The Kick Off by Dan Freedman

up, otherwise he wouldn’t even be allowed to play football.
    Then there was Dillon, who would be in his face from day one.
    And, worse still, Jamie was sure he would be in the dreaded B Team for the first games of the new season.
    He just knew it. How could Marsden put him in the A’s after what had happened at the trials?
    But the funny thing was Jamie didn’t feel worried.
    He felt ready.



 
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    Normally, Jamie met Jack at 8.30 a.m. at the lamp post between their houses for the walk to school but today he’d already been standing outside for about ten minutes and there was still no sign of her.
    He turned his phone on to check the time. It was 8.42. There wasn’t even time to knock on her door and see if she’d overslept. Jamie knew he had to get going otherwise he’d be late for the first day back.
    He started to jog up the road but then he felt something vibrate inside his trouser pocket. It was his phone. A text had come through. Jamie read it as he ran. It was from Jack: Hey! Got back early! When r u coming round?
    It had been sent at 5.31 p.m. yesterday. Jamie must have been training down at Sunningdale when she’d sent it and what with having his bath and getting everything ready for school before he went to sleep, he hadn’t had a chance to check his messages last night.
    He felt bad. Jack must have thought that he’d forgotten their arrangement or, even worse, that he was ignoring her for some reason. As if! He couldn’t wait to tell her everything.
    Jack would be cool though. Once he’d told her that he was now training with the First Eleven, that would be all she’d want to hear about.
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    Jamie ended up having to sprint practically the whole way to school just to get there in time. Still, the more fitness training the better. But when he walked into the assembly hall, Jamie had a big shock. He saw that Jack was already sitting down and next to her, in the seat that Jamie always sat, was Nicki Forbes. She had taken Jamie’s place!
    Nicki and Jamie didn’t get on at all. Nicki had been Jack’s best friend at Kingfield before Jamie had joined so she’d always had an attitude with him, like he’d stolen Jack away from her or something.
    Jamie knew Nicki would be loving the fact that she was sitting in his place. It annoyed him to see them talking and laughing together. Jack must have given up Jamie’s seat on purpose, to get back at him for not going round yesterday.
    Jamie had so much to tell her. There was Kenny Wilcox’s book – she could share it, there was some wicked advice for keepers – plus the little matter of the fact that he was now friendly with Danny Miller!
    Jamie went straight up to her after assembly. She’d snap out of it once he’d explained.
    â€œHave you got a sec, Jack?” he said, completely ignoring Nicki, who was standing there too.
    â€œI suppose so,” said Jack.
    â€œI’ll see you for lunch later then, Jack. Yeah?” said Nicki, talking to Jack but giving Jamie an evil look as she spoke.
    â€œYeah, see you later, Nicks.” Jack smiled.
    They could talk properly now Nicki was out of the way. Jamie suddenly had an urge to give Jack a massive hug. He hadn’t seen her for weeks. But they didn’t normally do that, and certainly not in school.
    â€œSo how have you been, mate? How was Antigua?” he asked with a lively grin.
    Jack’s face had turned cold and expressionless as soon as Nicki had gone but Jamie carried on anyway.
    â€œSorry about last night, by the way. I was down at Sunningdale till late and my mum’s been giving me no end of grief. . . Anyway, I’ve got so much to tell you. Guess what’s happening tonight?”
    For a second, Jack’s face brightened.
    â€œWhat are we doing?” she asked.
    â€œNo, not us – me. I’m training with the First Eleven down at Sunningdale tonight. They invited me