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Maeve sends a pass to one of her teammates, and Glenmont goes up by three. Most of the guys have stopped watching by now, but they all remain seated, not willing to leave until I do.
The game ends a few minutes later, and I watch as the Glenmont players all crowd around Maeve, hugging and cheering. For the first time since she saw my team arrive, she looks over at me. Green eyes meet mine, and we stare at each other for a protracted minute. Until Maeve’s coach approaches and draws her attention away from me. The Glenmont coach is clearly praising Maeve, and I watch as she smiles in response.
Both teams line up for the traditional handshake. I’ve never witnessed one between Alleghany and Glenmont without participating in it myself. I watch closely as Maeve works her way down the line, shaking each girl’s hand. She pauses to say something to Caroline and then keeps going.
“Okay, boys, you’re free to go,” I call out.
Most of the team rapidly disembarks from the metal bleachers, elated to be heading home an hour earlier than usual. Josh, Chris, Charlie, and Adam all remain in the stands beside me.
“Letting everyone leave early?” Charlie asks. “You’re going soft, Cole.”
I shrug. “Coach told me I could give you guys the day off, so technically, I already made everyone stay late.”
Chris laughs. “The truth comes out. I was wondering why you called it ‘optional’ in your text.”
The two soccer teams pack up, and Caroline heads across the field over toward us.
“I told you that you didn’t need to come,” she tells Josh. “And you brought the whole football team?”
“It was Cole’s idea,” Josh informs her.
Caroline looks at me, and I shrug. “You said no one cares about girls’ soccer. Figured you guys could use some additional support.”
“That’s sweet, I guess,” Caroline responds. “But your time probably would have been better spent preparing to beat Glenmont yourselves. Obviously, we weren’t up to the task. Again.”
Just past the border of Alleghany is the imaginary line that bisects the state into its eastern and western sports conferences. Meaning we only play Glenmont once during the season. Both teams can’t advance.
This was Caroline’s last chance to beat Glenmont, the same way our game against them in seven weeks will be Liam Stevens’ last chance to beat me.
I glance over to the bleachers where Maeve’s family was seated and experience another rush of irritation as I watch Matt Crawford give Maeve a hug before she greets her family. Both Liam and her mother hug her as well, but I watch as her father simply says something to her and then heads toward the parking lot. Anger toward him briefly overshadows my jealousy as I watch Maeve’s shoulders slump.
“Cole, you coming?” Charlie pulls my attention back to my friends. “We’re going to grab some pizza.”
“Yeah, I’m coming,” I reply, following after them.
For once, Alleghany’s solitary pizza parlor is almost empty when we enter it. Most of the high school is still at after-school activities, and it’s too early for any families. We settle in the large corner booth and order four extra-large pies.
“Cheer up, C,” Josh says as he takes a long drink of the soda he ordered. “Your season’s barely started.”
“Barely started. Basically over. Same thing,” Caroline replies, sipping at her water. “We don’t have any chance of making it to playoffs now.”
“I thought you won both your first games?” Josh replies.
“We did, but those were against two of the worst teams in the league. We had to beat Glenmont today.”
“You were right. Stevens is crazy good,” Chris contributes. “That goal she scored? Insane.”
“Yup,” Caroline replies morosely, and Josh shoots Chris a glare.
“Sorry. Not helpful,” Chris says, catching on fast.
“No, it’s fine,” Caroline tells him. “She raised it to a whole other level, and we weren’t ready. And she even congratulated me after the game.”
“She did?” I enter the conversation for the first time.
“Uh-huh.” Caroline confirms as the waiter sets down the steaming pizzas in front of us. The discussion changes from sports to other topics as we all devour the greasy food.
My mother’s the only one home when I walk through my front door a couple hours later. I drop my heavy backpack in the entryway and head into the kitchen to find her chopping carrots.
