Chapter 11: A New Hope

This month, I often stayed late to train with the starters.

Some nights I crashed on the office couch, hoodie pulled over my eyes, the hum of the PC fans lulling me to sleep. Most nights I was the last to leave, making the rounds with leftover pizza and Red Bulls, checking on everyone’s scrims. I set alarms for early-morning meetings and fell asleep with the glow of the practice room screens still in my eyes.

Mason came to me privately, too. He stood at the office door, backlit, his deep-set eyes landing on me before quickly looking away.

"Natalie, I’ll do my best."

Mason was different from the other players—he always called me by my full name.

He was polite, but he carried himself like he knew the stakes. Reminded me a little of Caleb, in those early days—hungry and humble at the same time.

I brushed my bangs aside and patted his shoulder.

"No pressure. This is your first real match. Just enjoy the experience."

Mason nodded. As I was about to leave, his cool voice called out again.

"And… thank you."

"Thank me for what?" I looked at him, curious.

"I know if it weren’t for you, I’d still be stuck in the youth squad. Anyway… thanks for believing in me."

I didn’t answer. I just tightened the file folder in my arms, half serious, half joking.

"Mason, do you think that golden confetti looked good?"

He knew I meant the league championship.

"It looked great."

I smiled: "I’ll show you."

And as Mason grinned, for the first time in weeks, I believed it.