Page 25 of Chasing Football Dreams

“They have a good leader to look up to,”

Chapter Twelve

“Coach Shane and his wife were at the orphanage,” I told Duncan.

I couldn’t figure out if it was a good or bad thing that I found them at the orphanage. The look on Shane’s face, when he learned that I had no parents, was the same look he had on his face when he learned of his daughter’s death. I wanted to wipe that look away and replace it with the celebration that I was alive but I had no concrete proof. I only had my wits and assumptions. That alone wasn’t enough to convince him that I was his daughter.

Duncan shut his locker door and found a seat next to me on the bench. It was the day of our most important game of the season. Today is either our break or make it for a shot at the championship. The pressure was on and everyone was turning their attention to me.

Could a girl lead a team of boys to victory without bribing the referee? It was the biggest, orthodox headline that covered the news for the last few days.

I hated how everything got twisted to the point that people didn’t believe a girl could do it. Coach Shane had me train insideand outside the gym for the last two days. He didn’t let the headlines get to me or that the opposing team was trying to play with my mind.

“I saw them,” Duncan noted.

“His wife is going to handle the foster care program. Apparently, it’s her ambition to help those who can’t help themselves,” Those kids were finally getting a chance to be placed in foster care homes where they would be spending time with people who can become their forever families.

I looked at my helmet, feeling the adrenaline of hearing the crowds outside and being suspicious of Coach Shane and his wife’s tactics, pumping through my veins.

“We can’t tell that they figured it out, Zoey,”

I nodded. “I know. But what if they do?”

He rested his hand over mine. “Then they do. When we get there. We’ll figure it out,”

I lifted my gaze finding my whole team surrounding us. “Don’t you see that we’ll have your back QB?” Wesley asked with that smirk of his.

“You’ve changed this team but not for the worst,” He continued. “I would have never gotten a chance to kiss my lucky stars when you didn’t show me that there is a world out there that gets left behind. I am spending more time finding ways to spend with those kids than worry about picking up girls,”

The team chuckled but some shared the same feeling.

“You brought us together. Not only with your arm but you’ve showed us what it means to be a family,” I saw nods of everyone and determination.

I got to my feet with Duncan at my side. I held my hand out in front of me. “Who is ready to kick some ass and show those kids that dreams are meant to be reached?”

One by one, they put their hands over mine, building a tower. “The championship is ours this year,” Duncan joined in,finishing the tower with his hand. “We’ve got the quarterback who can lead us to victory and a team who is determined enough to take this season,”

“Who’s with me?” His strong voice travelled across the locker rooms followed by our cheers.

Everyone headed for the exit except for me and Duncan. He wiped away the tears in my eyes and handed my helmet over. “You don’t stop believing in yourself no matter how tough it gets out there. They are going to say mean things but you ignore them. You got this, Zoey,”

I nodded. “We do,”

He smiled at me. “Well, then. Let’s go show those Mustangs that they made a mistake challenging us,”

“Hell, yeah,” We jogged out on the field, catching up with the team and coaches.

“Okay, team. We are here. This is the game. Next week is the championship and for a few of you it will be your first,”

“It’s been quite a season with you men and girl. It was good to see that there is still ambition left in this world and it makes the future look a little bit brighter,”

“I think our spark started with Zoey,” Freddie announced wrapping his arm over my shoulder. “We fought a battle we never fought before. We got a strong captain—a strict offensive line and we got the best Quarterback. What more could we ask for?”

“A championship,” I answered causing laughter to erupt.

“Well, then. Win this game and we will face the championship,”

We watched Duncan meet the other captain for the coin toss. We applauded when he won the coin toss and we got first touch of the ball.

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