Free Finding Sky by Joss Stirling Page A

his little whistle. ‘Well done, Sky. I knew you had it in you. Only one minute to go—get the ball back in play.’
    We still lost. 25–1.
       
    In the girls’ changing room, I played with my shoelaces thoughtfully, not really having the desire to get started on the shower with so many people around. Quite a few girls came over to say something about my performance on the pitch, most finding my fluke save off Zed Benedict a cause of great hilarity. That one act seemed to wipe out my tragic performance in goal. Sheena’s friends were ribbing her that she’d have to eat barbecued sneaker for dinner.
    Tina pounced on me from behind and slapped me on the back. ‘You showed Zed, girl! He’ll never live down you saving that kick.’
    ‘Maybe.’
    But what had that all been about—his voice in my head? I really felt as if he was speaking to me—telepathy, wasn’t it called? I didn’t believe in that freaky stuff. Like the colours. I was—what was the word my psychiatrist had used—projecting. Yeah, projecting.
    ‘So, you think they’ll pick me for the team?’ I joked, trying not to let Tina see my distraction.
    ‘Yeah, you’re a sure thing—when Hell freezes over. But maybe the athletics coach might come knocking. You move like lightning when you want. I’ve never seen anyone run off the pitch so fast.’ She crammed her track gear in her sports bag. ‘Something going on between you and Zed I should know about? More than that hate-at-first-sight stuff?’
    ‘No.’ I slipped off my trainers.
    ‘He didn’t seem pissed that you saved the penalty. He was staring at you all through the other matches.’
    ‘Was he? I didn’t notice.’ I am such a liar.
    ‘Maybe he likes you now.’
    ‘Does not.’
    ‘Does too. What are we: in first grade?’
    ‘I don’t know—I never was.’
    ‘That explains it. You’ve got a lot of infantile behaviour to catch up on.’ She shoved me towards the showers. ‘Hurry up. I want to get home before I’m due to graduate.’

 
    The next few days at school I suffered under the minor celebrity status my lucky save earned me. Nelson thought it hilarious and never lost an opportunity to make the most of my notoriety.
    ‘Make way, citizens of Wrickenridge, for the hottest new property in women’s soccer!’ He jogged backwards in front of me as Tina, Zoe, and I headed for Science.
    ‘Nelson, please,’ I mumbled, aware of the laughter around us.
    Tina did better: she dug him in the ribs with one of her talons. ‘Give it a rest, Nelson.’
    ‘You her agent, Tin girl?’
    ‘Yeah, and she ain’t giving you an interview.’
    ‘You’re a hard woman.’
    ‘You’ve got that right. Now back off.’
    ‘I’m already gone.’ Nelson turned and ran to his class.
    ‘That boy is a major league pain in the butt,’ pronounced Tina.
    ‘He thinks he’s funny,’ I offered.
    ‘He is—about half the time,’ said Zoe, curling a lock of her dead straight hair round a finger thoughtfully. ‘I always figured he gets at Tina because he likes her so much.’
    ‘Repeat that and die,’ warned Tina.
    ‘He’s had a thing for you since fourth grade and you know it.’
    ‘I don’t want to hear this. Not listening.’ Tina flapped Zoe away.
    Zoe considered she’d won that exchange so dropped the subject. ‘So, Sky, you gonna come and watch the school baseball team today? We’re playing Aspen.’
    ‘If I do, will one of you explain what’s going on?’
    Zoe groaned. ‘Don’t tell me—you don’t know the rules of baseball. Where you been living all your life? Under a rock?’
    I laughed. ‘Nope. Richmond.’
    Tina elbowed Zoe to get her to lay off. ‘Sure, we’ll fill you in, Sky. Baseball’s fun.’
    Zoe gave Tina an arch look. ‘Zed’s on the team, you know.’
    I pretended interest in a leaflet pinned to the notice board outside the lab. ‘I could’ve guessed.’
    ‘An extra reason for coming along.’
    ‘Is it?’ I replied airily.
    ‘That’s what they’re