Tryst Six Venom by Penelope Douglas

But Clay just sits, her elbows on her knees, watching me. Making no
move, like she’s given up.
Cross scores again, and we’re almost tied, all of us digging in our heels. I
breathe hard, wanting this win so badly. I don’t want them to say I came back
and they still lost. I’d have swallowed my pride for nothing.
Ang shoots the ball. I catch it, a Cross player on my hide, and I let out a
yell, shooting the ball and watching it get past the goalie and into the net.
“Yeah!”
“Woohoo!”
Someone grabs onto my shoulder and about five people hug me. We’re
back up two goals, and I glance at the clock, nine minutes left.
I run back to position, looking over at Clay. “That’s okay,” I taunt.
“We’re doing fine. Never needed you.”
I smile, turning my eyes away, and resume play, but a minute later, I hear
the whistle blow. Coach calls Ruby off the field, and I see Clay putting on her
gear.
She heads right for me, brushing my shoulder as she passes. “Teammates
doesn’t mean team.”
“Friendly ain’t friends,” I say.
“Just so we’re clear.”
Fuck yeah. We’re clear. Help me score, and you’re useful. Otherwise,
you’re not.
We play, the ebb and flow of our game settling back into familiar
territory as I look over and see Clay always there when I need her. She
anticipates me, and I guess it’s from playing together so long, but I don’t
have that dynamic with all the girls. I pass, she catches, she runs, and I cover
her.
“Here!” I call.
She doesn’t hesitate. She passes me the ball, and I shoot it to Amy, Clay
running ahead, taking the ball back and scoring.
Everyone cheers while the people in the stands boo, and Clay smiles, her
friends jumping on her.
I pass her.
“Good job,” she tells me.
I blow spit out, it landing an inch from her shoe.
She looks down and then at me, her smile gone.
“You trashed my house,” I say as everyone moves into position around