-7-

-Of Hate On First Sight-

Ok, breathe, in and out, in and out. You'll be fine, Mimi, you just have to play with an amazing team against an equally amazing team that incidentally hold a huge grudge against your team. Not forgetting that one of the players is D'Jok's and Micro-Ice's worst enemy. No pressure at all.

"Hey, you're really white, don't worry!"

"How can I not?!" I spit at Micro-Ice irritably.

"Woah, it's not my fault D'Jok can't play."

"I know, and I'm so excited but bloody petrified at the same time, you know?"

"You'll be great, I know you will."

"Thanks." I smile at him gratefully.

"Oi, midget lovebirds!" We simultaneously glare at D'Jok. "Sorry." He says unapologetically. "Can I borrow Mimi for a sec?" I smile at Micro-Ice while standing and making my way to where D'Jok is sitting.

"Yes?"

"Someone's tetchy. Annoyed that I interrupted yours and Mirco's moment?"

"a, we didn't have a moment so, b, No!" D'Jok laughs lightly.

"I just wanted to say thanks for doing this."

"Are you kidding? I should be saying thanks to you for twisting your ankle!"

"You're a great little player, so much better than a clone!"

"Well that's not har-hang on...little?!" My eyes narrow at him.

"Uh..." He looks worried. And a bit scared.

"D'Jok sweetie!" Mei runs gracefully over to my brother's side, elbowing me out of the way as she does so. Saved by the bimbo.

"Hey, Mei, play a great game for me, ok?"

"Sure thing, darling!" She leans over him, obscuring my view. Thank god. Something I really don't need to see.

"Disgusting, isn't it?" Tia says, standing next to me.

"You can say that again."

"Still, me and Rocket probably look like that to everyone else."

"Yeah, you do."

"In that case, I apologise for making you nauseous. As that's what I'm feeling right now witnessing that."

"D'Jok! Mei! Do you think you could stop making me and Tia want to throw up? Playing with two clones defiantly wouldn't be a good idea!" D'Jok separates from the perfect brunette instantly, laughing. Mei, on the other hand, simply glares. Fiercely. I'm terrified. Not.

Oh. My. God. Ahhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhh! It's huge and scary and...and...

"Relax, Mimi, you're really tense!" I'm too stunned to respond to Rocket. I take my position on the pitch, eyeing the Shadows. The only human one I know is Sinedd. Classically tall, dark and handsome. I hate him instantly.

"Oh look, D'Jok's morphed into a girl!"

"Unfortunately for you, I'm not D'Jok." As we brush past each other, he leans down (once again, tallness!) and whispers,

"I like them feisty." His hand catches mire for the briefest of seconds, then he's gone. I keep my cheeks pale, something every redhead just has to perfect, while blushing furiously on the inside. I have no idea why. No guy has ever had this sort of effect on me before. I take my position, pinching myself sharply to clear my head and get me focused. Mirco-Ice gives me a reassuring wave. I grin back, suddenly very determined to win and wipe the confident smirk off Sinedd's face.

It starts too fast, a blur of blue and black and Tia fights for possession of the ball with a Shadow. She wins, directs it at Rocket who passes to Mirco-Ice who needs me, I can tell, but I'm blocked by two impossibly tall Shadows. Then I remember a trick I taught myself at the tender age of seven.

Quickly focusing of the Breath I need into one place, a copy of me forms. It's not perfect, a bit too rushed, but it'll do. Satisfied, I leap upwards just as the one on the right flicks a glance over his shoulder the check I'm still there. Idiot. Micro-Ice sees I've escaped and kicks the ball straight at me. I in turn, send it directly at the goal. No way it can miss.

For a few, precious seconds, time seems to slow. I don't bother to land, simply let the Breath hold me up, not breathing. The goalie knocks it away at the last second. I land with a dull thud, crushed.

At half-time the score stands at 2.1 to them. Oh great, I'm so, so dead.

"-and, finally, Mimi." Fuckity fuck. "Well done!" Hang on, what?! "You played a great game for someone who's never played at GF level before." The others seem equally shocked at their coach's praise.

"Uh...thanks?"

"Try swinging round a little more before you shoot; you need to use your full body strength. And tuck your elbows in when you use the Breath too."

"Ok." I nod, wheels in my head turning and processing the information I had received. I would follow it. I would make Aarch, D'Jok and the other Snow Kids proud. And I would show Mei and Sinedd that I can play football. Just you wait and see.

A/N: Yes, yes I'm soooooooo sorry!! cringes but it's here now right...

anyway, voting time! Reader participation!

Who do YOU want Mimi to end up with?!

a) Sinedd

b) Micro-Ice

c) other, say please

thank you all, response would be appreciated since, if I have an idea of who she will get together with then I'll have more inspriation to write - seriously!

Becki

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