Touch or Tackle

Chapter 1- The Craziest Idea I've ever had

"You've officially been hit by one too many softballs!" Sam exclaimed.

"We're good Jen. But. But." Lara was unsure.

"They're guys! I mean. We have really good teams. There's no way they'll let us play." Grace said.

"That's why we'll try out! We'll earn our spots!" I told them.

It is pretty crazy. But what have we got to lose? They looked thoughtful. Grace smiled.

"You know what? Let's show them what we can do." She said.

"Ok but we're going to have to work hard. We've gotta push ourselves to be even better athletes to keep up." Sam said sighing.

"So we're all in?" I asked.

"Let's do it." Allie smiled.

~~

"I already regret this!...." Grace 's voice was muffled from the grass.

We all were laying down after doing 20 sprints on the football practice field.

"Why are we doing this??..." Allie asked.

"Because it's making us better!" I told them loudly.

"Alright, alright! But why are we doing football conditioning?" Lara asked.

"Because it'll make us strong." I said.

"She's right. At try outs they're gonna do everything they can to make us quit. We've gotta be ready." Grace said.

"How'd you get that list?" Sam asked.

"From last year." I said as I started stretching.

The others stretched too.

"Oh right. You were a water girl." Allie laughed.

"Athletic training assistant!" I threw my water bottle at her. They all laughed.

"So Sam did you talk to the soccer coach?" I asked.

"Yeah...I was going to tell you...He won't let me try out." She said and we all jumped up.

"What?!!"

"He said he just can't put a girl on the team. The players didn't approve." She sighed.

"Oh we oughta march up there-

"It's no use. I'll just play basketball." She said.

We were all quiet. But then I thought of something.

"But Sam!! I know what you can do!" I exclaimed as it came to me.

"What? Be a water girl?" Grace asked.

I smacked her.

"Sam our kicker graduated last year!"

"Ha! Me?! Kick for football?!" She was in disbelief. But I was serious.

"Yes! You're a goalie you can kick the ball!" I told her.

"She's right I think you can do it!" Grace said.

"On one condition." Sam said. We all waited.

...

"Jen has to try out too."

I thought she was joking. Ha...Ha...

"Really?" I asked.

"Yep!" She smiled.

"I have no skill- Allie tossed my water bottle back at me.

"You were the best player on our flag football team!" She said.

"Um. That was middle school." I said in protest.

"Do it!" Grace chanted and then they all did.

"Do it! Do it! Do it!"

"FINE!" I gave up.

"Yay! You know what. Let's all do it!" Grace said.

"If we don't play we still get to practice and we'll be the best when basketball and spring comes around." Lara says happily.

We're actually going to try out for football. I am 5'4" and 98 pounds, and I'm about to try out for football.

...

What have I done?