Mark My Words

17 | Vibe

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In spite of the reaction from the boys team, the girls team seemed to hold the strongest grudge and had no shame in showing it. Rosalie could see it on their captain's face as they met at the midfield line, guarded by a referee. The girl had sleek black hair and a face that made it look like her ponytail was too tight, but perhaps that was just the sour attitude she was sending Rosalie's way.

"Tails," the girl said, eyes only leaving Rosalie's to follow the coin down into the grass. The referee called heads.

Rosalie kept her victorious smile to herself until she turned her back on the Lions' captain and returned to her team. She gave them a thumbs up and bumped Ray's fist on her way to the center of the field.

Her eyes lifted to the bench where the rest of their team sat. Coach Maguire gave her a curt nod as she paced the sideline, eyes on the field. Rosalie glanced back, looking over Alyssa and Kim, before settling on Joanna in the goal. She was in a vibrant gold uniform with Bradshaw blue gloves. She was too busy kicking her cleats around the grass to notice Rosalie, or the fact that the game was even starting.

Rosalie passed the ball to Ray with a swift side-kick, and began the fight of avoiding her defender. Ray circled the ball around the rightwing defender and freed it for the split second it took for her to find Erin across the field. Her kick sent the ball catching air, careening over Rosalie's head and to where Erin lunged to intercept the Adams defender jumping to head but it.

The defender rocketed the ball towards the Adams captain, who raced it down the field. Alyssa caught her, following her dance of spins and attempted passes. Alyssa kicked her foot out at the girl's ankles and nicked the ball, sending it off with harsh accuracy to Rosalie. It hit her thigh and dropped to the grass. She stepped in front and twisted it back, scooting it away from the defender on her ass.

The sidelines were in a disarray of red and black chants, and a roar of blue from the opposite stand. The closer Rosalie got to the goal, the louder they roared. She passed the ball off to Erin. The goal was vacant all except for the keeper and a defender on the penalty box. Another defender started running to intercept, but Erin already had her opening, and Ray was at the ready.

She kicked the ball hard at Ray's eye-level. Ray crossed over and slammed her head into it, rocketing it towards the stunned goalie who hadn't seen her coming. The goalkeeper had been too busy trying to track Erin's trajectory.

The ball flew dangerously close to the top corner pole of the goal. Rosalie and her defender paused on the field to watch the Adams goalkeeper lunge for it, only to fail a few inches short.

It skimmed the metal bar, and dropped towards the back net. The scoreboard blared a triumphant 1 to the away team.

Rosalie could hardly believe it. Five minutes into the game and they already scored on the best team in their conference.

Erin stepped over to them as Rosalie reached a hand out to high-five Ray. She gave Erin's arm a squeeze and said, "That was awesome. Let's see if we can do it again."

"I don't think they're used to people tricking their keeper," Ray confessed, voice low as they started for midfield once more. They all looked back at where the captain was talking to the goalie, voice inaudible from this distance.

In the next play, Rosalie could see just where this game would get them. The Lions picked up the pace and had their strikers running ragged. It was just the first half, though, and they still had enough energy to pull through... that is, if they could spare a few seconds to breathe among all the girls kicking at their feet. Rosalie stole the ball in their half of the field, and in her race to the Lions goal, a blonde girl wearing a thick red headband swiped her feet out at Rosalie's, kicking the ball from between her feet.