KRISTEN

Every day, Kristen trained nothing but soccer. And every night, she fell into bed like a dead weight. But when darkness fell the evening before the ceremony, no one could fall asleep.

"I wonder who got picked," Belle voiced.

"How many can they take?" another girl wanted to know.

"12," Kristen told her. A fresh wave of worry washed over her. There were hundreds of Soccer Sisters from all over the country in the camp. And only 12 would be picked for the Junior Olympic team.

She must have dozed off at some point, because when she opened her eyes, the sun was shining and the birds were chirping. The sky was a brilliant blue with only a few wispy clouds, and a nice breeze was blowing through the window.

"Rise and shine!" their counselor coomanded.

Kristen stretched and put on gray shorts and a lime green three-finger tank. She slipped on flip-flops and followed her group up to the cafeteria, where she shoved a quick breakfast down her throat and raced outside to join the crowd that had already gathered in front of the makeshift podium that had been set up on one of the main fields.

"Without hesitation or ado," the director opened. "I would like to announce this year's Junior Olympic soccer team."

Kristen knew she shouldn't get her hopes up. She was one of the youngest girls there, and the Junior Olympic team was normally made up of girls who had been going to the Soccer Sisters camp for years and years. But she hoped anyway. She crossed her fingers on both hands and hoped.

"Gia Thompson, Vanessa Wynter, Jayden Pomp, Callie Fretzon, Dina Stern, Mikayla Smythe, Hailey Anderson, Stephanie Astor, London Derwin, Lucy Francesco, and Mina Brick. And your captain is..."

'It's nawt me,' Kristen realized through a haze of disappointment. 'I didn't get chosen.'

"Kristen Gregory!"

"What?" she mumbled aloud.

Three hands shoved her from behind. "Go! You're captain!"

She ran up to the stage and accepted a handshake, a pile of jerseys, and an index card from the director. She looked up with a bemused expression.

"It has the alternates on it," she explained. "Read them off."

"Oh. And our alternates are," she stepped up, "Nellie Waters, Chelsea Griffen, Kayla Meyer, Kyla Mink, Diana Whiteman, Marie Stewart, and Belle White." Belle White.

She was going to be on the Junior Olympic soccer team with her best friend, Belle White.