Free Win or Lose by Alex Morgan Page B

sitting in the back of my parents’ van with Maisie, on our way to the game.
    I gave Frida a small pinch.
    â€œOuch!” she cried, rubbing her arm. “Okay, I’m not dreaming. We’re really on our way to the league championship game! But why does the game have to be at the Pinewood field?”
    â€œWell, Pinewood had more wins than us this season, so they get to host the game,” I explained.
    â€œYou’re going to beat Pinewood, right?” Maisie asked.
    â€œI hope so,” I replied, my heart beating faster at the thought. “We beat them once before. If we win today, we’ll get the division trophy.”
    â€œWow!” Maisie said, her eyes growing wide.
    â€œAnd if we win this game, we’ll have a chance at being state champions,” I told her.
    â€œWe lost to the Panthers once too,” Frida reminded me as she nervously tapped her foot. “I’m really going to need to psych myself up today.”
    â€œI was trying to think of a good character for you, but I can’t,” I said. “Maybe Emma has an idea.”
    â€œWhat are you talking about?” my little sister asked.
    â€œI like to pretend I’m someone else on the soccer field,” Frida said. “It’s fun. Plus it helps me not be nervous when I’m out there.”
    Maisie’s eyes lit up. “How about a princess?”
    â€œA soccer princess? I don’t think so,” I said. “Frida needs to be somebody strong and tough for this game.”
    â€œBut princesses are strong and tough,” Maisie protested. “Like Princess Fiona in Shrek .”
    Frida nodded. “You know, that might work. I could be Princess Frida, and the opposing players could be . . . evil goblins!”
    â€œAnd you’re helping Princess Emma to guard the treasure in the tower,” I said.
    Frida laughed. “Perfect!”
    â€œCan I help?” Maisie asked.
    She looked at me with her big brown eyes, and it was one of those times when I remembered how cute she was.
    â€œSure,” I said. “You can be Princess Maisie, and you can send Princess Frida special princess energy from the stands.”
    Maisie nodded. “I will send you lots of princess energy,” she said, her expression serious.
    Then we pulled into the parking lot at the Panthers field. They had decorated their stands with purple and gold streamers, and there were big signs everywhere that read, GO PANTHERS! Players from both teams were starting to warm up on opposite sides of the field.
    â€œLook, goblins!” Maisie yelled, pointing at the Panthers players.
    Frida laughed. “Your little sister is awesome.”
    â€œYeah, I guess she is,” I admitted.
    Frida and I ran to join the Kicks on the field. We jogged past a group of Panthers. One of them was a tall girl with her dark hair pulled back into a French braid.
    â€œHi, Mirabelle,” I said.
    I guess you could have called Mirabelle a frenemy of mine. She was on the Kicks when I first joined, but now she played for the Panthers.
    Mirabelle nodded. “Hey, Devin,” she said coolly, and then she and the Panthers jogged off.
    â€œWell, that was surprisingly drama-free,” Frida said. “I was expecting some trash talk.”
    â€œI think we have a truce with Mirabelle,” I said. “She sort of took our side when the Rams were trying to sabotage us.”
    Frida nodded. “Well, the Rams were trying to frame Mirabelle for everything they did, so that makes sense.”
    â€œAnyway, I’m glad she’s being cool,” I said. “That’s one less thing to worry about today.”
    Coach Valentine had the girls dribbling around cones that he had set up, and Frida and I lined up behind Emma to wait for our turn.
    â€œOh my gosh!” Emma said. “Did you get that e-mail from Coach Flores last night?”
    Frida and I nodded. Coach had sent a message to everyone on