Blow Out by M. G. Higgins

Author:M. G. Higgins
Language: eng
Format: epub
Publisher: Lerner Publishing Group

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livia made a brilliant takeaway, stealing the ball from the opposing attacker. She dribbled and passed to Elise in center midfield. As Lacy sprinted to get into position, she glanced over her left shoulder to keep her eyes on the ball. Elise sidestepped a defender and chipped the ball to Nita. With a perfect first touch, Nita got the ball from her thigh to the sole of her foot and jerked away from another defender.

Yes! Lacy thought. The pattern they’d been practicing was working exactly as planned.

Lacy ran across the field, and Nita tapped her the ball. Two defenders charged for it, but Lacy’s timing was perfect. She had pulled her foot back to hammer the ball into the net when she heard, “I’ll take that.”

Raven knocked the ball out from under Lacy, tripping her in the process. With pain surging through her right knee, Lacy fell to the ground. She saw Raven’s strike float over the keeper’s hands and into the back of the net as Coach Berg yelled, “Good strike, McAlister!”

Lacy sat up with a start. Sweat had soaked through her T-shirt.

Her door swung open, and the light switched on. “Are you all right?” Lacy’s mother asked as she stepped to Lacy’s bed.

“Yeah, I think so.”

“I was walking down the hallway and heard you shout.”

Instinctively, Lacy touched her knee. The nightmare had felt so real. “I … I’m okay.”

Her mother sat on the edge of the bed and brushed the hair off Lacy’s forehead. “You’re perspiring. Do you have a fever?”

“No, Mom. It was just a bad dream. I’m fine. Go back to sleep.”

“What was the dream about?”

Lacy wanted to tell her about the nightmares, but she hesitated. Her mother was not Carrie. Her sister would have figured out that the episode was triggered by Lacy’s upcoming scrimmage. Her mother didn’t have a clue. “Nothing. I don’t remember.”

Her mother’s eyes narrowed. “Did it have something to do with your soccer problems?”

Okay, maybe she had more of a clue than Lacy thought. Lacy sank back onto her pillow. “I told you, I’m fine.”

Her mother murmured, “I’m worried about you. Don’t you think this has gone on long enough?”

If she’d asked the question harshly, Lacy would have immediately tuned her mother out. But the caring in her voice made Lacy want to cry. Part of her agreed. It would be easier to quit soccer. Fighting a lump in her throat, Lacy said, “I don’t know.”

Lacy’s mother sighed and folded her hands in her lap. “Anxiety is a part of life, Lacy. When you’re an adult, you’ll have to decide for yourself if whatever is stressing you is worth working through. But you’re not an adult. And I’m your mother. I don’t like seeing you in this much pain.”

She patted Lacy’s head and rose. “I’ve found you an adorable dress for the Belle League luncheon.”

“Mother—”

“It’s really fabulous,” she said, and winked. “I think you’ll be surprised.” She walked to the door and turned. “The league is not just a social club, you know.

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