“Did you hear me?” Skylar asked. “We’re going back later.”
“Don’t you think you should rest before the game?” Makena said.
“We’ve been sitting around all night, waiting for you,” Skylar answered.
“You shouldn’t be waiting for me. I told you I’m not going out again. We have a huge game tomorrow.”
“Yeah, well, we almost didn’t,” Skylar said to Makena.
“What’s that supposed to mean?” Makena asked.
“You almost gave the game away. You gave away a corner kick, and you made me get a yellow,” Skylar said, moving in a little closer.
“I didn’t get you a yellow card. You did that on your own.”
“You gave away a corner kick,” Skylar said. “That was stupid.”
“No, I didn’t. I just didn’t lie about it. The ball hit me and went out. It was a goal kick. I think I know what a goal kick is.” Makena just wanted the conversation to be over.
“Oh, whatev,” Skylar said, grabbing the remote and flopping on the other bed.
Val emerged from the bathroom and got right into her bed.
“So, let’s go,” Skylar said quietly to Makena.
“Go where?” Makena moved toward the bathroom.
“To the pool. They have a shower there. I said…let’s go.”
Makena took a deep breath. She could feel Val watching her from the bed.
“Skylar, no. I’m not going anywhere but to bed. We have a huge game tomorrow, and I want to play my best. I told you I am not leaving this room.”
Makena got up and went into the steamy bathroom. As she closed the door, she heard Skylar say under her breath, “Wanna bet?”
14
It wasn’t just the siren that woke Makena. It was the pounding on the door.
“Girls! Get up!” Jasmine’s mother was in motion. “Get up! We have to evacuate!” There was nothing singsongy about her voice, and it got Makena, Jessie, and Val moving quickly.
Fire alarm sirens blasted through the hallway. Automated recordings in English and French kept repeating, “The fire alarm has been activated. Do not use the elevators. Use the stairs and gather in the lobby. This is not a test.”
Makena helped Val grab her crutches and hobble down the hallway. Lights blinked in little boxes on the walls, leading them to the stairs.
“Where’s Skylar?” Makena asked Jessie. Makena had seen Skylar in bed asleep, or what looked like sleep, when she got out of the shower. She wasn’t with them now though.
“I don’t know,” Jessie answered, holding the door to the stairs open for Val. “Maybe she’s in the pool? It’s on the top floor.”
Val soldiered down the first flight of stairs with her crutches but nearly fell at the top of the second landing. The crutches were too big for her small frame. For the rest of the trip down the stairs, Makena carried them and Val hopped on her good leg, using the railing for support. She didn’t complain the entire way down, but Makena knew it must have hurt.
When they were nearly at the lobby, Makena heard a familiar, welcoming voice. Her mother, her father, and Will were helping Papa down the stairs right behind them. Their room was on the sixth floor.
“Oh, Mac, there you are. What a relief. Your father was about to go make sure you were OK.” At the sight of Val hopping, Makena’s mom’s brow crinkled. “Poor Val. How are you managing?”
“I’m fine, Mrs. W,” Val answered. “I’m a good hopper.”
“You’re a good egg is what you are,” Makena’s mom said.
Makena saw that Papa was moving slowly with help from Will and her father. She stepped up to help.
“Where’s his oxygen?” she asked.
“There was no time,” her father answered. “The fire marshal said we had to go.”
“I can go back and get it,” Makena said.
“No!” Papa yelled.
“OK, Papa,” Makena answered.
They made it to the lobby in a group and joined a mass of bleary-eyed hotel guests, most of whom were wearing matching hotel bathrobes. They looked like some kind of giant sleepover party, except that no one was giggling or braiding hair. Everyone had the same startled yet groggy look of concern and irritation at having been rudely awakened by the blare of a fire alarm bell.
“Is there really a fire, Mom?” Will asked.
“I’m not sure yet,” Mrs. Walsh answered. “But fire alarms don’t usually go off in the middle of the night for no reason. We’ll have to wait until they check the hotel. For your grandfather’s sake, I hope it isn’t too long.”
Papa had taken a seat on one of the lobby sofas. Makena, Val, and Jessie huddled together with him.
Makena saw Lily jogging across the lobby.
“Nine, ten, eleven…” Lily said. “I’m missing one. I need twelve players.”
Lily frantically scanned the lobby. Another group of Breakers was gathered with Jasmine’s mom on a second couch. But Makena knew who was missing.
“Coach Lily, Skylar’s not here,” she said.
“What? Where is she? Didn’t she come down with you three?”
Before Makena could say no, Skylar came running out of the stairwell, breathing hard.
“Twelve. Phew,” Lily said when he saw Skylar, relief visible on her face.
“Oh, there’s Skylar,” Makena’s mom said. “Honey, what took you so long?”
“Oh, well, I was…” Skylar paused to catch her breath. “After I assisted my teammates to safety, I went back up to help some of the elderly hotel guests on the stairs. I’m so sorry if I caused anyone to worry.”
Makena opened her mouth to tell Lily and her mother that Skylar was lying. Skylar hadn’t helped any of her teammates, and Makena was sure she hadn’t been helping any elderly guests either.
“Coach!” Makena called, but she didn’t hear her because at that moment the hotel manager’s booming, French-accented voice filled the lobby.
“Ladies and gentlemen, please forgive this extraordinary inconvenience. The fire marshal has just informed me there is no fire. The hotel is safe. A fire alarm was triggered in the upstairs pool area. We are currently investigating. We apologize for the disruption, but your safety is of the utmost importance. Thank you for your cooperation. You may return to your rooms. Please allow those with small children or the elderly access to the elevators first. We hope you will all join us in the solarium dining hall tomorrow for a complimentary continental breakfast. Again, thank you for your cooperation, and good night.”
By the time the hotel manager started to repeat the announcement in French, most of the guests were already on their way back to their rooms. Lily told the Breakers that they should take the stairs. Papa was offered the first elevator car by the hotel manager, and Makena walked with him, holding his arm to support him.
“Grazie, cara,” he said as they moved slowly toward the elevator bank.
“Mac, you can go on up with your grandfather,” Coach Lily called after her.
Skylar followed them to the elevator and held the doors open for Makena and her family.
As the elevator continued to fill with guests, Makena moved to the back. The doors were closing when Skylar moved forward and whispered to Makena, “Told ya.”
15
Makena got back to the room as quickly as she could. She knocked loudly on the door, and Jessie answered.
“Hey, Mac,” she said. “How’s your grandfather?”
“He’s fine,” Makena answered, pushing past her. “Where’s Skylar?”
“Looking for me?” a voice said. Skylar was perched on her bed, a smug smile on her face.
“You did this,” Makena accused, pointing at Skylar.
“Wasn’t that awesome? Did you see all those old farts hobbling around in matching robes? I nearly peed my pants laughing,” Skylar said. �
�Oh, and that French manager guy with the crazy accent? That was the best part.”
“Wait a minute,” Val interrupted. “Skylar, you pulled the fire alarm?”
Makena nodded. “Of course she did.”
“Dude!” Val said, sitting up in bed. “Are you serious?”
“Oh, come on. It was easy. I saw the box up next to the lifeguard’s chair. Piece of cake. The only problem was it turns off the elevators. I didn’t know that, so I had to run all the way down. Man, I’m tired. That was the only bummer.”
“Only bummer? Skylar! One of those old geezers was my grandfather. You know? Papa? He had to walk down six flights of stairs and didn’t even have time to get his oxygen tank.”
Skylar shrugged. “He seemed OK when I saw him.”
“I nearly broke my neck hopping down the stairs,” Val chimed in.
“You’re fine too. Wow, you guys are annoying. I’m going to sleep,” Skylar said.
“You don’t even care, do you? You don’t get it,” Makena said.
“Not really. And I don’t know what you’re getting all worked up about, Makena. You’re the one who snuck out last time.”
“Yeah, I did. And you know what? I played the worst game of my life the next day. I missed a penalty kick. I lost the game for us! Sure, I snuck out, but I shouldn’t have, and I know that now. I also shouldn’t have let you drag me off to Manhattan.”
“Whoa. You guys went to New York City? Alone?” Jessie asked.
“Yeah, we took the bus to an arcade. It was great,” Skylar said.
“It was not great!” Makena yelled. “You lied to my mom’s face!”
“I got you out of trouble, so, yeah, you’re welcome.”
“You’re welcome? Skylar, you can’t just go around lying to people. You can’t do that! It’s wrong!”
“Remember, it’s not a crime…”
“It doesn’t matter if you don’t get caught! It’s still wrong!” Makena yelled, not caring if she woke up the entire hotel.
“OK, Makena,” she heard Val say gently.
“I’m not going to let you get away with this, Skylar,” Makena said firmly.
Skylar pulled the covers up to her shoulders. “I’m going to sleep, and you’re not doing anything. You never do. You don’t have the guts. Plus, if you turn me in, I’ll tell Coach it was you who made me sneak out and you who took the golf cart. Oh, and I’m pretty sure your mom and dad would be interested to know about our little city adventure.”
“I don’t care if they find out,” Makena said.
Skylar sat back up and glared at Makena. “Oh, yes, you do. You turn me in, we lose tomorrow. It’s as simple as that. Val’s out. Without you, me, and Jessie, we won’t have enough players.”
Makena saw Jessie nodding in agreement.
“She’s right, Mac.”
“If you turn me in,” Skylar continued, “your precious Breakers will have to forfeit the championship. You care, but I don’t. You know why? Because I’m not really one of your stupid Soccer Sisters anyway.”
“No,” Makena said as she headed for the door. “You’re not.”
16
The next morning, Makena wanted coffee for the first time in her life. She had to settle for the sip of Diet Coke her mom gave her on the way to the field. She didn’t remember ever having been so exhausted. How was she going to make it through the day, much less the rest of the game?
The score was 2 to 2 by the middle of the second half. The Breakers were holding their own but fading fast because of their middle-of-the-night false alarm. They were playing a Canadian team called the Fury.
Fury would have also been an appropriate word for the scene in Makena’s parents’ hotel room the night before. Makena woke up her mother and father and spilled her guts about everything. She told them about the hot tub, the golf cart, sneaking into the city, and how Skylar had admitted to setting off the fire alarm.
Makena’s father wanted to ground her for life. Makena was in so much trouble that her brother Will didn’t even bother to gloat. Yet facing her mother was worse. Makena wished her mother had yelled at her. That would have been easier. But her mother said nothing when Makena confessed to lying to her face. She just stared at her daughter like she was seeing a stranger. The hurt in her mom’s eyes crushed Makena. It was a punishment ten times worse than anything her father could come up with—which was saying something.
Makena shook the images from her head and moved for a throw-in, breaking free of a defender and calling for the ball. She was determined not to fall even one step behind. She would not let her team down again. But scenes from the last night still flashed in her mind constantly, even as she ran upfield with the ball at her feet.
“I’m packing right now,” Makena’s dad had said. “We’re going home this second!”
In the end, it was Papa who rescued Makena.
“Brava,” he said to the room. Then Papa told her parents that at least Makena had been brave enough to finally stand up for herself. He knew how hard that could be. Plus he was tired, he wasn’t going anywhere, and he still wanted to eat hot dogs at the big waterfall.
Makena made a sharp pass out wide to Jasmine. Jasmine brought the ball down to the goal line but missed the cross; the Fury were awarded a goal kick.
As Makena waited for the Fury player to get the ball, she looked at her teammates, all ready for action in their uniforms, a ponytail or braid on every head, a look of concentration teachers would have been thrilled to see in any classroom on every face.
The Soccer Sisters had voted that morning to play shorthanded. Or short-footed, as Mrs. Manikas put it. Makena’s parents decided it wasn’t fair to punish the whole team for her mistakes. Jessie’s parents basically said the same thing when Coach Lily called them that morning, although Makena knew that Jessie was angry at her for turning her in.
Makena wondered if Skylar’s parents had arrived to pick her up yet. Makena realized that Skylar’s dad hadn’t shown up to even the finals, which might have been why Skylar was acting out so much. As it turned out, the hotel’s video cameras had captured the whole fire alarm escapade after all. Makena was grounded, but Skylar was in some real trouble.
Makena looked over to the strong Fury midfielder covering her. The whole Fury team spoke French to one another, but Makena knew her name was Ava. Ava had scored the game’s first goal on a free kick, and she was sticking to Makena like glue.
The Fury goal kick was low; Makena trapped it on her thigh, moving forward into the box. As she made a move to her right to try to get a shot off, she was jostled from behind. Makena was right in front of the goal. She stumbled hard and saw the referee put his whistle to his mouth. Makena knew if she threw herself on the ground, she would probably be awarded a penalty kick. She heard Skylar’s voice in her head.
Dive! Get the call!
Makena put her hand on the ground and caught her balance.
The referee yelled, “Play on!”
The Fury goalie picked up the ball and punted it upfield. Makena willed her legs to move back into defense. For some reason, she was running lighter now. She was moving faster. Soccer was clear to her again.
The field felt soft and familiar under her feet, and the hum of the fans and the coaches tickled her ears and inspired her. The weight of her confusion lifted. For the first time in a long time, Makena’s mind felt free and soccer once again felt amazing.
Ava got the ball at midfield and made an attacking run down the middle. Jessie was out of position, so Makena gave chase. Ava had some serious moves. Makena kept close. As she approached the box, Ava went down with a yell. Makena knew she hadn’t touched her. She didn’t know why she’d fallen.
Yelping, Ava held her ankle and rolled back and forth. Makena stopped immediately and bent down to see if she was OK. The ball rolled out of bounds.
“Are you al
l right?” Makena asked.
“Yes, I’m OK,” Ava said in English with a cute French accent. “I think I stepped in a hole.”
Makena heard the referee blow the whistle and call for the coach and trainer. She offered her hand to the girl and Ava got up, brushing herself off. The referee waved the coach and trainer off and said, “Blue ball.”
Makena ran over to take it, but it didn’t feel like it should be her ball. If Ava hadn’t stepped in a hole, it would still be the Fury’s ball. Makena looked at Lily and she nodded, understanding what she wanted to do. She threw the ball to a Fury defender instead of one of her teammates.
The Fury moved the ball from defender to defender, and while the Breakers had a few chances, they failed to score. Finally, the Fury got the ball to their superstar Ava, who didn’t miss the opportunity.
She hit the ball from outside the box, and with barely even a spin, the ball knuckled its way past Ariana, the Breakers’ goalie. The Fury exploded in celebration. The Breakers played their hearts out in the last few minutes, but the championship was over.
Fury 3, Breakers 2 was the final score.
“I want to go now, Mom,” Makena said as she was greeted on the sideline with a tight hug.
“OK, honey,” Makena’s mom said. “I’m exhausted just watching you run so much. You played great, Makena. I was proud of you today.”
“I’m sorry you came all this way to see me lose,” Makena said.
Makena’s mom bent down so that they were at eye level. “I came all this way to see you shine.”
Makena and the Breakers gathered up their bags and balls and headed slowly for the cars. Lily and the other parents ruffled Makena’s hair and congratulated her on how well she’d played. Even Mr. Hardin, the tournament director, made a point of finding Makena after the game and reminding her, “Don’t leave without your medals.”
“Oh, Mom, I don’t care about any medals today.”
“We’ll go right after the little ceremony.”
Both teams gathered around a makeshift podium, which was really a table by the parking lot. A box on top was filled with trophies for the winners and silver medals for the runners-up. Makena leaned against her mother, watching Ava and her teammates stare excitedly at the prizes.
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