Soccer Step-Up by Jake Maddox

Author:Jake Maddox [Maddox, Jake]
Language: eng
Format: epub
Tags: 978-1-4965-3675-4; 978-1-4965-3679-2; Junior Varsity; fall sports; girl athlete; physical education; PE; athletics
Publisher: Capstone
Published: 2019-10-03T00:00:00+00:00

CHAPTER 7

TRUCE

Instead of hurrying in to change with the rest of the team, Melina pulled on her sweats and hoodie. She climbed the aluminum bleachers and took a seat at the top. Soon the varsity girls jogged out onto the field.

Melina watched them stretch and warm up. They all seemed so much more grown-up and professional. The coach wasn’t even on the field yet, but they were already starting to run drills.

“Looking good!” they called to one another. “Good hustle!” they cheered. “Great shot!” they shouted.

They move on the field like a well-oiled machine, Melina thought. I wish I could be part of a team like that.

“They’re pretty good, huh?” It was Nora. She had slipped into the seat next to Melina while her attention was on the practice below.

“Yeah,” Melina replied.

“That’ll be me and you in a couple of years,” Nora said.

Melina almost laughed. “If we survive the JV team.”

“Yeah, that was pretty rough,” Nora agreed, looking out over the field. Then she added quietly, “Sorry if I made it worse for you.”

For a moment, Melina didn’t say anything. “I don’t even know if you did,” she finally admitted. “I’ve just been really nervous since the tryouts. The high schoolers kind of freaked me out. I didn’t expect them to be such jerks. ”

“Is that what was bothering you today?” Nora asked, surprised. “Jeez, I thought it was me.”

“Well . . .” Melina started. She gave Nora a pointed look. “You haven’t been exactly helping.”

“Aww,” said Nora, giving a little shove with her shoulder. “I mean, I was super nervous, but I didn’t think you would be at all. I wouldn’t have been acting like that if I had.”

“You always act like that!” Melina exclaimed.

Nora looked confused. “Like what?” she asked.

“Like you want to beat me at everything!” Melina answered.

“Um, Mel?” Nora said. She gave one of her crooked grins. “That’s how you act too.”

Melina’s face went hot. Not because she was mad, but because she was embarrassed. As she thought back to the surprise captain vote and all her sassy comebacks, Melina realized it was true. After all, it took two to create a rivalry. Nora hadn’t done it on her own.

“Maybe I owe you an apology, then,” Melina said.

Nora shook her head. “No . . . what I did today, trying to get the high schoolers to gang up on you, that was a low move,” she said. “Rose and her friends don’t need any encouragement! I just didn’t want them giving me any problems. It was selfish. Sorry.”

“Thanks. I get feeling scared, though. Rose and her friends are pretty intimidating,” Melina said. She paused for a second. “Remember what a great duo we made on the middle school team last year?”

“Yeah, when Ms. Perez let us on the field,” Nora added. “She always gave so much more game time to the eighth graders. And here we are, second string again.”

Melina let her gaze drift back down to the field. She had known Nora a long time, probably as long as those varsity players down there had known each other.

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