Today I joined the soccer team. That's not the thing that dad would disapprove of that I was talking about earlier. Well, actually he does disapprove of it. Because soccer 'is for wimpy men'. But he just stays out my way. But the soccer does lead me to the things I mentioned earlier. The real reason I joined the soccer team is because Jacob wanted me to. "Wanted" meaning begging non-stop till I said yes just to shut him up.

And the reason he wants to join the soccor team is because; get this, the socks.

"Yes. Edward. Girls would be all over us if we join the soccer team. The ladies love those socks. Edward. Come on. You can't deny it. Those soccer socks are hot."

I've been pushed into doing a lot of things by Jacob. Like taking that media class, thinking it was going to be about TV shows and whatnot. Nope. The class is full of geeks and at the end of the semester we have to build our own web-page. Thank you Jake, instead of all the ladies we were going to get by being in this class, we get to build a geeky web-page with the geeky people.

But anyway, so I'm here standing for try-outs and it turns out that Jake is not a bad goaly. So he gets placed as the replacement. Me, well, I get placed as one of the many fowards, the guys who play offensivly and have the ball. Like I know what that means. I'm only here becuase of the socks.

I don't tell my family. It doesn't change anything if they know that I'm playing soccer. And having Carlilse Cullen at the games would be a bad idea. It would be a pressure building up on me like a ton of bricks. Plus having the states most feared mob personnel yelling, "That's my son." Is out of the question.

But tonight is our first game. Were playing the Siberians. I don't know who they are, but I'm pretty sure that it's illegal to have an Islamic school here. Maybe I'm wrong.

It was almost half-time and neither Jake nor I have gotten to play. But Jacob's so hyped up it's like he's really playing in there. While I'm trying to tune most everything out. But I can still hear Jacob every now and then yell.

"No pass it to the other guy! - - - No! Not that guy. The other one with the green jersey! You idiot! -- Yes. Yes. Go go go. You got it. Wait. No no no . Wrong side! Wrong Side. Get it in the other side your morons! -- Ya! -- No! -- Come on. --Damn those socks are hot."

We were losing by fifteen points when I got a tap on my shoulder. I looked up to see the coach.

"You're in Cullen." He looked like I was his last hope.

I walked to the circle and stood in my position I was told to in practice. Behind me were the opposing team. I think I heard some whisperings but it was probably just in my head. My childhood has completely screwed me up.

Well, I won't bore you with the boring details but somehow some idiot person passed me the ball. The only thing I could think of was move... preferably in the right direction.

No one else on my team was near enough for me to pass them the ball. I could feel the Siberians closing in on me. I say a foot in my perephial vision and it made a lousy try for the ball and then fell back.

I was coming up on the defense now and they ran for me but one of them fell and the other tried to get it but like the other guy fell back.

The path was clear now. I looked behind me to see if one of my team members were coming. What were they doing? Whatever happened to teamwork here?

I shrugged and looked back at their goalie. Why not? I kicked the ball, the goalies hands almost grabbed it. He was this close, but for some reason he just stopped.

The crowed cheered and we reset.

I got the ball again. I know. What the crap? And I know that the other team is right behind me. I'm not a good runner. I'm remarkably slow. But you'd think that I was the Marathon Man now. They got so close but never touched. I passed the ball to someone on our team. I think he's name is Dune, or Duncan, or maybe it was Dana. It could be a girl. But that's not the point. Well, I passed her/him the ball and all the defense team rushed over to the attacker and took our ball immediately.

I ran up to them and somehow, I guess it slipped or something, but against all those opposing teams, I got the ball again. And then I noticed a clear path. It was like I just separated the great red sea or something. Well, I'm not picky about miracles. I ran and kicked and ran and kicked until the same set up with the defense happened again and the goalie missed... again.

By this time I was thoroughly suspisous. And by this time the stands were screaming my name. Someone obviously has poor eye sight becuase they were yelling, "Coleen. Coleen. Coleen. Here we go Coleen. Here we go. (stomp stomp.) Here we go Coleen. Here we go." You get the picture.

Another play and then it was half time. We had two minutes... and of course in the two minutes I score... again. It doesn't make any sense. It's like... they are afraid of me. If I was hooked up to a sound machine there would be an audible 'click'.

I was just thinking things through when one of the members of the other team came over.

"Hey Edward. Remember me? Ben... Ben Cheney."

Oh, that's why one of the players looked familiar. This guy's father used to be in Uncle Marcus's crew. That's how they all know. Crap.

"Well, I have to go Ben. Nice seeing you again. But I'm kind of thirsty." And I left cursing my father.

He wasn't even here! Carlisle wasn't here and yet my life is being altered by him. It's like his presence is here. Wherever I go. He'll be there too. He's even written on the back of my jersey. Cullen. Than name will always haunt me.

I turned to the coach. "Hey, I want to be benched."

"No way. You rock out there. There not even close to you. It's like magic. You're going back out there. We've never had this much luck. You could really help this team out. Maybe even give us a few pointers."

Blood boiled in my forehead. "I quit." Then I walked away before I could hear his stream of profanities.

Jacob waltzed up behind me. "Hey. What's this. You're quiting? Why. You were awesome."

"No. I wasn't Jake."

"Yes you were. .Why didn't you tell me you were good." He pouted. "You could have said, 'Hey, I'm really good at soccer. Sure, I'll wear these dangerously good looking socks. Man. It was like they were afraid of you."

"No they weren't Jake. They were afraid of my father." His mouth dropped down to form an 'O'.

"Look, I'm getting out of here. Good luck Jake. I'm going home."

I went to the lockers, took a shower, and then walked into the parking lot.

I saw a girl I've never seen before just kind of wandering around.

"Do you need something. Are you looking for something?" I asked politely.

She jumped. "OH! You scared me.Uh, not really. I'm just waiting for my dad to pick me up. My car broke... again. I guess that tends to happen to a car that is barley younger than Charlie. Charlie's my dad."

I smirked. I didn't even know cars that old still roamed. I thought they were all extinct.

"Well, when did he say he was coming?"

"After the game."

"But it's not over yet."

"Oh. Really? Then why did everybody get up and leave?"

I wanted to laugh but that would probably hurt her feelings. "Because it's half time... you have no clue about sports do you." She shook her head and blushed. It was a lovely color... I found my self staring at her checks.

"Sorry, where are my manners. I'm Edward. Edward. Cullen. An ex-soccer player as of ten minutes ago."

"What happened?"

"The other team didn't fight fair." Well, they didn't fight at all.

"Oh." Was all she said looking down.

"And what might your name be? Do you go to school here?"

"Yes. I just moved here. My name is... oh here's my dad. I have to go. Maybe I'll see you on monday at school!" She called over her shoulder as she stepped in the middle of the parking lot.

"Your name!" I called.

"Isabella Swan. But I prefer Bella." She smiled at me and in the darkness I could just barely see her perfect sweet blush. Not the blush that's ugly and runs up the neck and the entire face... but just in the checks.

Something my mother said entered my brain. "Girls don't know how to blush these days. If they do it looks like they're choking on a hot dog." Esme as wrong. Bella knew how to blush. And it was lovely.

I had forgotten completly everthing that happened on the feild. My thoughts were only for this new girl. Bella.

It was going to be a long weekend. Monday will never come fast enough.

While I was contemplating, I just missed the license plate on the car that just drove Bella off. It read: US Property - FBI

I just wanted to get these fierce socks off.