ᴄᴀᴘᴛᴀɪɴ | ᴘᴏʟʏ

12

"If there is no struggle, there is no progress."
- DOUGLASS, Frederick

| Kevin |

"So, I seen your sappy IG post to the beauty you call a sister," Jessica starts as she sits on the couch beside me. Her usual spot when we watch soccer.

"Stop fantasizing about my sister, it's creepy."

"I'm guessing she got the looks while you got the brains?" Clay joked, sipping on the cold bottle of beer in his hand.

"You realize you just called me ugly and my sister stupid?"

"I don't think he does realize, clearly Clay's siblings got the looks and the brains," Jessica snipes. I'd like to think she's coming to my defense but it's more than likely Logan she's standing up for.

"Besides the point," I wave off before returning my attention to the only female in the room, "Stop thinking about my sister. Keep your wet dreams to yourself."

It was only Clay, Jessica and I in the house today, Clarissa and Alan were at work and Dylan had community service for a mishap during a late night adventure with Clay. He was simply too slow to flee the area.

"I wasn't being creepy, I was just trying to say - before I was so rudely interrupted - that I think the relationship you have with Logan is fucking cute," Jessica defends. "Logan's cute, too."

I don't reply, I just ignore the snickering from Clay, the smug look on Jessica's face, and turn the volume up on the TV, focusing in on the second half of the USA vs Canada game.

| Logan |

I come on before the start of the second half, replacing Quinn. It was a relatively young Canada team, with the exception of Sinc. To say I was buzzing to get on the field would be an understatement.

"Remember, keep a clear head, stay calm." Shelina pats my back as I fill the gap in the midfield.

"And get the ball to Sinc," Sinc herself yells, gaining chuckles from both sets of players.

Despite the playfulness in her tone, getting the ball to the star forward was the main aim. Even though Alex insists I should pass to her, despite playing in the other team. I catch eyes with Kelley who gives me a small nod before play kicks off for the second half.

The weather in Denver was perfect - it wasn't too hot, the sun wasn't beating down on us, and the wind carried a blissful breeze.

Ten minutes into the second half and I had already pinpointed the biggest hurdle for my game - Ertz. I had gotten a few harsh kicks from some of the American's - not including my Orlando teammates, Kelley or Press - but the worst was the enforcer holding the midfield line for the States.

Ertz had already knocked me to the ground three times, in two of those times she came right through my back to get the ball, and only one was called a foul.

"Keeping calm?" Shel asks as the US makes a change, Morgan for Pugh, and we get an opportunity for a short water break.

"I am. I'm enjoying relaxing on the turf. It's been great," I sass, hearing laughter from Jessie and Jordyn who escort Shelina and I onto the field. "I've got it figured out though. I need you two to stay open, okay?" I ask the younger two who both nod.

"What are you thinking?" Sinc asks, joining the group.

"They're waiting for us to give you the ball," I turn to the captain, "So I won't. The more they focus on you, the less they focus on dumb and dumber here." I point at the two J's who each smack me upside the head but agree nonetheless. "They have the gas in the tank to run along the flanks to cross the ball in for you to get to."

"Clever." Sinc nods along with Jessie, Jordyn and Shelina. "You'll make quite the captain."

"Wait, what?" I ask, completely taken aback.

The others agree with Sinc as she pats my shoulder, before they all walk away leaving me stunned. It's not the first time I've had that thrown at me, but to hear it from someone of the stature that Sinc holds, the words carry a different weight.

| 3rd POV |

With ten minutes of the game left, Pugh had gotten fouled in the box, and Press put the ball in the back of the net from the penalty spot much to the disappointment of the Canada team, who were beginning to make inroads into the US half.

Ertz hadn't successfully completed a tackle without giving away a free kick in almost twenty minutes. The last foul giving the Canada team a shot at goal from the set piece. Unfortunately for the northern team, Franch got a fingertip to the ball, pushing it onto the crossbar, before it dropped to O'Hara's feet and she cleared the ball.

"Unusual decision for the Canadian management team here, they're taking Sinclair off for Adriana Leon," The commentator announces to the viewers at home, who can clearly see what's happening on their screens.

"She's taking the armband off but who is she going to give it to?" The co-host asks.

"I'm not sure, this is a young team on the field for Canada. Usually you would have to say Schmidt but she's on the bench and Canada are making their last change bringing Leon on."

The camera follows Sinclair as she carries the armband. She walks to Zadorsky, the next logical option. However, Sinclair turns to the blonde next to the defender, turning to her Orlando Pride teammate Logan Scott and wrapping the armband around her left bicep.

| Kevin |

"HOLY SHIT!" Jessica screamed as she launched herself off the couch and to her feet, the bowl of popcorn falling to the ground with a soft thud.

She says what I feel, because I'm too stunned to speak. I can only watch in surprise and pride as the camera films the exchange between my sister, Zadorsky and Sinclair. The two older players patting their new captain on the back, even if it is temporary, and for just ten minutes.

"My sister..."

"Yeah," Jessica mutters, not tearing her eyes off the screen.

"She's..."

"Yeah."

"Holy shit." I breathe out, still not blinking, scared that if I do then the image on the screen will change.

"Yeah."

The footage continues, showing Sinclair exit the field, Leon entering and heading straight to Logan to give her instructions. Logan then relays those instructions to the rest of the team.

The camera shows the faces of a few American's from the field and their bench, none of them seem to comprehend that Logan's wearing the armband already.

Play continues, and Logan can be seen pointing and directing her teammates all over the field, helping close gaps in the defense and doing what she can to get the ball to Leon.

The game ends with the US winning by a goal-to-nil, but right now it doesn't feel like a defeat. Not for me. The immense amount of pride I feel for my sister keeps my mood elevated. My smile can't come close to matching Logan's though; who, on the screen, can be seen grinning and shaking hands with everyone before jumping on Sinclair's back, Kelley smiling at my sister's antics in the background of the footage before it cuts away to those talking in the studio.

That's my sister, I think to myself, the Captain.