Goals

"Operation Save Talex."

Foudy wasn't able to pry much information out of me. Whenever she asked me a question regarding Tobin's motives for acting so violently, I acted as though they were a complete mystery to me. I could see that my secrecy annoyed her, as she knew how close Tobin and I were, and she was certain that I must know something. Still, I continued to say that I had absolutely no idea why Tobin would attack Servando.

Foudy remained suspicious of me throughout what felt like an interrogation, and she wasn't wrong to assume that I was hiding some crucial details. I was certain that the fight and what happened at the football game on Friday night were connected. Part of me wanted to tell Foudy what happened under those bleachers, but I couldn't bring myself to scrape the words off the tip of my tongue. Just thinking about how forceful his lips had felt against mine made me feel as incapable of speech as a dead body.

Besides, the principle had made it clear that Servando's unjustifiable actions would always be pardoned, simply because he was a male who was capable of throwing a football. Telling Foudy would only result in her telling the principle, which wouldn't result in much.

After questioning me for almost an hour, she finally told me that I could head back to class. I walked to the exit rather quickly, as I was very eager to escape her all-knowing gaze. My hand is only beginning to push her classroom door open when she voices one last plea for me to be honest with her.

"You can tell me anything, Alex. I only want to help Tobin."

I believed her. I really did.

"Thanks, Ms. Foudy."

* * *

Tobin doesn't show up to practice that afternoon, which makes me feel as though there is a hole in my chest. I have to create a triangle with Kelly and Christen when it becomes apparent that my passing partner isn't going to make it. I can see curiousity in the quick glances that they shoot to each other in between passes. They have obviously heard about my favorite midfielder's uncharacteristic actions, as a video of her punching Servando in the nose has already begun to circulate around Instagram. I expect them to bombard me with their questions, but they refrain themselves from doing so.

Jill instructs us to practice taking penalty kicks, and we all line up behind the white line that marks the beginning of the penalty box. Hope blocks my shot and throws it towards the sideline just to mess with me. My failure to send the ball into the back of the net doesn't phase me. I know that if Hope wasn't in goal, that shot would've gone in. I laugh as I jog to retrieve the ball, but my happiness dissipates as soon as I see who is standing next to my coach.

The principle shoots me a small wave and a smile when he sees me staring at him, and anger surges through me. Demons shouldn't be allowed to walk on this feild.

He says a few more words to Jill before turning around and strolling back towards his office. I resist the urge to set my ball down on the ground and kick it at the back his head. Jill sees me staring and motions me over to her with a quick wave of her hand.

"Yeah, Jill?"

She let's out a long breath. "I assume you know what I want to talk to you about."

I feel a trendil of anxiety sprout within my stomach. "Does it have something to do with Tobin?"

She tries to smile at me, but her fiery eyes make it painfully obvious that she is constraining an onslaught of rage. "I have some good news and some bad news. The good news is that Tobin is not going to be expelled."