A/N: So sorry for the delay in posting. Stupid band season is finally over! I hope you enjoy this chapter and I promise to write like crazy over the holidays!

Artemis walked towards the soccer field while tying up her hair in a ponytail. She wore her old uniform, noticing the real team was already out there in their own. It made her feel even more like an outsider, but in reminding herself how well she knew the game, how she and her father had played this same game together for years, her confidence gradually came back. It was her sanctuary from his otherwise ruined childhood.

Jim looked over to his team to start practice and caught sight of the girl in a different uniform. "Looks like we have a spy," he whispered to his 'army'.

"Excuse me, I'm here to try out for the soccer team, sir? Am I in the right place?" she asked as politely as she could. Arty was well aware of the many pairs of eyes staring at her.

An eruption of whispers exploded within the group of boys. "Jim! She's a girl!" came one whisper. Similar ones flew about in the air like angry bees as the 'army' huddled and argued. With a round of groans, the huddle broke and the boys walked back all the while giving Artemis an angry frown.

"You'll show us what you got. If it's any good, we might consider your position on the team," said Jim in a straightforward manner, silently telling himself they needed a water boy, or girl. He gave a signal to his team as they lined up. Odd, Yumi, and Aelita looked on from the bleachers to cheer on Ulrich, and the replacement goalie Jeremie. The boy stood awkwardly before the goal, wishing he was anywhere but there. Sissy's gang sat opposite the Lyoko group, taking on the role of cheerleaders with Sissy as cheer "captain". The raven haired girl was up with a brand new baton in hand, twirling it around above her head catching the sun.

Apparently, it was time to practice, Arty versus everyone on the team. All she had to do was score three goals, which seemed simple enough even with the all-star Ulrich on the field. She noticed the boy she had met earlier was serving as goalie, and judging how confident he was looking, once she got to the goal, scoring would be no problem.

Ulrich glared at Arty at the center of the field, ready to face-off. She gave him a calm look, almost smiling, which confused and bugged him even more. He didn't want to lose his good position and reputation if she got past him. The ball dropped almost in slow motion, and Artemis was the first to knee-up and steal it away. Ulrich grit his teeth and followed her as she wove through the players fluidly, dodging every attempt they threw. She noticed they were going easy on her in the beginning, it was apparent through how half-hearted their attacks were. But once she had streaked her way across the field and set up to shoot, the boys started to realize she wasn't as weak as she appeared to be. With one good kick the ball soared into the net missing Jeremie's outstretched arms by a few short inches.

The next face-off came around and every boy on the field, including Jim, had hardened their focus. She was no pushover apparently. The white and black ball fell to earth again, but this time Ulrich caught it with the side of his foot. He grinned to himself until he noticed Artemis smile to herself and follow his move towards the goal. Since they were using the same goal, if Arty could steal the ball, she wouldn't have far to go to score again. She trailed Ulrich as he ran towards the goal with ease, since he had no other opponent but Artemis. Ulrich kneed up the ball to his height, smirking in thinking how close he was to a goal when he caught sight of a red streak catch up beside him. The ball began to descend and another player brought a strong side kick to the ball, it flew into the gaping net with another swish past Jeremie's ears. Ulrich glared over to Artemis, that was supposed to be his goal.

"Uh oh," Yumi sighed, catching sight of Ulrich's unhappy expression. "He looks a little angry you guys. I guess he really thinks that girl's a problem."

"I saw her earlier, she's really quiet," Odd confessed, taking another bite from his candy bar and continued while he chewed, "But she's pretty good at soccer you know. Maybe I should try out for the team again."

"That was unfair! Time out! Time out!" Sissy yelled to the field.

"Sissy, this isn't really a game. Besides, I really think she can do that you know," Nicolas shyly put in to his flustered friend.

"She's stealing the spotlight from my Ulrich!" Sissy yelled again and sat down, arms crossed and her face melted into a big pout.

The ball flew across the field once more, Ulrich was as tense as ever as he dribbled the ball between his feet as he ran. Arty trailed him along the length of the field, pushing herself to make just one more goal. She panicked as Ulrich pulled back his leg to score, she needed a clean win to make the team. She dove, feet first, hitting the ball from right underneath him and into the corner of the goal.

The rocks digging into her back didn't feel too good, but seeing the ball had made it in made her smile to herself. Ulrich felt just the opposite. She stole that goal from him so easily, he must have held back without realizing it. He was still the best and he wanted it to stay that way. Especially for his parents' sake. If the rest of them would have tried harder, she wouldn't have scored so easily.

Something about her gave him the chills, despite her harmless appearance. His instincts told him trusting her would be a bad move. He tried not to think of the sickening feeling in his gut as he trotted over to his friends.