« Linds ! Hey ! » Mal exclaims, pinching me the arm.

I jump a little bit, looking at her, confused. What the hell just happened ? I mean, that has never happened to me before. Was I really checking her out ? No. Maybe just a little bit, just to check her... outfit ? Right.

That tiny blonde that just entered the room seconds ago is now talking to the teacher. Her hair are a mixture between very light brown and blonde, whereas her eyes are crystal blue. She is one head smaller than I am. I immediately notice this weird bracelet she's got on her wist, and the 'Thorns' t-shit she is wearing. I crack a smile, as she is turning around. The teacher will probably just introduce her in a few seconds.

I try to keep it cool. Why am I even finding her pretty ? She's cute, okay, but not beautiful. Right ? Never mind. I repost my attention on Mr Mendel, who is obviously frustrated that his precious biology class gets interrupted again.

« Students, listen up ! » he raises his voice, as the silence is shortly coming back. I suddenly feel that she's glaring at me, but my eyes don't leave the teacher. « This young girl arrived from Georgia earlier today, she's travelled all night, so be kind to her, okay ? » Everybody share a surprised look ; the black circles under her eyes speak for themselves. She is exhausted, and probably just willing to be in her bed right now. « I will let you introduce yourself, young girl. »

'Young girl' I repeat to myself, amused. He doesn't even know her name. I exchange a look with Mal, who is just smirking. I really hope she doesn't think I find that girl cute or something, otherwise she'll just be all over me for weeks.

The silence is still filling the atmosphere, as the new girl is nervously playing with her fingers.

« Hey... folks » she shyly speaks up. I immediately find something in her voice very funny, as if she is speaking 'sarcasm' as a second language. There are some laughs on the room, and then silence again. She frowns. « I'm-uhm... »

« It's alright, they won't eat you » Mr Mendel encourages him.

« Depends if she shaved her pussy or not ! » a random guy yell, laughing, and his stupid friends follow around.

I can't help but react : « The only thing you'll eat tonight is your disgusting dick, Carter ! » I yell.

That makes my friends laugh, but Mr Mendel not so much. At least the guy is quiet now, blushing deeply. As some students are still laughing, Mr Mendel just sighs.

« Long, you'll go in the director's office after this class, understood ? » he says. I know that, deep inside, he's laughing too.

« Okay. » I let out, avoiding the new girl's surprise eyes. « Sorry. But that douche deserved it, you can't pretend otherwise. »

« Long » Mendel warns me.

I shut my mouth and wait for the girl to continue. She seems even shyer than before, and this Carter guy's words sure didn't help with that. Mendel encourages her to continue and not listen to that douche. As she is about to talk, we lock eyes, and I can see a sparkle in mine. I immediately look intensively, until she's the one looking away.

Her sweet but oh so funny voice raises again :

« I'm Emily Sonnett, but my friends usually call me by my last name. » she says, looking at the ground. « That's lame, I know. I just moved here this morning, my fournitures aren't even in my room yet. So, I basically am homeless. »

Some people let a small laugh out of their throats, while Sonnett is making her way to the last available spot there's on the room. Once she seats, Mendel just keeps on going with his stupid class, until he hears Mal and I giggle.

He rolls his eyes.

« Long, go in the director's office right now. And bring me some croissant when you come back please. » he orders.

I nod, and make my way out of the room. I quickly wink at Carter, who is now feeling like an idiot, ashamed of himself, and close the door behind me.

**

« So, how did it go ? » Moe asks, leaning agains the wall.

Her and Cari have waited for me this time. I know Cari's science class finished at 12, and it already is 12:30. I roll my eyes.

« As usual » I say, not willing to talk about how the headmaster just warned me, and then talked about his dog for forty minutes.

My two friends nod their heads, and we're off to my place. As expected, Allie and all of her friends are now gone. The game they have against UCLA on home soil is important. Once I get changed, we head off to the bus. Mal and Sam are already on board. We arrive to the field ten minutes before kick-off, as the players of both teams are getting ready. I immediately spot Bati, Servando and Dom (Syd's long time boyfriend) on the stands, and go near them. I give them their high five, while my friends politely greet them. They're used in having older people around us, because as soon as they come over to my place, Allie's friends are here too. Not all of them, but at least one or two.

Speaking of which, I spot my sister on the field. She runs toward Bati and I, and looks at us. She seems kinda worried.

« Lotta fucking Schelin is back » she murmurs, trying to act cool. « And they have Wambach. We're so screwed. »

« Oh, come on ! Schelin the Swedish ? » Bati exclaims.

« Yes, Schelin, their very good forward that was injured you know » Allie recalls, rolling her eyes. « Her absence was the reason why we tied with them last time. »

I take a look on the field.

Ash is obviously starting in goal, while Julie - Christen's best childhood friend - Becky, Kling and Kelley are playing in the back. Allie is in the midfield, alongside Carli and Tobin, while Kealia, Christen and Syd are sent forward. Chens, who is injured, can't play, while Alex - who got a red card the previous game) and Arod are the substitutes this time. They're a good-looking team - I mean, I wouldn't want to face their midfield - but so is UCLA. I mean, when you've got Wambach and Schelin upfront, and then people like Hope Solo in goal, and Dunn on the midfield... It's gonna be complicated.

As I am walking back to my friends, I suddenly see someone on the crowd. You gotta be kidding me, right ? I think, rolling my eyes. Of course I'd meet her here.

Her unconventional hair immediately caught my attention. Emily Sonnett, in an UCLA game. She's hanging out with who must be her sister, because they have similar hair. But when the girl turns around, I am shocked to recognize Kristie, Sam's sister. I frown, and Sam, who's following my eyes, just has the same reaction. How could they have met ? I mean, Kristie is in college, while Stephanie, who is right next to her - as usual - is in fourth year with us, but injured. How come Sonnett know both of them ?

When Kristie spots her sister, she grabs Sonnett's arm and drags her behind her. When MewOne just hugs MewTwo, Steph rolls her eyes and nonchalantly greets us by out respective high fives. She's kind of the weird type of girl that looks unemotional and bored all the time. I guess that's why Kristie likes her. Anyway, since there 'isn't anything between them at all' (Kristie's words), but they 'already kissed several times, and more if you want my opinion' (Sam's words), we don't really know where they stand. And it's been three fucking years.

In other words, I'm happy Cari, Sam and Mal don't have any boyfriends, otherwise I'd be the only one of my friends and family to be single. Even the rest of my teammates have boyfriends (I think. Not sure about Dahlkemper, but still.)

Kristie finally gets to me.

« Hey, long time no see » she says.

Okay, so here's the thing : maybe Stephanie and her should actually have a little bit of competition to find out who is less emotional than the other, because they both look like sociopaths. But, like, Kristie is the clever sociopath that just hides it by talking to everybody and being popular, even though the only person she only wants to hang out with is Stephanie (and her sister, and us, sometimes). But Steph, on the other hand, just doesn't make any effort. She only cares about Kristie (and Sam, because they're childhood friends, and Steph's kinda part of the Mewis clan since their parents don't know they're 'not really dating'. Anyway, back to the point :) and us sometimes, but when she doesn't like someone, she lets them know.

I smile at her, ignoring Sonnett, who is awkwardly making her way to us. When Moe sees her, she immediately go and greet her.

« Hey ! What are you doing here ! » she exclaims, greeting Sonnett the way she usually does to people.

« H-hey » she says.

But Moe isn't willing to let her talk anytime soon. « It's so cool you came ! I thought you wouldn't come since you didn't seem thrilled when we invited you ! »

« No, it's just that- » the blonde/brunette starts, but is cut short by my own voice.

« You invited her ? » I exclaim. My friends all look at me in shock. I realize what I just said, and look at Sonnett, awkwardly gesturing to say hi. « Not that I'm bothered by that, I'm just surprised Morgan didn't tell us »

My best friend has got lasers instead of her eyes right now - that's usually the case when I use her full name, which she hates very much. Only Cari calls her like that because they've known each other for 14 years now.

The brunette frowns.

« I didn't think I needed your permission to invite my friend to an open game » she grumpily says, crossing her arms on her chest.

I know where this conversation is leading - hell - and certainly don't wanna go there. I throw a 'peace look' at her, before focusing on the field. Sonnett, who is quite uncomfortable, is told to ignore me by Moe, and goes and sits next to Cari, who seems way friendlier than I am. It's not that I don't like Sonnett, I'm just concerned about her honesty. I know, I'm kind of a psycho, but I wanna make sure she deserves everybody's trust.

I sit down next to Stephanie, while Kristie and Bati are talking about soccer - obviously. The brunette looks up at me, her bored eyes on mine.

« What's wrong with blondie ? » she asks.

« Who ? Sonnett ? Or whatever her name is ? » I say, and she nods. « Nothing. I'll just wait and see the kind of person she really is. »

Steph just smirks. « That's good strategy my friend. »