"Any idea what Coach wants?” Dana Mangan asked her best friend as shut her locker door.

“Not a clue,”Kendall Devlin replied. The two fifteen year old sophomores hoisted their backpacks over their shoulders and started the trek towards the locker room.

“You don’t think…” Dana bit her lip, “maybe she wants to talk to us about being captain next year?”

“It’s only November, Dana, we haven’t even started spring season.”

“Wishful thinking,” the tall brunette sighed.

“Besides, unless you really screw up this year, I would be willing to bet that come next August, you’ll have that C on your jersey.”

Dana flashed a grin. “I sure hope so. Aralyn and Tiffany co-captain their hockey team, I like to think I could handle the soccer team.”

“I know you can,” Kendall said confidently, reaching up to ponytail her blonde streaked dark hair. She would be changing the blonde streaks to hot pink next week, as part of her ever-changing hair style she was known for. “And so does Coach Haskell, when he’s not being a jerk.”

The friends laughed.

“I wonder what the meeting is about though,” Dana mused, her green eyes thoughtful.

“We’ll find out soon enough. Hey, do you and Johnny have plans this weekend?”

“Not that I know of. Tell you the truth; he’s been annoying the crap out of me lately.”

“Uh oh,” Kendall groaned. “Here comes another Dana Mangan induced heartbreak.”

Dana snorted. “Please. It’s not my fault they bore me easily!”

Kendall laughed. “What’s this one doing?”

“He calls me like, three times a day. Or he’ll call me in the evening, and text me during class, even though we’re not supposed to have phones on. And he’s always going on about art, and I really just kind of tune him out.”

“Nice,” Kendall snickered.

“Well, it’s not that I don’t appreciate his knowledge, and he’s incredibly talented, but he starts throwing out those names and it’s like my brain just shuts off.”

“You need someone new. You’ve gone through half the boys in this school, and don’t leave many of us any opportunities,” Kendall teased.

Dana rolled her eyes. “These guys are just boring,” she complained.

Kendall shook her head in amusement as they approached the gym. Dana had boys tripping over themselves to go out with her, but her exuberant friend never seemed to commit. Kendall herself had only had a couple of boyfriends. She and Dana were two of the taller girls in their class, around five eight, but where Dana had the curves, Kendall was skinnier. The often changed colors of her hair drew attention to her, but not the sort she wanted, the sort that Dana got effortlessly. Admiring looks from the boys.

Dana had all those good looking cousins and brothers, she often thought wistfully. She had known most of them her entire life, since her friendship with Dana went back to third grade. Tim was gorgeous, Dana kept a picture of her oldest brother on her locker door, and Kendall had crushed on him for years. She knew how much Dana missed her him. Shy Jesse was a hottie too, and currently dating a cheerleader he was besotted with. Quiet, scholarly Riley had those beautiful violet eyes but Dana was positive Riley had no interest in female anatomy. Then there were the fun-loving, mischievous twins, Leif and Logan, and their cousin Matthew, who could have been their triplet. A year younger than Dana and Kendall, Kendall thought them all adorable and expected within a couple years, would be heartbreakers themselves.

Dana went through boys like underwear, Kendall thought with hilarity. She had figured long ago that Dana wanted someone adventurous and exciting, like most of the adult men in her family. Her cousin Aralyn was smitten with her boyfriend Cam, the quiet journalist, but Kendall suspected Dana wouldn’t be happy with a boy until she met someone feisty and fun, like herself.

“Here we are,” Dana opened the gym door. “Let’s see what Haskell wants.”

Random students milled across the gym, nearby the cheerleaders were warming up for practice.

They made their way to the back, where the coaches had their offices.

In Coach Haskell’s office sat two of their teammates, Ryl and Angelique, Dana’s regular wingers on the field.

“Hey guys,” Dana greeted them cheerfully. “Any idea what’s up?”

“None,” Ryl answered. The petite girl looked bored. “Waiting on Coach to show up.”

There were only two chairs that had been claimed already, so Dana and Kendall leaned against the wall.

“Sorry girls, just a bit late.” Coach Haskell breezed in, shutting the door behind him. In his mid-forties, with a slight paunch and bushy mustache, he was well known for his soft spoken demeanor unless on the field.

The girls greeted him warmly.

“What’s the pow-wow for?” Kendall asked.

“Opportunity,” he answered with a smile. “Have you girls ever heard of the Royal England Soccer Summer Camp?”

“Of course,” Dana stood up straight. “It’s the most prestige soccer camp in the world. Students from all over the world attend a six week intensive training course.”

“Yeah, students that are at least sixteen,” Ryl pointed out. "Only Angelique is."

“Correct. You must be sixteen to participate,” Coach Haskell agreed. “But you can try out at fifteen.”

Dana leaned forward, her hands resting on the back of Ryl’s chair. “Coach, are you telling us, we have an opportunity to try out for the program?” she asked quietly, her eyes burning into him.

Haskell nodded. “That’s what I saying. They’ve relaxed the rules to allow exceptional players that are fifteen to try out for the program, providing they will be sixteen by May 1.”

“April third,” Dana replied.

“February twenty-sixth,” Kendall added.

“December twelfth,” Ryl said gleefully.

Haskell nodded. “Schools are allowed to submit four students each for tryouts. The thing is, only two will be selected, maximum.”

The four nodded.

“You’re my best four. Kendall, none of the alternate goalies are anywhere near your league. The three of you are my best forwards. You work together like a dream and I think we have a good chance of making it to state this year.”

The four grinned at each other.

“The cost of the program is extremely expensive,” he warned. “There is some financial aid available for students who qualify. I have information packets for you to take home to your parents. There are waivers, detailed information and of course, permission needed.”

“But six weeks of working with former World Cup and Olympic players!” Dana exclaimed, her eyes shining.

“What could be better?” Angelique asked.

Coach Haskell smiled. “That’s my girls. Try outs are in January. But I need the permission slips signed by your parents by next week, so I can formally submit your names. Then it’s going to be pushing harder,” he added. “As good as you four are, it will mean more practicing, even over the winter holiday. This is a big commitment on your part.”

The four nodded solemnly.

***

Dana told Jesse all about it in the car on the way home.

“Sounds impressive, Dana. Think Mom and Dad’ll go for it?”

“As long as my grades aren’t compromised,” Dana said thoughtfully. “They have no reason to say no. We have the money, my grades are good, and they know how much I want to play. This could be the push I need to be a serious contender for the Olympic team, Jess.”

Jesse smiled at his sister. “I’m sure you’ll do fine. Haskell’s talked to Mom and Dad before about you taking some extra training. He’s been eyeing you to throw in front of scouts since last year, when you totally stole the show on the field.”

Dana blushed. “I wasn’t that great, Jesse.”

“No, only the first freshman ever to make forward-center forward mind you, and start in all games but one.”

Dana blushed deeper at her brother’s praise, and fell silent the rest of the way of the way home, thinking of the potential to spend almost all summer in England.

***

Daisy read through the paperwork while Dan questioned Dana.

“You realize, sugar, you’ll be giving up your entire summer?” Daisy asked.

Dana nodded. “I’m okay with that, Mom. We’re talking about the chance to go play with some of the top soccer players in the world. Not to mention, there will be Olympic Scouts. If I make the tryouts and get accepted, there will be a scout watching me through the Spring, and there will be scouts present all summer to watch and pick us. It could be the door I need to make my dream!” Dana’s big green eyes were eager and glowing, fixed on her mother.

Dan nodded slowly, thinking, as his wife handed him the papers to read over.

“It looks good to me, sugar, and the money isn’t an issue,” Daisy said. “But your dad and I do need to talk about it.”

Dana understood and nodded reluctantly.

***

She was upstairs working on a report when her cell phone began to ring. Glancing at the incoming call to see it was Johnny, she sighed and ignored it. Two minutes later it began to ring again. Picking it up, she refused the call and tried to concentrate on her paper. The IM popped up though, interrupting her once again.

ArtistRoberts: D, you there?
ArtistRoberts: D, you invisible?

Dana gritted her teeth and clicked the ‘ignore’ feature on the instant message. She really needed to concentrate on Emerson and Thoreau.

Her phone began to buzz again. With an angry snarl, she answered, “What?”

“Hey babe, where’ve you been? I’ve been trying to reach you!”

“Johnny, I’m busy, which is why I didn’t answer,” she snapped.

“But I haven’t talked to you since lunch,” he whined.

Dana took a deep breath. It was time. “Johnny, listen to me. I am very busy. And I’m going to be very busy for a while. I want you to stop calling me, and I don’t think we should see each other anymore.”

There was a long pause. “Are you breaking up with me?”

Dana sighed. “Yes, Johnny. Our relationship isn’t working for me anymore.”

“But what did I do?”

Dana knew if she got into a conversation with him, it would go on for over an hour and she really needed to work on this paper.

“Johnny, you’re clingy. I’m tired of the constant phone calls and checking up on me. I have things to do, other people in my life and you’re making me crazy.”

“But Dana-”

“Johnny, I’m hanging up now. Don’t call me back. Please.”

Dana snapped the cherry red phone shut and set it on her desk. She counted to ten but the phone didn’t buzz. With a sigh of relief, she turned back to her computer. Now she really couldn’t afford to let her grades slip, she had to focus.

Less than five minutes later, Kendall’s instant message popped through.

GoalieGoddess: Dude, Johnny is on the phone, sobbing.
DDDDiva: WTH? Are you kidding me?
GoalieGoddess: Nope. Crying like a baby.
DDDDiva: OMG. Tell him to stop being such a wuss! I'm fifteen for gosh’s sake, he’s so going to be an obsessive stalker type when he gets older.
GoalieGoddess: I tried telling him that. Didn’t go over so well.
DDDDiva: Tell him Jesse will kick his ass.
GoalieGoddess: *snort* he knows better. Tell me again why you went out with this guy?
DDDDiva: He was sweet. And cute. Thought the whole sensitive artist thing would be nice.
GoalieGoddess: You thought wrong.
DDDDiva: Duh. Just hang up on him.
GoalieGoddess: Yeah, make ME the bad guy now!
DDDDiva: Love ya :D
GoalieGoddess: Maybe that sensitive artist thing has given him some sort of romantic delusions.
DDDDiva: I don’t know what it is but it’s creepy. He’s just turned sixteen, and last week he told me he thought he was in love with me.
GoalieGoddess: You’ve only been going out since August!
DDDDiva: See what I mean? Creepy. Ten bucks he ambushes me at school tomorrow with flowers or something.
GoalieGoddess: You have no sense of romance.
DDDDiva: Sure I do, but I can’t even drive a car yet. There are too many hot boys out there to be having fun with to be thinking about settling down with just one right now.
GoalieGoddess: LOL true. Spoken like a Mangan, not ready to settle down.
DDDDiva: :-P
GoalieGoddess: How’s your report?
DDDDiva: Slow. Yours?
GoalieGoddess: I think I’m about halfway, but Cryboy here is distracting me.
DDDDiva: Tell him you’ll call him later. We can’t risk any sort of drop in grades, if we want to do Camp.
GoalieGoddess: No kidding. Dad’s all gung ho about it. I think Mom would have wanted me to do it. She never wanted me to stop playing.
DDDDiva: I think you’re right. I think mine will give in, they’re talking about it now.
GoalieGoddess: Hope so. It wouldn’t be the same if only one of us makes it!
DDDDiva: Yeah, I know. But dude, think of all those hot European boys we’ll meet!
GoalieGoddess: LOL! You’re crazy, you know that?
DDDDiva: Yep. It’s part of my charm.
GoalieGoddess: RME. OK, signing off. Got to finish this and tackle some geometry. Ttyl!
DDDDiva: Night!

Dana turned her attention back to her report but part of her mind kept wandering, wondering what her parents were saying and if they’d have a decision by morning.

She wasn’t a straight A student but she had a couple A’s among a solid B average. Like her cousin Aralyn, she preferred to be outdoors doing something active and fun. She was able to devote time to her friends, family, and soccer without compromising her grades. Daisy Dukes Designs had become one of the largest design houses in the world, she knew money wouldn’t be a factor. Though it would kind of suck to miss walking the runway shows in Milan and Paris this summer, something she really enjoyed, Dana ultimate goal was to play soccer for the US Women’s Olympic team. She really wanted to be in England this coming summer.

***

After a fitful night of tossing and turning, and staying in the shower long enough to make Jesse bang on the door and threaten her, Dana dressed quickly for school and flew through her hair routine. She rarely wore makeup, though Daisy was in talks with some people to start a new line of mineral makeup that sounded interesting. Today, Dana made sure she didn’t look too tired.

Bouncing down the stairs, she burst into the kitchen to find it like any other morning. Dan sat in his usual place, reading the paper and sipping coffee, Daisy was scrambling eggs with vegetables, and Jesse was still dressing.

“Morning, sugar,” Daisy greeted her cheerfully.

“Morning,” Dana answered, eyes moving from one parent to the other anxiously. She took her place at the table, pouring a glass of juice from the pitcher. Daisy set a plate in front of her, for which Dana thanked her.

“Jesse!” Daisy stood in the doorway, calling up the narrow staircase that led upstairs.

There was a muffled response and a moment later, Jesse’s footsteps pounding on the stairs as came down.

“Sorry, someone took too long in the shower,” he groused.

Dana stuck her tongue out at him. “I thought you went for the tousled hair look anyway,” she replied.

Jesse scrunched up his face at her as he took his place and helped himself to the platter of eggs his mother had set on the table. Dana reached for a biscuit to butter, reminding herself she would only eat one, she had been watching her carb intake strictly. Daisy made the best biscuits in the family and no one could resist eating several.

“Slow down there, Jess, you’ll make yourself sick,” Dan lowered the paper to eye his younger son.

“Sorry, Dad, need to get going. I’ve got a killer history test today; I need to get in some more studying.” He started to rise but his mother stopped him, coming behind him and placing her hands on his shoulders.

“Sugar, getting sick won’t help. Sit a minute,” she said firmly. "A good breakfast will help you."

Jesse sighed and stayed put, reaching for his juice. He exchanged a glance with his sister, who was anxiously watching their parents.

Dana ate quietly, forcing the eggs down. As delicious as they were, her stomach was in knots. Dan kept his face expressionless, reaching for another biscuit. Jesse glanced at their mother, who was humming as she set dishes in the sink.

“Oh, come on!” Dana burst out finally. “Please, you two are killing me!”

“What’s wrong, sugar?” Daisy turned from the sink trying to look concerned but her sparkling eyes gave her away.

Dan chuckled and set his paper down.

“We’ve decided to allow you to go for the tryouts,” he said, his dark eyes twinkling. “And if you make it, you can go to Camp.”

Dana let out a squeal of joy and leaped to her feet, throwing her arms around her father and almost knocking Dan backwards in his chair.

“However,” he managed, “we’ll discuss the terms of said agreement this evening.”

“Yes, Daddy,” she kissed the top of his head and flew to hug her laughing mother. “Thank you, thank you, thank you!”

She raced up the stairs to brush her teeth and call Kendall. They had seven weeks till tryouts.