Page 6 of Matched Up

Niall sighed and turned off his game.‘Fine, but I’m choosing the music.’

I always drove to practice.In fact, I always drove everywhere.Which was fine.I liked to have the control of leaving whenever I wanted.

The club was empty when we got there.Only Harrison’s car was in the car park.

‘Lexie, what the hell?There’s nobody here.’Niall thudded the back of his head off the headrest.

‘Want to get out and do some passing?’I asked hopefully.I checked my hair in the mirror, then reapplied the lip gloss I’d brought with me.

‘Nope,’ said Niall.So we just sat in the car and listened to music.

‘There’s Harrison,’ I said.Niall’s coach was standing beside the pitch talking to someone.A boy.He wasn’t in a Westing kit, but we were too far away to see who it was.

‘Who’s that?’Niall said, straining to look.

‘Not sure,’ I replied.‘Wait, must be the new kid.Didn’t you say someone was starting?’

‘Oh aye.’Niall leaned forward to get a better look.

Then Megan blocked our view when her dad pulled in beside us.She jumped out of the car, and I swear to God herclothes were getting smaller every week.It wasJanuaryand she wasn’t wearing any under-layers, just tiny shorts and a Westing top that clung to her body like a wetsuit.She got into the back seat.

‘You’re early.’I turned to her, confused.‘Again!Do you have a temperature?’I reached back to feel her forehead.

She laughed.‘Nope, just sick of rushing all the time.’She shrugged.‘Who’s Harrison talking to?’But when we looked again, they’d gone.

‘The new kid,’ Niall and I said together.

Megan twisted her fingers in my ponytail.‘You know Zoe’s going full on with this V-Ball thing.She’s trying to get me too.And she’s having a party after the match on Friday, so be warned, she’ll probably try and set you up.’

‘Ugh, yeah, she said yesterday.’I rolled my eyes.Then we got out of the car, leaving Niall in the passenger seat.

‘You not coming to watch?’Megan asked him before she got out.

‘Maybe,’ he said.

I hoped he wouldn’t.It was extra pressure when Niall was there.

Sadie was pulling footballs out of a net bag and setting them up for our first drill.I always tried to gauge her mood at the start of practice.Tonight did not feel like a good night.Her voice was clipped, and her blonde hair was tied back so tightly that there was nowhere for her frustrated looks or crow’s feet to hide.The other girls were just standing around chatting, and laughing like it was school break time.How could youpossibly be giggling about something one second, like Zoe and Amina, and then put in a decent session?You couldn’t!

‘OK, girls, big game on Friday.I want you to be sharp tonight – no lazy passing, no messing about.Got it?’She scanned us.‘And some news.We had to let Sophie go.I need full commitment if you want to be part of the team.Practice twice a week, no excuses.’

I felt sick.Even though it was nothing to do with me.The thought of leaving Westing was my worst nightmare, and if it was because of lack of commitment?I couldn’t think of anything more humiliating.

I glanced over at Megan to share a look, but she was staring off at the sideline.She got distracted so easily.I noticed that Niall had actually come to watch.

‘I still haven’t decided on the final team for Friday, so if you want to be in the line-up, it would be in your interests to impress me.Right, Megan?’Sadie shot a look at Megan, who was still in her own little world.

‘Hundred per cent,’ Megan said and saluted, even though there was no way in hell that shewouldn’tbe on the team.

Ihadto be getting better.Since the start of the season, I’d been doing extra practice at home and putting in max effort at training.Every week I’d hope she’d pick me for the first team, but it never happened.Not yet.Always a sub, never a player.But things were going to change.

So that night I gave it my all, running so hard I wanted to throw my guts up, lungs burning, legs aching, concentrating on my touch.

‘Nice feet, Lex,’ said Sadie during a dribbling drill, and itspurred me on, filling me with hope.Maybe tonight would be the night.

When Sadie blew the final whistle, Megan came sauntering over to me.She was hardly out of breath, whereas I could barely breathe and could feel sweat dripping down the back of my Nike Pro shorts.

‘The squad for Friday is as follows …’

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