(Warning not read through)

Mal collapses, gasping for air. "I'm going to kill Mama and Alex."

Rose drops beside her. "Not if I kill them first."

Sam staggers to the ground. "No, just kill me."

Kelley runs past them and puts her head underneath the water jug spout, pouring water directly into her mouth. She stands up, wiping her mouth with the back of her hand. "You babies," she teases with a grin.

I huff, "Shut up, Kelley. You run suicides for shits and giggles."

Kelley holds up her hands. "Hey! Let's not forget the real enemy, Julie and Alex. Remember them?"

Rose sits up. "Mama didn't do anything."

"Yeah huh." Mal yanks on her laces and loosens her cleats with a sour face. "Mama was being a bitch to Ellie."

Christen scolds from behind me, "Mallory, that word better not have come from your mouth."

"Yeah well, she was one so I'm not taking it back," Mal murmurs and dumps turf beads out of her shoes.

Christen holds out a granola bar to Rose. The midfielder groans but takes it begrudgingly. Christen gives her a warning look before turning to her youngest. "You need to take a walk in your Mama's shoes. You can never really understand a person until you—"

Mallory finishes with her, ". . . climb into their skin and walk around in it." She slumps and throws an arm carelessly. "I know, I know."

That's Christen's go to response to every situation. As much as it annoys Mallory, it is actually really good wisdom. She's just too Mallory to appreciate it now.

With a small smile, I pat Christen on the back. "Hey, good job guys," I say to the younger girls. I lean into Christen and ask, "You okay if I chat with Julie?"

She nods. "Sure, Tobs. Have at it. She should be cooled off now. You know how she is."

I nod back at her. I walk along the side line to the other half's bench. Julie is sitting alone, clearly wrapped up in her thoughts. I sit beside her without a word and just wait.

"World Cup is six months away."

I stuff the toe of my cleat into the artificial grass. "Yeah. A little less than that."

"I was such a jerk today," she says softly, tucking her knees to her chest and burying her head in her arms. She looks a lot younger like that. Reminds me when we were just kids, new and green. "I just lost it." Her fists clench. "And I yelled at her." I assume she's talking about Eleanor. "I'm a monster."

I put my hands in my pockets and lean back. "I'm not gonna sugar coat it, buddy. You were a jerk. But help me understand. No one knows where you're coming from."

Julie sniffles. "I'm just stressed," she chokes out.

I'm confused. "Why? I thought you lived for this pressure?"

"It's different this time. I'm not just responsible for my effort. I'm responsible for everybody's," she says shakily.

"What do you mean?"

"Jill said she wants me to be captain."

"Oh."

She exhales. "Yeah."

"I hate to break it to ya," I drawl out. "But you play a team sport. Being captain doesn't make you alone."

"Yeah, but Jill wants me to captain this team to another World Cup victory. Actually she expects it. She expects me to fix everything," Julie mumbles. "I don't want to disappoint her."

I sigh. "Jules, sometimes you gotta take a step back. I know you hate disappointing people, but what Jill expects is not on you. We're a pretty screwed up team right now, but we'll fix it. Together."

"Everybody's gonna think I'm a terrible person now," she whispers. "I was so mean to Eleanor Mae. She definitely hates me now."

I shake my head. "Talk to her. She's a really good kid. She'll understand."

Julie smiles weakly. "She really is a good kid."

I stand up. "Yeah, she's pretty special."

•••

Yeah . . . she is special alright. I wince as the fifteen-year-old drapes her torso over the edge of the bed and hangs upside down in a fit of laughter.

"Alexandra. What did you feed her?"

Alex smiles to herself with no ounce of remorse. "Just got her a little treat."

"We got ice cream!" Eleanor giggles. "Alex got me chocolate chip cookie dough with fudge and sprinkles and two cherries. Two!"

I look at the forward warily. "That's a lot of sugar."

Alex whispers for my ears only. "She was really upset, Tobs." She gives me a sheepish smile before disappearing to take a shower.

I shake my head but don't say anything. I can't get angry with Eleanor making goofy faces upside down. With a smirk, I scoop her up and throw her over my shoulder.

She shrieks in another fit of laughter. "Lemme down!" She shouts giggly.

"We can not send you to your room like this. I can't imagine the shenanigans you and Mallory would come up with."

She squirms until I'm forced to drop her onto the bed. "Mallory and I do not participate in shenanigans," she says in a mockingly posh voice.

I roll my eyes and check the time. "Oooh, squirt. You need to get started on your homework."

The hyper girl deflates and sits up dejectedly. She pulls a deep pout and her shoulders hunch solemnly. "Do I have to?"

"Yes ma'am. You're already behind because you skipped yesterday."

"I was on a plane," she argues, but I usher her off the bed and to the desk.

"No excuses. Get to work."

She lets out an exaggerated sigh but pulls her books out. I watch her work for a couple minutes before speaking up, "So, kiddo. About today?"

She nods distractedly.

"Julie wants to talk to you after dinner. Is that okay?"

She pauses and bites her lip. "Is she still mad at me?"

"No, no. Not at all. She wants to apologize. Do you think you could hear her out?"

Eleanor nods slowly. "Yeah, I think so."

I smile. "Thank you, Ellie bear."

She doesn't turn around, but I watch the profile of her big, shy smile spread on her lips.