My best friend

Championship

Things in the family have been uneasy ever since I found out what it is my parents really do for a living. Kelley on the other hand has been great about it. She hasn't told anyone and she keeps reassuring me that everything is going to be ok.

We have gone undefeated in our soccer season and today is the day of the championship against the west bay Vikings. The bruise on my stomach is almost gone as well as the pain.

This morning I picked up Kelley but went inside to talk to her mother and her sister. Mrs. O'Hara offered to show me some of kelleys baby pictures but she dragged me out of that house before I could say anything.

Right now I'm helping Kelley with her trigonometry. She's getting better but she still hates the class.

"So have you decided where you wanna go for college"

"No kel not yet"

Kelley committed to Stanford not to long ago and I was so proud of her. I wouldn't mind going to Stanford with Kelley but I don't know if Stanford will be the right fit for me.

We worked until the bell rang and we went to our last period class together. We sat down and I swear that class was like 8 hours long. The bell finally rang and Kelley and I were out the door. Unfortunately the championship game wasn't being played on our field but at a college stadium an hour away.

Kelley and I decided to change into our uniforms at the stadium so we just got on the bus. She took the window seat and I sat down right next to her.

"You know. There's gonna be some college coaches at the game"

"Yah I know"

"Are you ready"

"Always"

She laid her head on my shoulder and fell asleep. The ride was long so I grabbed my earbuds and played some music. Eventually I fell asleep.

I later woke up when the bus started slowing down. I turned to look at Kelley and there she was so beautiful so peaceful but I had to wake her up. I shook her shoulder and she started to wake.

"Hey kel were here"

"Ok thanks"

I grabbed our bags and we made our way towards the stadium. One of the facility guys led us towards the locker room and we got changed. I listened to music and did my envisioning. Finally I put on my cleats and walked out to the field. Kelley and I did our usual passing and juggling until team warmups. We finished and Cheney gave us one of her speeches followed by the coach.

We took our positions and when the ref blew the whistle we were underway. The other team started with the ball and they were quick moving the ball around. They were drawing the defense out and I saw one of their forwards make a run.

"KELLEY PLAYER BEHIND YOU MAKING A RUN"

I yelled and she heard me and was able to stop the play. She was able to control it and passed it up to Cheney who passed it to the outside wing but she lost possession. The Vikings got the ball back and advanced the ball towards our goal. This time there were two runners and Kelley couldn't do anything to stop them. They drove towards goal and shot it and it hit the back of the net. We were down 1-0.

Kelley looked defeated but I knew she would get it together. She had too. I jogged over to her.

"Hey don't let that get to you we still have the rest of this half and then the next. There is nothing you could've done to stop that. Ok?"

"Ok"

I ran back to my position and we started again. I passed back to Cheney. From Cheney to Arod and then up to me. I was able to dribble around one defender but the second defender wiped me out and the ref didn't call anything. I got up and kept playing. We were able to gain possession once again but one of the Viking midfielders threw a nasty tackle and Cheney was on the ground holding her knee. I ran over to her.