Grey Skies

Chapter 20

Chapter Twenty

Today feels like the actual scrimmage rather than the one we had a week ago. The team we are facing is a lot slower, smaller, and tactically advanced than the Eagles. In fact, it feels like we are the intercollegiate bullies draining the life and spirits out of the team with each goal we score. We are currently at five, but I shouldn't say we because I have been on the bench for the entire first half. Carly is on a hat-trick and playing with high confidence on the field.

I feel like one of those players that leeches off of the team's success without contributing to it at all. Like an annoying parasite who buries itself deep inside the skin of its host. Rather than a human, my host is this bench, and sometimes I feel myself sinking through the hard metal.

With fifteen minutes left in the game, Coach Serris surprises me by calling me over and telling me that this was my chance to go in and get a feel for the position. There is no risk in putting me in, is what he really wanted to say. There is no way I could destroy a five goal lead with fifteen minutes left, even if I had two left feet or no legs at all.

Unfortunately, I'm not replacing Carly. Though I didn't see the purpose of her being on the field for any longer when she had already scored three goals and was unarguably the star of the entire game. She had done what she needed to do, and then some, but I guess Coach Serris wants to see the two of us out there together. Working together.

He is certain that our five-goal lead and win are secure, and so am I, but that doesn't mean that these last fifteen minutes won't get ugly. Even if the opposition fails to provide any competition, I know that Carly herself would be able to make it hard for me out there, and she could afford to. She had proved herself and in doing so earned her spot on this team a while ago, while I was still waiting to show Coach Serris that his investment in me was not a waste. I have fifteen minutes to live up to Carly's seventy-five minutes of brilliance. I have to work with the Devil and hope that she will work with me.

During the next lull in play, I'm allowed on the field and I fill the pocket of space just behind Carly as Coach Serris instructed me to do. Carly doesn't look toward me, except for when the ball finds its way to my feet and her mouth finds itself calling my name. I have a small gap between two defenders to send the ball into her path and set her up for a goal, but I decide to hold it a little longer and see what I can do with it.

I keep it between my feet and shelter it away from the players who hack at my legs with their cleats. I keep my right ankle near the ball and away from their aimless attacks. However, their defense all of a sudden decides not to be so pitiful with the clock running down. Two girls tag team me and successfully dispossess me.

"Iris, you had me!" Carly exclaims.

I ignore her and chase after the girl who now has the ball. I put my foot in to slightly kick the ball from her, but end up catching her leg at the same time and cause her to fall over. The ref blows his whistle and gives me a yellow card for the play. Before I can even protest his decision and question his sanity, Coach Serris has me off the field in a matter of seconds and doesn't spare me a glance as I make my way toward my vacant and VIP seat on the bench. The cool metal is pleased to have my familiar warmth and useless extremities pressed against it again.

There are five minutes left in the game. Carly has three goals to show for it. I have a yellow card.

***

Beth and Val catch up to me on my way out of the stadium. Both of them had a good game, as was expected of them.

"Hey Iris, don't worry about it. That ref was a serious asshole. Didn't even give you a warning before giving you a card on your first foul," Val says.