Prologue

Tucking her racquet into its case, Zoe took a deep breath and mustered her strength to turn down yet another offer of her dreams. Preparation completed, she turned around to see David Wymack, Coach of the Palmetto Foxes, stood there in a gray-suit with an orange tie, waiting to begin giving her his pitch of why she should play on his team as their new freshman striker.

"You played well tonight, you got some serious accuracy for a high-school athlete, and speed. I've only seen one faster," Wymack commented.

"I run a lot."

"I figured."

Zoe rolled her eyes, "well, as titillating as that was, why don't we cut to the chase?" she asked. With a nod from Wymack, she continued, "I'm sorry my coach had you waste a night coming down here, but I really don't think Palmetto is the place for me. It's why I didn't apply myself."

"Why not? We've had some bad years in the past, but we're only one game away from semifinals. We've got a good shot this year, we might win," he said, eyes shining with hope. Zoe almost felt bad about knocking him into reality. Oh, well.

She snorted, "You got a shot at coming in third, maybe second if USC has a terrible night. But no way are you beating the Ravens in May. They're unbeatable, and the only team that has any chance is USC. Your team of rejects breaking that record would take divine intervention, most likely in the form of lightning striking Riko dead."

"If you're so fond of USC, why didn't you take Coach Rhemann up on his offer to play for the Trojans?" Wymack asked.

Zoe flinched, she'd walked right into that one. "I just moved halfway across the country three years ago, I didn't want to do that again."

"Palmetto is only an hour away, and the closest University to have a Class I team." Wymack reminded her.

"I've been to a few games." she admitted, "You've got some good players. If you manage to keep Day and Josten, you guys could continue like you have been this year. But you're forgetting that I don't have the second qualification to be on your team: I don't have some tragic past for you to exploit for publicity. "

Wymack bared his teeth in what Zoe thought was supposed to be a grin. Whatever it was, it stretched his cheeks and reminded her of the Cheshire Cat in Alice and Wonderland. "Honestly, this past year has made me wish for some milder pasts mixed in our team. Regardless, I think you'll fit in."

"I doubt it."

Wymack sighed. "Well, how about I leave the paperwork with you and you fax me you decision in a week."

Zoe suppressed an eye roll, "I already told you I'm not interested."

Wymack looked at her, scanning her from her hair back in a wet braid, thanks to her post-game shower, her pink tank top and jean shorts that revealed every bruise and bump covering her legs and arms thanks to a particularly rough game, her flip flops with their blue nail polish, and to the side of her where her duffel and racket-case rested against the locker room bench. Inspection concluded, he grabbed his briefcase, pulled out a folder with the Palmetto State logo on it, and handed it to her.

"Then you can fax me your rejection. But, I want you to take this week to think about what you're giving up. Most of the coaches have already finished recruitment, so unless there is an outstanding offer that you have yet to turn down no one told me about, we're your last chance to play Exy for the NCAA next year. And that'd be a shame. Because when I was monitoring your speed and accuracy, I was also noticing something else. Though you are not the best, and you might never be Court, that doesn't stop your passion. You love this game. Are you really ready to be done?"