Shoot Your Shot

I: The Quiet (Dina)

It was halftime, the crosstown rivals neck and neck, each one scrambling to overcome the other.

The Jackson wolves had made a name for themselves in recent years, and their high school team this year was a force to be reckoned with.

But then again, so were the Basin big horns.

Dina had been in soccer for as long as she could remember, her sister Talia driving her to and from practice and ensuring she kept with it, even when the going got tough. Even after Talia got sick.

She knows Talia is the reason why she continues this fight so doggedly.

Dina subconsciously reaches a hand up and wipes a bead of sweat from her brow, listening to her coach prattle on about formations and better strategy. Dina didn't want to come off as above this, but as a defender her impact was low on trying to assist scores. Her job was to return the ball upfield so the forwards could make plays.

Dina fanned herself with the collar of her orange jersey, feeling the heat of the Wyoming sun beating down on her skin as the ref blew the whistle, signaling the teams back onto the field.

Dina returned to the left side, stretching her whole body out in one fluid motion as she arrived to her starting position. She looked over to the Jackson wolves and noticed who they were putting out onto the field.

Of course they would start her on the same side.

Ellie Williams. The girl who could match Dina's competitive drive and occasionally exceed it. Dina would find it admirable if it wasn't so annoying. Since freshman year of high school, they always were direct competitors.

Ellie was well known for starting plays. Dina was well known for stopping them in their tracks.

So go figure they are put up against one another every game they play. Even during scrimmages the teams put together for charity or just practice, Dina and Ellie are right there, fighting on field like hell to get a leg up on one another.

Dina stared down at the ref, taking a deep breath in and out, closing her eyes briefly before opening them.

She could do this. She had to.

The ref blew the whistle and the ball was immediately in play, going between player after player but mostly staying up towards Jackson's side. That was until Ellie got ahold of the ball, streaking across the field and rapidly approaching Dina.

It was go time.

Dina pushed up onto the balls of her feet and sped up alongside Ellie, shouldering her towards the outside. She heard the offensive player chuckle lowly, almost maliciously as she rammed herself into Dina's shoulder, making the defender grimace in pain as Ellie's elbow connected with Dina's ribcage.

In retaliation, Dina used their sprinting momentum to lay into Ellie with her shoulder to steer her further outside to recapture the ball and send it up field.

Ellie apparently had other plans, the player dramatically toppling over like Dina had shoved her. The ref blew his whistle and Dina slowed her running to a stop to swivel and look at Ellie who had taken it upon herself to lay flat on her back like she were in a daze.

"Unnecessary roughness." The ref called out which made Dina internally roll my eyes as she walked over to Ellie, reaching her hand down to help the striker up.

"Have you considered switching to acting due to your talent in theatrics?" Dina murmured as she helped her up which made Ellie smirk at her.

"No way, who would torment you?" Ellie responded, hitting her on the back as she went which made Dina roll her eyes.