Chapter 17

Thank you so much guys for 11k reads!! Love you all!!

~•~

Our school was dominant from start to finish, Clay leading our team to a staggering 42-0 win over Archer Tech. From what I heard, the after party was incredible, Jeremy Fowler really outdoing himself. His house is a huge, party perfect environment, and I heard that the whole school was invited in celebration of our first win on the road the state championships. From what I heard, everyone except the girls’ soccer team attended and had a pretty great time. The snapchat stories showed people downing entire bottles of jäger before bombing into Jeremy’s pool from third story windows, skateboarding around his house, lots of making out. I think there was even a video of Clay and Jeremy doing body shots off one another.

I stretch my arms high above my head as I drop my phone on my lap, done with looking at all the fun I missed out on to ensure I wasn’t hungover for the game today. I didn’t even go to the party to stand around and talk to friends. I dragged myself home, forcing all of my teammates to go home as well. I dropped off April, Raven and Mackenzie because they all live close to me after Faye, Devon and Kiara all found a lift to the party, leaving open seats in my car. The fact I made a good chunk of the squad go home means that if anyone turns up and I catch the whiff of alcohol or the sight of even slight tiredness I will ensure they’re benched. I don’t care how important to the team they are, if they’re not 100 percent they won’t play.

Our first game is a tough opponent against North Central High, a school about twenty minutes out of town. They beat us last year in the semi-finals of the state championships with an outrageous dive in the last seconds of the game which was given as a penalty. I don’t hold anything against Gemma for not saving it because penalties are pure luck, but that dive cost us a spot in the final and I’ve despised the striker who cheated since. I push my covers away from my body and let my legs dangle off my bed, my eyes peering out of the window to see if my parents are home. They’ve known about this game for a few weeks now so I’m hopeful that they’ll actually come and watch me play today. I can’t help but grin when I see that both of their cars are in the driveway meaning that for the first time in a long time, they haven’t left for work before I’ve even woken up.

I get ready quickly, brushing my teeth and washing my face before pulling on my school training top and matching joggers. Coach decided a few years ago that in order to look like we’re serious about soccer, we needed to dress for the occasion. Cutting through a large portion of our travel budget, she bought and personalised every player, varsity and junior alike, with a tracksuit in the school’s colours and our badge proudly embroidered on the front. We have to arrive in them, we have to leave in them, and we have to pay for their upkeep. Coach bought them for us, but we have to pay to fix them if they break. Nobody, especially on my watch, has let those tracksuits go to ruin. We even held a fundraiser my first year as captain to get all the money back that she spent, and even forked out on buying coach her own cap and personalised notebook with the school’s logo and her initials on the front of the black leather.

She nearly even smiled when we gave them to her.

I jog down the stairs to see both of my parents sat at the island counter, my dad reading the newspaper with a mug clutched in his hand, my mom nibbling at a piece of toast as she reads over paperwork I’d bet is a new case she’s working on. My mom is one of the best prosecutors in the state, her cases more often than not high profile and not always clear cut. My dad is the chief of surgery at the major hospital in the nearby city, although he insists that he hates the paperwork side of the job and tries to get in on surgeries whenever he can. Both of their jobs are incredibly taxing, meaning that my mom is always down at her law firm and my dad finds himself stuck in his office often than not, spending most nights sleeping in the on call room in fear a surgery comes up that he needs to be a part of.

“Good morning.” I grin as my parents both look up and smile back at me. I walk into my dad’s open arms, breathing in the familiar scent of aftershave and antiseptic, a smell he can’t ever seem to get rid of no matter how many times he showers. I feel his beard scratching against my cheek as I pull away from his hold and into my mother’s, smiling as I feel her lips gently press to my forehead. “How come you’re both still here?”

I don’t go straight in with the “Are you coming to watch me play” question, because I want to enjoy the fact I’m sat with my parents for the first time in a while before I’m disappointed that they won’t be attending the opening game of the season. It isn’t very often that I get the chance to sit and talk with both of my parents at the same time before they both whisk themselves away to their jobs that consume their lives at the moment. My mom flips her notes over so that she’s reading a new page, her turtle shelled glasses perched low on the nose we both share, her free hand playing with the small silver cross she wears around her neck. “I have an hour before my preliminary hearing so I figured I’d stay here so I could see you before you left for your game and wish you luck, not that my superstar needs it.”

I let my eyes rake over her outfit, which doesn’t look at all fit to watch a soccer game. She’s in one of her famous power suits, her hair pinned back in a serious, lawyer like updo. My stomach drops and my smile becomes strained as I realise that she’s not coming. “You’re right.” I make eye contact with my mom as I try to make sure I don’t stop smiling. “I don’t need luck.” I don’t want to make her feel guilty for not being able to come, even if she has known about this game for a while. She didn’t even forget, even saying herself that she’s stayed behind to see me. I let my eyes flicker over to my dad whose full attention is on me, his golden, hazel eyes looking at me with sadness in them. “Are you still coming?”

“I wouldn’t miss it for anything. I haven’t watched you play in a long time and I can’t miss your opening game.” He grins, leaning across the counter to ruffle my hair. He doesn’t look like he’s heading in for a shift at work, opting for a loose fitting long sleeved t-shirt and slim fitting jeans over his usual suit and tie combo that suggests he’s definitely not staying at work. I breathe a sigh of relief that at least one of my parents are coming and walk over to the kitchen cupboard that houses all of our cereal, seemingly missing the dirty look my mom sends my dad’s way. “I just need to hand some paperwork over to the head of cardiothoracic surgery before he does a valve replacement at twelve, but I won’t miss your game, I promise.”

Normally I would be worried about him missing the game, with the hospital being a forty five minute drive away, but luckily for me the hospital is in the same direction as our game, so he’ll only be fifteen minutes away once he’s finished dropping off whatever he needs to drop off. I pour my cereal and check my phone for messages, April saying that a large amount of the team are carpooling to the game so we don’t have to rush back afterwards, and to pack a change of clothes suitable for a party. From what she’s messaging me, it sounds like she might have found some interesting post match antics for us to enjoy, and I couldn’t be more excited. I missed out on last night so I’m sure as hell going to enjoy a celebratory drink with my friends because we are going to win today.

I glance at my watch and wince, realising that I have twenty minutes to pack a bag full of essentials necessary to knock the socks off everyone in a mile radius, which means my cheerio’s are going to have to wait. I shove the box and the bowl back in their respective cupboards, turning around and smiling at both of them. “Am I alright to go to a party after the game today?”

“So long as none of your friends drive home drunk and you have a place to stay then I don’t mind.” My dad shrugs, picking up his coffee and sipping it whilst side eyeing my mother. “Katherine?”

“You better be home by twelve tomorrow or you’re grounded.” My mum says stone faced, my body coming to a halt at the seriousness of her voice. I cast a worried glance her way before she breaks into a wry smile, dropping her paperwork on the table and walking over to wrap me in another hug. “I’m joking. I’m sorry I can’t come to your game baby but I promise I’ll try to be at your next one.” I try and smile at her, but all I could hear was her emphasis on the word try, and how many times I’ve heard her say it before.

I try and grin as I bolt upstairs, throwing open my wardrobe and rifling through the outfits I haven’t worn in a while. I can’t help but assess my every outfit choice on the scale of “How much will Mackenzie like this” which annoyingly means that not a single outfit is good enough.

“Why am I assuming that she’s even going to be coming with us in the first place?” I mutter to myself as I push another bog standard outfit to the side. That purple top is definitely not good enough for Mackenzie.

“Because this whole trip has been arranged by April for God’s sake and she’s been trying her little cupid antics from the moment she found out about how I feel.” I hear my inner thoughts laughing at me in an irritating sing song voice, so I decide to not ask myself anymore stupid questions.

April tends to plan things on how she assumes that I feel, which unfortunately for me is more often than not right on the money. I can’t help but sometimes despise how well she knows me but more often than not I’m grateful for the fact she can talk me into or out of things she knows that I’ll either love or regret. I think it’s somewhat therapeutic for her to fix my life.

I grab a skirt, a few tops that match as well as a dress and a pair of heels I can make work. They all get folded and neatly placed in the side pocket of my sports bag before I shoulder it and head back downstairs to find my parents already gone, without even the whisper of a goodbye to me.

Their cups and plates have been moved and cleaned like they were never here in the first place. If I couldn’t see the newspaper my dad was reading sitting on the coffee table, and the crumbs next to toaster from where my mom made her breakfast, I would’ve truly believed I made the whole five minute interaction of this morning up.

“Nice to see you two this morning.” I mutter as my phone vibrates in my pocket, probably letting me know that April is outside and ready to pick me up.

I grab my bag and lock the door, seeing April hanging out of her window with a stupid grin on her face. I half expect her to quote lines from Mean Girls and call me a loser, but I know that my quirky, over excitable best friend is far too original for that. She’s wearing her tracksuit, and her fiery hair is pulled back into a tight ponytail, her stray hairs held away from her face by a thin headband. “Put your bag in the trunk and let’s get this show on the road.”

“I’m April. Could I be anymore unoriginal?” I quip at her and regret my defence of her uniqueness less than a minute ago. I think I would’ve preferred a half assed Regina George impression over that poorly unfunny dad line. I open the trunk of her car and shove my bag next to two others, meaning that someone else is already in the back seat because the passenger side was empty. I see her reflection scowl at me in her side mirrors at my comment, and I merely stick my tongue out in response.

“Get in the back, Alex. I don’t want to sit next to someone unappreciative of my humour.” April grumbles in annoyance, slipping back inside the car and waiting patiently for me to get in. I roll my eyes at her childishness and slip into the chair behind her, my body subconsciously reeled in when I realise who’s already in the car. “Get in the middle seat; we still need to pick up Gemma and Raven.”

I grin as I slide into the seat directly beside Mackenzie, her smile infectious. She looks incredible, with her hair piled on top of her head, the loose strands, like April’s, held back by a headband, her tracksuit top half zipped and exposing her sports bra. I swallow harshly and clip in my belt, trying to ignore her natural scent of coconut that’s crawling into my nose and staying there, and the fact I have a pretty great view of my crush’s cleavage.

“Good morning.” She says quietly as April peels away from my house, knocking her shoulder with mine in a jovial fashion. Her grey eyes are bright in the morning light, the colour I have started to become accustomed to now the colour of molten ash. Her hand is drumming against the small strip of fabric between our legs, my own aching to hold her hand. Her little finger keeps tapping against my thigh and I can’t help the heat that licks against my covered skin. “Are you excited for the game?”

I let my gaze meet April’s in her rear view mirror, waiting for her to shrug and look away before turning to face Mackenzie, a wry smile tugging at the corners of my lips. I don’t want to feel like every single interaction between the two of us is being watched or judged. No doubt April is going to assess every little thing I say to my favourite blonde bombshell during this twenty minute car trip, and I really don’t want to be debriefed about where I’m going wrong and how football isn’t a topic of conversation normally used to flirt with. “I’ve waited a whole year to beat these cheaters. Excited doesn’t even begin to describe how I’m feeling.”

“Well then, looks like you’re going to have to prove you’re not all talk, and that you’re actually the wall of women’s soccer because so far I haven’t seen it.” Mackenzie teases, earning herself a scoff and a punch on the shoulder from me.

I lean closer to her, my mouth skimming the top of her ear. I try and ignore the way my lips start to tingle at the contact as I tease her right back. “Looks like you’re going to have to actually put the ball in the back of the net today; otherwise I’ll make sure you’re benched forever.”

“And play with Freya instead? I think you’d rather cut off your right foot, Alex.” Mackenzie chuckles as we pull up outside Gemma’s house, April grabbing her phone and sending her a text to tell her we’re outside. I cast a sideways glance at Mackenzie to see that she’s already looking at me, her nose centimetres from mine and her alluring smirk tugged onto her lips; those bee stung lips that are looking really appealing right now. They’re not chapped, like mine, but smooth save for a small mark where it appears she’s bitten too hard and punctured her skin.

I cough and look away when Gemma opens the front passenger door, the moment ruined by the fact we have an audience. Mackenzie runs a hand through her hair and looks out of the window as I attempt to control the growing heat spreading through my cheeks whilst greeting our goalkeeper. I glare at April as she looks at me with a shít eating grin on her face, shrugging her shoulders slightly before pulling out and heading towards Raven’s house.

That shrug said “What did you expect? You knew we were at Gemma’s yet you looked at her like that anyway.” I mutter profanities under my breath because as much as it pains me to admit, but I know she’s right. These little moments between us are becoming more often, more open, therefore riskier. We’ve already been caught, next time we might not be so lucky and get caught by someone who does tell everyone.

Gemma and April drum up conversation, mainly about soccer and how we plan on beating North Central, April happy to bring up how she’s willing to play dirty to get Whitney Sandoval, the cheating diver who cost us the state championship, injured enough that she has to go off.

Mackenzie sits quietly beside us as she absorbs the information thrown around the car, from the best formations to use when attacking, the which players on the opposing team to watch out for. Luckily for her Whitney isn’t her problem, but their entire defence will have changed considering they were all seniors last year so we can’t exactly give her tips on a back line we’ve never seen play.

Soon enough we’ve picked up Raven, the conversation growing in order to avoid the awkwardness settling between my best friend driving and the girl who has sat next to me. We talk about the party April has managed to snag invites to, where the party is, who’s hosting and where we’re planning on staying afterwards.

Which as it turns out, is nowhere because April didn’t think that far ahead.

“You can all stay and get ready at mine.” Mackenzie pipes you from beside me. “Faye and the others can too I’m sure my brother won’t mind.”

April grins and pumps her fist, everyone saying thank you and singing along to the music that Gemma increased the volume of.

“Are you sure you want all of us?” I say to her. “Faye is prone to spilling at least two drinks during pres and that’s before she’s drunk.”

Mackenzie smiles, linking her pinky with mine whilst keeping a watchful gaze on everyone else. I know what she’s doing, she’s trying the nonchalant, don’t make eye contact approach whilst making a forward move on me, and I can’t help but be excited by it. She’s initiating contact, and if the smile I have to swallow is anything to go by, it’s working. “It’ll be fun. Besides, I can’t just invite you to stay, you’d think I had a crush on you or something.”

“Asking just me would imply that.” I grin, turning my hand palm up and intertwining all of our fingers. Our hands sit in the gap between our legs, so to anyone looking it just seems that our hands are both on the car seat. Mackenzie’s shocked expression looks down quickly at my bold action before cooling her expression and sending me a quick wink before looking out of the car window.

“I’m not going to humour that with a response.” She mutters, her cheeks flaming with colour.

“Saying nothing is basically agreement.” I hum in a song sing voice, my eyes locked on her reflection in the glass as she glares jokingly at me before we both join back in with the rest of the girls’ conversation, our hands remaining interlaced and attached.

~•~

“I have never seen a more punchable face in my life.”

We’re all stood in the coach’s huddle, every pair of eyes occasionally glaring over at North Central’s starting eleven as Whitney Sandoval goofs off on her side of the pitch, laughing and jeering like this game is already in her pocket. I can see distaste in everyone’s eyes, but there is a certain danger to the glint I see in Mackenzie’s when she stares at Whitney, her jaw tight as she clenches it. I raise my eyebrow her way and she brushes me off with a wary smile, but I know better than to assume she’s alright.

Coach is trying to talk us through tactics and gameplay strategy, but even she can’t help but hum in agreement with Raven’s hate fuelled statement at North Central’s arrogant captain. “Girls. Concentrating on her isn’t going to help our game. We need to leave her to Raven and Alex, everyone else needs to know what they’re doing and who they’re marking.”

Raven grins at me and we fist bump whilst still maintaining our focus on the tactics. We’re away so we don’t expect to see a lot of possession but when we do win back the ball we need to move it quickly up the pitch. Coach expects North Central to play with a high back line so balls over the top counter attacking play to Emma and April sounds like our best chance of doing that.

“Alex, you’re confident on the ball.” Coach says, her eyes watching me as Elise helps me slip the captain armband over my long sleeved shirt. “When you get it I’ll need you to put a foot on it and pick out a pass from the back. Don’t hoof it because we’re only giving them the ball back and inviting pressure.”

I nod my head as coach quietens, looking at us with a wry smile on her face. “Kick their asses girls.”

We laugh as we break and get into position, my eyes rolling when Whitney waves my way before laughing with her teammates. My eyes scan the bleachers and I relax when I see my dad sat in the stands with Faye, his hands waving animatedly as he no doubt talks soccer strategy to my uninterested best friend. The only reason she’s paying any attention at all is because she has a crush on him.

He sees me looking at him and he waves brightly, a large smile on his face as he mouths to me telling me kick North Central’s ass. I grin as I exhale a pent up breath, relief coursing through my veins at the fact he came to watch me play.

“I don’t know about you,” Raven mutters to me as she tightens her ponytail, tearing my gaze from my dad in the stands. “But if she keeps acting like that, I might just have to give away a penalty.”

I let my eyes scan the pitch, a frown forming on my face when it looks like Whitney isn’t taking this game seriously at all.

“I know what you mean.” I reply as I return my attention to the game, narrowing my eyes as they kick off and pass back to their defence. “But we’ve been practicing our tackling. Get the hall and take her out afterwards.”

“Yes captain.” Raven grins, our focus solely on the game and beating Whitney Sandoval. “Game on.”

“Game on.”

The game is a tense battle for possession in the centre of the pitch, Marie and Savannah holding their own in the middle of the midfield, cutting off the majority of North Central’s forward passes and forcing them to stay in their own half. Mackenzie and Freya are working well together up front, Coach opting to give us two strikers to chase onto the balls we hope to be pinging over the top. Freya might not be the best player with the ball at her feet, but put that ball in the air and she’s got the best heading accuracy over everyone else. They’re taking it in turns to pressure the ball carrier whilst marking the back line so they can’t pass backwards.

Forcing them to launch the ball towards Whitney, which means they’re kicking the ball to me.

“Alex’s!” I shout, running up from behind Whitney and taking the ball off her head with my own, heading it down to Marie who launches the ball up to Emma on the left wing. “Maybe next time, Whitney.”

“Just wait till it gets in your box, Alex.” Whitney smirks, tossing a smirk Ofer her shoulder. “You have a habit of fouling me in that area.”

I growl under my breath and continue watching the game, Emma one two passing with Freya up the pitch until Freya releases a pass that sets Emma up perfectly for a cross into the box. I sigh when the ball sails high over everyone’s head and North Central’s right back collects the ball easily and passes it out.

“Drop.” I call to my back line, Raven, Elise and Sophia, the sophomore who impressed coach so much she came straight into varsity, all drop back in a perfect line with myself, our eyes beadily watching for the ball to be pinged to Whitney. Elise sees it first and steps up to block, the pass bouncing harmlessly off her leg and landing at Mackenzie’s feet.

The blonde beauty’s face is set in grim concentration, her eyes surveying the pitch before neatly knocking the ball past North Central’s midfielder and carrying the ball all the way to their penalty area. She runs with such grace that I find myself unable to tear my eyes away. She makes carrying the ball so easy, nimbly dodging tackles and slipping the ball around players like they were unmoving and made of cardboard. She sets up to take a shot, but fakes at the last second, releasing a pass for Freya to run onto, surprising their defence and keeper alike.

Freya calmly shoots hard and low, the ball sailing past the keeper and into the back of the net. I’m unable to stop the small smile on my face as the girls run up to Freya and start high fiving her, Mackenzie not even asking for any credit with the run and the pass.

“Nice pass there, Mackenzie!” I call out and watch as she grins. I see Freya’s face fall slightly and as much as I don’t like her, I know scoring meant a lot to her. “Great goal Freya!”

Freya looks surprised, but on the pitch I’m everyone’s friend regardless of how I feel about them in my personal time. She makes eye contact with me and nods her head, but she can’t disguise the ghost of the smile playing at her lips.

We set back up and the game continues, the score remaining 1-0 at half time and staying the same until now, when we only have fifteen minutes left. We’ve had some good chances but their keeper is good and she’s kept them in the game.

Whitney has been played off the pitch and I know that’s frustrated her to no end. Her annoyance has shown by the fact she’s dropped from her forward position to midfield and she’s trying to do everything herself. Whenever she drops into defence I can see her making comments towards Mackenzie, and I know she isn’t liking them.

Her eyes are murderous despite her face showing a calm and collected expression. Mackenzie’s eyes show what feelings she’s trying to suppress, and currently her blood is boiling.

Emma takes a curling shot towards the top corner of their goal and the keeper tips it over the bar, so I start jogging up for the corner. “Raven and Sophia stick.”

I slow next to my the blonde bombshell and put my hand carefully on the back of Mackenzie’s neck, putting my lips on her ear. To anyone else it looks like we’re talking strategy, so whatever I say stays between us. “Hey, don’t let her get to you.”

“I’m trying Alex but I’m struggling.” She growls in my ear, her eyes cautiously watching as Marie places the ball next to the corner flag and lines up her cross. “I hate her.”

“I can tell.” I say quietly, squeezing the back of her neck softly before wrapping my arm over her shoulder. “Keep it together for ten minutes and then you can tell me what’s happened.”

Mackenzie breathes out a heavy sigh before looking at me and smiling. She’s visibly calmed down and her eyes are much more relaxed. “Thanks, Alex.”

I grin at her before Marie takes the corner kick and I sprint away from my marker and from Mackenzie, jumping up and contesting for the ball with another girl from North Central, climbing slightly higher than her and managing to head the ball towards goal. I watch and groan as the ball strikes the crossbar and bounces upwards where the keeper can easily catch it.

“Better luck next time, skipper.” Whitney Sandoval taunts as she jogs beside me back to the halfway line, a cruel twist on her lips as she stares at me.

“If only I said that to you every time you touch the ball.” I laugh, completely unaffected by her hollow words. “Actually get the ball anywhere near our box and then you can make taunts like that. Until then, keep your mouth shut and concentrate on the game.”

The girls on my team that are stood around us snicker as Whitney’s face hardens into a glare, her cheeks reddening in embarrassment. I can only imagine the plans she’s no doubt conjuring up in her mind which end up with me out for the soccer season.

“Keep an eye on her.” Raven mutters as Whitney recieves the ball from one of her defenders. I nod my head and watch as she dribbles past Marie, sending the ball wide to her winger. She comes sprinting towards me and I run to stay in line with her friend in possesion, Elise unable to stop her as she knocks the ball past her and beats her for pace. This is the first time they’ve managed to get the ball anywhere near our goal, and I see Gemma bouncing on her toes as she awaits the shot.

Then I see Whitney streak past me as the ball leaves the winger’s foot, remaining onside as she gets the ball on the edge of our box. I sprint and slide at her knowing I have no other choice before she takes a shot. I hook my foot and kick the ball cleanly up the pitch, watching as she theatrically dives over the top of me, knowing that I didn’t touch her at all during the tackle. I feel her foot collide with my face as her leg lashes out as she falls. I hiss as it connects with my forehead, my vision going spotty as I stare up at the sky as I try sort my sight out. She kicked me pretty damn hard, my hand coming away covered in blood when I tentatively touch my forehead, growling as Whitney starts to scream in fake pain, my heart sinking at the sound of the whistle going, knowing that once again, the cheater has gotten another penalty that will cost us a win.

Only when I look up, the referee isn’t looking at me, she’s pointing at the centre spot as the North Central goalkeeper picks the ball out of the back of her net, everyone on my team crowding around Freya as she grins from ear to ear.

I start laughing, my hands clutching at my sides as I’m unable to stop myself, as Whitney shouts at the referee at how it was a penalty. I start to howl uncontrollably as Whitney proceeds to get booked for simulation and arguing with the referee, her face murderous as she starts to stalk towards me. Then all of a sudden she’s on top of me, her face murderous as I try to push her off me, not wanting to retaliate and get booked.

Suddenly the whole team is crowding us and separating us, Mackenzie grabbing Whitney by her hair whilst the ref can’t see and pulling her off me, her grey eyes looking at me worriedly. Then suddenly all eyes are on Whitney as the pitch falls quiet at the words that fall past her lips.

“Nice hair pulling Mackenzie but I have to say, I much preferred it when your girlfriend did it.”

I scramble to my feet when I see Mackenzie’s eyes turn the colour of a thunderstorm, her face showing her intentions towards that gobby cheat on our opposition. I jump between them and grab Mackenzie around the waist as she launches herself at our opponent, her body over my shoulder as the teams allow me to drag her away. I feel her hands hammering on my shoulders and back as I walk away from the chaos on the field, hearing the referee blow his whistle. I put Mackenzie on the floor and sit on top of her as I pin her to the floor, using my body weight to secure her as she thrashes underneath me.

“Alex, please let me go.” Mackenzie begs angrily, her eyes brimming with furious tears as they look at me with a fearsome desperation. I shake my head and force my hands which are secured around her wrists further into the floor, her face red with exertion as she tries to buck me off. “Alex! I need to hit her, please just let me hit her once.”

“No.” I say, hearing the referee blow the whistle for the end of the game, and the sound of feet rushing over here. “Mackenzie, you don’t need to get red carded. We need you. We won, there’s no need to carry it on.”

I force her to look me in the eyes as the rest of the team comes over to check if she’s alright, everyone telling her Whitney got red carded and she’s missing the next two games. I watch as the fight leaves her, her expression softening as it does. I stand up and help her stand as the team starts to head back to the changing rooms, only April, Raven and Gemma loitering. I see Freya looking over curiously as she jogs away with Elise.

“Right then!” April shouts, clapping her hands to get everyone’s attention. “Who’s ready to go out and get so drunk the whole of this week is a blur!”

“Me!”

“Oh God yes!”

“Count me in!” I say, and look at Mackenzie as she stands and stays quiet. She waits a second longer before cracking a smile and slinging her arm over my shoulder, her fingers slipping under the sleeve of my shirt.

“Of course I am! I need a drink!”

~•~

Hey guys hope you enjoyed this chapter!! I hope everyone is staying safe and being careful in regards to COVID-19

I’ve had a bit of time to write recently so I’m hoping I’ll be able to publish a bit more often!

I may even publish something tomorrow if you’re lucky!

Stay safe ❤️

Lauryn x