The List

May at Republic City High was like any other high school; seniors getting ready for graduation and college, juniors standing ready to take over the school, and fall sports putting together their summer camps. Football was the sport for fall when school started back each year, and the sign up list was always the talk of the school in May.

"Hey Mako, guess what I heard." A classmate yelled out as he walked up to Mako and Bolin in the back courtyard of the school.

"What?" Mako asked as he looked up from his binder.

"You know that new girl that transferred here like two months ago? The one that Asami always hangs out with." The boy asked as he stuffed his hands in his Letterman jacket.

"You mean Korra?" Bolin asked after taking a bite from his lunch.

Mako gave Bolin a look that made him jump slightly and swallow his food before mumbling an apology. "I know of her, but I don't know her." Mako said as he looked back up at the classmate. "Why do you bring it up?"

"Well, word is she signed up for the football summer camp." The boy said with a slight humorous chuckle.

"Are you serious?!" Bolin said in complete shock. "Can she do that?"

Mako looked back at his brother and shrugged. "Yeah, coach can't turn her down since there's not a girls' football team. It's some kind of rule all schools have to follow. But, I still don't see the big deal in this." Mako said, looking back up at the boy who gave them the news.

"Well, I thought you might want to know since you'll be the Senior Captain next year and you'll be helping Coach with the camp." The boy shrugged. "Also, I heard that Coach looked at her transcript from her old school and turns out that she was the top of her school's athletic program, and could possibly take your position."

Mako shrugged and turned back to his class work, showing that he was done with the conversation. "If she gets my position, then I won't care as long she gets it fairly. Besides, she has to survive the camp first and I've seen guys three times bigger than me quit after the first day."

"You seem pretty sure about that, but ok." The boy shrugged before walking away.

Bolin looked at his brother for a moment before he felt it was right to speak. "Hey Mako, are you sure you're ok with this? I have gym with Korra, she's tough and maybe it would be a good idea if you or I talk to her about backing out. I mean, a girl on a football team, that just spells trouble."

Mako cut his eyes up to his brother. "We'll see after the camp." He then turned back to his binder and started to write in his notes. "Besides if she does make it, Coach will most likely make her a kicker."

Korra was standing at her locker, packing her messenger bag with the things she needed to take home for the night. Right before she could reach in her locker to get one of her binders, her door slammed shut, making her freeze in shock.

"Football Korra, really?!" Asami scolded as she looked at her friend.

"You do know my hand was about to go in there, right?" Korra responded as she stared at her friend's hand on her locker door.

"Yes, now answer my question please." Asami said as she rolled her eyes and dropped her hand.

"Ok, I'm guessing the word about me signing up got out." Korra said as she straightened her messenger bag and started to walk with Asami.

"Of course it got out. The list is on the coach's classroom door, where everyone can see it. Why football? There's Volleyball, Dance Team, Cross Country, and Softball – you love Softball! Why not Softball?" Asami asked, her tone slightly rising as she continued her questioning. "I even said you could cheer with me, the coach knows you go to tumbling classes with me and said she would be happy to give you a private try-out if you asked."

Korra just looked at her friend with a confused look. "Are you sick or something because you're not acting like yourself?"

"Korra!" Asami said sternly.

"Ok sorry. Look, I've done the other sports at my old school and wanted to try something new. Volleyball was fun, I still love Softball, didn't like Cross Country, and you know I dance during the summer at a studio. Also, you can tell your coach I said thanks, but no thanks. I tried Competition my freshman year and hated it when we were at school because I was the only one who wasn't a by-the-book Cheerleader." Korra tried to explain herself the best she could, still not understanding why the situation was a big deal. "Besides, next year's my senior year and I want to try something new. I played on the youth football team in elementary school and thought it was fun. I know high school football will be a lot different from that, but my parents already said that if I want to do it, they're ok with it as long as I don't look for any special treatment."

"But have you talked to the football coach yet? You know, to get his input on the idea of you trying out." Asami asked, the look of worry still on her face.

"Of course I did, I had to before signing up." Korra said as she looked at Asami. "He tried to talk me out of it. But you know how I am, once my mind is set you can't change it. Also, he couldn't turn me away or else he would've had the school board on his ass if they found out."

Asami looked at her friend. "The camp is going to be hard. It's made some big guys cry before."

"I know. I've heard the stories. I can do it." Korra responded confidently.

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