24

 

 

 

It's early Saturday morning and freaking cold, my fingers and toes numb from the frigid air. I bounce up and down a bit, trying to get warm and keep my muscles loose.

Did I remember to pack my Under Armour?

As my teammates and I huddle together in the parking lot, waiting to load onto the bus for our away game, I dig around in my soccer bag for the long-sleeved shirt to wear underneath my jersey.

Takes a minute or two of shuffling through all my crap, but I finally retrieve the white thermal and heave a sigh of relief.

No frostbite today!

Our team manager, Penny, claps her hands together, the sound muffled by her thick gloves.

"Time to leave, ladies. Line up!"

She stands by the bus door, checking off names on her clipboard as the girls climb onto the vehicle one by one.

When I get to the front of the line, I give her a cheery smile. "Hey, Pen."

"Morning, Syd. Go right ahe—oh." Her face falls as she reads something on her clipboard. When I place a foot on the first step, she holds out an arm to block me. "Um, actually you're not coming with us today."

"Good one." I laugh off the obvious wisecrack. "Now let me on this bus before I freeze my ass off!"

I playfully push on her outstretched arm, but she stands firm.

"Sydney..." Her mouth twists into an uneasy grimace and she slowly shakes her head. "I'm serious."

The blood drains from my face.

"What are you talking about? Why?"

Penny looks beyond uncomfortable, but before she can explain, a hand clamps down on my shoulder. I turn around, Coach Addy's severe expression greeting me.

"It's not a joke, Steel. You're not playing today."

Wtf is going on?!

She leads me away from the line, my teammates sending curious glances our way.

"I don't get it, Coach. Is this about my ankle?"

During Thursday night's practice, I tweaked my right ankle a smidge. It wasn't a sprain or anything like that, but I spent the rest of practice icing it just to be on the safe side.

"It's barely sore," I insist. "It's really not an issue at all. I can get it wrapped by one of the athletic trainers and I'll be good to go!"

"This has nothing to do with your injury." Disappointment creases her brow. "You failed your drug test this week, Sydney."

"I what?"

If I wasn't completely confused before, I sure as hell am now.

"We got the lab results back last night," she confirms. "You failed."

"No, there's no...I don't do...that's literally impossible." My frazzled words reflect the state of shock I'm in. "It's got to be a faulty test, Coach. There's no other explanation."

"That was my first thought as well, which is why we had you come in and take another one Friday morning. Same exact results."

I didn't even think twice about having to provide another urine sample this week. I figured it was a problem on their end, not mine. In high school, student athletes had to pee in a cup every month. I had to re-do a test more than a few times due to the testing facility messing things up.

Never in a million years did I think I'd legitimately fail a test, because guess what?

I don't do drugs!

Never have and never will.

I repeat this exact statement to Coach, but she just shakes her head.

"It's your word against the test, and unfortunately the results don't lie. It wasn't just one substance, either. You tested positive for multiplethings."

"That makes zero sense," I mumble before blowing out a frustrated breath. "So I seriously can't play today?"

"You can't play today, and you can't play next weekend, either," she reveals. "In fact, you're suspended for the remainder of the season—playoffs included."

"The rest of the season?" My jaw goes completely slack at the news. "Are you kidding me?!"

"University rules, Steel. This isn't up to me."

"But I—"

"Coach Addy?" Penny's voice interrupts my dissent. "We're ready to head out."

"I'm sorry, Sydney." Coach frowns. "And, as much as it pains me to say, I'm going to have to reconsider your scholarship. You're a fantastic player, but I can't take a risk on someone who may not be able to participate in the games. Rule violations don't sit well with me."

And with that additional bombshell, she gives me a solemn pat on the back and walks off.

I stand there, motionless and shell-shocked, until the bus engine roars to life. I glance up, watching as my team heads off to the match without me.

The wheels slowly start to roll and I spot Mariana near the back of the bus, her hands and face squished against the dirty glass. 'What's going on?' she mouths, but all I can muster up is a defeated shrug.

I'm at a total loss for words right now.

My soccer bag hits the pavement with a thump, my body collapsing onto it a moment later. I stare at the rusty yellow vehicle as it pulls out of the parking lot, leaving me behind in a puff of exhaust.

A disheartened groan leaves my lips, my face falling into my hands as I try to process what just went down.

Goodbye soccer.

Goodbye scholarship.

Goodbye to this university.

Everything I've been working so hard for...poof. Gone.

Just like that.

A harsh wind whips through the parking lot, the bitter gust of air taking my future at Windhaven along with it.

What the hell am I supposed to do now?