"Sixth grader Emily Vicky is heading down the field! She's getting past every defender out there! Ooh ouch! That one came head on! Wait, she doesn't have the ball! I don't believe it folks at the last second Emily passed to Cassandra Holiday! Goooaaalllll for the Mighty Vikings!!"

Emily and Cassie met down field, fist bumping each other. They met their coach at the bench since he had called a timeout. "That was great you two!" he said, high fiving the pair. "Now, we're up by one, so lets finish this game strong! Who are we?!"

"The Mighty Vikings!" the team roared.

The girls ended up winning 5-3. Emily and Cassie headed back to Cassie's house, along with Josh. Cassie had begun feeling very tired on the walk home, so Josh had her on his back. When they entered Josh was relieved to find out that Jrue wasn't home, he wasn't very fond of the young boy. Josh set Cassie on the couch. "Go get some water," Emily told him. "You know her apendix bothers her during games. She's probably dehydrated."

Josh nodded and ran to the kitchen. He grabbed a water bottle marked 'Cassie' from the fridge and brought it back. Emily coaxed Cassie into sitting up and drinking a few sips. She felt her forehead but felt no fever. Lauren walked into the house. "How was the game girls?" she asked.

"It was awesome!" Emily said excitedly. "Cassie scored!"

"Really? Good job Cas! How did you do Emily?"

"I didn't do much."

Cassie was now sitting up. "Didn't do much?!" she sputtered. "Em you kicked me the ball to score the goal! You drove it all the way down the field and made an amazing play! If that isn't doing much I don't know what is!"

Emily smiled. Josh sat on the couch next to Cassie. Emily smiled at the two of them. She could tell something was going on, even if the two didn't want to admit it.

Lauren said she was going to cook dinner and that Emily and Josh were welcome to stay. The three kicked the ball around outside before Lauren called them back in. About halfway through the meal, the door opened, revealing Jrue, but he had a surprise.

"HOPE!!"

Cause jumped from her seat and into Hope's open arms. The goalie hugged her tightly. "How's my favorite middle schooler?" she asked.

"Good! You're just in time, my friends Josh and Emily are eating with us."

Hope turned to Jrue and smirked, then raised her eye brows, but Cassie didn't see it. They all went to the table and began eating again.

After dinner, the three kids challenged the three adults to a little three on three soccer. Josh went as the goalie for his team, Hope for her's. (Obviously). Somehow the kids won 3-2 when Lauren said it was time to quit. When they won, Josh picked up Cassie and spun her around, making her squeal. Jrue cleared his throat, and both tweens blushed. Emily and Hope smirked.

After Josh and Emily left, Hope said she was going to bed. Even Cassie knew this was way too early for Hope. She walked upstairs and knocked on her door gently. "Hope?" she called.

Hope came to the door, eyes tear filled and face as white as a sheet. "Hope!" she said, alarmed.

Hope motioned for her to be quiet, but to come in. Cassie shut the door behind her. "What's going on?!" she asked.

Hope let it all out. She began to sob and Cassie held her close to her, rubbing her back and whispering soothing things in her ear. When Hope calmed down, she told her.

"Well, you see, Carli and I went out to this bar the other night, my idea of course. I got a little too drunk and Moe was there. I told Carli she'd drive me home so she left. I met this guy and we kind of...."

Cassie's eyes went wide. Hope nodded. It was like they knew what each other were thinking. Cassie hugged Hope. "Hope, have you told her?"

Hope shook her head sadly. Cassie sighed. "You're going to have to."

"I know, I know, I just don't know how."

"Hope, Carli loves you more than anything in the entire world. I really don't think she'll leave you."

Hope nodded as she wiped some of her tears away. "So, I hear you have another game on Wednesday."

"Yeah, how long are you staying?"

"Until Friday."

"Yay! Will you come to my game?!"

"Of course kiddo!"

"Yay!"

Cassie hugged Hope again. A few minutes later, Lauren came upstairs and found both asleep, with Cassie curled into Hope's arms. She put a blanket over the two of them and smiled.

...

The next morning, Cassie went to school and was oddly quiet. She was worried about Hope. Josh and Emily didn't say anything, it was obvious she was upset. After soccer practice, everyone really knew something was up. Her form was off and her kicks were sloppy. Barely anything went in.

She, Emily, and Josh all walked home together. Since Emily had homework, Josh and Cassie were the only two to enter the house. "Hey kids," Lauren said. "How was school?"

"Good," Josh said, and Cassie nodded.

"You okay Cas?" Lauren asked, realizing her daughter hadn't spoken.

"Yeah, just tired," Cassie said.

Josh looked at her strangely. He pressed a hand to her forehead. When he took his hand down, Cassie wished he didn't. She liked the way his touch felt. Josh shrugged, indicating no fever.

Hope came from upstairs. "Hey kiddo, hey Josh."

"Hey," both tweens said at the same time.

Hope looked at Cassie and raised her eyebrows. Cassie shook her head. She leaned back on the couch. Josh rubbed her back, then gave her a hug. Cassie leaned in and he kept his arms around her. She wrapped her arms around his waist, sighing.

Hope smiled at the two. She went back upstairs. Cassie was tired. She fell asleep in Josh's arms.

...

The next night, Cassie did something she knew would upset Hope, but she had to.

"Hello?"

"Heh Carli."

"Hey kiddo! What's up?"

"Do you think you could get down here tomorrow?"

"Yeah sure, what for?"

"Well, I've got a big game and I really want you to see it."

"Okay, I'll try. See you then kiddo."

"See you."

Cassie hung up and went to bed.

...

The next day, Cassie was in a better mood. Her coach was happy, because this team was their rivals. This team was the Hawks.

Cassie and Emily began to stretch. They smiled at each other as the rest of the team began. They finished up and the game began.

Vikings were up pretty early with Katie, an eighth grader, scoring very early on. Then Anita. It was 2-0 at 45 minutes.

The second part it began to get closer. The Hawks scored twice and it was 2-2. There were only thirty seconds left until 90 minutes when it happened. Cassie drove down the field, no one was on her. Then someone came and completely knocked her over. Luckily, at the last second, she passed to Emily, and she shot a goal right before time was up.

Emily raced over to Cassie. She was lying on the grass, breathing hard. "Cas!" she said.

"Em... Did we win?"

"Yeah we did."

Cassie laughed. Emily helped her up. They jogged together to the coach. Afterwards, they went to find Hope, and a very special someone was behind her, motioning for them not to say anything.

"Boo!"

"Ahh! What the? Carli!"

Hope hugged her tightly. "What are you doing here?!"

"Cassie wanted me to come!"

Hope smiled at Cassie. "So Hope," Cassie said. "Anything you want to tell her."

Hope sighed, frowning. "Uh yeah, um, can we go somewhere private?"

Carli and Hope went away from the group, into the school. "What's up? Is everything okay?" Carli asked.

Hope sighed again. "I cheated."

"You what?!"

"That night with Moe... I hooked up with a guy. I didn't want to tell you, but now I have to."

"Why? Because of Cassie?"

"No because I'm, I'm.... Carli I'm pregnant."

Carli's eyes went wide as Hope began to sob. She wrapped her in a tight hug. "What are you doing?" Hope asked. "Why don't you hate me?"

"Because I could never hate you Hope. I will love this child just like he or she is my own. Do you hear me? I will never leave you. I love you Hope Ameila Solo."

"I love you too Carli Anne Lyod."

p.s. Soccersoftball2 I win!