For the Win by Angel Lawson, Rochelle Allison Page B
Authors: Angel Lawson, Rochelle Allison
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Allie follows. She’s right about this being a potential distraction, and there’s definitely a good chance our teammates won’t like it. But what she doesn’t realize is she’s holding on to her spot by a thread, and this is the only way she’ll get to Brazil.
“I’m in,” I say, lifting my chin. “Tell me you’ve got some title like, ‘Can the Bad Boy of ACC Soccer Go for the Gold?’ Because that would be amazing.”
Veronica blinks, like she’s not sure I just said that, while Allie pinches me viciously on the back of the arm. “Ow, just kidding. Only kidding.” McDowell nods dreamily, eyes glazed over like that was the best pitch he’s heard all year.
“When do we start?” Allie asks, which is her way of giving her approval. “I’ve got to meet with the PT in ten minutes.”
“Where will you be this afternoon?” Veronica asks me.
“This afternoon?” I open my phone and scroll down the schedule sent to me by Coach Mitchell. “On the field.”
She smiles. “We’ll see you there.”
Reporter : What was the hardest part about joining this team?
Julian: Facing my new teammates.
Reporter : Really? Why is that?
Julian : The elite soccer community is pretty small. We’ve all known one another, or have known of one another, since we were kids. Everyone on the team has heard some version of my downfall.
Reporter : Were you embarrassed?
Julian : No one wants to be the guy that brings all the drama to the team. I mean, there’s always going to be drama but I’ve spent the last year owning my mistakes. This matters to me. Walking onto that field was another step toward personal responsibility, but just because I was ready to accept it and move on didn’t mean everyone else was going to and that’s something I have to deal with.
Chapter 16
(2010)
Jumping to my feet, I squinted down at the field. We were in the stands today, watching the girls play. They were tied one-one, but the game had paused as Allie was currently sprawled at the tip of the box. Melina trotted over and bent down to talk to her.
“Foul!” Marcus cried, his voice mingling with others from the stands.
After a moment, my sister took Melina’s hand and stood, brushing grass and dirt off her knees.
Marcus was nearly beside himself. “Ref! Foul! Call it!”
I chuckled, watching as Allie shot him a dirty look from fifty yards away. “Oh man, she’s not happy.”
“She hurt her ankle again. See how she’s carrying it?”
I frowned and leaned forward, observing how she favored her left foot. Sure enough, when the ref positioned the ball for the penalty kick, the girl’s coach shouted from the sideline and Melina, not Allie, lined up to take it.
We’d practiced these a million times, but anything could happen. Melina didn’t look nervous, though. She rarely did. Readying herself by pushing her shoulders back, she got into position.
“You got it,” I muttered under my breath.
She tightened her ponytail and moved decisively, striking the ball on its sweet spot. The goalie tried—I would have had a hard time stopping it—but Melina scored with perfection, hitting the bottom left corner. Allie rushed over, throwing her arms around her best friend as cheers erupted from the stands.
“That’s how you do it!” Marcus shouted. I stood and clapped, offering a thumbs-up when she glanced in my direction. “You totally would have missed that.”
“Probably.” I nodded. “Her leg’s a rocket launcher.”
Our game was next. Coach called us down, directing us to the adjacent field for warm up. Grabbing our gear, we joined the rest of team.
“So did you ask her?”
I didn’t need Marcus to clarify the question. Senior prom was all anyone cared about lately...those stupid ‘Prom-Posals’ were everywhere. It was too much pressure. What if I looked like an idiot? I wanted to ask Melina, but after years of tip-toeing around our relationship I was terrified to pull the
“I’m in,” I say, lifting my chin. “Tell me you’ve got some title like, ‘Can the Bad Boy of ACC Soccer Go for the Gold?’ Because that would be amazing.”
Veronica blinks, like she’s not sure I just said that, while Allie pinches me viciously on the back of the arm. “Ow, just kidding. Only kidding.” McDowell nods dreamily, eyes glazed over like that was the best pitch he’s heard all year.
“When do we start?” Allie asks, which is her way of giving her approval. “I’ve got to meet with the PT in ten minutes.”
“Where will you be this afternoon?” Veronica asks me.
“This afternoon?” I open my phone and scroll down the schedule sent to me by Coach Mitchell. “On the field.”
She smiles. “We’ll see you there.”
Reporter : What was the hardest part about joining this team?
Julian: Facing my new teammates.
Reporter : Really? Why is that?
Julian : The elite soccer community is pretty small. We’ve all known one another, or have known of one another, since we were kids. Everyone on the team has heard some version of my downfall.
Reporter : Were you embarrassed?
Julian : No one wants to be the guy that brings all the drama to the team. I mean, there’s always going to be drama but I’ve spent the last year owning my mistakes. This matters to me. Walking onto that field was another step toward personal responsibility, but just because I was ready to accept it and move on didn’t mean everyone else was going to and that’s something I have to deal with.
Chapter 16
(2010)
Jumping to my feet, I squinted down at the field. We were in the stands today, watching the girls play. They were tied one-one, but the game had paused as Allie was currently sprawled at the tip of the box. Melina trotted over and bent down to talk to her.
“Foul!” Marcus cried, his voice mingling with others from the stands.
After a moment, my sister took Melina’s hand and stood, brushing grass and dirt off her knees.
Marcus was nearly beside himself. “Ref! Foul! Call it!”
I chuckled, watching as Allie shot him a dirty look from fifty yards away. “Oh man, she’s not happy.”
“She hurt her ankle again. See how she’s carrying it?”
I frowned and leaned forward, observing how she favored her left foot. Sure enough, when the ref positioned the ball for the penalty kick, the girl’s coach shouted from the sideline and Melina, not Allie, lined up to take it.
We’d practiced these a million times, but anything could happen. Melina didn’t look nervous, though. She rarely did. Readying herself by pushing her shoulders back, she got into position.
“You got it,” I muttered under my breath.
She tightened her ponytail and moved decisively, striking the ball on its sweet spot. The goalie tried—I would have had a hard time stopping it—but Melina scored with perfection, hitting the bottom left corner. Allie rushed over, throwing her arms around her best friend as cheers erupted from the stands.
“That’s how you do it!” Marcus shouted. I stood and clapped, offering a thumbs-up when she glanced in my direction. “You totally would have missed that.”
“Probably.” I nodded. “Her leg’s a rocket launcher.”
Our game was next. Coach called us down, directing us to the adjacent field for warm up. Grabbing our gear, we joined the rest of team.
“So did you ask her?”
I didn’t need Marcus to clarify the question. Senior prom was all anyone cared about lately...those stupid ‘Prom-Posals’ were everywhere. It was too much pressure. What if I looked like an idiot? I wanted to ask Melina, but after years of tip-toeing around our relationship I was terrified to pull the
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