AYANNA'S POV:

"So, do you think you are going to be able to actually be a starter on varsity?" Dad asks after i come inside the house.

"Um, i don't know, Dad. Today was the first day of tryouts, so i don't even know if i am going to make it on the team. Although, i am going to try my best," I reply and Dad snorts.

"Oh you'll make the team alright... That school is so small that they probably can't turn anyone down. Of course you can always quit, but if you do that i might have to disown you," he jokes and i roll my eyes.

"Ha... Ha," I reply and he grins.

"Well, if you can't make varsity then the coach obviously doesn't know what he is doing. I have taught you well," Dad says.

"Oh, you taught me well, did you?" I say and Dad grins sheepishly

"Ok, maybe not, but close enough,"

In truth, i taught myself all of what i know about football. My dad always thought that i was too girly to do any sports and boy did i teach him when i showed interest in football. The least girly sport out there...

Don't get me wrong, though. I do love to shop and my favorite color is pink, but i can like all of those things and still like football.

After dinner i head up to my room and sit on the bed. All i can hope is that tomorrow is a better day altogether... Better at the new school and better at practice. I miss my friends so much and it didn't help that i didn't make any new ones today, but i guess that all comes in time. Hopefully.

~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~

BEEP BEEP BEEP BEEP BEEP.

Ugh, i groan and slam my hand down on the alarm clock and sigh. It is to dang early for this to happen.

I get up and look at my clothes. I don't know what to wear. I want to make new friends so i don't want to seem like i'm stand-offish, but i also want the guys on the football team to take me serisouly...

Why does everything have to be so difficult?

Finally, i decide on a purple tank and jeans, and head downstairs to grab a granola bar before heading to school.

When i arrive, everybody still looks at me and i can tell they are still gossiping about me. What about me, i don't know, but it can't be good from the looks on their faces.

"Hey, princess, are you sore?" A guy, from the football team, sneers. I look over at him and see Bryson grinning beside him.

"Yeah, if you are sore from yesterday you might want to quit because it will only get worse and worse as the week goes on," Bryson says with an evil glint in his eyes.

"No, i'm fine. Are you guys sore? From the looks of it, you guys look a little stiff," I say with a smirk and they glare at me.

"No, we're not sore!" The other guy snaps and i raise my hands in mock surrender.

"Woah, killer, i was just wondering. No need to bite my head off," I reply and walk away from them. I can hear them talking about me and i can feel them glaring at me as i walk away, but i just keep on going.

"So, i heard from Bryson that you are trying out for football. That's cute and all, but sweetie, you won't make it," Sharon says and links her arm through mine. I can barely contain the urge to yell at her.

"Yeah, and i heard you are trying out for cheerleading. That's cute and all, but honey, you won't make it. Just some friendly advise," I sneer and Sharon glares at me.

"You better watch what you say! I can ruin your life and trust me, you won't want that," she growls and i shrug.

"I'd like to see you try," I snap back before walking away from her.

When i get to my locker, i lean my head against it. Crap! I was trying to make friends and now i just made the worst enemy i could possibly make.

"That was the bravest thing i have ever seen," comes a voice from beside me. I look over to see a girl about my height with light brown hair and brown eyes.

"What was?" I ask.

"You! Standing up to Sharon. Nobody ever does because they are all afraid of her," the girl says and leans against the locker next to mine.

"Have you before?" I ask curisouly and she nods.

"Yup, and look how that turned out. Now i am the loser of losers. See that guy there," she says and points to Bryson. "That's my brother, but he didn't do anything when i tried to stand up to Sharon. He just stood there and waited for Sharon to explode. And oh boy, did she ever. But now, Bryson won't even talk to me at school and barely at home," she explains and i look at her in shock.

I glance over at Bryson to see him staring at us with an odd expression on his face. When our eyes lock, i feel my insides go all mushy. But then i mentally shake myself wtih the thought of this poor girl beside me and i flip him off.

He looks surprised for a second, but then turns away to see what one of the guys has to sayt o him.

"Well, he's a jerk, so i wouldn't be to depressed about it," I say to the girl and she nods.

"I know... I'm Maggie, by the way," she says.

"Ayanna, but you can call me Aya," I reply and we grin at each other.

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When football practice comes around, i start to get nervous. My dad said they don't have enough players, so that way everybody makes the team, but still.

I reach the field and Bryson glares at me, along with a few of the other boys. But some of the boys seem like could really care less that i am girl.

"Alright, girls, as usual everybody made the team, but now it's time for the real practice to begin. I want everybody that's new to line up over here and everybody that's not to stand off to the side for a minute. Today and tomorrow is all about finding what position you guys are good at. Now i'll go over some basic things for you who have never played football before," coach explains.

I go and stand beside all of the new players, which are mostly freshman and sophomores, but i think there are a couple juniors.

"So, the quarterback, or QB for short, recieves the ball from the center to start the play. When the QB recieves the ball he or she has three options. To run that ball himself, hand it off to an eligible ball carrier to run it, or they can execute a forward pass to a player downfield. Got it? Now, the running back, or RB, are lined up so that they can recieve the ball from the QB to execute a rushing play. Wide Recievers, or WR, need to get open for a pass, but sometimes they are called on to block.Tight ends, TE, are most likely called on to block, but can sometimes catch the pass," he explains and on and on he goes about football. I try to pay attention, i really do. But i mean, i already know this stuff.

So when we eventually get to play, i am QB. That doesn't mean anything though, because Coach hasn't picked any teams yet or anything.

When i recieve the ball i look downfield and see a WR open. I reach up and throw it with the perfect spiral, but as soon as it leaves my hand, somone slams into me. Before i know it, i am on the ground with someone on top of me and i look up to see Bryson on top of me. I shove him off and glare at him. Oh, well, i mean it is part of the game, but i have this feeling that he knew i had already sent the ball flying.

Obvisouly Coach wanted last years varisty team to play defense, and switched up their positions for practice. Bryson, now plays the outside linebacker.

I look over at Coach and see that he doesn't even care that i just got hit. Usually, the coaches at my other school would rush out to see if the new player was ok.

I look over to see Bryson grinning.

"You better step it up a notch or your going to end up becoming a bench warmer," he says and runs back to his spot.

After a few more plays, Coach calls us over.

"Go and run two miles and then come back here. We will be testing you to see how far you can run without dying in the field. This could make the difference between varsity and JV. GO!" He explains and we take off running... Two miles.

On the last lap around the track i see Bryson only a little bit ahead. This is it! My time to shine. All i have to do is beat him and maybe i could have a chance at varsity.

I sprint even though my legs are ready to give out on me, and as soon as i pass Bryson i hear him curse. And then i hear him pick up spead.

Oh no! No way is he beating me.

I push my legs even harder and finish the two miles about two seconds earlier than him.

I bend down and feel sweet drip off my face.

As soon as everybody finishes running Coach looks at all of us.

"Good job, Bryson. Way to push yourself," he says and i look at Coach in shock. I finished before Bryson did... I look at Bryson and he seems just as surprised.

Coach ignores me and tells everybody else how good they are.Really?! That jerk.

As soon as Coach walks away i am about to go after him and yell at him, but a pair of arms wrap around my waist and hold me back. I look behind me to see a junior grinning at me.

"Not a good idea," he says and i blush.

"Yeah, you're probably right," I say and he nods.

"I know. You're good enough to be on varsity, but Coach wants a varsity team that gets along and frankly the guys that are going to be varsity don't like you," the guy says and i sigh. I know they don't like me, but it's not like i can help that.

"Are you going to be varsity? Or i guess, do you think you're good enough to be varsity?" I ask him and he shrugs.

"I was varsity last year and i was a sophomore, so maybe. Who knows," he says and i nod.

"I'm Aya," I say.

"Max," he replies and holds out his fist for me to bump it.

"DOn't waste your breath, Max, she's not worth it," Bryson sneers and some of the other guys laugh.

"Bite me, Bryson. She's better than you and you're jealous," Max says with a sweet smile and i grin.

Bryson clenches his fist and glares at us.

"Well, you had a chance at varsity, Max, but now it's down the drain," Bryson snaps and Max shrugs.

"And strangely, i'm ok with that," Max replies and Bryson storms off to find Sharon.

"Why did you stand up for me if everybody on the football team doesn't like me?" I ask Max and he shrugs.

"It's stupid that everybody treats you so unfairly, it just really is. I mean, sure you're a girl, but obvisouly you're just as good as most of the boys on the team. Plus, it really is admirable that you are trying out and sticking to it. Like Coach said, there are always girls that think they can play football, but they usually quit after the first day," Max explains and i nod.

"Yeah, but i'm not going to quit. This is my favorite thing to do and i'm not giving that up just because of a bunch of boys don't like me," i say and Max grins.

"That's the spirit," he says and then he looks over my shoulder and swallows nervously. I look behind me to see Maggie walking over to us.

I look back at Max and see him biting his lip and blushing.

"Hey, Aya. How was practice?" Maggie asks me and nods at Max in greeting. I see Max wave nervously and look away.

"Good, do you know Max?" I ask and Maggie looks at him.

"Yeah, we've talked a few times," she says and after a few more minutes of talking, she walks over to her car and drives away.

"You totally like her," I point out and Max shakes his head in denial.

"No, i don't. What makes you think that i do?" He asks and i roll my eyes.

"Please, you were a nervous wreck as soon as you saw her," I reply and Max grimances.

"Do you have to say it like that? I was not a nervous wreck. I was just nervous. There is a difference," he says and i look at him skeptically.

"I don't think so. What are you going to do about it?" I ask him and he shrugs in defeat.

"Nothing, i guess. She doesn't even notice me," he says and i roll my eyes.

"Puuuleeeasseeee," I snort and he scowls at me.

"What?"

"There is the homecoming dance coming up in like four weeks. Ask her," I explain and he shakes his head.

"Uh, no, that's ok. I think i will just like her from afar," he says and i grin.

"Fine, but don't say i didn't tell you," i say and he shrugs.

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-becka