Mark My Words

78 | Intimidation Tactics

"Coach?" Rosalie said, jogging across the hotel lobby. Coach Maguire was at the front counter while all the girls mingled about the tiled flooring in the atrium. Rosalie had spent the entire trip contemplating, debating, calculating just about every action she could take from this point forward.

If they wanted to get to Nationals, they'd need Joanna, but without Joanna... they could still hope for it. They still had a chance, albeit, a very small one.

Coach turned from the counter, they room cards in one hand. "Oh, Rosalie—How is everything?" Coach asked, and all Rosalie heard was, How's the cut?

"Everything's fine," she said, shaking her head. Coach handed her a key card, and, momentarily distracted, she nearly missed her chance to talk to Coach about everything else that was wrong. She hurried after Coach as she handed out key cards and said, "Actually, it isn't. I need to talk to you about the lineup."

"Oh, no—I'm not putting you in, if that's what you're asking," Coach said, waving a dismissive hand.

"That isn't what I was going to ask."

"It sure sounded like it."

Rosalie sighed. She tugged a strand of hair over her jawline and forced herself to keep from frowning. It hurt more to frown than it did to smile, but she was too conscious of her neutral expression when Coach handed the next key over to Jordan, whose eyes lingered on Rosalie before turning away to head back to her sophomore buddies.

Coach turned to Rosalie, who had yet to leave her side. She put her hands on her hips and said, "So, what's this about? Does it have a little something to do with that fight you and Joanna picked in the back of the bus. I suppose I should be used to all that by now."

Rosalie rubbed a hand through her hair and said, "Maybe a little..." She glanced over to where Joanna and Dylan were vanishing out of the lobby, slipping past a cluster of rival teammates from another school. The hotel was within proximity to the arena, so it was expected of them to share a hotel with their competitors.

She turned back to the Coach, took a deep breath, and said, "You can't put Joanna in."

Coach raised an eyebrow. "Excuse me?"

"Joanna's gonna try and sabotage the game. You have to put Jade in."

Jade Dalby, otherwise known as Bradshaw's original goalkeeper before Joanna swung in last minute after the season had even started. Jade had a strong record of concussions and had recently recovered well enough to join them in practice again. She was damn good, especially after watching Joanna work her magic for all of December. Sitting on the sidelines did that to a girl.

Coach Maguire met Rosalie's eyes for a moment. Rosalie held on, waiting, heart pounding in her chest. She knew it would take a lot to convince Coach, but she hoped the conference final was still fresh on her coach's mind. It was the turning point in Bradshaw's soccer career, when they had their conference rivals in the palm of their hands. Joanna had been a stubborn brat and stood still for every damn shot the Adams girls took at her.

She'd do the same thing at Regionals if Jade didn't step in for her.

Coach sighed and glanced across the lobby. The crowd had thinned as all the girls made their way to Bradshaw's floor. "I'll talk to Dalby," Coach promised.

"Thank you," Rosalie breathed. Whatever had been constricting her chest relinquished its hold, if only a little.

"Mason," Coach said, and she brought her eyes back up from where they fell to the tiles. Coach had her hand out and, before she could clasp onto Rosalie's shoulder, she closed it into a fist and pointed a finger at Rosalie. "I need you to tell me if something's wrong. I don't know what went on back on the bus, but as your teacher and, most importantly, your coach... I have a responsibility to protect you kids."