Oh, hi. I guess this would be a great time to tell you I'm not dead.

Zita

Friday came faster than I expected it to. The school days drug on, but somehow the first week of senior year went by in a flash.

Soccer practice was the only thing I looked forward to during the day.

It was only the first week and already I couldn't stand my classes and Kylee was annoying me. Kylee was completely hung up on TJ, he was all she talked about. She looked forward to chemistry everyday to have an excuse to touch TJ's arm and to flirt with Mr. Trainer. It just wasn't Kylee that flirted with him, it was every girl in the class except for me. I even think some of the guys were falling for him.

As for me, I didn't think of him in that way. Sure, he was cute, but he was also way older than us and it's kind of creepy to think about your teacher in the manner that Kylee would tell me she was thinking.

To top it all off, Mr. Trainer assigned us our first assignment. The assignment was to spend some time outside of class with our partner, to get to know them a little more. He even gave us a sheet of questions that we had to ask the other person. Like Mrs. Peterson, Mr. Trainer refused to change our partners, and I was still stuck with Zion. The problem was Zion hadn't showed up for class since the first day of school.

In other words, I was screwed.

By the time the final bell rang on Friday I was only thinking about the game. I was so excited and nervous at the same time. I never knew how I would play, or how the team would play. I worried about Kylee, sometimes when she got caught up with other things, such as a boy, her head wasn't fully in the game. And we needed our goalie to be completely in the game.

Our game wasn't until six, but coach wanted us to meet right after school to go over a few plays and finalize positions. He was bringing food, so nobody really complained.

The locker room was buzzing with excitement. The underclassmen were nervous, you could tell by the way they were talking. They avoided even saying the word "soccer."

The seniors were different, we've been through this many times before. Kylee was talking, because she simply didn't know how to shut up, but I tuned her out and got changed quietly.

I was the first one out of the locker room, almost fully dressed. I just didn't have my shin guards on yet.

Our uniforms were pretty cool. Our school colors were blue and black. They had been changed a lot over the years, something about the students being fussy. I just like to think that the student council is made up of blonde bimbos that had nothing better to do than change our school colors.

The jerseys were all black with a royal blue sash going from the shoulder down the body, it was inspired by the team USA's uniform a couple years back. To go with the jersey we had royal blue shorts and white socks. Our last name and number was printed on the back of the jersey. I sported number 16.

The team also had warm ups. The jackets were all black and the sweatpants were all black as well.

Coach was on the field already. A box with subs sat next to him.

"Well, Zita Fuentes," He said when he saw me.

I smiled at him and fished around for the sandwich marked with my name.

"You nervous?" He asked.

I shook my head, "Not really. I'm more excited than nervous," I said finding my sandwich and sitting down against the goalpost.

He nodded, "Good."

The next hour we went over corner kick plays and rotations.

By the time five rolled around the other team had arrived. The didn't seem very intimidating, but they had a lot of tall girls on their team. We only had one girl over five foot five.

Coach noticed us watching them, "Girls, don't watch them. It will only make you more nervous. Come on, let's run some drills."

So we ran a couple drills and then shot around, getting Kylee warmed up.

"Zita!" I heard my name.

I turned around to see Papá and Cruz waving me over to them.

I smiled and jogged to them.

"Hey, chica. You kick ass tonight, okay?" Cruz said punching my arm.

"Cruz!" Papá scolded.

I just chuckled, "Don't worry, I will."

Cruz turned to Papá and nodded, "See she will."

Papá rolled his eyes, "We just wanted to wish you luck."

"Thanks," I replied.

"The whole family's not here, so you don't have to worry about loud screaming coming from the fan section," Cruz added.

We all laughed because we knew that Cruz was the one to cheer the loudest, I feel sorry for his kids when they grow up.

The coach called the team in.

"I gotta go," I said.

They both kissed me on the cheek and wished me good luck one more time before I ran off to join the team.

The game was close and dirty. The other team used their as a weapon and our girls kept falling all over the place. By the second half we were tied 1-1. Sarah scored the goal for our team off a break away.

Also by the second half most of our team was pissed off and kept on pushing back, only to get called out on it by the refs. Alison was carded and Brianna was close.

I heard Cruz yelling from the sidelines the whole game and Papá started to join him after awhile.

I was getting tiered, we all were including the other team. However, I refused to give up.

To make matters worse it started to pour a couple minutes before the end of the game, making the ball and field slippery. I knew I was covered in mud within minutes, but didn't care.

Kylee caught a shot and punted me the ball. I stopped it and dribbled it around some of the other teams players and then passed it up to Meg, one of the forwards, she shot. It bounced off the goalpost and came flying right to me.

I went up for the header at the same time a girl from the other team did and we collided. It wasn't our heads that collided, it was the fact that our bodies got tangled and we both ended on stomachs.

Somehow, I still got my head on the ball and from the ground I saw the ball slip through the goalie's hands and into the net.

Everybody started screaming and jumping. I stayed on the ground and smiled.

Sarah and Allison helped me to feet and wrapped me in a hug. We all hurried to our spots, but the ref blew the whistle before we could get there.

Kylee was the first one to cheer and we all laughed and smiled. We hugged each other on a good game and shook hands with the other team.

Coach was happy that we won, but still thought we needed improvement.

"You guys were sloppy, but good work out there tonight."

We were dismissed to go. Kylee, Allison, Sarah, and I all walked across the field together.

"So, we going to Carson's party or what?" Kylee asked.

"What time is it?" Allison asked.

"The party started after the football game, which should be getting down right about now."

"Well, I'm starving. Can we get some food and then head over there? People won't start showing up until later anyways." Sarah said.

We all nodded in agreement and went to greet our families.

"There's David Beckham herself!" Cruz shouted when he wrapped me in a hug and lifted me up.

"Hermano that doesn't make any sense," I said as he set me down.

He shrugged, "Makes sense to me."

"I think what your brother is trying to say is good game." Papá said and hugged me.

"That's what I thought he was getting at," I said, smiling.

"That shot was amazing, I don't know how you did," Cruz said, pride lighting up his face.

I just laughed and asked Papá, "Some of the girls and I are going to go get dinner and then hang out afterwards, is that okay?"

Papá shrugged, "Depends where you're hanging out."

I looked at Cruz for help, but he didn't get the clue.

I shrugged, "Some guy's having a party."

Papá raised his eyebrows, "Is there gonna be drinking?"

I shook my head, "Not that I know of, and anyways you know me. You can trust me."

Cruz elbowed him, "That's what I always said too."

"Yeah, but the difference is that I never did trust you, I still don't."

Cruz rolled his eyes, "Nonsense."

"So can I go?" I asked, ignoring their bickering.

Papá nodded, "Be home by midnight, or else."

Cruz nodded, "The or else got me every time."

"Every time." Papá agreed.

I rolled my eyes and noticed Kylee coming towards us.

"Kylee Kaster!" Cruz exclaimed.

"Cruz Fuentes, fancy seeing you here," Kylee said.

"Well, I came strictly to see you," Cruz said.

"I'm flattered," Kylee said. "Señor Alejandro," She added, nodding to Papá.

Papá rolled his eyes, "Kylee, always a pleasure."

"If it's okay for you, I'm going to steal your daughter for the time being. I'll have her home before curfew, I promise."

"Don't trust anything she says. She once told me that she was going to have my children. I have two and two more on the way, not one popped out of her," Cruz added.

Papá and I glared at him, Kylee slapped his arm, Cruz shrugged.

"Well we're gonna leave now," I told them.

Papá kissed my cheek, "Don't have too much fun, niñas."

"We'll try, no promises," Kylee said, dragging me away.

"See, what did I tell you? Can't trust her at all." Cruz said turning towards Papá.

We decided to go to the local pizza joint for dinner. We got an extra large pizza and Allison and Kylee ate the majority of it. Then somehow I was picked to be the driver.

"I'm so excited for this party!" Kylee said, washing down her last piece of pizza with a drink of soda.

"Me too," Allison said, "It's been too long."

"Who do you guys think the hottest guy on the football team is?" Sarah asked.

Kylee made a face, "Come on Sarah, what are we in seventh grade again?"

"She just doesn't want to answer. Obviously she thinks TJ is," I said, softening the blow from my best friend.

Kylee glared at me, "And Z thinks Carson is pretty yummy."

"I actually never said that. Carson's not my type, you know that."

"What the hell is your type then, Z?" Kylee asked.

I shrugged.

Sarah turned to me and raised her eyebrows, "So you're saying, tall, muscular, nice, and handsome isn't your type?"

Kylee nodded, "What can I say, she has no hormones."

I punched her in the arm.
"Hey!"

"Can we just go and get this over with?" I asked.

"Jeesh, don't sound so excited," Allison said.

By the time we got to Carson's house, there was no parking spaces anywhere near his house. We had to park a ways down his street.

"This is inconvenient if the cops come," Kylee muttered.

"We can jump into the lake and swim," Allison.

"To where, Canada? I don't think that's gonna help us."

"Guys, I just realized we're still covered in mud," Sarah said.

"Sarah, you worry way too much," Kylee told her.

"Half the people here are gonna be too drunk to notice, and the other will be sober enough to realize that we came right from a game," Allison said.

"I hate parties," I muttered.

"Well sometimes I hate you, but you don't hear me complaining, do you?" Kylee shot.

I pushed her.

"One of these times you're gonna break my neck and then your ass is gonna be in the net."

"Oh yeah," I muttered sarcastically.

When we stepped on Carson's driveway we could feel the vibrations from the music.

"Yeah, the cops are gonna get called to this one." Sarah said.

"He has no neighbors," Kylee added.

"My brothers building a house just down the road," I said.

"Yeah, I don't think we really have to worry about Cruz. He's probably beating some sophomores at beer pong as we speak," Kylee muttered.

We opened the front door into complete chaos. People had turned Carson's huge living room into a dance floor and were spilling beer and booze all over the place. There had to be close to a hundred people crammed into the room dancing to Dubstep.

Sarah shouted something to us, but we couldn't make it out.

Then Kylee was getting grabbed by the waist. TJ was completely wasted, but Kylee's face still lit up. She waved goodbye to us and danced her way to the center of the dance floor with TJ.

"Then there were three," Allison shouted in my ear, but when we turned to Sarah she was gone.

"Maybe not," Allison shouted back.

I smiled and followed her lead as we made our way out of the living room.

The kitchen was almost as bad, only it was alcohol central. Carson's table had been transformed into the arena for any drinking game imaginable. The island was full of bottles with dark liquids and clear.

"You wanna drink?" Allison asked.

I shook my head and held up my keys, "There was a reason I was voted designated driver."

She smiled, "I'm gonna go make one."

I nodded and tried to identify the people.

I barley recognized any of them, I assumed that most were from different schools.

I pushed my way through the sea of people and found a door leading outside. I slid it open and ended up on a pool deck. There were girls and guys playing chicken, just in their underwear. Somebody had put bubbles in the hot tub and people were getting pushed and dragged in.

I decided to get away before I ended up in the water.

It was still kind of drizzling out, so not many people strayed onto the beach. It was the only place that was quiet. I started making my way towards it.

"Zita!" I heard my name.

I turned around to see Carson running towards me, a grin on his face.

He had changed out of his football uniform and into jeans and a polo. To my surprise he was completely sober.

"Hey, you came," he said when he caught up to me.

I nodded, "I told you I would."

He nodded.

"So how're you liking the party so far?" He asked as we walked towards the water.

I shrugged, "I just got here and its pretty crazy."

He nodded, "Tell me about it. I just told some of the guys and a few people I actually wanted to hang out with and somehow it turned out like this."

"Are you going to get into any trouble from this?" I asked.

He shrugged, "Probably. My parents are in Europe for three weeks, though."

We reached the water and I sat down on the sand, he followed my lead, "Whoa, why?"

He shrugged, "My dad had to go for his business and Mom just went with him."

"And they just left you all alone?" I asked.

He nodded, "It's okay. They go away a lot."

"That must be hard."

He shrugged, "I get used to it."

Carson moved his hand so that it covered mine, "Zita, you're like one of the coolest girls I've met."

I raised my eyebrows, "That's the first time I ever got that one."

He grinned, "I'm not very smooth around girls."

"I'm not very smooth around people in general."

That made him laugh and he turned his head to the side and slowly started to lean in.

My whole body froze and my heart started beating. He was going to kiss me. He was actually going to kiss me!

"Carson! We got a problem!" Somebody shouted behind us.

Carson muttered a curse under his breath and we both turned to see Kevin, a member of the football team, said.

"What?" Carson hissed.

"You might want to come and see," Kevin said.

Carson sighed and got to his feet, "Zita I'm sorry about his, just stay put and I'll be back okay?"

I nodded and watched him walk back to the house.

It was cold on the beach and damp on the beach. A shiver ripped through me and I almost thought about heading back myself.

Then I heard footsteps. I turned around expecting to see Carson.

"Fuck, it's you. I thought you were someone else."

I scrunched my face up .

It wasn't Carter, but Zion Ezra. His hood to his sweatshirt up, his hands shoved in his jeans pockets, and that goofy grin on his plastered onto his face.

"What are you doing here?" I asked.

"This is my beach. I own it." He shrugged and sat down next to me.

I glared at him and noticed that he had a dark bruise around his eye and a cut on his cheek.

"What happened to you?" I asked.

"I joined a gang."

I rolled my eyes.

He smirked and laid back on his elbows, one of his legs bent.

"I really hate parties." He muttered.
" I really hate you, but you don't hear me complaining about it," I muttered.

He looked over at me and laughed.