Free Sabotage Season by Alex Morgan Page B

looked at the attached photo and at Kara’s grinning face, her long, brown hair pulled into a ponytail with acute ribbon. When I’d lived in Connecticut, Kara and I had always picked out our school outfits together. With a three-hour time difference and a totally different climate, that had become impossible. But I was so glad we kept the tradition as much as we could. As soon as I got dressed, I snapped a pic of myself and sent it to her:
    Layered blue and orange tanks, jeans, and of course flip-flops :)
    What people wore at Kentville Middle School was a lot different from the preppy Connecticut school I had gone to, but I found myself liking the relaxed Cali style.
    Jessi, Zoe, Emma, and I sat in the courtyard behind the library at lunch, in our usual spot. (Frida sat with us sometimes, but mostly she hung with her drama club friends.) The sky was bright blue and the sun was shining, with big, fluffy white clouds dotting the sky. I thought of the cool, autumn air that was descending on Connecticut (and Kara!) right then and shivered. California definitely had its perks!
    I had just finished the yogurt parfait my mom had packed for me and was licking the spoon (it was so delish!) when Jessi pulled me aside.
    â€œDevin, come with?” she asked.
    â€œWhere?” I said nervously. She had that I’m-up-to-something look in her eyes.
    â€œI want to go to the cafeteria to find Cody and Steven,” she said. “As Kangaroos I think they need to know that someone has been targeting the Kicks. And now it looks as if the boys’ team is in danger too!”
    Boy, and I thought Frida was the dramatic one. But I could tell there would be no point in arguing with Jessi. It would just be easier to get it over with.
    â€œFine,” I sighed as I slowly got to my feet. Emma and Zoe were deep in conversation about a social studies project they were working on together and barely noticed we were leaving.
    We walked through the crowded cafeteria and found Cody and Steven eating with a bunch of the other boy soccer players.
    â€œHey, can we talk to you guys alone?” Jessi asked, her hands on her hips.
    â€œOoooooooooh,” one of the boys at the table called out, while another made kissing noises.
    â€œOh, grow up,” Jessi said with an eye roll.
    But Cody just laughed. “Sure,” he said, while Steven gave me a grin and a wave.
    We walked over to an empty table in the very back of the cafeteria, and before we even had our butts in the chairs, Jessi launched into it.
    â€œThe Kicks are being sabotaged and we think someone is after your team too!” she said urgently.
    â€œWhat?” Cody asked, surprised, while Steven’s eyes grew wide.
    Jessi outlined everything that had happened so far: the fake e-mail from Coach Flores, the stolen duffel bag, and the canceled practice.
    â€œAnd then at your game against the Roses, the explodingsoccer ball. When has that ever happened in all the years you’ve played soccer?” she asked. “Someone is out to get us. And I’m pretty sure that someone is the Pinewood Panthers.” She leaned back in her chair and looked expectantly at Cody, waiting for him to see her point.
    But instead Cody opened his mouth and started to laugh, like someone had told him a really funny joke. Jessi looked angry.
    â€œThe Panthers aren’t even in the picture this year, not after their last couple of games,” Cody said once he’d stopped chuckling. “The boys’ team has zero chance of making it to the play-offs. So why would they try to take us out?”
    Steven nodded. “Cody’s right. Our main competition right now is the Rams.”
    â€œYeah, and their girls’ team is awesome too,” Cody said. “Well, they were last year, anyway. Have you seen their captain, Jamie, play? She’s so fast.”
    Jessi scowled, annoyed. “Everyone knows the Panthers-Kangaroos rivalry goes way back. And you