Blow Out (8 page)

Coach Berg's halftime talk had helped recharge the team. The Copperheads defense kept the Badger attackers from getting clean views of the net. In the first twenty minutes of the half, the Badgers had no shots on goal. On the other side of the field, the Copperheads were getting more and more opportunities to score. Lacy laid down a perfect corner kick, which Nita volleyed past the rushing defenders and the keeper. It was Nita's first goal of the season, and she leaped into the air, punching her fist.

“Yes!” she hollered. Lacy gave her a quick hug.

With Nita's goal, the score was tied 2−2. The Copperheads needed to keep the Badgers from scoring again. They also needed at least one more goal. Without Raven hogging the ball and fouling the Saint Joseph defenders, Fraser High's forwards were building up a nice momentum. They were keeping the ball on the Badger side of the field longer. But the Badger defenders were aggressive and constantly on the ball, making lots of steals. The few shots the Copperheads pulled off missed the net.

The clock ticked down until four minutes were left in the match. Sophie was dribbling at left midfield.

“Here!” Elise yelled from her right. Sophie passed it over, and Elise kept the ball moving behind the defenders to a charging Nita.

Lacy's fingertips tingled as the field organized itself around her. She started her run, anticipating Nita's pass. But the ball was crossing fast. Too fast. It was headed for the sideline. Lacy sprinted after it. Time seemed to slow as Lacy realized what she had to do. In order to keep the ball inbounds to set up a possible winning goal, she had to pull off the move that had torn the cartilage in her right knee. The move she'd screwed up in her nightmares for the past ten months.

Terror and determination fought in Lacy's head, as they always had since the injury. But this wasn't like before. Lacy knew who she was. Instead of slowing, she picked up speed. She planted her right foot on the grass and sent the ball inbounds. Her knee held.

But Lacy didn't have time to celebrate. A defender was closing in. Lacy stepped over the ball, throwing the Badger off-balance. Lacy had the space and time to see Nita making a run into the box. She didn't hesitate. Seconds later, Nita's diving header buried the ball in the back of the net.

The Copperhead sidelines exploded with cheers. The match ended with no more goals for either side.

The Copperheads had more matches ahead of them that season. But Lacy felt as though they'd just won regionals. She thought she might float off the ground. Nita wrapped her sweaty arm around Lacy's shoulders. “You did it, Lace!”

“So did you! Two goals!”

Nita looked into the stands and waved. Lacy looked, too. Reggie waved back. Next to him, Peyton's beaming smile rivaled the North Carolina sunshine.

Nita let go of Lacy and looked her in the eyes. “I'm sensing a vibe between you two. Am I right?”

Lacy could feel her cheeks warming. “Maybe.” But she knew there was a vibe. A huge vibe. How could she have been so fearful as to think she couldn't balance soccer and a guy—especially one as nice as Peyton? Lacy just hoped he hadn't been too offended when she turned down his dinner invitation. If his smile was any indication, that wasn't the case.

Farther down the bleachers, a woman's blue hat caught her eye. The woman wore a dress to match. She was climbing down the steps. Lacy gasped, “Mother?”

Nita laughed. “Are you freaking kidding me? She never comes to your matches.”

Lacy looked closer to make sure. “It's her. She must have left the luncheon early. I need to talk to her.”

As Lacy took a step toward the stands, Coach Berg barked, “Sheridan! Ortiz!”

“Come on, Lace,” Nita said, tugging her arm. “Coach Berg will give your position to Raven if you miss his after-match meeting.”

Lacy nodded. But she paused long enough to see her mother reach the bottom of the stands and look out toward the field. Their eyes met. Lacy gave her a small, tentative wave. Her mother smiled demurely, turned, and left.

After sharing his notes with the team, Coach Berg asked Lacy to stay for a moment. A private meeting with Coach Berg always meant some kind of chewing out, so she prepared for the worst.

“Stay with me?” she mouthed to Nita, who nodded.

Lacy guessed it had something to do with keeping Raven at forward. That's when Lacy realized she hadn't seen Raven since halftime. The man with the red face had disappeared from the stands, too.

“Good game,” Coach started. “Unless something comes up, you're left forward for the rest of the season.”

Lacy stood there.

Coach looked at her. “That's it. You can go.”

“But … what about Raven?”

“McAlister is no longer a Copperhead. She left after the first half without permission. Not to mention the fouls and poor behavior.”

It took a few seconds for the news to sink in. Lacy said, “Coach, can I ask you a question?”

He nodded.

“Did you recruit Raven to … um … speed my recovery?”

He smirked. “See you at tomorrow's match.” He left, leaving Lacy and Nita alone.

“Huh,” Nita muttered.

“
Huh
is right.”

Reggie looped his arm through Nita's. “Excellent match, ladies.” He wrinkled his nose.

“Yeah, I stink,” Nita said. “It was a long eighty minutes.” She turned to Lacy. “Shall we retire to the locker room, Lacy Lou?”

“Yes, Juanita, I think we shall.” Lacy looked back at Peyton. “Will you be here when we get back?”

“Absolutely.”

“Good. I want to ask what you know about coaching.”

He grinned. “It would be my pleasure.”

As they walked to the locker room, Nita said, “Since when have you been thinking about becoming a coach?”

“Since today.” Lacy smiled. “The future isn't as scary as I thought it was.”