Unnatural Love

Chapter 1: Soccer Games and Sprained Ankles

  "J, if you don't pass that ball, I will take you out!!" Coach Reeves screamed.
  
   "Jules! Get up! You're going to be late." I jumped up and started to run around my room, mentally checking off everything I needed as I found it and putting it all in my backpack. Today's the big day. Our first soccer game. We've been preparing since last season, practicing at least twice a week, if not every single day. Soccer is my favorite sport, even though I'm not the best, at least I try.
  
    I walked downstairs to the kitchen where my family was waiting for me. "Morning," I smiled at my baby brother as he gurgled at me. "Good morning Champ, ready for the big game tonight?" Dad asked me, rubbing my head. "Yes Dad, tonight's going to be great, now stop touching my head please." I laughed as he smiled and continued reading his newspaper. "We'll be there as soon as we can, Jacob has practice today so we might be late."
  
     I nodded and took a bite out of my burrito. "Okay, cool. As long as you get there in time to see me play, it'll be okay. Morning Avery." I called as she ran down the stairs.
 
    "I have to go now, Lil will be here soon, and she hates waiting. Love you guys, see you tonight." I ran outside, grabbing all of my crap and carrying it with me. "Bye honey!" I laughed and sat my stuff down, fixed my hair, and got my bags all situated.

  After school, we had one quick practice before our opponents arrived. As they began arriving, we decided it'd be a good idea to shower, change into our uniforms, and stretch a bit before our game.

"Hey J, good luck tonight." My best friend yelled as she ran off the field, to put her phone down with her bag. I smiled and nodded at her, secretly waiting for her to turn around. "Thanks!! You too!" I called after her as I begin to kick the ball around.

  "Alright girls, gather around," Coach Reeves smiles at us. "I want you girls to treat this game like the most important game of your lives. Treat as though you've been waiting on it for years. Go out there and kick their butts, understood?" "Yes sir!" Our team called out. "Good. 1...2...3 GO TIGERS." We broke and ran out to our positions. Come on Jules, you can do this. You've done it for months in practice, why wouldn't you be able to now?

  We were tied. 7-7. I was in for most of the game but I asked to get taken out for a few minutes. My family was here, college scouts were here. I couldn't afford to mess up. But I wasn't ready. "Get your head in the game Reynolds!" Coach comes up to me. "You're going to psych yourself out. Calm down. Don't worry about those college scouts, your family is going to love you even if you accidentally mess up. You'll be okay, understood?" I nodded and got up. "I'm ready Coach." "Go on, don't let me stop you."

There was nearly three minutes left of the game, I had the ball, I was looking for someone to pass it to. "C'mon, I'm open J, right here." I tried and I couldn't do it. I felt as though I was surrounded on all sides. All of a sudden someone comes up from behind me and takes the ball. "Uh-oh," I mumbled and looked up. I sighed with relief when I saw it was a teammate of mine.

   "What happened out there Jul?" Mom asked me as we walked to the car. "I just kind of froze up. I'm not too sure."  My mom smiled softly at me as she handed me Jordan, my baby brother. "Ohh hi cutie. I've missed you today." He smiles and touches my cheek, giggling softly. "I'm proud of you Baby girl." Dad smiles. "Thanks dad." "Can we get pizza, I'm starving!" Jacob calls from the backseat. "Me too!" "I already made dinner, plus we need to go get Jozilyn from Grandma's."my Mom smiles softly.

I showered as soon as I got home, Lilia was supposed to stop by after she got off work. Yeah, I know what you're thinking, she goes to school, has a soccer game, and still has to work? Yes, she does. But her job is just watching a baby for an hour a day, until one of the parents gets home.

"I personally think you did amazing today J." She calls when she walks in. "Oh, uh, thanks." I smile and yawn. "You were great today too. And if that LU scout doesn't offer you a scholarship by next game, I'll have him fired." We laughed. "Girls, come down, dinner's ready!" We raced each other down the stairs, something that always happens, but this time, we both end up tumbling down. "Ow!" I called as I stood up. My ankle hurt really badly. "Oh my! Girls, are you okay?" "I'm great, I don't even have a scratch, but I think Jules twisted her ankle."

   "It's not broken. So that's good, but I'm sorry honey, you'll be out of the games for at least two weeks." "Two weeks??? That's so long. Coach is going to be so mad. Especially since I didn't even play well today. Oh no." "Jules you'll be okay, calm down. Coach will understand, trust me."

  I went to bed that night, thinking about if I got a do-over today, what would I have done differently? Definitely not let myself get freaked out, and not race down the stairs. Maybe I would've even tested my luck and told Lil...nah, I would never. I value our friendship way too much.