A/N: You're probably wondering why I kept introducing characters in this story. It's for a certain reason, but I ain't telling ya 'cause you'll find out soon enough :P

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The word, 'thrilling' does not exactly associate with the situation I'm in right now. At least in my opinion. On the other hand, Yssie looked like she was more than ready to wipe out the entire Trojan army with the power of her newfound determination. I watched with a nervous smile as my partner delivered her lines with steadfast confidence, accompanying it with exaggerating hand motions for added effect. Being fully aware of her giddiness towards costumes originated from book characters, I recommended not to go too far with the outfits. However, with her persistence and eagerness to please Ms. Sanders and the class, I found the reason to forfeit to our hilarious argument.

Luckily, we were doing the final rehearsal at the locker area, so I was saved from becoming a laughing stock. Although I had to admit, Yssie definitely rocked in her Achilles costume. A blonde wig that reached to her shoulders covered her chestnut hair which proved to be fitting with her Scottish features. She decided to wear the charcoal-colored breastplate armor over her black shirt as putting on the armor alone manifested to be revealing, thus going against the proper dress code. Sporting a pair of wrist armors, a tasset that hung around her waist underneath her leggings and a pair of gray knee-high boots definitely captured the image of a Greek warrior.

I, on the other hand, was wearing a similar costume, only the armor costume had a shade of dark brown. Instead of putting on the brown curly wig Yssie insisted me to wear, I styled my short red hair into a low braid, letting a few strands frame my freckled face. My palms were slick with sweat as I held up the script in front of me anxiously.

Standing in front of a crowd isn't really my cup of tea, and I wouldn't lie when I say I pissed my pants during a school play in kindergarten. The funny thing is that I was only given a minor role which is being a damn tree in the Wizard Of Oz play. Now don't get me wrong, it's easy to just stand around on stage and all but because of my teacher who's crazily obsessed with musicals, she wrote a song for the trees to sing, that includes me and two of my other classmates.

If I wasn't so shy and timid in the past,  I would've mustered the courage to object her stupid idea about creating a poorly-written song.

The bell chimed as a signal that the first period has ended, and I was more than happy to remove the flashy costume Yssie made me wear. Don't get me wrong, I love her enthusiasm in playing dress-up as different characters in books but I wasn't the type of person who'd confidently stand under the spotlight.

I sighed exasperatedly, my shoulders slumped. Yssie was such a natural when it comes to a presentation and yet I was rather doing quite horrible. It wouldn't take long before she'd finally turn her back on me and maybe humiliate me on the day of the presentation. A moment of realization struck me as I shook those thoughts away.

If there's one word I could describe her with, it's 'humility'. Despite being fully aware of what she's capable of, she's willing to sacrifice her time and effort to those of inferiority.

I watched as Yssie picked up her script on the floor before sauntering towards me. "Don't lose confidence, mate. The actual performance hasn't even began yet. If you slipped up with your lines, I could always back you up." She sent me a smile, patting my shoulder.

I cracked a smile, finding her positive attitude very contagious.

I sure am lucky to have such a reliable partner.

* * * * *

"So, your flight is already next week, right?" I inquired, munching on my apple.

Meredith's gaze didn't tear away from the clear, blue sky. "Don't talk with your mouth full." She reminded bluntly.

I rolled my eyes. "Just answer my damn question."

"Yeah." Her hands played with the dried leaves on the grass absentmindedly, bringing her knees close to her chest. "And I have to suffer a week with that wimp."

"You know, he's not that bad once you get to know him. He's just uncertain on how to handle girls."

She huffed. "He sure doesn't look uncertain when he talked back at me at the party."

I shot her a look. "Ever heard of self-defense? 'Cause that's exactly what he did. A man can't sit back and stay quiet for long anyway. It's part of their nature."

"Oh, so that wimp is a man now?" She said in a mocking tone. "Once a wimp, always a wimp."

"You keep saying stuff as if you're the veracious one. Just because you're smart doesn't mean you can make predictions, for your information."

Meredith snorted. "Well, we studied mathematical probability in middle school so quit spouting nonsense."

"Oh shut it, will you!" She smirked at my outburst. She knows that I hate it when she uses academics or logical sense as a trump card in our argument.

"Anyway," She spoke up after a brief silence, deciding to change the topic. "It's unusual without those two idiots around. What's the ocassion?"

I chuckled, knowing that she's pertaining to Mason and Soren. "Mason had a play rehearsal today at the auditorium. Soren's off hanging out with his freshmen friends."

"It's pretty surprising that your brother's a popular jock when you're not." She stated bluntly.

"Well, you could say we're siblings with polar opposites. Soren loves the attention unlike me."

"Oh, really? You sounded like you totally love the attention when you went all sassy towards Kendra."

"That situation was different!" I protested, moving my hands around in exasperation. Meredith only rolled her eyes in response.

* * * * *

For some reason, the boys and girls soccer team were gathered together in the field in a circle, both coaches exchanging a conversation by the sidelines. It seemed to be a serious matter from the way Coach Kramer's eyebrows were furrowed in curiosity. Soren and I tried to interpret Coach Schneider's words only to hear a series of soft, audible murmurs.

"I wonder what's this all about? It's rare to see both teams gathered together before training." Soren inquired beside me.

I nodded. "It's only a matter of time before we find out."

As if on cue, a girl walking inside the field caught our attention. Her hair was jet black and wavy that reached down to her chest. From afar, her eyes looked onyx but it proved to be a shade of dark brown at a closer look. She didn't looked like a soccer player, or even an athlete of any sport because of her preppy outfit; a red knitted sweater, black skater skirt and a pair of sneakers. Coach Schneider clasped his hands together as if he were expecting her.

"Ah, there she is, Coach Kramer." He uttered, gesturing to the girl who was rather walking timidly towards them. She flashed Coach Kramer a coy smile who only regarded her with a stern gaze.

"So, this is her? Are you sure she can handle it?" There was a hint of uncertainty in her eyes.

Thankfully, their voices had grown a bit louder so we were able to catch on their conversation.

"Who is she? I've never seen her around before." I mused.

Soren's eyes widened in realization. "Wait, we're in the same class in History and Algebra! Although, I forgot her name since she was so quiet and prefers to be alone all the time."

"Hold on, if she's a freshmen, what could our coaches possibly want from her?"

"Alright, listen up teams!" Our conversation was cut short as Coach Schneider addresses us in his usual loud, booming voice. Not to mention intimidating.

"We have finally decided about who will be taking the role of the manager. Although supposedly, there should be two for each team to have a manager, apparently our only volunteer has explicit knowledge in soccer and is accustomed to multi-tasking. Not to mention that she has enough exposure in being an assistant manager under her father's influence who is a soccer prodigy."

It took me a moment to realize that there is still a vacant seat for the sports manager of this team. Plus, it's a really big surprise that a mere freshman is willing to fulfill such a huge role. However, Coach Schneider's words were convincing that this mysterious girl could be someone we're looking for judging by her admiring qualities.

I spared a glance at the girl who was shuffling nervously on her feet as she stood inbetween the coaches, her gaze rooted on the ground. Despite how favorable she seems, it appears that being the center of attention is quite intolerable for her.

Coach Kramer placed a hand on her shoulder, making her visibly flinch in surprise.

She's quite the jumpy one, huh?

"Introduce yourself, girlie." She uttered gravelly.

I sighed. Coach Kramer has a habit of addressing rookie members of the team with feminine nicknames. According to Penny, it's a sign that she dislikes females who act all girly and sickeningly sweet. Although, she usually calls me 'little girl' during trainings which effectively riles me up everytime. I already hated the fact of being the shortest girl in the team and yet she keeps rubbing it off on me.

The girl bit on her lower lip, nodding slowly. She turned to the assembled teams, eyeing us anxiously. "Um, my name is Beth Taylor, a freshman student. My father was the one who taught me all about soccer and I received experiences as an assistant manager in the soccer club that he formed when I was younger. From today and onwards, I will be your new manager." She ended her introduction with a bashful smile.

"And there you have it, folks. Now get your asses up and let's begin our usual warm up! Those who end up as last in a one round sprint will receive a punishment of fifty push-ups!" Coach Kramer yelled.

I groaned, feeling the exhaustion taking course in my body eventhough the training hasn't started.

Dang, here we go again.

* * * * *

"Use those short legs of yours, Rockwell!" Coach Kramer's booming voice echoed through the field, catching the boys team's attention. My face flushed in embarrassment as they shared snickers amongst each other.

"Ugh! I'm trying, coach!" I yelled defensively, pushing the ball forward using my dominant foot. But with agility as my weakness, my stamina doesn't last long when it comes to sprinting, especially with a ball.

"You can do it, mute girl! I'll give you a kiss if you do well!"

I huffed, knowing very well that it was Levi who said that. Ignoring him, I dribbled the ball in a slightly faster pace, making sure that I wouldn't trip over it. The ball flew at an incredible speed after kicking it, going in directly inside the goal.

"Nice kick, Ash!" I hear Penny exclaim from the sidelines.

"That was very poorly done, Rockwell!" I swallowed thickly at Coach Kramer's infuriated tone.

"If you're too engrossed on looking down on the ball, then how will you anticipate the opponent's moves?!" She scolded, crossing her arms.

I sighed in defeat. "I'll do better next time, coach." I replied solemnly.

She rubbed her temples in disbelief. "Apart from your accurate shooting skills, dribbling is what you need to work on. Understood?" She inquired, her tone softer this time.

I nodded. "Roger that, coach."

Training ended after an hour had passed and everyone was exhausted after the intense twenty-minute practice game. And of course, Coach Kramer made me a striker as usual. I felt like I had just got out of the swimming pool in my sports attire as I flumped into the bleachers, grabbing my water bottle and chugged on the cold liquid. On the other bleachers was Beth, who seemed absorbed on jotting down notes on her notebook. I watched her in confusion.

It occured to me that she had been doing that during the whole training, with Coach Kramer and Coach Schneider flashing approved looks after glancing at Beth's notes occasionally. Over the time, she would check on the boys team and did the same thing as well.

Without thinking, I walked up to her figure a bit cautiously as to not surprise her. Beth whipped around, regarding me with widened eyes. Immediately, she closes her notebook, clutching it against her chest.

"Um, do you need something...?" She asked, fiddling with the hem of her skirt.

I flashed a friendly smile, not wanting to scare her. "There's nothing to be nervous about. I'm just curious what you wrote on your notebook. I'm surprised that you're able to impress Coach Kramer and Coach Schneider, those two are one hell of a beast." I admitted. Beth released a soft chuckle at that.

"Well, I put down a bit of information about each player in both teams. My father told me it's a way to for the players to be fully aware of their weaknesses and strengths. That way, the coaches can serve it as a guide in any means of improvement." She shyly handed me her notebook.

When I flipped through a few pages, I was left in awe. Each page was filled with details and facts of one player in each page. There were even a few sketches about the player's flaws and forte such as Hailey's bad habit of early timing in diving for the ball and Penny's inability in perfect ball control. Eventually, I found my profile on one of the pages, making me gulp nervously.

"Ash Rockwell. Strengths: Accurate targeting skills and flawless shooting mastery. Weaknesses: Poor dribbling skills, low stamina and agility." I sighed exasperatedly after reading it aloud.

Beth looked panicked at my deflated expression. "We can always do something about your sprinting speed and dribbling skills." She tried to reassure me with a smile.

"Oh, and I also took note of the players' overall personality and behavior during training." She added.

I blinked in surprise. "Is that necessary?"

She nodded. "Discipline is an essential value in sportsmanship. Without it, teamwork wouldn't be possible if not all players are on sync."

I hummed, impressed. "Makes sense. Now, let's here." I looked down at the behavior category of my profile.

"Behavior: Loud, noisy, often picks a fight with Jackson from the boys' team. Personality: Rebellious, imprudent, and reckless." My jaw dropped, fighting the urge to rip the paper into shreds, burn it, and bury it underground.

"What the hell did I just read?" I uttered aggravatedly.

Beth smiled awkwardly. "Sorry if my description offended you. My father used to tell me that honesty is the best policy."

"Jeez, you're such a daddy's girl." I said, returning her notebook.

"Yo, sis!" Soren called, walking up to me. "Don't you have a tutor session with Levi today? He told me that you should meet with him at his dorm room."

I groaned. "Great, can't this day get any better?"

"It sure will be. Besides, you're going to his room, will that be the start of a scandalous act?" He said in a sing-song voice, poking my cheek in a teasing manner.

I swatted his arm away. "In your dreams, bro."

Soren's gaze landed on Beth, who stiffened noticeably. He smiled at her. "Oh, hey. You probably know me since  rumors were spread around our grade about me being the new popular jock." He said, chuckling nervously.

She nodded robotically, her eyes rooted on her lap. "Mhm. I've heard a lot about you, Soren." She said softly, a smile making its way to her lips subconsciously.

His eyes focused on the notebook on her lap. "Can I have a look?" He inquired politely.

"Um, sure." She fumbled on it for a while before handing it to him.

After skimming on a few pages, Soren's eyes widened. "Soren Rockwell. Strengths: Catching and diving mastery, perfect body coordination, high accuracy in volley kicks and goal kicks, and leadership skills? Heh, I'm flattered Beth." He confessed, flashing a sheepish smile at her.

Beth blushed. "Oh, you were just really amazing at the field, Soren."

He blinked, pointing a finger to himself. "Me? I could've sworn I was being yelled at by Coach Schneider the whole time. But wow, your observations made me feel better."

My eyes narrowed suspiciously, switching back and forth between Soren and Beth as if I were watching a tennis match.

For some reason, I could detect a strange aroma of chemistry between these two.

Soren seemed to snap out of a daze as he looked away from Beth, clearing his throat. "Uh, let's find out my weaknesses." Once more, he blinked a few times as if he were entranced in a hallucination. "Weaknesses: N-None?! Beth, are you serious?" His jaw dropped, meeting her eyes with a stupefied expression.

Beth nodded shyly. "When I observed you from afar, I couldn't really find any flaws. You met all the expectations needed in a goalkeeper."

He remained shell-shocked, unable to process the words in his head. "Holy shit, really?! Dang, how come I've never noticed that before?!"

My eye twitched in annoyance. The thing that I really hate about my brother is the way he reacts strongly with exaggeration when someone showers him with unnecessary compliments. And seeing him this way irked me the most.

I glanced at Beth, who seemed pleased in seeing an overly enthusiastic Soren. I facepalmed the moment realization hits me hard.

I never thought that I'd see something like this.

"Man, you really wrote a lot of notes in just a span of two hours! Now that I think about it, you're pretty amazing! Shy girls really are something when it comes to the unexpected." He grinned brightly at her, causing Beth to blush an even darker shade of red.

"I-It's nothing, Soren." Her voice was so quiet that I doubt Soren even heard it as he became absorbed in Beth's notes once more.

"Behavior: Determined, serious, devoted and confident. Personality: Cheerful, kind, friendly, approachable, compassionate, funny, caring, considerate, patient, handso--" He was abruptly cut off when Beth immediately snatched her notebook away from his hands, her face bright red as a tomato.

"I-I think you're done reading already." She stuttered, hugging the item close to her chest.

Soren stuck out his lower lip into a pout, making him look childish. "Wait, hold on! I haven't seen the last word yet! Let me read it!" He exclaimed, reaching for the notebook.

Beth grew alarmed as she shot up from the bleachers and backed away from him. "It's not important!" She defended.

He stepped forward, only for Beth to recoil instinctively. "Of course it's important! If it's you who wrote it, then I'll take it seriously!"

Completely vexed up at this point, I grabbed Soren by the arm, dragging him away from Beth. "Let's just go already! Levi's waiting for me!"

"Dammit, Beth. How come my brother  gets all the good qualities while I didn't?" I muttered under my breath.

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A/N: Sorry about the short chapter! I'll make it up to you guys at the next chapter!

Word count: 3,283