devin, I want you in the middle,” Coach Flores said.
I walked into the center of the circle, glancing at Grace. She avoided eye contact with me.
Coach kicked a ball to Zoe, and one to Giselle.
“Giselle, you’re going to pass the ball to Devin. Devin will pass it to Grace. Grace will pass it to someone else in the circle. While she’s doing that, Zoe will pass her ball to Devin, and then we’ll keep going,” she said.
Emma raised her hand. “Um, could you please explain that again?”
“If you’re in the circle and you have the ball, you pass to Devin,” Coach said. “Devin will always pass to Grace. And Grace will pass to anyone she wants to in the circle. And then you keep repeating.”
“Like singing a song in the round,” Frida said.
Coach grinned. “Exactly!” she said. “Let’s see you do it.”
I was a little confused too, but then I realized that all I had to do was catch each pass sent to me, and then pass to Grace. I turned to Giselle.
“Let’s go!” I called out, and Giselle passed the ball to me. It skidded to the left, and I chased after it and sent it to Grace. Then Zoe sent a pass hurtling toward me, a kick that bounce
d off the grass and went high, so I had to chase after that one too.
That was some drill! It was fun, but hardest for the two people in the middle of the circle. Coach must have had us do it for a full five minutes before she put Jessi and Megan in the middle. I ran to take my place in the circle, bathed in sweat.
“That was intense!” I said to Grace, who was next to me.
Grace didn’t say anything. She was obviously giving me the silent treatment. I wanted to scream. Drama and soccer just did not mix!
We finished the drill, and I splashed some water from the cooler onto my face. A few others did the same. I still hadn’t cooled off by the time the game started.
The first half of the game was totally frustrating! The Kicks would get the ball into the Eagles midfield, and then the Eagles would get the ball from us and take it into our midfield, and the ball kept going back and forth like that like a volleyball. We couldn’t get the ball into goal range, and neither could they.
I’m not sure what the Eagles’ problem was, but I think I knew what was wrong with the Kicks—the heat combined with the lack of subs. Frida’s curly hair looked like limp noodles, and although she yelled, “I am the sacred guardian of the volcano!” several times, you could hear that her heart wasn’t in it.
In the second half Coach subbed in Anjali for Frida, replaced Zoe with Anna, and put Zarine in for Emma on goal. Everyone else had to stay in. Within the first three minutes one of the Eagles got the ball past Giselle, one of our tired defenders, and then kicked it right past Zarine into the net. I noticed that the Eagles player wasn’t sweating at all, and I figured that she had spent the whole first half on the bench. Or maybe she was a lizard. I wasn’t sure, because even my pink headband was not stopping the sweat from dripping into my eyes.
I knew I had to stop focusing on being hot. Instead I had to focus on getting past the Eagles defense. There had to be a way.
And then I found one. Jessi passed the ball to me, and I stopped it with my chest. Two Eagles immediately ran up to me, so I got rid of it quickly, passing it forward to Grace. Then I ran up to meet Grace as the Eagles swarmed her.
