Axel's Daisy

41 • Axel

  This morning was extremely important to me. As soon as I woke up to the sound of my alarm, I dashed to the bathroom. I felt unstoppable, not because I had slept early, but because I had a game tonight.

  It was the final game before the championship, the game that would determine our whole future. I felt a burst of energy as I waltzed into the bathroom and got ready for the day.

  After the ordeal yesterday, Brady and I spent the rest of the night studying new tactics for the match today—I couldn't sit still. My excitement bubbled up like a shaken soda can, and my heart did a victory dance of its own in my chest. Each breath came quick and eager, charged with anticipation for the upcoming football game.

  Brady yelled at me to get downstairs for breakfast, and my stomach complained in return. I raced down the stairs and jumped the last three steps in my shorts and a white shirt.

  He had done a great job with breakfast. The table was set with mixed greens, crunchy grilled cheese with basil toasts, and fresh orange juice.

  "You should drop football and become a housewife."

  "Thinking about it," he teased back, and we had a good laugh once we sat down to devour the big breakfast.

  I shoved two toasts in one go—my hidden talent—and Brady choked on his Greek salad when he witnessed my skill before downing it with water.

  "How are you feeling about the game tonight?" he asked. I could tell by the way he fidgeted that he was nervous.

  "We are going to get that trophy and that offer," I said, my voice radiating confidence. We bumped fists before finishing breakfast.

  We scrolled through our phones. Mine burst with words of encouragement from our team group chat. Of course, Alex had to add a peach emoji next to "we are going to kick some..." and Reign sent a panda dance GIF. I muted the notifications, and Brady chortled as he showed me a video of fangirls with our faces on a bunch of old-age warriors, since our team name was ironically, The Warriors.

•••

  "No distractions; today is going to be a tough one. Those aren't the Beavers, those are the Leafs we're talking about," Coach Landon declared as he paced in front of us.

  "You need to remember our perfected tactic, The Verrou tactic. We can do it; we are closer than you think. We are the Warriors; we never give up. We conquer and strive for the best. Let's show them what we've got." I motivated the team as Coach Landon placed his hand on my shoulder in confidence. I nodded at him as everyone strapped on their chin guards, getting ready for the rough practice.

  Brady slipped in a text, mostly to Jade, as he hid his phone in the bag and ran to us when we went into formation.

  As the sun dipped low, casting long shadows across the field, the air hummed with anticipation. The football field, a patchwork of green underfoot, echoed with the rhythmic thud of cleats on turf. Coach Landon was ruthless as he barked commands that cut through the crisp evening air like a conductor's baton.

  Amidst it all, the chatter of strategy and camaraderie floated like a steady undercurrent. Voices melded into a symphony of encouragement and correction, each player striving to hone their skills and elevate their game. The symphony reached its crescendo with each snap, the culmination of countless hours of practice distilled into fleeting moments of perfection.

  It was time. I texted Destiny, and she notified me that she was with Jade among the crowd. We hadn't texted much today due to our dedication to the game.

  As the last rays of daylight retreated beyond the horizon, the field remained illuminated not just by floodlights, but by the passion that burned brightly in every player's heart. Football practice wasn't just training—it was a crucible where raw talent was forged into something greater than the sum of its parts.