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distinctly confused. Then it hit her – Mum was probably feeling sorry for her because of the whole Valentine’s Day thing! She thought Katie was feeling left out so she was making the effort to come to football. Huh, that must be it. Katie didn’t bother explaining this to Megan – it was too embarrassing.
    â€œWe’d better go and warm up,” she said, putting irritating parents and sisters to the back of her mind for the moment.
    Mrs Ross arrived soon after, carrying a net of footballs and looking pleased with herself. She gathered the team together and explained what they’d be doing – focusing on passing. There was a small groan at this, as passing wasn’t exactly the most exciting way to spend the morning, however useful it was. Mrs Ross made a “calm down” gesture with her hands, and smiled round at them.
    â€œOK, OK, I know it’s a bit boring, but we’re going to finish up the session with a ten minutes each way game with the boys—” There was a chorus of appreciation at this, and the coach grinned. “I thought you’d be pleased. They’ll be keen to get their revenge after the fund-raising match last term, so you’ll have to do your best. OK! Pairs, please, and let’s get on with it.”
    (The girls had beaten the boys hollow at the fund-raising match, and raised enough money in ticket sales to buy their own, very cool strip, which Annabel had designed.)
    Katie was unusually distracted during practice. She couldn’t help looking over at Mum every so often, and every time she did it made her feel irritable. About three-quarters of an hour into the session, Katie spotted the boys’ squad loping across the field towards them. Mrs Ross had noticed too, and she called the passing exercises to a halt.
    â€œLet’s have those balls back, everybody, and then gather round – I need to pick a starting line-up.”
    Swiftly she picked eleven members of the squad – a bit of a different arrangement, Katie noticed. Obviously Mrs Ross was using the opportunity of a friendly match (well, supposedly) to try out different player combinations. Katie was up front, which was good, though she was paired with Cara Peters, which wasn’t so good. Cara was a talented player, but it was hard to think of her as a team-mate when she was Amy’s best mate, and such a little rat off the pitch. Still, Katie could make the best of it. She’d save up any angst about Cara and take it out on Max – he was being a total prat as usual, gurning at her and Megan as Mr Anderson directed the boys into their positions. Then she grinned. Robin and David had caught her eye and were making the classic “he’s crazy!” gesture in perfect unison.
    The two teams arranged themselves on the pitch and waited for the starting whistle. Katie took the opportunity to glance over at Mum again. Was she still watching, or had she chickened out and gone to sit in the car, out of the rain? She looked round quickly, and then did a complete double-take. Mum was there all right, but Katie’s eyes had flicked straight past her at first because she wasn’t where Katie had thought. She’d been expecting to see her still standing next to Megan’s dad, but by now dripping wet and flagging. The laughing, chatting couple sharing the huge umbrella was a nasty shock. Mum wasn’t even looking at the field – and the tall guy in the raincoat that she was smiling at so flirtily was Max Cooper’s dad.
    It was unfortunate that Mrs Ross chose just then to blow her whistle for the start of the game. Katie had never been less ready to play a game of football in her life. She was so zoned out that it took Cara’s yell of “Katie – get going!” to even start her moving. Katie desperately wrenched her mind away from the pair at the side of the pitch, and tried to concentrate. It was practically impossible. Not only did