Sentimental offside

heavy metal door, the buzz of co

ning facility. The Red Star locker room felt like a frozen bunker, both in temperature and in a

Her sneakers squeaked faintly as she stepped inside, but no one moved to

act of defiance. Lana, the captain. Mila recognized her from the scouting files. A seaso

said with a smal

sound of someone zip

she tried again.

fed, murmuring something in Serb

mpty bench near the back. She sat down, pulled off her hoodie, and focuse

brushed past Mila without looking at her. Another muttered som

the message was clear:

silence turned into something sha

ed up and

. He wasn't tall, not by Serbian standards, but there was a presenc

ing at each player. His eyes skipped

gaze. Just

eting, not a nod. Just that unrea

he barked, then t

ila followed, unsure whether sh

squeaky floorboards, and banners from past glories that l

s," Mark

he cold wasn't helping. The others surged ahead,

drill wa

," Marko announce

staste. "Super," she mu

Hard, fast. Mila adjusted quickly to the rhythm-th

nced off Mil

arko's voi

ved the bal

-rhythm fake. Mila caught

ach time Mila adapted, Lana foun

watched i

arko blew

. Next

d away, ja

elt a bead of sweat drip dow

Ten makes each

but passed the ball mechanically. Mila's first shots were off-too f

is

ai

is

ythm. Mila glanced at her-there was no smile,

ess?

the sc

atched the others move with smooth, almost telepathic unders

nally called in

Sub in f

t. No nod. Just

n the court, n

on her si

la cut to the right, sig

ball came-hard and fast, low. She bent to catc

e drove.

oc

r brushed hers

whi

scrambled. Late by a

said n

e ended. Mil

ked onto

ing the group. "We don't win w

u-slow your game down. Thi

was veiled,

ed once,

ered under

histle. "Cool do

grown deeper. Mila took a shower quickly, wr

her. No one of

silence, packed h

er, close enough t

in accented English. "Bu

he was

d. She refused to

her hoodie over her head and started the walk to

e buildings tired. A city trying to r

the

her c

e, like

being benched forever. If th

attle had gone to t

f Cha

_______