Dangerous Play

18 » back in the game

I shook out my hands, bouncing on the balls of my feet. "Do you see them?"

"For the last time, Abby, no, the UNC people aren't here yet. And stop bouncing—you look like the Energizer Bunny on crack." Felicity sounded irritated, but I knew it was just pre-game nerves. "Do you see the UCLA scouts anywhere?"

Rose tipped her head. "You mean the two women with clipboards and UCLA in giant letters across their shirts?"

Felicity grabbed her arm. "Where?" I followed Rose's gaze to the two women, who were indeed sporting UCLA blue and mustard, talking amongst themselves as they glanced sporadically at our teams. My heart jumped. Beside them stood a stern-looking man in a gray polo, a Carolina blue hat perched on his head. If I squinted, I could just make out the white NC stitching on the front panels.

Warm-ups passed in a blur, and before I knew it, Coach Walker was giving us the starting lineup and a final pep talk. I zoned out most of it, distracting myself with thoughts of the UNC scout watching my performance. My family plus Kieran were also sitting on the sidelines, the latter having come to wish me encouragement and watch our team hopefully kick his ex-girlfriend's ass.

Yeah, we were playing Marissa and Eden's team. As if I didn't have enough resting on this game already. If we lost, I would never hear the end of it from either of them.

The ref blew his whistle at us in warning, and both teams jogged to their starting positions on the field. Zala and I settled near the center circle. Eden was directly across from me. I glared at her, and she narrowed her eyes at me in return.

Focus, I chided myself. I was not going to let a petty rivalry keep me from playing my best.

A shrill whistle cut through the air, signaling the start of the game. I rocketed forward, putting pressure on Eden and her teammate. Eden passed the ball back to one of their team's midfielders, and I backed off momentarily.

The ball traveled between the navy blue uniforms of the Blue Devils—a fitting name for the team—until a bad pass from an outside midfielder sent the ball toward Olivia, one of our center mids. She intercepted the pass smoothly, dribbling forward, and suddenly the ball was in our possession.

I could hear Felicity yelling at us to move up as Olivia sent the ball spinning toward Rose, out on left midfield. Rose didn't hesitate. With one touch, she sent the ball in my direction, and I sprinted forward to receive the pass before a Blue Devils defender could.

The next defender in my way was none other than my sworn archenemy herself. Marissa looked like a little blonde demon as she charged in my direction.

Well, I could hardly let her have the ball. Just before she reached me, I lobbed the ball toward the far right corner, where Chanel and another Blue Devils player began racing for it. Marissa gave me a venomous look, turning on her heel and heading toward her goal to provide cover.

Chanel had gotten to the ball first, but she was hard-pressed to keep it in her possession. The defender pressed her closer and closer toward the corner. Chanel's tall frame prevented the defender from getting around her to the ball, but the other girl poked the ball out of bounds for a throw in.

Chanel tossed the ball back to Leila, our other center mid, who passed it to Zala after only taking a couple of touches. Zala dribbled as far forward as she could, but was forced to send the ball backward as three defenders converged on her.

I darted forward into an opening between two defenders. Olivia, who had received the ball, looked up and saw my open position. She chipped the ball high above their heads, and I took off toward the goal.