Settle the Score by Alex Morgan

Kicks. We all wore silly socks to each game—like striped or polka-dotted ones. Before every game we would sit in a circle and each would pass one sock to the person on our left.
    I had worn my silly socks to my first Griffons practice, and Coach Darby had not been happy. So there had been no Griffons sock swaps. I really missed them too.
    â€œI have an idea,” I said, and I jogged over to the Gators side of the field.
    â€œWhere are you going?” Zarine called out.
    â€œJust follow her,” advised Jessi. “Devin’s ideas are always good.”
    I approached Zoe and Grace.
    â€œHey,” I said. “Want to do a sock swap?”
    Now, none of us were wearing silly socks. The Griffons socks had a pink stripe across the top, and the Gators socks had two purple stripes. But everyone knew what I meant—it was for old time’s sake, a gesture to show that we were still friends.
    Zoe grinned. “Yes!” she said, and we moved to a quiet spot and sat in a circle.
    It was so silly to be swapping socks that soon we were all giggling.
    â€œCoach Darby’s going to flip if she notices we’re wearing purple stripes!” Jessi said.
    I grinned at her. “Sometimes you have to let loose.”
    Jamie walked by as we were finishing up. She rolled her eyes.
    â€œYou Kicks are so weird!” she said.
    Then a woman ran up to us, and I didn’t recognize her because half of her face was painted Griffons pink, and the other half was Gators purple.
    â€œCoach Flores?” Jessi asked.
    â€œI had to come cheer on my Kicks!” she said with a grin. “And I had to prove that I don’t take sides.”
    â€œThat is awesome, Coach,” said Grace as we all got to our feet.
    Then I heard Coach Darby’s whistle.
    â€œGriffons! Time to warm up!”
    We nodded toward Grace and Zoe and then ran back to the Griffons side. Coach Darby had us line up and do passing warm-ups up and down the field. (Luckily, she didn’t notice that some of us had mismatched socks on.) While I waited for my turn, I glanced over to the stands.
    I spotted Steven and Cody, sitting in the highest row of the bleachers. The Spartans had lost their semifinals game, so it was pretty cool of them to come cheer us on.
    Then I saw Emma and Frida in the stands, and I grinned. They’d done it! Emma was holding up a big sign that read GO! and Frida’s sign read JAMIE!
    Jamie was behind me on the warm-up line, and I glanced over at her to see if she’d noticed. She didn’t at first, but then I saw her eyes get wide.
    â€œDid you do this?” she asked me, and I couldn’t tell if I heard wonder or anger in her voice.
    â€œWell, we all talked about it,” I said.
    Jamie looked away from me. “You know I play better when I’m angry and bitter, right?” she joked, and I heard a catch in her voice. That was when I knew that she really liked the signs.
    â€œIf angry and bitter works, go for it,” I told her. “Just now you’ll have a cheering section.”
    She looked at me. “Thanks, Devin,” she said with that smirk of hers, and then it was my turn to take the ball down the field, passing to Jessi.
    Warm-ups flew by, and it was time for the game. Coach Darby gave us a pep talk.
    â€œI know that some of you are worried,” she said. “You’re worried that the Gators beat us once before. But I’m telling you right now, that doesn’t matter. The only game that matters is the one you play today. And I believe we’re going to win!”
    We launched into our pregame chant.
    â€œI!” I called out.
    â€œI!” everyone repeated.
    â€œI believe!”
    â€œI believe!” everyone yelled.
    â€œI believe that we will win!” I cheered.
    Then we chanted. “I believe that we will win! I believe that we will win! I believe that we will win!”
    I didn’t think I had ever been that pumped up on