CHAPTER FIVE
Her mom was standing over the stove when Alex snuck in the back door. She walked fast through the kitchen, hoping she could make it to the stairs before Mom saw her red eyes.
“Hey, Alex,” Mom said behind her. “How was practice?”
“Fine,” she said in what she hoped was a casual voice.
“What’s wrong, honey?” Mom asked as she sat down on a high stool at the kitchen island. She patted the seat next to her.
Alex sighed and sat on the stool next to her mom. She propped her head on her arm.
“Mom, I just don’t know what to do!” she said. “The team’s totally mad at me. Lin says they all want me to say I’m sorry for scoring for the other team. And I want to, but I feel so stupid now because it’s been too long. And they’re all going to hate me forever, and I’ll never have any friends here. This place is awful! This never would have happened back at home.” A couple of tears spilled down her cheeks.
Her mom rubbed Alex’s back, the way she used to when Alex was little.
“The girls can’t stay mad forever. Your next game is tomorrow, right?” her mom asked.
Alex nodded.
“Just make sure you’re the best team player out there,” Mom said. “Don’t move one step outside of your position, pass to everyone, play hard, and play fair. That’s what made you such a good teammate on the Tiger Moths, and that’s what will make you one on the Strikers.”
She returned to stirring the sauce and said, “I wish I could be there tomorrow, but I have a work meeting. But I’ll be thinking of you. You can do it, Alex.”
“Thanks, Mom,” Alex replied. “I’ll do my best.”
Alex trailed out of the kitchen. She was exhausted. Back in her room, she dropped her duffel bag on her bed and stared in the mirror over her dresser. She had puffy eyes and messy hair. She looked terrible.
“I need to pull it together. Play hard, play fair,” she said to herself out loud. “I can do this.”