IDIOSYNCRASY // Soccer

Ch. 10

"Alright, Ladies! Although we haven't had our first practice yet. I have already chosen the captain. Now, I have chosen this person because they are simply talented. Give it up for Parker Elliot!" Coach yells.

I clap slowly for Parker. I felt disappointed in myself. Why didn't I get to be captain. Calm down, Char. Its not the same anymore. It is what it is. I have to get off my high horse. I forgot about my place here.

"But.." Coach trails off. "Things are a little different this year. This season, there is a Co Captain. I have chose this person not because of their background. But their talent from God. Sometimes I am sure that this person is better than Parker. Drumroll please." Teammates start to pat their legs as Coach pauses. "Charlotte Evans."

My frown turns into a smile. I made it! I stand next to Coach and Parker. Coach gave us our Captain bands. The Captain bands had three colored stripes, blue, green, and red. Personally, I still think the colors do not go well with each other,

Then, Coach began to say the names and the position. As If he thinks we didn't memorize who was on the team. First, he gave Parker and I our jerseys. I was number nine. Then, he gave the midfielders their jerseys. Bryson, Matthew, Chris, and Will. Unfortunately, Dylan didn't make it. He was trying out for forward. But everyone's positions stayed the same. The only new player was me. The only reason being the last forward graduated already. After, Coach gave our defenders the jerseys next. Tommy, Andrew, Noah, and Liam.

"Lets warm up, shall we?" Coach says. Warm ups went well, I guess. It was like any other day. We stretch, and thats basically it. Who am I kidding? That was only a slither of what we do. Practice is ninety minutes. Coach says if professionals could do it in ninety minutes, we could too.

"From try outs, I noticed everyone's dribbling and shooting is a bit... horrible. Now, I want you to all see how Evans does it." Coach says. I look up at him, feeling embarrassed. Is this why he put me on the team? To be his demonstrator?

"In close measures, you need to power through the whole field. Lets see Evans do it." Coach says. He hands me a ball and I go to the end of the field.

Coach blows his whistle, indicating I should start. I breathe before I push the ball forward. "Mid fielder in front of you!" Coach says. I pass the ball to myself, pushing the ball to the side. "Defender to the right!" I imagine the guy coming straight for the ball. I fake a left and step over the ball with my right foot. After the ball is under my left foot, I continue dribbling with the outside of my left foot. I could practically see the confusion in their faces. I continue to push the ball forward, waiting for Coach to direct me more. But he never did, it was getting close to the goal and I started to slow down.

"Shoot!" Coach commands. On reflex, I immediately square my shoulders towards the goal and kick. Following through, I watch the ball hit the net. "Good job, kid."

I stare at my teammates. The looks on their faces are unbearable. Disgust, Jealousy. I could hear them in their heads. Saying how much Coach favorites me. I step back in line with them, and look directly at Coach.

"Now, we all know that Evans came from our State Rivals. That means they know every single one of her moves. What is the point? The point is, we gotta teach her new tricks and skills." Coach says. Oh great, they are going to make me into them. Now they will actually beat us.

"I will set up the cones and we will work on your control over the ball." Coach says. We take a seat on the bleachers. The team waits for Coach as he places each and every one of the cones. I don't even have to look at them to see them biting their tongues. They weren't speaking, no one.

"If you want to say something about me, say it." I say sharply. Silence. Silence was the response I got. I huff in frustration.

"So, we have two favorites now?" Chris says.