Just thought I'd let you know that I don't play soccer/football, so I don't really know anything about it besides that only the goalie can use their hands and you try and kick the ball into the goal. So once again, please correct me if I'm wrong about anything. Please review!

Disclaimer: Mr. Rider is not mine, nor are any of the other characters that belong to Mr. Horowitz.
How was that for a formal disclaimer?


A month later.

It was a hot, sunny day. Brianna was out again, watching another boy's football game. She actually enjoyed watching them, and even convinced her friend Nora to join her. Although she was able to play on her own team again, she liked cheering on her classmates. And now they were on a winning streak. The game was almost over, and the score was 5 to 3.

She stood up and clapped as Tom just made a great save as goalie. Tom grabbed the ball and began looking around an open player.

Brianna smiled as she saw Alex jogging up the field trying to get open for a pass. He got back just a few weeks ago, battered and bruised like always, and a little more isolated. But Coach put him in the game right away. And Alex has been on fire, scoring like crazy. It's the first time he's really played since forever ago.

Tom took a step and launched the ball through the air towards Alex. Who was looking to get it with his head, and then dribble it farther up the field.

There was an opposing player tracking the ball and making his way toward Alex, trying to steal it. At the same time both boys jumped up. The other player jabbed his elbow into Alex's chest, trying to interfere and get the ball. Their heads collided and both boys came crashing down as the ball ricocheted off Alex's forehead and bounced away.

The other player got up. Alex did not.

The referee blew his whistle and the play stopped.

There was a hush that overcame the crowed until someone shouted, "Hey! That's a foul!"

Brianna stood up and glanced around for Alex's guardian. She didn't see him. There was a crowd of teenage boys forming around him now, the rest of the team. And slowly, Alex got up, his hand clutching his chest, his expression pained, but also angry it seemed.

Something clicked in Brianna's head. His chest. Gunshot. Blood. Oh God... he just got elbowed where he was shot. But that should have healed by now, right?

Brianna kept her promise and told no one of the events by the bank, but every now and then she wondered about Alex. Especially when she was told that he was out for appendicitis.

Pulling herself back to the present, she looked back at the game. Alex was lying down on the sidelines, eyes shut. The other player was defending himself to anyone that would listen: "But seriously, I didn't hit him that hard!"

Our coach went over to talk to the boy, probably telling him that Alex was fine, even though, looking at him now, he wasn't. And that Alex has a bad immune system, so the kid probably didn't hit him that hard, it's just the way Alex's body reacted. Though Brianna didn't know how being jabbed in the chest related to an immune system and sickness.

She sighed, and turned to her friend, Nora, "Want some chips?"