Author's Note: Woohoo, new story...this one's based on the film Bend It Like Beckham, for those of you who haven't seen it it's one on my 'must see before you die' lists. I really didn't want to watch it but loved it when I did.

P.S. Sorry if I say football in this, I keep trying to put soccer but forget and out football...if I say football in this story, I mean soccer.

Kuki's POV

"So Austin kicks it to Stevens...Steven's is taking a good run...AND HE'S DONE IT!" The television presenter announced.

I crossed my feet on the coffee table as we watched the soccer game on the television. The guys had come over to my house after school to work together on homework. As always we started on it and got bored after ten minutes so decided to have a break and stupidly, I allowed Abby and Wally to switch on the TV and take charge of the controller.
I wasn't really a soccer fan...Hey, I'm pretty much a stereotypical girl. I'm not really into sport except for things that boys wouldn't class as a sport like gymnastics, dance and cheer leading.
Anyway, I didn't really mind, it wasn't like there was anything better on the TV.

So I sunk into the couch as I watched the players on the screen and gave a bored sigh. Looking over to my friends. Abby and Wally were glued to the screen, conversing with the players, egging them on and cursing the opposite team. Hoagie was simply sat watching it happily, he enjoyed football but wasn't as hooked as Wally and Abby. Nigel on the other hand was continuing with homework...or some sort of paper work. Every now and then he'd scratch his bald head in frustration and scribble something out. I found it quite funny because he'd leave red nail marks on his shiny head and they'd stay for a good five minutes before fading.

"Kuki Chan, I thought you were doing homework!" My mum lectured as she walked in. I gave a sigh...great, here come the lectures.

She swatted my legs with her hand as she came close to me, displaying that she didn't approve of my feet on the table. I rolled my eyes and put them down.
"We're just taking a break mum." I shrugged. "Anyway, the guys just wanted to know the score."

My mum tutted and I sighed, knowing what the next lecture was going to be about. Here it comes, 3...2...1...

"I don't know why you watch this garbage Kuki, it doesn't stimulate your mind in any way." She stated.

I just rested my head on the back of the couch and shrugged. No, I didn't like soccer much, but if there's one thing I love, it's winding my mother up. So if she doesn't like me watching a television programme, it's staying on longer to frustrate her.

She tutted at me again, thinking that I didn't take the hint that she wanted it turned off and went and switched it off herself.
"Kuki will you please get ready. Mr and Mrs Whit are coming in half an hour and they're bringing their son over."

Great...another one of my mum's friends of the family and a son who they can try and get me paired with.

"Your friends will have to go home now." My mum 'hinted', she's not good at being subtle about things.

The guys took her hint and stood up, packing their bags and making their way towards the door. I stood and opened the door for them.

"Kuki, your father needs some Hakusai. Will you run to the store and get some?" My asked me, coming from the kitchen to look at me.

I nodded. "Sure mum, be right back."
I grabbed some money from her purse and ran out of the door to catch up with the guys so that I could walk with them.

Abby, and Nigel went their separate ways and Hoagie, Wally and I walked through the park, towards his house and the shop.
We were walking contently, conversing over various school teachers and subjects. A ball suddenly soared through the air, hitting Wally on the head.

"Hey Beatles, shoot it over here." A voice called.

Wally picked up the ball and turned to face the boys who called him.
"Watch where you're kicking it Chad!" Wally sulked.

It was Chad, Maurice, and two other teens who I didn't know, one was Asian with spiky blue hair the other was American with black hair.

"Sorry about that dude, that was me." Maurice admitted. "Fancy a game?"

Wally looked at Hoagie, who shrugged. "Na, I'm going home. Later guys."

Hoagie walked off.

"Now we're uneven." The American boy sighed.

"How about you Numbuh 3, you wanna play?" Chad smiled me.

Wally scoffed. "What? She can't play. She doesn't even know how to play football."

I glared at him. "How would you know?"

He was totally right, I had no idea how to play football and didn't really want to anyway. But it annoyed me that he just decided it.

"I'd better not anyway." I told them. "I've got to get stuff for my mum."

"Come on, just a five minute game?" Maurice offered.

I looked at Wally who stared at me, thinking that he knew the answer.
I frowned at him. Normally I would just say no, but I wanted to prove Wally wrong.

"I guess five minutes won't hurt." I shrugged.

"Great, you guys can go with Peter, Rai you come with me and Maurice." Chad said.

"What do I do?" I asked Wally.

"Just copy the guys on TV, we've got to get the ball into our goal over there and stop them goaling in this one." Wally explained quickly.

I ran and attempted to play, not that I was the best. But I enjoyed it.
Wally kicked the ball and scored our third goal, I cheered and laughed. "I'd better go now anyway guys."

"Later." Chad said as they all waved me off.

I walked to the small oriental shop in the high street and bought the hakusai. For those who don't know what that is, it's a japanese cabbage. Then I made my way home.

"Kuki where have you been?" Mum asked me.

"I just walked with my friends." I told her.

She rolled her eyes at me. "You've been ages."

"I'm five minutes late." I corrected her.

She took the hakusai from me and took it into the kitchen.
"Well go and get ready, you're not eating with us looking like that are you?" She

I looked down at my every day wear of green sweater and leggings.
"I was going to."

"Go change into your nice dress dear." Mum told me.

I sighed as I went upstairs. Why was nothing I did ever good enough for her?

I changed into a navy blue, dress which was just above knee length. On the upper half of the dress there were three, military style buttons.

I then brushed through my hair and pulled it up into a high ponytail. Wrapping some dark blue ribbon around it I heard the knocking of a door. I gave a loud sigh listened from my room.

"Hello Mai," My mum exclaimed. "And Tom how're you...Kuki! Where are you? Come down and meet Rai."

Rai? I thought as I walked down the stairs. As I reached a certain step I saw the spiky blue hair.

"Hi Kuki." Rai smiled.

I beamed. "Hey Rai."

"You two know each other?" My mother asked.

Rai gave me a smile. "We met earlier today."

"Well, that's nice..." My mum shrugged. "Anyway, Genki's just preparing dinner, shall we go and sit down?"