The Healing Powers of Soccer

Chapter 4

The incessant ring of my alarm pulled me rapidly out of sleep. It was 7 am on Saturday, it was Gameday. I loved Saturdays because there was always an early morning game. I ran into the bathroom and brushed my teeth. I then went back into my room, grabbing my jersey and underwear, and bra, I ran back into the bathroom hopped into the freezing shower for a few seconds. I got out dried myself and got dressed. After brushing my hair into a perfect ponytail, I grabbed my phone and soccer bag and ran upstairs. I found a bowl of cereal and a note of the kitchen island. The note read:

Morning Avery,

Good luck in today's game!

I can't come after all because I got called into work.

But you're gonna kill it!

Love you,

Mom

I winced when I read my full name. No one called me that except my mom and my teachers. I preferred to go by Ava or A.

After eating the cereal, I grabbed a water bottle and went to the bus stop. Where I would be taken to school and then taken with the rest of my team to the game.

Chloe and I still weren't talking, but I didn't care, I had to prove that I could have fun without her.

On the bus, we all laughed, braiding each other's hair, putting on our cleats. Sam was playing music and we were all singing together but in the back of my mind, all I could think of was Chloe and our fight.

*****

At 9 am we arrived at the opponent's field. Every put on their most confident face as to intimidate them. We began by running the field once, glowering as we passed the other teaming working on a precise passing drill. 

After running we came back to our side of the field and Coach Brian asked me to lead the stretching. We stretched out legs, backs, ankles, wrists, knees, shoulders, and arms. We then partnered up and did a few passing drills. I chose Allie as my partner. After that, we did some give and go drills while our starting goalie, Bree, warmed up on the sideline with Coach Brian. 

Soon the refs came over to check our shin guards and cleats and to make sure none of us were wearing jewelry. After we did some shooting drills the parents and supporters began to arrive and the refs called for captains. 

Maddie and Sam went to center field as the captains and Coach pulled the rest of us over to talk positions. Bree was in goal, Allie, Olivia, and Julie were on defense, Maddie, Kate, Maya, Sam, and I were midfielder, Charlie and Isabella were our forwards, and Lauren, Kendall, and Rachel were our subs. Finally, Michelle couldn't come because she was sick.

Maddie and Sam ran up to us, "We're going that way, with the kick-off." We all cheered because we had kick-off and we weren't going to be looking into the sun until it was too high to be a problem.

Isabella and Charlie started in the center fields ring, with the ball. Isabella passed it back to me and I quickly passed to Charlie, who had made a run up the field. She was passed the mids, and there were only three defenders and a goalie, keeping her from scoring. Next Charlie crossed the ball to Isabella, but the pass what intercepted by a defender who then kicked the ball up the field to a midfielder, but I ran to the ball, passing it up before the other mid, could get there.