Team captain

Chapter 2: Making the Team

This could be the most important day of my soccer career and I have nothing to wear.

I had gotten up at 4:00 am because I couldn't sleep so I went to the weight room and worked out for an hour.  After my lovely workout I proceeded to take a shower and now I'm here.

I sigh and call my mom over the intercom.  Not even three minutes later, my mother barges into my room making a beeline for my closet.  She only takes 40 seconds to pick out an amazing outfit where she then continues to lead me to my vanity and apply minimal makeup while the curling iron heats up.  She adds soft curls to my hair and I stand back, taking in my appearance.

I'm wearing a black and white striped fitted shirt tucked into a maroon skater skirt, two necklaces, a black cardigan, and black pumps.

My mom ushers me out the door and I grab my Jansport backpack.  I pluck my keys from their hook on the shelf in the garage.

"Hey baby," I greet my bright blue Lamborghini Aventador. She was a present from my dad.

Climbing into the drivers seat, I turn the radio all the way up and rev the engine. I pull out of the garage and drive the 15 minutes it takes to get to school.

Heads turn towards my beautiful car when I park it in the parking lot. I swing my legs out and pull my backpack onto my shoulder.

I strut with as much confidence as I can muster to the front office, ignoring the perverted freshman's cat-calls.

"Hey honey, what can I do for you?" The old lady with salt and pepper hair asks me.

"Hi," I smile an award-winning smile. "My name is Sophia Scarlett, I'm new here."

She nods her head and types something into the computer. The printer beeps and she retrieves my schedule before handing it to me. "Thanks," I wave before stepping out into the hall full of nasty teenagers.

Giants televisions decorate a few of the walls just above the lockers.

My heels click against the tile floors as I search for my locker.

"363... 364...365!" I put in the combo and swing the metal door open. Pulling binders and textbooks from my bag and shoving them into my locker. I step away to zip my bag shut when someone slams the locker door shut.

I don't even flinch, I just look into the eyes of my attacker.

My eyebrows knit together when I see my attacker smiling at me. Her smile glistens. "Hi! My name is Lauren and we are going to be great friends!"

Her perkiness is unsettling. "Sophia."

"What's your first class?"

"Uhm," I look at the paper. "AP US History."

"Oh boo," She pouts. "I'm not in the class."

"Such a shame." Sarcasm coats my tongue.

Music echoes through the hall and all the TV's snap on to a video of the principle.

"What's happening?" I ask Lauren.

"Morning announcements. I think they're announcing the JV and Varsity soccer teams today."

I grin. The principle rumbles through the boys and girls JV teams and I'm happy to not hear my name. "So here we have the girls Varsity team: Mallory Pugh, Ina Brown, Ruby Rosetta..." As the list draws on, I start to loose hope. "And Lily Johnston."

My heart drops to my stomach, How could I not make the team? Maybe there was a mistake. They didn't even cut that girl who couldn't pass for her life.

"And now for the boys Varsity team," Names pop up on the screen accompanied by a picture of the player. "Mason Walker." Oh he's hot. "Cameron Smith, Parker Landon. And now for captains. Huh, looks like we have three this year."

Whispers erupt through the hall. Three captains? That's unheard of! "All the captains this year are juniors. Head Captain: Nolan Ryder."

A group of boys cheer. Referring to the picture that's on the screen, the one in the middle of the celebration is Nolan.

Another picture appears next to Nolan's. "Assistant captains: Carter Williams and Sophia Scarlett." My picture shows up next to Carter's.

My eyes lock on the TV making sure this wasn't some cruel practical joke. The hall goes silent before angry shouting.

My eyes stay on the TV. How did they get my model close-up? Shit, I never wanted word about that to get out.

I'm snapped back into reality when I hear angry shouts and footsteps coming my way.

Lauren has disappeared, leaving me to face the beasts by myself.

"You bitch!" I think that's Nolan.

"Nolan, leave her alone." Pretty sure that's Parker who speaks.

"Hey teammate." I smile innocently at Nolan. I hear laughter and see Carter, Mason, and Cameron trying and failing to mask their chuckles.

Nolan glares at them and Carter shrugs. He turns back to me an growls," Girls do not belong on my team."

"Our team actually." I correct him. He scowls at me as I continue. "And I have just as much right to be on the team as you do. They pick the best for captain, and as of right now, the only people better than me are you and maybe Carter."

"You're new here. No one knows you and you don't know them. How will you lead a team that way?" He snarls in my ear.

"I'll get to know them." I shrug. "You're just mad that a girl might be more skilled than you."

He ignores me. "What position do you play?"

"Center forward. You?"

He frowns again. "Right winger."

I smirk at him. "Maybe you can tell me where room 125 is?"

He turns and stalks away, followed by his entourage of Carter, Mason, Parker, and Cameron.

Lauren rejoins me. "You just told off the school bad boy." She squeaks.

I laugh, "Your school really needs an upgrade."

She gapes at me as I move past her and down the hall.

I turn the corner in search of room 125. By now I'm at least 20 minutes late. There is nothing more embarrassing than walking into class late.

"Hey!" I protest as I feel myself being lifted off the floor and onto someone shoulder, my backpack falling to the floor. My kidnapper scoops up my bag and keeps walking.

"Enjoying the view?" A familiar voice asks.

"Nolan! Put me down!" I beat my fists against his back.

"No thanks, I'm good." He stops at the end of the hall and dumps me on the floor. He throws my backpack at my face before leaving.

I stand up and brush off my skirt. Boys. I look around seeing room 125. Shrugging, I go to class.