Chapter 9
"Okay, first things first." Marlee says to the team. "We need a captain. Do we have any volunteers?"
"I'll do it." Bariel and Samantha say at the same time.
"Okay, out of the two of you who wants to do it."
"Shouldn't we let America do it?" Lyssa asks. Everyone stops and stares at her. "What?"
Janelle rolls her eyes, "She didn't volunteer."
"Ya, why does she get to do everything. Let either Samantha or Bariel be captain." Clarissa angrily says.
"Well I was just thinking that it would be practice for ruling a country."
"Are you serious Lyssa!" Bariel yells,
"Let other people have a chance!"
I can see the tears forming in Lyssa's eyes. "Hey, I don't want to be captain. So let's just take a vote for either Samantha or Bariel."
"That's a great idea America!" Exclaims Marlee, "anyways this isn't the time to take digs at each other. We are here to have fun okay."
"And to win." Mia responds.
"Exactly! And we can't win if we can't work together."
"Marlee is right." Samantha chimes in, "can we just put everything aside for a couple hours and have a good time?"
"I can do that." Inputs Tuesday.
"Ya okay." Elayna says.
"Great! Now let's decide. Who votes Bariel for captain?"
Only a few girls put their arms up, which gives Bariel a sour expression.
"And who votes me?"
Everyone else puts their hands up, including me.
"It's decided then, Samantha is Captain." Marlee says.
"What's the game plan than?" Hannah asks.
"We can't play with 34 girls on the field. We need to have two groups, and we can switch out."
"That's a good idea. We can have nine people in one group and eight people in the other. Someone needs to tell Olivia and the other team." I add.
"Janelle can you do that?"
"On it Samantha." Janelle leaves the huddle and makes her way to Olivia.
"Okay," Samantha continues, "we need to make our teams equal. So the two fastest on opposite teams and so on..."
After five minutes we are ready to play. I am in the first group of eight, which consists on me, Marlee, Anna, Janelle, Amy, Clarissa, Tuesday, and Bariel.
Amy is the fastest in our group, Tuesday has good aim, Janelle can kick hard, me and Marlee work well together, Clarissa says she'll be good at goalie and Anna and Bariel say they can give us moral support.
"Okay girls, bring it in." Olivia shouts to both sides.
We stack our hands together and shout at the count of three, "Team Red!!!" Then our first groups head out.
"Red Team! Who's your captain?" Asks Olivia.
"Samantha." I provide
"Purple team?"
"Zoe." Celeste says proudly. We all know Zoe is very sporty. It's going to be hard to beat her.
"Great! Everyone line up. Goalie in the back, defense in the middle, and offense next to me."
We all take our spots. I'm standing right next to Olivia and across from Celeste.
She leans forward and whispers, "I love you Mer, but you're going down bitch."
I smirk, "You wish."
"GO!" Olivia shouts as she drops the ball in front of us.
All of the offense charges forward, trying to get the ball. Of course Zoe is the first to get it, but it is quickly stolen away by Amy.
"AMY! Pass it to me!" Janelle shouts from the opposite side. Amy quickly passes the ball to her but it is intercepted by Fiona who sprints down the field until Tuesday, who is on defensive, kicks the ball from her straight to me.
"Get it America!!!" I get control of the ball as fast as I can and swerve around Tiny. I'm so focused on not losing the ball, I don't see Celeste run straight at me.
"Watch out!!!" I look up but it's too late. I run straight into Celeste, hitting my head on hers. We both fall back, the ball rolling out from the middle of us.
"Oh my goodness! America are you all right!" I hear Tiny cry.
"America!" Marlee's voice.
"Oh my goodness!"
"Are you okay?"
"Someone help her!"
Before anyone can reach me, I burst out laughing, Celeste following suit.
"Oh...my...gosh!!! That was so...funny!!!" I manage to get out. I crawl over to Celeste, "are you alright?"
"I told you you were going down."
At this point most of us are laughing.
"Hey, you are on the ground also."
Amy holds out her hand to help me up, as Olivia helps Celeste.
"You guys good?" Natalie calls out from the sidelines.
"Yep! Ready to keep going!"
"Good, I'll drop the ball like I did when we started."
We start again, and Jenna is the first to the ball. She passes to Celeste, who passes to Tiny who passes to Fiona, who shoots! Clarissa dives to the side but barely misses!
"YAAAAA!!!" The purple team cheers. "Great teamwork guys!!!"
"1-0 PURPLE!" Olivia announces. "Time to switch groups!"
We all switch and I sit down next to Marlee and Anna as some maids bring out pitchers of water.
"It's okay, we will get them next time!"
"Yes we will! COME ON GUYS! YOU GOT THIS!" Janelle yells.
We watch as they start playing.
Anna turns to me and asks "So America, how has your new life been going?" She wiggles her eyebrows.
"Ha! It's definitely been stressful, but at the same time I couldn't be happier."
"Is it different now that you don't have to share Maxon?" Tuesday asks.
"Definitely. I don't feel all the worry that came with 'is he going to choose me or her' anymore"
"I bet it's great," Anna sighs, "I met this guy named Austin. He's a three, and he's absolutely lovely."
"And you don't have to share him!" Marlee says.
"Exactly!"
"Oh!" Tuesday starts, "I've been meaning to ask how everything is going with your husband, Marlee!"
"He must be great, you risked your life for him!" Clarissa says at the same time Olivia shouts fowl.
"Not to mention, giving up the crown! You were so close to it!" Of course Bariel is still more concerned about the crown than she is the prince.
"To be honest I wasn't thinking about what I was giving up or risking, I was thinking about what I was gaining, and continuing to gain everyday."
"Awe, that's so sweet!"
"That's exactly the way I feel about Maxon. At first I was so caught up in what I was losing, I didn't have time to think about how much better my life could be than I planned."
"What could you possibly have to lose? You gained true love and a kingdom. How could you possibly say that?" Janelle snaps.
"More than you could know. My life was going perfectly before all this."
"So you regret it? I'm confused..."
"No! Of course not Amy! I regret none of it. I'm just saying that what I had going on in my life was great, until I realize I could be so much more. I could love so much more. I could be loved so much more. I realized that life before wasn't perfect, but my life now is pretty close."
"I'm happy for you."
"Thanks Tuesday, that means a lot."
"I'm happy for you you too Marlee. You are so strong and brave."
"You flatter me Tuesday, but I feel weak for hiding for so long."
"You did what you had to do for love. It's admirable." Amy puts a hand on Marlee's shoulder.
"You guys are going to make me cry! Let's talk about something else!"
We don't get the chance. Celeste and the other girls jump up and start yelling. Our attention is dragged back to the field as Tallulah makes a break for the goal. She kicks the ball with all her might and it flys towards Elayna. It goes straight into the goal, missing her head by inches.
"YESSSS!!!!" The other team cheer and high five as we switch again. Darn. Now we are 2 points behind.
We start again and I immediately get the ball and pass it to Janelle before it is taken by Fiona and passed to Tiny. Anna, who is on defense kicks it across the field before they can get to close to the goal though. We all surge forward, trying to reach the ball first. Marlee and Celeste get there at the same time as I run further forward, making myself open for a pass.
There's a small break in the sea of legs and Marlee kicks it towards me. I turn towards the goal and kick it as hard as I can.
AND
IT
HITS
THE
goalpost. Darn.
Emmica (who is the goalie for the purple team) kicks it back out. It rolls straight to Amy who kicks it straight back at Emmica and into the goal!
"YAAAAA!!!"
"That's how it's done Amy!!!"
"Nice assist America!...kinda"
"Ha! Thanks Anna!"
"Wow! Amy that was awesome!"
We all crowd around her and chant her name as we switch back to the sidelines and grab some more water.
By the end of the game it was nearly sunset. We have been out all day!!! We take a few breaks to talk and causally hang out, but we mostly play. I have the most fun I'd had in weeks even though my team loses.
I can't wait to see what tonight will bring on this glorious day!