The sun had long since set behind the trees, leaving the school field illuminated in a hazy gloom. The perfume of sweat and freshly cut grass hung heavy in the air, creating anticipation. Players gathered in a wide circle around Coach Thompson, their jerseys moist, their muscles aching, and their brains racing.
This was it.
All the drills, the scrimmages, the relentless hours of proving themselves—it had all led to this moment. Twenty-two names would be called. Some would walk away victorious. Others would walk away knowing they hadn't done enough.
Coach Thompson stood at the center, clipboard in hand, his expression unreadable. The man never wasted words. He never sugarcoated anything. And tonight would be no different.
He let the silence hang for a moment, then finally spoke.
"You've all worked your asses off." His voice was steady, even. "You pushed, you adapted, and some of you surprised me. But a team isn't just about skill—it's about chemistry. About who fits where and who makes the others better."
Some players shifted on their feet. A few glanced at each other, silently wondering if their names were on that list.
Coach exhaled, glancing down at his clipboard. "Here's the roster."
A single breath passed before he began reading.
"Goalkeepers: Miguel Ramirez. Diego Morales."
Miguel clenched his jaw, exhaling sharply through his nose. He had done it. The save against Jack Torres, the way he pushed himself past his fear—it hadn't gone unnoticed.
"Defenders: Noah Edwards, Zain Abdullah, Leo Chen, Hassan Ali, and Carlos Rivera."
Carlos gave a single nod, his face calm as always, but the fire in his eyes flickered just a little brighter. He was in.
"Midfielders: Marco Silva, Alex Carter, Kai Patel, Aiden McCarthy, Lucas Kim, and Benjamin Foster."
Aiden grinned, giving Benjamin a light shove. Kai swallowed, rubbing his hands together as if grounding himself. Marco and Alex shared a look—one of mutual understanding. They had worked for this, and now, they would run the midfield together.
"Forwards: David Reyes, Finn O'Brien, Jack Torres, and Gabriel Mendoza."
David let out a quiet, satisfied "Yes." Finn exhaled slowly, processing the moment, while Jack simply cracked his knuckles, expression unreadable.
Coach continued down the list, filling out the remaining names, rounding out the team. When the final name was called, silence followed—thick and unrelenting. Some players, those whose names hadn't been read, stood motionless. Disappointment weighed heavy, but no one argued.
This was football. You either made the cut, or you didn't.
Coach Thompson scanned the faces before him, giving them a moment to process. Then, with his usual sharp tone, he brought them back to the present.
"First team meeting is tomorrow. 6 AM sharp." He looked directly at them, his gaze hard. "This isn't the end of tryouts. It's the beginning of the real test. You've got your spot—for now. Prove you deserve to keep it."
The message was clear. Making the team was one thing. Staying on it was another.
As the players dispersed, some celebrating, others walking off in quiet contemplation, Marco, Alex, David, and Kai lingered near the field.
"Well," David smirked, running a hand through his hair. "Guess we're just getting started."
Kai gave a quick giggle and shook his head. "Yeah… and I have a feeling it's only gonna get harder from here."
Alex popped his neck and rolled his shoulders. "Good. "I would not want it any other way."
Marco simply glanced out at the field, a little smile pulling at the corners of his mouth.
The team had been chosen.
Now, the real battle began.