The Romeo Club

“Hey, Ken, do you think it’s weird that the only things Rex and I talk about or do together are sports related?”

She wrinkled her nose. “Uh—yeah.”

I groaned. “What do you and Mikah talk about?”

“School, sports, TV shows, music, movies, pretty much everything. He even plans crazy dates for us.” She laughed. “Remember when he took me to that wax museum last month?” Kenadi took out her earrings and slid them into her soccer bag then shifted her gaze to me. “Uh-oh, is there trouble in paradise?”

I squirmed under her scrutiny. “No. Rex and I are great.”

Then why didn’t things feel great? The airbrakes hissed as the big yellow banana came to a stop. I tugged my headband on, then reached down to retrieve my gear from the floor. We filed off the bus and followed Coach to the locker rooms, where we changed into our uniforms. I put on my shin-guards then pulled my purple socks over them. When I finished, I shoved my feet into my purple and gold cleats and tied them up.

“Denson, let’s see some more goals this week,” Hillary Marker hollered.

The other girls whooped.

When everyone was dressed, we lined up and headed onto the field. A warm breeze tugged at my ponytail. The crowd clapped as we came into the stadium. I loved the sight of the field, the feel of the turf beneath my shoes. Fans cheering us on. My pulse quickened. Nothing else mattered while I was out here. It was just me. The defenders. And the ball.

“Hey, Del,” Drake hollered from beside the fence, near the bleachers. Trey and Chloe stood beside him, wearing Greenville’s purple and gold colors.

I jogged over, hoping Coach didn’t yell at me.

“You guys made it.” I smiled.

“We wouldn’t miss a chance to see you lay some girl out on the field.” Trey chuckled.

“I told you, after my last game, it was an accident. The girl stepped in front of me at the last second. I couldn’t stop.”

“Yeah, right.”

Drake’s fingers laced through Chloe’s and she grinned up at him then turned her attention to me. “Good luck today. I hope you score some goals.”

“Don’t worry, she will. My sister’s a machine out there.”

“Listen, I better go before Rafferty has a kitten.” With a final wave, I joined Kenadi.

“I see Trey came to watch you play.” Her mouth turned up at the corners.

“I know that look. Before you say anything, I’m going to point out that he always comes to my games,” I said as we ran to the nearest goal and began warm-ups.

“Yeah, he does. Hmmm … wonder why that is?”

“Because we’re friends.”

“Or, he has a thing for you.”

She was wrong. I mean, Trey always tagged along with my brother. He came to my games to hang out with Drake, nothing more. Right?

Coach had us do a few drills and stretches before the refs blew their whistles and made us form a line to check our cleats and shin-guards.

“Let’s have a clean game, ladies,” one of the ref’s said. “Watch the elbows and pushing, we’ll be keeping an eye on you.” His eyes settled on me and Kenadi.

Okay, so the two of us had a bit of a reputation on the field, but we played hard and sometimes that meant other people got knocked down.

Once they finished, we went to our sidelines and waited for the National Anthem to play. I watched the flag whip in the wind, my hand over my heart. Then the announcer came on to introduce the players.

At last, Coach circled us up. “Okay, Denson, right forward. Green, Midfield. Sharp left defender.” And on she went until she gave out all the positions. “We won the coin toss, so we’ll start with the ball ladies. Let’s get out there and show ’em what the Lady Jackets are made of.” She put her hand in. “Team on three.”

“One. Two. Three. Team,” we shouted.

We found our places on the field and waited for the whistle. As soon as the game started, Carter passed the ball to me. I dribbled forward, cutting to the left around the defender. I smiled as I eased past. Not to sound cocky, but I knew I was faster than any of these girls. Two more players stepped in front of me, I nudged the ball with the outside of my foot and burned past them too. Their mids dropped back, trying to catch me, while the defenders from the other side of the field made their way toward the goal to block me.

But it was too late. By the time they got close enough to take the ball, I’d already sent it flying, into the net.

“Goooal, Jackets,” the announcer said.

My teammates rushed me, giving me high-fives and pats on the back.

The rest of the game, pretty much went like that. I scored two more goals, Kenadi had one, and Ferrera had one.

When we loaded back on the bus, I wiped sweat from my forehead and chugged a bottle of water.

“I so need a fan. I’m roasting,” I said.

“Good game, girls. Saw some great passing. And Kellogg, way to keep them from scoring,” Coach said to our keeper. “If we keep this up we might end up getting into the playoffs this year.”

Kenadi and I tossed our bags in one seat, then flopped down in another. I just got situated when my phone went off. Rex’s ringtone.

“Double-D, just calling to see how your game went before my relay’s up,” he said. “So, did you win?”