Sky's POV

I had almost forgotten what it felt like to be back on the pitch again. The smell of the turf, the feeling of elation after a sweet strike, and most of all the comradery within the team. I felt at home again, welcomed back into open arms.

I looked up at Jill Ellis. She was saying something to Coach Nicholls, gesturing towards the pitch as she spoke. Her passion for the sport was evident, fire and heart in her eyes as she spoke. The way she managed the team was something to be admired. Since she had come into the USWNT coaching staff, the whole team had come alight with talent and success, something that I definitely couldn't do with my awkward attitude and tendency to push people away. It was for their own safety, but still, I wasn't a world cup champion.

"Alright girls, time for the scrimmage. Allie, Ash, you pick the captains." Alex said, looking around at us stood in a huddle in the middle of the field, frozen breath swirling around in the icy November air.

"Tegan." Ash said, calling her captain. Of course, I mean they are a part of the keeper's union. She banged her gloves together, strolling to the front of the group with confidence. We returned our attention back to Allie, waiting for her to call her captain so that we could begin the game.

"Sky."

 I started in amazement.

I'm a trialist, why should I be captain?

I caught Allie winking at Tobin as I walked nervously to stand next to Tegan. Weird. Tegan slung her arm around my neck, beaming while we waited for the go ahead to pick teams. Maybe they want to test my leadership. Or maybe... no. we weren't going to go there.

"Okay girls pick your teams. Rock paper scissors for who starts. Reveal on shoot." Alex called. I won, and we began to shout names across the pitch.

"Casey."

"Mils." Casey turned to me as she walked to my side, laughter in her eyes as Tegan called her pick.

"Lily."

"Charlotte."

And we went on.

Once we had chosen our teams, we were given a set of pennies to put on. Ours were bright yellow and Tegan's bright pink. We looked like highlighters. I guess they were new, and although we looked ridiculous, at least they didn't stink of the previous wearer's sweat.

We ran over to opposite sides of the 7-a-side field, taking positions as we set for kick-off. I gathered my team around me. "I know this isn't a real game, but I want you all to put everything into it. Appreciate every moment you get on that field to shine, because you will never know when it could be your last." I gave a sweeping look around the circle of girls. I missed this, all of us together, anticipating the shrill sound of the whistle, hugging and cheering when we put ourselves ahead. My team was my personality, something that had been stripped away in those last few years. "Okay, hands in." I whispered, wiping a tear from the corner of my eye. "ESB on three. One, Two, Three..."

"ESB!" we screamed. I smiled. Everything was as it was meant to be, and this was my moment to shine.

~~

We won 7-2, and I scored four of those. I acted like it was no big deal, walking over to Tegan and Emilia alongside Casey, laughing about the last half an hour. I had not only megged Tegan, but even managed to turn Jill Ellis' head when I rainbow flicked the ball over Jess' head before bicycle kicking it into the top-left corner of the goal. That was a sweet moment.

"Sky Kelley. Fancy seeing you here." I turned my head, following the taunting voice.

"Oh. Hello Jess."

"I didn't know you would be back so soon." She cocked her head at me, giving me a sweetly evil smile. "Was your brother's death not enough for you? Did you need to come back? Because, you know, knowing you, it'll probably just end up killing someone else."

"Nice to see you too." I mumbled, fists clenched, teeth gritted.

"Do you know how long it took me to rebuild the team after you left? You left us destroyed; top scorer gone. Selfish, if you ask me. Now to come back in and unsettle us again in our senior year. Not your finest moment, Kelley." 

I took a step towards her, clashing heads as she began to say something else. I was ready to kill.

 That was until my friends wandered back over to me, having overheard the whole conversation.

"I don't think you've ever had a fine moment yourself Jess." Casey snarled, stepping between us.

"Casey, move." I warned.

"No Sky, I'm not going to let you do something you'll regret." She replied.

My sight became foggy as I was overcome with rage. I curled my fist back into a ball, skirted around Casey and swung at Jess with all my might.

"SKY NO!" Tegan yelled. It was too late. My fist clashed with her cheekbone, spit and blood flying everywhere. Before long she had lunged at me, tugging my hoodie as she kicked my knee and dragged me onto the floor. Shit. My ankle twisted, the old support ripping and scraping the floor as I fell. Nevertheless, I wasn't going to let her get away with this. I swept her leg, pulling her on top of me and rolling onto the side as I grasped her arm, holding it dangerously close to breaking point as I used my free fist to continue the assault of punches to her abdomen.

"HOW, DARE, YOU TALK ABOUT MY FAMILY LIKE THAT!" I screamed, raining down punches. "DON'T YOU HAVE ANY SENSITIVITY OR DECENCY LEFT IN YOU! MY BROTHER IS DEAD, MY FAMILY..." I tailed off, panting as I struggled with the fight inside myself. No one could know about my family, definitely not my parents. "YOU DON'T GET TO SPEAK TO ME LIKE THAT!"

A pair of strong arms grabbed me from behind as I struggled, my face wet with salty tears as I cried and cried.

~~

"Sky. Explain yourself." Coach Nicholls stared at me, voice stern and unwavering. The USWNT girls had been left alone outside to help put the equipment away and lead a cool down while Jill followed us to the office. It turned out that Tobin had grabbed me off Jess. She joined us inside the office, face full of disappointment.

"She insulted me. My brother." I mumbled, facing the ground with tears streaming down my steadily bruising cheeks.

"Oh." Coach replied. "I see the problem." I just nodded.

"Even so, it is not your place to deal with that." The principal began. "It is up to us, as the adults of the school, to help you sort it out. We're concerned for you Sky. We can see how much Tyler's death has affected you. As a school, it is our duty to help you through these things without letting full scale fights break out on the soccer field."

"Don't say my brother's name." I said, raising my eyeline so that it was level with the principal's. He sighed.

"Just trying to help Sky." He replied, holding up his hands.

"Yeah, well you're not." I said and began walking towards the doors.

I was ashamed, not just of myself but of the whole situation. I didn't ask to have such a shitty life, it just happened to me. Tyler, my parents, my sexuality, it was all just thrust upon me without a warning label saying, 'careful, I will destroy you.' It was ironic, I needed saving, but not by the principal. I didn't know who by, but by someone I could trust, and right now, that was a very limited group of people, consisting of me, myself and I. Tegan, Casey and Emilia had always been there for me, but I just didn't know if they would always stay through my shit.

Once outside the office, I sank onto the floor, breathing hurried and rushed. I began shaking, the gravity of the moment taking its toll. I needed to be freed, needed to be rebuilt. But what would happen to me if I confessed about my parents? Everything and nothing all at once. I would lose Tegan, Casey, Emilia. And as much as I turn them away, Coach Nicholls and Principal Griffin had always cared for me. I fell onto the floor, purple cheeks smashing the ground as my head became light. My mouth felt like sandpaper, grinding down the time I had left. My breaths became short, ragged and shallow as I gasped for air.

"Casey.." I struggled, slowly losing consciousness. Was my time really done? Where even was I? The world spun, surroundings toppling over each other in my vision. And yet all I could see was her, in the distance. Not Casey, not Tegan. Who was that? 

A/N

I've decided that I will now be posting one chapter a day until the end of the Christmas holidays, ending January 3rd. From there I'll try to post as much as possible, but idk exactly when. Also, let me know who you think Sky is going to end up with. *HINT* they're not American ✌🏼🙃