Chasing Football Dreams (Diner Girl #2)

Chapter Twelve

“C oach Shane and his wife were at the orphanage,” I told Duncan.

I couldn’t figure out if it was a good or bad thing that I found them at the orphanage. The look on Shane’s face, when he learned that I had no parents, was the same look he had on his face when he learned of his daughter’s death. I wanted to wipe that look away and replace it with the celebration that I was alive but I had no concrete proof. I only had my wits and assumptions. That alone wasn’t enough to convince him that I was his daughter.

Duncan shut his locker door and found a seat next to me on the bench. It was the day of our most important game of the season. Today is either our break or make it for a shot at the championship. The pressure was on and everyone was turning their attention to me.

Could a girl lead a team of boys to victory without bribing the referee? It was the biggest, orthodox headline that covered the news for the last few days.

I hated how everything got twisted to the point that people didn’t believe a girl could do it. Coach Shane had me train inside and outside the gym for the last two days. He didn’t let the headlines get to me or that the opposing team was trying to play with my mind.

“I saw them,” Duncan noted.

“His wife is going to handle the foster care program. Apparently, it’s her ambition to help those who can’t help themselves,” Those kids were finally getting a chance to be placed in foster care homes where they would be spending time with people who can become their forever families.

I looked at my helmet, feeling the adrenaline of hearing the crowds outside and being suspicious of Coach Shane and his wife’s tactics, pumping through my veins.

“We can’t tell that they figured it out, Zoey,”

I nodded. “I know. But what if they do?”

He rested his hand over mine. “Then they do. When we get there. We’ll figure it out,”

I lifted my gaze finding my whole team surrounding us. “Don’t you see that we’ll have your back QB?” Wesley asked with that smirk of his.

“You’ve changed this team but not for the worst,” He continued. “I would have never gotten a chance to kiss my lucky stars when you didn’t show me that there is a world out there that gets left behind. I am spending more time finding ways to spend with those kids than worry about picking up girls,”

The team chuckled but some shared the same feeling.

“You brought us together. Not only with your arm but you’ve showed us what it means to be a family,” I saw nods of everyone and determination.

I got to my feet with Duncan at my side. I held my hand out in front of me. “Who is ready to kick some ass and show those kids that dreams are meant to be reached?”

One by one, they put their hands over mine, building a tower. “The championship is ours this year,” Duncan joined in, finishing the tower with his hand. “We’ve got the quarterback who can lead us to victory and a team who is determined enough to take this season,”

“Who’s with me?” His strong voice travelled across the locker rooms followed by our cheers.

Everyone headed for the exit except for me and Duncan. He wiped away the tears in my eyes and handed my helmet over. “You don’t stop believing in yourself no matter how tough it gets out there. They are going to say mean things but you ignore them. You got this, Zoey,”

I nodded. “We do,”

He smiled at me. “Well, then. Let’s go show those Mustangs that they made a mistake challenging us,”

“Hell, yeah,” We jogged out on the field, catching up with the team and coaches.

“Okay, team. We are here. This is the game. Next week is the championship and for a few of you it will be your first,”

“It’s been quite a season with you men and girl. It was good to see that there is still ambition left in this world and it makes the future look a little bit brighter,”

“I think our spark started with Zoey,” Freddie announced wrapping his arm over my shoulder. “We fought a battle we never fought before. We got a strong captain—a strict offensive line and we got the best Quarterback. What more could we ask for?”

“A championship,” I answered causing laughter to erupt.

“Well, then. Win this game and we will face the championship,”

We watched Duncan meet the other captain for the coin toss. We applauded when he won the coin toss and we got first touch of the ball.

“Zoey,” I looked at Coach Shane. “You’ve got this, kiddo,”

“Thanks, coach,” I jogged over to my team to give them the orders and I saw the looks of the opposing team.

“I hope you can take a beating, girl,” A guy commented in the huddle.

I ignored his snarky remark and crouched forward, my hands waiting for the snap. “Blue-cross-hut-hut!” The ball fell into my hands and I will never let anyone tell me that my dreams are crazy.

The team struggled to get past their defence, we got tackled and penalized for stuff that sounded insane but we kept pushing. As much as I had half of the stadium voting against me, I pushed them out of my head and I went for the longest pass that I’ve ever done.

Silence before complete eruption of applause exploded as the girl that everyone saw as weak, showed them that I don’t need to wear a skirt to distract anyone. My point was made when every pass was better than the one before and my team kept pushing until we beat them with one point.

We stood in the locker room, exhausted and covered in the aftermath of a tough game.

The coaches stood in front of us. “I would say that was the game that made each of you winners,” Coach Derick began. He looked at me with a look of awe. “Zoey. That pass of yours,”

He looked thunderstruck. “You set a new record today,”

The boys cheered and I was applauded with pats on my back. “But let’s not stop there. You pulled a rabbit out of the hat when you went for a jog and halfway through found your receiver. You’ve made this season one of my best. You had me on the end of my seat, cheering for you and anyone who dared to diss you, met their demise,”

“I am proud of this team. Proud of you. Your hard work paid off and next week, whether we lose or win. You are winners in my eyes,”

We cheered again, hugging each other and bumping fists. “Get dressed and enjoy your celebrations. And we’ll see each of you Monday,”

“And Zoey,” I looked up to see Coach Derick. “This is something I want you to answer me at the end of next week. Even when everyone was against you, called you out for replacing a boy and talked about how a girl is not as fast and strong as a boy. Was it worth it not to give up?”

He walked out with the rest of the coaches following. I turned to my team, smiling at them. “It was worth meeting every one of you and getting a chance to be part of this team,”

“Dammit, Zo. You are going to make a guy cry,”

There were a few snickers and a few tears, followed by hugs. “You were made for this position. Nobody can take that away from you,” Xander said.

I am starting to think that all time listening to everyone’s opinions was my downfall. All I needed to make me see my worth was a team of boys who had more faith in me than I had in myself.

“Well, I should probably head out to my locker room,” I smiled at Duncan who winked at me.

“I’ll wait for you,”

I nodded at him, making my way out and heading towards the girl’s locker room. I pushed the door open almost jerking out of my skin when I found Eliza getting pushed up against the locker by Andrew.

“Are you guys serious?!” I whirled around, shutting the door behind me wishing that I could wash my eyes out.

“Zoey?” I looked up, seeing Duncan all freshly showered and dressed while I was still dressed in my sweat. “Why are you standing out here?”

The door opened and Andrew scuffled past, his head hanging low in shame as he gave a quick apology.

Duncan’s gaze followed him. He was wearing a frown when his gaze returned to me. “Why the hell…” He stopped talking when he finally put two and two together.

“Yeah. I am just going to change,” I will shower at his place.

Eliza waited for me at my locker, her cheeks all flushed. “I’m sorry,” It was fun seeing her all bashful.

“I am glad you and Andrew sorted things out but please. Next time you two get the hots and can’t wait until home. Don’t use my locker. There are 20 other empty lockers,”

I chuckled when she threw me with a towel. “It wasn’t meant to happen. Things got out of hand,”

“Hmm. Is he giving you the thrills?” I teased like she teased me when I told her about Duncan and me.

She smiled, leaning the side of her head against the locker next to mine. “I think I can love this one, Zoey. You know. It’s real. He sees me. I feel respected and admired,”

I pulled my shirt over my head and brushed out my hair. “You deserve happiness. With all the fools you had, you deserve a gentleman who cares about your needs,”

Her smile slowly faltered until it looked like she wanted to cry and I thought she was going to say that she didn’t want this but her confession was worse than I expected.

“I got a phone call from my mom today,"