Dana Mangan dropped elegantly into the chair next to her best friend, Kendall Devlin. The soccer players were gathering at the gate at JFK International, getting ready for their transoceanic flight to London.

“Man, I cannot wait to see all those international hotties!” Kendall announced.

Dana laughed. Kendall was boy crazy and in Kendall’s opinion, running out of eligible options at school. The prospect of a summer overseas with a whole new crop of young men had had her giddy for weeks.

“Just remember we’re not there to be meeting boys,” Dana reminded her.

“You better not be moping over Rick still, girlie, because we are going to have an absolute buffet of men! All those soccer hotties, with those nice bodies?” Kendall wiggled her pink eyebrows, making Dana laugh again. “Finally, guys we can talk to about the game while we score some action ourselves!”

Dana just shook her dark head in amusement, opening her water bottle.

“Think of it. Guys from all over the world, in shape, they play the game so we can talk shop—twelve weeks in a foreign country with no parents. I mean come on, how much better could it be?”

Dana laughed again.

***

The trip across the Atlantic was smooth and the team members dozed, listened to their music and watched the movies. Several other teams’ representatives had joined them, a girls team from Arizona, a girl’s team from Washington State, and two boys’ team, from Colorado and Wisconsin. The gate area had been a myriad of colors from the warm up suits they all wore. As they were boarding, a pair of girls in yellow and black warm up suits joined them; they were from Georgia.

The boys had quickly decided they wanted to hit on the girls and “have some fun”, but none of them were having it. The girls seemed of like mind to scope out the crop of international guys waiting in London.

Introductions were made and there was a small bit of polite getting-to-know-you conversation but each pair eventually drifted off into their own world. Most of the teams had been traveling all day from different parts of the country and were already exhausted. Now, with the overnight flight and the darkness, they drifted off into sleep.

The plane was quiet, as flight attendants cleared remaining trash and numerous students slept. Dana had drifted off with her iPod on, lulled into sleep by the strains of Vangelis.

She woke when the captain’s voice came over the speakers to announce they were beginning their descent into London.

“We’re almost there!” Kendall squealed. The goalie of ever-changing hair had been coloring it a rich brown these days, but kept her trademark color streaks. Currently, she had hot pink stripes running through the dark waves, and had bleached, then colored her eyebrows to match, to her mother’s horror. She had tried to get Dana to let her highlight her hair but Dana steadfastly refused. Kendall’s coloring experiments didn’t always go well.

And Dana liked her dark hair. Long and thick and wavy, like her mother’s, Dana kept it just past her shoulders, long enough to ponytail for a game but short enough to not be a hassle. It suited the big green eyes she had also gotten from her mother. There were worse things than resembling Daisy Duke Mangan, as far as Dana was concerned.

And while she didn’t want to admit it to Kendall, she was hoping for some romance this summer. Her breakup with Rick hadn’t been painful, but she was tired of the idiot boys at her school. They were silly and immature, and it was hard to have a private relationship when you were a Belden-Duke Clan member. One of her cousins or siblings would find out anything she did and tell the rest, especially the twins, Leif and Logan! They were as good as Rayma at finding out gossip and not so good about keeping it to themselves.

Her parents held up their end of the deal they had made last fall. Dana’s grades were good, she wasn’t a troublemaker in school, and she was determined to play on the Women’s US Soccer team. This summer program would be a huge benefit for her.

So now she was on the plane, about to land in London. She had been to the United Kingdom twice before, but never without her parents. Now, she and her best friend were headed for an overseas adventure!

The soccer camp itself would run six weeks, and then they were onto a six week tour throughout the UK, playing various international teams, from the UK, Spain, France, Australia, Germany, Greece, Brazil and Mexico. It was also rumored there would be Olympic Scouts from around the world, scoping out potential in the high school sophomores and juniors.

Dana hoped to make captain her senior year. She would be starting her junior year as assistant captain. Kendall was their best goalie, but had no aspiration to be captain. She enjoyed her position as goalie, especially when she had opportunity to mock the other team. She was the main reason the opposing team rarely scored, if they managed to get past the Puma forwards. Her knack for timing and anticipating the sort of shot about to be taken had made her the number one goalie in the region.

Both girls touched up their lip gloss and combed their hair as they felt the plane descending. They weren’t the only ones. Combs and brushes and compacts had appeared as everyone attempted to freshen their appearance.

Dana and Kendall were near the front row of the coach cabin and able to slip out quickly. They had strict orders to wait for everyone once off the plane, and slowly colorful group of students gathered. Nearby were the red uniforms, and the yellow, who had been near the back.

There was a roll call by one of the girls from Arizona, a bossy blonde that Dana resisted the urge to mimic.

“Feel like a herd of cattle yet?” Dana whispered, as they headed towards customs. Kendall giggled.

After they were questioned and their passports stamped, they headed to baggage claim to locate the large duffle bags they had all brought.

The camp official representatives were waiting for them with signs, and there were more greetings and another roll call. The sun was up and they were hustled onto a big tour bus.

Dana settled in her seat next to Kendall and yawned.

“Man, I hope those jet lag pills kick in,” she muttered.

Kendall nodded. “I feel a bit tired but no more than normal. I’d kill for a latte though.”

A petite blonde in a gray suit with a name tag identifying her as a camp official stood up and picked up the microphone. It squealed with feedback and everyone covered their ears and sat up straighter.

“Alright, ladies and gentlemen, listen up! My name is Betty Madden, and I’m one of the official chaperones. You may call me Ms. Madden. We’re headed to Reebok Stadium for the Welcome Lunch. Tonight is the Opening Game, where we’ll be seeing England’s Women’s team take on the Irish Republic. Quite a treat for all of us. Now, let’s discuss the rules one more time; your coaches should have already gone over with you…”

Dana tuned out Ms. Madden about then. She had read the guide. Nightly curfew of 9:30, lights out at 10pm. The lodgings were the “Olympic Village” of London, which had been renovated several years prior when the soccer camps began. The countries were mixed in alongside of each other, to promote international relations. There were over 25 states from the US, and they had been scattered among the teams from Europe and Asia for rooming.

The rules were clear about no boys being in girls’ rooms and vice versa. The chaperones were responsible for checking their teams’ beds every night and accounting for their players. The day was broken down into training, and lectures, with meals and a bit of free time in the evenings. Saturdays were game days, Sunday they were free to explore the city.

The Puma girls were escorted to their lodgings, where Dana and Kendall quickly claimed their beds. Their roommates hadn’t appeared yet.

“I hope they put some hot Australian or Irish boys across the hall!” Kendall grinned. Dana chuckled and rolled their eyes as they unpacked.

“Most likely it’s all girls on this wing,” Dana replied, making a face.

There were two closets, so Kendall and Dana hung up their clothes in one, leaving the other closet for the other pair. They chose the bunk beds away from the window, and resisted the urge to lie down and nap. Kendall hung their triangular PUMAS banner over the top bunk. On the dresser in the closet, Dana set her treasured picture of her with her older brothers.

It had been taken last Christmas, when Tim was finally home, on Christmas morning. Even Jesse, who didn’t like being photographed, agreed to their mother’s request. The three Mangan children had posed in front of the tree. Tim kept goofing around, sneaking rabbit ears in on his brother and making faces until Daisy chastised them. This was Dana’s favorite shot. She sat between her brothers, all three smiling. Tim’s smile was mischievous, for at the last second, he snuck the rabbit ears in on Jesse.

Dana missed Tim terribly and felt guilty about not being there since he was coming home, but Tim had insisted she go to camp. He’d be there when she got back, and he didn’t want her to miss this opportunity. He promised they’d catch up later.

The door opened and two short, black girls walked in, wearing red and black warm up suits.

Dana looked up, a bit startled by their sudden appearance. “Hi there!”

“Hello,” came serious answers with heavy accents.

“Hi,” Kendall scooted off her bed. “I’m Kendall, this is Dana. We’re from New York, USA.”

They were Kesi and Zahm-Zahm, from Nigeria, and the Americans quickly learned their new roomies were very serious and didn’t smile or talk much. They were polite enough, took the empty side of the room without complaint and began to unpack with few words.

At the designated time, all four headed to the opening lunch.

They filed into the huge room amongst a murmuring of voices. Uniforms of every color combination filled it. Circular tables with white table cloths were everywhere, each with a country’s flag perched on a stand, but no two tables next to each other had the same flag.

They were directed to one of the American flagged tables, which sat between Greece and Spain. There were curious expressions from the various teams as they checked out their competition.

Dana took a seat and glanced around. Behind them was the Ireland team, and she caught her breath when she saw him.

His uniform was green and gold, stereotypical she thought with a smile. He was laughing at something his teammate had said, his curly dark hair in disarray. His eyes were blue or green, she wasn’t sure which but they were lively, his teeth white but not perfectly straight, which only complemented the adorable smile that wasn’t quite straight. Some freckles, nice frame from what she could see, she thought.

As if he felt her eyes on him, he glanced her way and held her eye contact. Instead of ducking away, she tossed him a sassy grin, which he slowly returned.

“Damn girl, look at you!” Kendall whispered in glee. “We’re not here five minutes and you scope a hottie!”

“That he is,” Dana said with a satisfied smile.

They sat through the welcoming speeches by various board members and applauded each one, but Dana kept eying the food tables being set up. The last meal on the plane had worn off long ago and she hadn’t thought to grab an energy bar from her stash in her suitcase. She was starving, and the scents of food and coffee were making her stomach growl.

The lunch was served buffet style, set up around the room to smooth the traffic flow. Uniformed waiters filled glasses and swept away plates.

Another American team was seated at their table, along with duos from Germany and Russia. Dana almost smacked one of the other Americans for a rude comment about the steak and kidney pie she had cut open.

"My mamma would wash my mouth out with soap if I said what this looks like," one the Georgians drawled, picking at it.

“Shut up!" Dana hissed. “If you don’t like it, don’t eat it, but don’t offend our hosts!” Dana wondered if this girl had ever left the state of Georgia before. "Besides, my mother is from Georgia and some of what you all eat down there is disgusting!"

Not to mention Daisy would have been ashamed at the snotty remarks this girl made, Dana thought.

The lunch was a traditional British food, steak and kidney pie, Yorkshire pudding, a variety of pasties, cottage pie, which Dana explained to Kendall was minced beef, vegetables and mashed potatoes, and other foods, some of which Dana wasn’t sure of what they were. The desserts included trifle, puddings and cakes. Both girls loaded up their plates with the items they knew and liked, and small samples of uncertain foods.

She had hoped the Irish boy’s table would be called to get food along with hers but they were paired with Greek and Italian table, which was all boys who appeared to be very friendly towards the American girls, giving them big smiles. The fact her last name was emblazoned across the back of her jacket was a blessing and a curse, she decided. It would give the Irish boy her name, but the Greek boys as well. There was one in particular who was giving her the creeps with the way he stared at her.

She kept glancing over her shoulder at the Irish table, and several times she caught his eye, and he’d wink at her. She’d give him a saucy smile back.

“Just go over there and introduce yourself,” Kendall encouraged. “Isn’t the whole point of this international relations?”

Dana giggled. “I wouldn’t mind some relations with him.”

Kendall almost snorted into her soda.

“We’ll get to mingle soon enough.” Dana was watching the coaches for cues as to when they could get up. “Besides, I don’t want to look desperate.”

“Well, he’s looking at you, when you’re not looking,” Kendall reported. She had a better view of the Irish table. “His friend with the red hair is awfully cute too.”

Finally, dishes were whisked away by the waiters and the President of the camp stood to say a few more words. Dana really didn’t pay attention until the woman announced it was time to mingle, and get to know the international crew.

Dana stood quickly and turned, but one of the Greek boys had stepped in front of her, offering his hand. It was the creepy one, whose squinty eyes were so dark they were almost black. She didn’t like the way they roamed over her. She didn’t quite catch his name through the accent, but she glanced over his shoulder, trying to find her Irish boy. She couldn’t be rude; her Southern-born mother would be appalled.

“Dana Mangan,” she said politely, shaking hands. She could see Kendall was looking for the Irish boys as well.

“Excuse me good fellow,” the Irish accent reached her ears, “but the lovely Ms. Mangan alred’ agreed te a private conversation with me.”

Dana grinned as the Irish boy stepped up to her, flanked by his redheaded friend. The Greek, obviously disappointed but understanding, gave her a short bow and wandered off. Kendall nudged her friend’s foot.

“Ryan McLoughlin.” He held out his hand, which Dana took happily. “This is my mate, Brady McGrath."

“Dana Mangan.” She smiled charmingly. “And this is Kendall Devlin.”

“Pleasure to meet ye lassies,” Ryan grinned, his accent suddenly fading into a lilt.

“Hey, your accent just changed,” Kendall said, narrowing her hazel eyes.

Ryan laughed. “I admit, I put it on a bit thick sometime when I meet foreigners. Just for fun.” This time he was much more understandable.

Dana laughed. His green eyes sparkled at her.

“Come here often?” he asked.

The next thirty minutes of mingling time was spent flirting with the Irish boys, though they were friendly to everyone who approached. Dana was more than pleased to realize they were staying on the floor below the girls.

“How long have you guys been playing?” Kendall asked.

“I started when I was about six, Brady here was eight. You?”

“Six,” the girls answered together. “We met in kindergarten.”

“Kendall’s the best goalie in our region,” Dana said proudly. “I’m a forward.”

“Ryan here is our goalie. Tops in Ireland, as ye can see we’re the only reps here,” Brady grinned. “I’m a winger.”

Other students stopped by from around the world, and Dana quickly lost track of who was who, despite being good with names and faces. Everyone wore nametags but they quickly became a blur.

Ryan and Brady never made excuses to leave; they seemed quite happy to hang out with her and Kendall, and they quickly decided to attend the evening’s game together.

Two tall, beautiful, thin and blonde girls approached the group at one point. Dana wondered if they were twins, they had the same ice princess haughtiness and delicate features, with platinum blonde hair she suspected wasn’t bleached, and pale blue eyes.

“’Allo,” one said. “I am Marcella, this is my seester, Maritza. Ve are from Sweden."

“Dana and Kendall. This is Ryan and Brady,” Dana said cheerfully. By taking the lead to introduce them, she figured that was a subtle warning.

The Blondies all but ignored Dana and Kendall, extending their hands to the Irish boys. Ryan and Brady greeted them politely but when it became apparent they weren’t going to start full conversations with them, they raised their noses slightly and walked away.

“Well, they’re friendly,” Brady commented.

“Only if you have certain anatomy,” Kendall replied with a laugh.

Several students from Spain approached them and they all chatted for several moments before moving on. There was group of rowdy Germans, one of whom made his interest in Kendall clear, followed by the French members, a duo of Indians, two Japanese players, and several Africans.

As they finally headed out to the night’s game, Dana felt the surge of excitement. This was going to be the best summer ever.