Chương 19: Make way, for the jack of all trades

A dust cloud kicked up throwing sand and clutter everywhere, the city of Texas was quite the peaceful one. The sun shined, the days passed and everyone went about their day, and although the town hadn't been in the news that much. There was something, or rather, someone that was making strides.

The ball was going wide but just before it crossed the line Ethan stopped it and had a look into the box. The scores were 2-0 and they wanted to seal it off with one more goal. "One, two, three." Ethan ran down with the ball down the left wing and a defender followed. Both defender and attacker were side by side but by using a move that involved passing the ball in front and catching up to it the attacker slipped past and crossed the ball into the box.

"Leave it," Gabe told the 3 other defenders, as he headed the ball back out of the box.

"Crap," Ethan shouted as his cross was cleared.

The defense had already been jubilating because of Gabe's clearance and since the ball was already set to drop at the feet of one of their midfield, the defenders didn't move from their spot.

"Here's fine." Before the ball hit the ground he tapped it with his chest and centered it. The ball was outside the box and hitting from here would be difficult because even if the strike was perfect, there were too many bodies in the box.

"Nice we have our first goal," Ethan said and smiled.

The defense used their bodies as a shield just in case, but there were all sure that nobody could strike the ball perfectly through them and the keeper. It was impossible... not for him, however.

The midfield ran toward him trying to take the ball but before they caught up, he struck the ball and the oh-so-impossible goal ended in the back of the net. Searing in through the goal's top left corner.

He ran and celebrated with his friends because with this final goal, he had completed his hat-trick and they could move on to the next preliminary match in the tournament.

"That's my boy! Good going, Xavier." Ian, who was the coach of the team praised his player.

"That's our ace!" Ethan said as he hugged Xavier.

The Harvey town Wanderers was the name of the team he played for. He was possibly their best player and because he was exceptionally talented in almost all parts of play they called him their ace, the team that had never had a chance at winning or even competing in a tournament had finally found the player that would lead them to victory and his name was Xavier Leon Frederick.

They were at home for their first two games, meaning that the opposing team would come to play them. "Helios? for our second tournament match!? c'mon tell me your kidding."

"It's what the board sent." Tory, the team's trainer said.

Helios wasn't known as the team that won all the tournaments in recent times but playing them was a nightmare, if he had to pick the one team that had everything a club could've needed it was them. Their defense, midfield and attack were as pristine as it gets. "To be honest, I think this is where our tournament run ends."

"Coach," Tory said.

"I'll win the game for us coach," Xavier stepped into the conversation. "I'll carry the team to victory."

Both the coach and trainer looked at themselves and laughed, if their players hadn't given up yet. Who were they to? "Let's get ready for the match then, ace."

Helios had arrived by 2 in the afternoon for the second preliminary bout of the tournament. Both teams had scored hattricks in their first game, making this an equal game between them.

The referee started the match and it was going well. A counterattack by the wanderers led the ball through the right wing and into the path of Xavier who scored a stunning volley. Another attack was created by snatching the ball from a defender, which led Xavier to score again. It was the 61st minute and everything was going well. Until 3 players were subbed on by Helios.

"Here he comes."

Isaac, Young and Elochukwu didn't even warm up before they came into the match. They subbed off Randolph, Finn and Warren who were all attackers.

"I gotta give it to you," Victor said. "Your team was much stronger than I expected, didn't think we'd need to play any of our starting eleven."

Ian looked at the coach of Helios as he spoke, he was hoping this wouldn't happen. "Just, defend guys, keep the ball in our half, let's run the clock."

"Run the clock?" Victor laughed. "It doesn't matter if there's 5 or 3 minutes left, you've already lost."

The net rattled and Ian looked at the pitch, the scores were already 2-1 and the goal scorer was none other than Isaac Maridan.

Ian got up and subbed off 3 of the defenders, strengthening their defense was what they needed right now. If Helios were to score again and tie the match, there was no way they were going to win through extra time.

"Run the clock!" Ian and Tory shouted.

"Sure, coach." Xavier got passed the ball and ran down with it, Isaac came over to mark him. They ran down with the ball, jostling for possession as Xavier tried to shake him off.

"So your are the ace of this team," Isaac said as he put pressure on Xavier.

"Ethan!" Xavier shouted as he passed the ball but right as he passed, the path of the ball was blocked by a foot. "Crap"

"Disappointing." Isaac ran down with the ball toward the Wanderer's post and Xavier chased him, sweat poured from the ace's body as he tried to catch up to Isaac. He panted and panted as he swung his arms and feet, but there was no way he was going to catch up to a player that ran as fast as Usain.

Another goal was scored, and then another, and then another, and then another. The scores were 5-2 and all the dreams that the Wanderers had up to this point, were shattered by one player.

Xavier coughed as he rested on the pitch, sweat dropped from his face and water from his eyes. He resisted the urge to cry but nature took its turn.

He heard footsteps walk toward him and right as he looked up, all he could see was the face of the man that crushed his dreams.

"I heard there was an ace in the team, scored a hat-trick and all that." Isaac knelt down next to him and whispered into his ear. "You aren't an ace, you're not even good enough to be on the bench. Playing with weak players and against weak opponents must've really inflated your ego. One word of advice, quit." He spat on the ground before he left.

These words were just to rattle him surely, but deep down he knew those weren't the claims of someone that just wanted to get a reaction out of him. He truly meant that. "Damnit," Xavier hit his hand on the ground and cried even more. "Just damnit!"

For the next year, there had been no word of a player by the name of Xavier or a team by the name of the Wanderers. After the loss to Helios, he ran away, changed schools and never played football after that. He changed his mind and followed the path his mom wanted him to, he went to acting school on the side and sold pastries at his mom's place of work.

He missed the sport very dearly but he knew his skill with the ball was no more than a fluke, when put up against another talented player. He was demolished. "Dad I'm home," Xavier said as he walked through the door.

"Xavier come over here." His dad said.

"One sec," He hung his bag on the coat rack and walked into the living room, where he had heard his dad's voice call him from.

"Hello, Xavier." Another man who was in the living room with his dad called out to him.

"Hi. Umm, dad." Xavier looked at his father.

"Have a seat son," His dad told him to and he did just that. "Sir, how about you explain it all to him."

"Okay, my name is Joseph Trumann and I'm the head coach as well as the main scout for Marion high. We'd love to have you be a part of our team and school."

"Marion. That's California, that's far away from here. I'm sorry I can't do it. Plus, I don't want to play football anymore."

"Why?" Joseph asked.

"Why?" Xavier said, shocked that Joseph asked. "I'm not good at it."

"Then we'll train you, I know your history and your just the player we need in our midfield."

"Please, just... I'm just going be a burden, I'll just drag you all down."

"Leon..." his father thought.

"That's not true. I wouldn't be here if I saw a bad quality in you. Your positional awareness, your intensity when playing, your defensive prowess, your long-range passes and your accuracy from outside the box. Trust me, Xavier. Marion needs you."

Xavier fell on his knees and started crying, he had given up because he knew it was just a fluke that would be lucky to get into a D-rated team but here he was. The coach of one of the greatest high-school teams, Marion.

"Are you in Leon?" His dad looked at his son.

Xavier took a breath in. He didn't want to leave his parents behind but he didn't want to give up soccer either.

"It's fine. I and your mom are gonna be just fine."

"Dad."

"Do what you have to do, we'll support you wholeheartedly. Even if she doesn't, I'll make her understand."

Xavier hugged his dad tightly, the same man that bought him his first ball had just permitted him to follow his dreams. There was no better feeling that the one he felt right now. "Thanks, dad,"

"No problem kiddo,"

"Mr. Trumann. I'm in."

"There are still some procedures yet to be fulfilled but we'll cross that bridge when we get there." Joseph brought his hand out and he and Xavier shook hands. "Welcome to Marion, Xavier."

The roar of the crowd was enough to give anyone a headache, but for the players. It was a burst of adrenaline. He sat there until the whistle went for half time, he didn't know if he was the player the team needed but he knew more than anyone that he and Cody shared the same skill set. "I'm not losing to him," Xavier got up and walked toward Paul. "Sub me in coach."

"You sure?" Paul looked at his face.

"I'm sure."

"The face of someone ready to make a difference regardless of how scared they might be. Go get 'em, tiger." Paul tapped his player's back and smiled.

The match restarted after going for the halftime break and the referee stopped the game one more time for a substitution by Marion. Arthur was the one coming off and although some of the bench players might've not understood the reason for the move, the player's on the pitch certainly did.

Arthur took off the captain's armband as he ran to Xavier. "This is yours now, take care of the team." He slapped his back and ran to the bench.

The old him would've been crying right now but that wasn't going to happen. He put on the armband and ran onto the pitch.

"Hey, Xavier." Byron said as Xavier ran next to him. "How do you feel."

"Nervous, scared, wanna bury myself in a hole." Xavier blew hot air into his hands.

"You'll be fine." Byron laughed.

"Let's win this." Xavier looked at Byron and held out his fist.

"Haha, you're like a completely different person all of a sudden." Byron stretched his arm out as well and completed the fist bump. "But of course, let's win this. Captain."