Read Fake Out for Free Online Page A

excited.
    Ben waved to Jordan and Omar, who were already warming up on the field. He stopped to put on his shin guards.
    “We just need to be smarter,” Ben said. “I’ve made too many errors in too many games.”
    The Wolves were in last place in the Southern Division, but Ben knew that didn’t mean much. The Falcons had been in last place when the Bobcats played them, but that game hadn’t even been close.
I’m confident
, Ben thought,
but definitely not
over
confident
.
    The day was dry and windy, and nearly all of the leaves had fallen from the trees. Ben kept his sweatshirt on while the Bobcats jogged and practiced shooting and passing.
    Coach Patty clapped her hands and gathered the team around her. Ben rubbed his hands together; they were cold. Playing goalie would be hard today because that ball could sting. He noticed that Shayna was wearing gloves and figured she’d be the starting goalie.
    Coach put Kim, Mark, and Omar on the front line and Erin and Darren on defense. Ben had started every game this season, but he knew that the coach played everyone about the same amount.
    Then again, he’d cost his team a few wins this season. Maybe Coach thought they’d do better without him.
    He stood on the sideline next to Jordan as the game began.
    Jordan kept hopping up and down. “It’s colder than I thought,” he said.
    “We’ll be warm as soon as we get in the game,” Ben said.
    “Hope so.”
    Ben shoved his hands into the front pouch of his sweatshirt. “Go, Bobcats!” he yelled.
    The Wolves had only one win this season, but they looked strong and fast as the game got under way. Twice in the first fewminutes one of their players charged down the field with the ball, dodging past the Bobcats’ defenders and taking a shot. Shayna stopped them both.
    The second time, Shayna punted the ball and it landed right in front of Mark near midfield. He quickly passed to Erin, who took one step with it and sent it up the field to Omar.
    “Good passing!” Jordan called. He turned toBen. “There’s the difference,” he said. “The Wolves play like we used to—everybody for himself. They’ve got good athletes, but they don’t work together.”

    Ben remembered to add something about passing to the list of soccer tips he kept at home.
    When Jordan took a few quick steps along the sideline to get closer to the action, Ben did, too. That moved him closer to Loop and Alex, who were waiting to play in the next game.
    “Your team is looking good,” Loop said.
    “Thanks,” Ben replied, keeping his eyes on the field.
    “I guess that’s because you aren’t playing.”
    Ben glared at Loop. But Loop laughed. “Just kidding,” he said. “Good luck today.”
    Mark had the ball near the corner, and he was guarded closely by a couple of the Wolves. But he managed to loft the ball out in front of the goal, and Kim fielded it cleanly.She faked a shot, then slid the ball to Omar. He was wide open, and he booted it safely into the goal.
    Ben jumped high and smacked hands with Jordan. But he couldn’t help wondering why Kim could make such a great fake while he couldn’t.
    It was Omar’s first goal of the season. He sprinted back to the Bobcats’ side of the field and dropped to his knees with his arms up. Mark and the others slapped him on the back.
    Coach Patty clapped her hands again. “Get right back to it!” she called. “Celebrate
after
the game.”
    She was right. The Wolves weren’t ready to pack up just yet. They scored a goal less than a minute later. Shayna blocked a shot and it bounced back onto the field, and one of the Wolves scored off the rebound.
    Coach turned to Ben and Jordan. “Get in there for Mark and Omar,” she said. “Hustle.”
    Ben bumped fists with Omar as they changed places. “Great shot,” he said.
    The red-haired player who’d scored for the Wolves was directly across from Ben. He went to a different school, but Ben had seen him before. He was tall, like Mark, and he was