Under Pressure by Emma Carlson Berne Page B

general feeling around the family dinner table was that it would be a mark of honor if Elise could play soccer for the UNC women’s team.
    â€œUm, Elise?” Addie broke up her daydream. Elise shook her head and looked over. Addie was pointing to Elise’s feet. “Do you know you just took off your cleats and put them back on again?”
    Elise looked down at the neatly laced cleats on her sockless feet and smiled sheepishly. “Ulp. Guess I’m a little distracted.” She sat down on the bench and took the shoes off.
    Addie nodded sympathetically. “Were you thinking about the Jacobs visit?” She rummaged in the locker. “It’s huge. He’s scouting for the freshman spots on the team. And I heard he’s offering scholarships too.” She sighed and yanked her T-shirt over her head. “That’s the only way I could even think of going—even if I did get a spot.”
    Me too , Elise thought. She couldn’t help but notice that Addie’s abs looked like they were carved with a razor. How the heck did she get them to look like that?
    Elise remained sitting with her elbows on her knees as Addie left and the locker room slowly emptied. Her social-worker parents could never afford the tuition at UNC without help. A soccer scholarship was her best chance at attending the school and playing for the team. It was crucial that she impress this scout.
    â€œHey.” Sophie touched her shoulder.
    Elise looked up to see her friend. With her wet hair neatly combed, she was dressed in jeans and a T-shirt.
    â€œYou haven’t even taken a shower yet, dork,” Sophie grinned. “Come on. Locopops is waiting.”
    â€œOh, right. I’ll just go sweaty.” Elise followed her friend from the locker room and into the fresh spring air. She and Sophie always went to Locopops for ice cream after practice. Today, though, Elise’s stomach was in knots. She didn’t even feel like eating her favorite Mexican chocolate.
    As she and Sophie climbed into Sophie’s Honda Civic and pulled out of the school parking lot, Sophie turned up Katy Perry and glanced over at her friend. Elise met her gaze. She could tell that Sophie knew what she was thinking.
    â€œRyan Jacobs!” they said in unison and burst out in laughter. Sophie rolled her eyes at Elise. “I know, I know. You’re freaking out already,” she said, braking for a red light behind a belching dump truck.
    Elise sighed. “ Freaking out might not be strong enough. How about I’m-going-to-throw-up-every-time-I think-about-it ?” She propped her feet on the dashboard and stared out the window at the funky clothing boutiques and little ethnic restaurants flashing past. “This is my big chance, Soph,” she said. “If I can get Jacobs to notice me, he might invite me to an on-site visit. And that’s the first step to an actual scholarship.”
    Sophie signaled and slowed to pull up to the little blue-and-white Locopops storefront. The front doors were propped open, and the delicious scent of fruity sugar beckoned them inside.
    â€œYeah, it’s going to be intense,” Sophie agreed as they joined the line in front of the counter. “I think Lacy is hoping Jacobs will notice her too.”
    Elise thought of the strength and grace of Madison’s kicks during the scrimmage. There was no way the scout could miss that. “Mexican chocolate, please,” she said to the bearded, bandanna-wearing guy behind the counter.
    She accepted the big ice cream bar he handed her and followed Sophie over to their usual table by the front window. But, as she settled herself on the stool and licked at her ice cream, she knew that it wasn’t a question of the scout missing any of the impressive moves the rest of the players were sure to show off. It was a question of why he’d even notice her in the first place.

T hat night at dinner, Elise waited until her