I wrap the last bit of tape around my socks, making sure my shin pads are secure and in place for this game as I hate when they start to slip down my shins.
"This is going to be a tough one ladies, they're second place and we really need the three points to stay clear at the top," I say to my team having to do the usual captain speech
"Just stay strong out there, don't let them push you around, if they do you push back, got it?" I say to them all
"got it" is all I get back and I can see the concentration on all of their faces letting me know they're ready to go
"good speech cap" My best friend Jess says taking the mick out of me
"ha ha, you know I hate doing them," I say complaining at the fact I'm made to do one every match
"it's kind of your job, we didn't choose you to be our captain for nothing you know Lil," She says raising her eyebrows at me
"I know and I love every part of being captain except doing those speeches," I say picking up my water bottle and heading onto the field with Jess to go warm up.
My school's team are ranked number one in state and currently top of the league to go into the national championships, they've never gotten there before but ever since I joined two years ago we've won state two years in a row and this year we need to win it again in order to qualify for Nationals.
The team were up against are good themselves, they've won it a total of 4 times and ended up qualifying last year but got knocked out early on. They've got one star player though who always seems to get my attention, Alex Morgan, and damn is she good.
There always seems to be an unspoken rivalry between us on the pitch, with myself being a keeper and her being a striker, we're constantly battling against the other.
"Are you ever going to do anything about your crush in their main striker?" Jess says nudging my shoulder
"What! I don't have a crush on her I'm just intrigued that's all" I say a little too defensively
"I know these guys are our arched nemesis basically, but no one would care if you wanted to go on a date with her" Jess winks at me
"Shut it you," I say and quickly walk-off, feeling the blush rising up my cheeks ever so slightly.
Okay maybe I do have a little crush on the girl but can you blame me, she's gorgeous, an amazing player and I want to know more about her.
I can't be thinking about that now though because I've still got a game to play and she's getting beaten, that's a promise.
After warming up in goal for a bit, saving all the shots thrown at me and hopefully psyching out the other team a little, we're finally ready for kick-off to begin and I walk up to the referee
"I want a clean game from both your teams thank you ladies," He says glaring at me and the other girl knowing how scrappy we can get
We end up getting kick-off and I jog back to goal clapping my gloves together and slapping the crossbar three times, a little superstition I have, and shout at my team to get stuck in.
As I suspected, the games scrappy as hell, feet flying everywhere and a fair few yellow cards being shown. I've had to make multiple diving save to keep the ball out of the net but so have they and it ends up still being 0-0 in the second half.
Just as the midfield is pushing forward, one of my players is shoved to the floor and disposed of the ball but the ref doesn't do anything about it so I'm now preparing myself for the counter-attack.
The ball gets played to Alex and she starts dribbling closer and closer towards me, I run out my box ready to close her down when she takes a heavy touch so I dive forward onto the ball at the same time she slides in
I manage to get the ball but so does Alex and our bodies collide into each other, her boot getting a good kick in my check.
I lie on my back for a second closing my eyes and holding onto my chest tightly, trying to take in a few breaths while ignoring the pain I'm feeling right now.
"you good Lilly?" I hear Jess asks me from beside my head.
I hold up a finger letting her know I need a few minutes as right now it still feels like her studs are still in my chest. I eventually open my eyes and see a few teammates surrounding me and a few around Alex too.
"That looked really bad Lil, are you okay to carry on?" Jess asks me concerned
"Yeah I should be good, there's not long left right?" I ask sitting up
"Only 10 minutes or so" She says offering her hand to help me back up
"I can last that long," I say and shake my head a little trying to get focused again.
"you should really let the medical staff have a look at the though," Kelsey says but I just wave her off not wanting them to take me out
"Let's just finish it off," I say and slowly walk back to my line, watching as Alex gets off the floor too and returns back to her half.
At least she's not hurt too.
After what feels like the longest ten minutes ever, the final whistle blows and I fall to my knees bending over the floor
"Are you okay?" I hear a raspy voice ask me, looking up I notice it's Alex herself
"Yeah just having a little difficulty on the breathing front," I say back
"I'm sorry about that, I wasn't thinking before it happened," She says and hooks her arm into mine helping me get up
"Its no problem, we both were committed into getting the ball and don't think I haven't noticed the slight limp you've got yourself," I say causing her to laugh a little
"It looks like we both are too aggressive then," She says smiling at me, I decide this is my chance to shoot my shot
"Well maybe I could offer you an apology of sorts," I say making her turn to look at me confused
"How so?" She asks as we both walk towards the lockers
"I can take you out for a bite to eat if you want to go," I ask trying to not sound as nervous as I feel right now
"Are you asking me on a date captain," Alex says smirking at me
"Only if you say yes" I answer back
"then yes, I would love to grab a bite to eat," She says and I can't help but smile widely.
"Perfect, I'll meet you in the car park in 30 minutes?" I say to Alex and watch as she blushes a little
"Okay, I'll see you then," She says and heads to the away changing room.
I walk into ours with a huge grin on my face that doesn't go unnoticed by Jess.
"Why do you look so happy for someone who got kicked in the chest and drew a match," She asks me suspiciously
"Because I've got a date with a certain Alex Morgan," I say grinning my head off
"Look at you! I didn't think you'd have the balls to actually do it" Jess says hitting my arm.
"well I did and I've got to hurry up because I'm meaning here by my car in half an hour," I say back
"chop-chop then!" Jess shouts as I run to the showers.
Date time, let's goooo!!
