Secrets

Chapter 10

The last camp ended almost a week and a half ago, and today is my state championship game for the spring season. I was thankful my foster father had decided to give me a night off yesterday from the abuse, but I still had many bruises yet to have healed from the many nights before. It also didn't help that I had become a target on the field, as more and more teams recognized me for playing on the national team, and would take cheap shots to get me off the field. I shake away the thoughts, as I make my way into the rowdy team locker room.

We make our way over to the field about 45 minutes before the game is set to start for warm-ups, as people begin to file into the stands. We were blessed this year to play at home, so I knew the stands would be packed with fans from our school. For most schools, football is the big sport, but for us, it's girls soccer. We're almost expected at this point to make it to the state championships, as we have the two years previous—and won.

I get lost in warm-ups, as the game draws closer. The team we're playing is tough, but we beat them at the beginning of the season. I get pulled out of my pre-game mode, as Mia whispers to me sounding shocked, "I didn't know some of your teammates would be here."

Confused, I turn to follow her eyes to the sideline, seeing Pinoe, Alex, Allie, Ash, and Ali standing off to the side from the rest of the crowd. My eyes widen, before I reply, "I didn't either."

"We can't lose now," Mia chuckles.

"Wasn't planning on it," I say with a smirk.

All the players line up before the game begins, as the announcer gives a special tribute to the seniors. I smile knowing a decision I told no one about is about to be shared with everyone. Our announcer, Hannah, starts off the introductions, "Alright, tonight I would like to read off the list of our seniors and players who will be playing their last game as a Madison Tiger." There are cheers from the already packed stands before Hannah starts reading the list over the loudspeakers, "First we have Christie Anderson!" There are cheers from the stands, as Christie steps out of the line of players and waves to the crowd. This happens for the nine other seniors, before Hannah says, "And last, but certainly not least..." I can see all my teammates are confused, as all of the seniors had already been named. I look back to the crowd taking a deep breath, before Hannah says, "Cathryn Johnson will also be hanging up her Tiger's jersey for good after tonight's game, as she will be graduating early this year." I can tell all of my teammates are shocked, as I step forward out of the line to wave to the stands. A huge cheer erupts, as a smile breaks out on my face. I look over to the national team players, as they looked even more shocked than my high school teammates.

I go to step back in the line, but Hannah continues, "After tonight, Cathryn's number, 22, will be forever retired in Madison's girl's varsity soccer program. As she will be remembered for helping this team win two state championships—and hopefully a third one tonight. Along with becoming a captain of this team when she was only a sophomore." I start blush slightly from all the attention, not knowing beforehand that my number is being retired. My coach comes over to give me a hug and congratulations before the game continues on like it was originally scheduled to.

We have about 15 minutes before the game begins, as we take off warm-up gear and put on eye black. Instead of wearing my hair in a bun, I wear it two Dutch braids—because that's my tradition for any championship or finals game. I'm wearing an all black goalie uniform because I'll be playing keeper for the first half before switching to field in the second. After a quick pep-talk from our coach, the starting eleven are jogging onto the field. As the other team jogs on after us, I hear our student section chanting, "Flip it! Flip it!"

I see a couple of teammates look back at me expectantly, as a smirk forms on my face. My signature tumbling pass I do before every game has become a school staple, and the crowd always expects it before a game. So as I make my way to the goal, I get a small running start before doing a round off back tuck. The crowd starts screaming once again, as I finish my run to the goal box. I try to memorize everything, the feeling, the teammates, the crowd, knowing this is my final high school game ever. Before I know it, the whistle is blown and the ball is kicked into play. I throw on my game face, which I've been told is terrifying by many of my teammates.