CHAPTER 1

Grace sat on her bed, twirling her curly, dark hair around her fingers. Her big brown eyes held a hint of sadness, and her round cheeks, once pinched lovingly by her family, now made her feel self-conscious and uncomfortable. Grace shuddered when she thought how her full face matched her full body, and how being overweight had invited nasty remarks from her classmates.

"Grace, dear, come help me set the table," her mother called from the kitchen, her voice warm and inviting.

Grace sighed and reluctantly went downstairs. She shuffled into the cozy kitchen where the smell of freshly baked cookies wafted through the air. Her mom, a plump woman with a loving smile, was busy arranging plates and silverware.

"Hey there, Grace!" Her brother Jackson, greeted her, his face covered in chocolate chips from sneaking a cookie.

“I wish I could eat like you, Jack,” she whined. “It doesn’t matter how many calories you have; you always stay skinny!”

As the family sat down to eat, Grace picked at her food, her usual good appetite dulled by gloom. Her dad, a tall man with a kind heart, noticed her lack of enthusiasm.

"How was your day, Grace?" he asked, his eyes full of concern.

"It was fine," she replied, her voice barely above a whisper.

Jack chimed in. “I tried out for the cross country team today and made it! Looks like it’s going to be a good season!”

Grace managed a small smile at her brother's enthusiasm. She loved Jack and was proud of him, but she felt a tinge of jealousy when she thought she would never see that kind of athletic success.

After dinner, Mom noticed her mood and said, "Grace, sweetie, do you want to watch a movie together?”

"I'm not really in the mood, Mom," Grace replied.

Her mom sighed, concern showing on her face. "Grace, I know things have been tough for you lately. Your dad and I are here for you, you know that, right?"

Grace nodded, tears welling up in her eyes. She was grateful for her parents' support, but she couldn’t stop feeling unsure of herself.

Grace went back to her room, usually a cozy haven, with walls covered with colorful posters of her favorite bands. Her plush unicorn, Rainbow, sat on her bed, offering silent comfort.

She gazed at the soccer tryout flyer that was pinned to her bulletin board. Did she dare try out? What was she thinking? Would her weight hold her back? She wasn’t her brother, Jack, who could run like the wind.

She remembered the days she had played soccer on the town team. She was the goalie and she wasn’t bad. But high school was different. The competition was much tougher - plus classmates could be cruel. More than one had posted some remark on social media about her being “chunky” or “big” or even “fat.” She could just imagine what they would say if she were on a sports team!

CHAPTER 2

The next morning at school, Grace's heart raced as she approached the tryout signup sheet. She could hear the chatter of students around her, their excitement in the air. Her hand trembled slightly as she neared the sheet, her eyes darting to the names already scribbled down. Soccer tryouts were a big deal, and she wasn't sure she was ready to face the challenge.

As she hesitated, a voice broke through her thoughts. "Hey, are you thinking about signing up for soccer tryouts too?"

Grace turned to find a girl with friendly eyes and a warm smile standing beside her. Her hair was pulled back into a ponytail, and she had an air of confidence about her.

"Um…not sure," Grace replied, her voice barely a whisper.

"No worries. I'm Annie. I just moved here, and I thought I might give it a shot. How about you?"

Grace hesitated for a moment, then decided to confide in Annie. "I used to play when I was little, but I stopped. I don't know if I can do it now."

Annie's smile didn't waver. "Well, I'm pretty nervous too. But maybe we could encourage each other. What do you say?"

Grace felt a flicker of hope. Maybe she didn't have to face this challenge alone. "You really think so?"

Annie nodded. "Absolutely. And who knows, we might end up having fun!"

CHAPTER 3

On Friday, Grace and Annie stood side by side near the soccer field. They were nervous but they were ready. The coach blew the whistle, and the tryouts began.

Grace's heart raced as she took her place as a goalie. She remembered how to play this position, and it felt like a safe choice. The drills were challenging, but she surprised herself at how well she was doing. She saw Annie on the field, her eyes focused and determined just as much as Grace.

After what felt like an eternity, the tryouts came to an end. Both girls exchanged exhausted but excited glances.

"You did great out there," Grace said to Annie, smiling.

Annie grinned back. "You too! I'm glad we did this together."

Three days later, Grace sat at the breakfast table, jiggling her leg up and down. Today was the day when they’d post the names of those who’d made the soccer team, and she was a nervous wreck. Her brother Jack was sitting next to her, his grin as wide as a watermelon slice.

"Grace, you're gonna do great! I know it!" Jack said.

Grace gave a tiny smile, her fingers fidgeting with the edge of her shirt. "I hope so, Jack. I’m surprised at how much I want to make the team."

Mom placed a plate of warm buns on the table, and their sweet scent made Grace's stomach rumble. "Don't worry, honey. No matter what happens, you’ve got a whole team cheering you on at home.”

At school, the day seemed to drag slowly as she and Annie waited for the team roster to be posted. She knew the odds were against her, but the thought of seeing her name among the chosen players filled her with excitement.

Finally, she saw the coach post a sheet on the bulletin board. She quickly called Annie and they both approached the bulletin board, holding hands for support. They scanned the list, eyes darting back and forth. And then, they saw it - both their names!

"We made it!" she exclaimed, turning to hug Annie.

Annie's face lit up with joy. "We really did! I can't believe it!"

CHAPTER 4

Two days passed and Grace and Annie joined the rest of the players for practice on the soccer field, which buzzed with energy.

"All right, team, let's get warmed up!" Coach Rodriguez called out, her voice carrying across the field.

Grace stretched her muscles and joined the group in a series of warm-up exercises. As the team began passing drills, Grace could feel her heart pounding with excitement. She was determined to prove herself, to show that she belonged on the field just as much as anyone else. Days turned into weeks, and Grace and Annie threw themselves completely into soccer practice. Grace noticed that she was starting to feel more energized, and even more confident. Her body seemed to be adjusting to all the exercise, and she felt proud of her progress.

One evening, after practice, Grace found herself alone in the school hallway, lost in thought. She was dressed in her soccer gear, her ponytail damp from sweat. As she walked, her ears caught snippets of conversation from a group of girls huddled nearby.

"Did you see Grace at practice today?" one girl giggled.

"Yeah, like, how does she even think she can play soccer at that size?" another chimed in.

Grace's heart sank like a stone. She felt her cheeks burn with embarrassment, and her newfound self-esteem crumbled. She turned away, her eyes filling with tears.

Annie, who had been trailing behind Grace, saw that she was upset. She hurried to catch up.

"Grace, what happened?"

Grace wiped a tear from her cheek, her voice shaking. "I heard them talking about me, Annie. They're making fun of my size."

Annie's eyes blazed with anger as she put a comforting hand on Grace's shoulder. "Don't listen to them, Grace. You're an amazing player, and you're getting better every day. You belong on this team just as much as anyone else."

Grace sniffled. "I know, but it's hard not to let it get to me."

Annie gave Grace a stern look. "You can't let their words define you. Remember why you wanted to join the team in the first place. We're a team, and we support each other no matter what."

Grace nodded, a glimmer of hope returning to her eyes. "You're right, Annie. I can't let this bring me down."

CHAPTER 5

The next practice was a test of Grace's determination. She forced herself to focus on the game. As the wind blew against her face, she sprinted across the field and heard the satisfying thud of her foot connecting with the ball. The mean words from the other players echoed in her mind, but she pushed them aside, putting all her energy into her playing.

As practice came to an end, Coach Rodriguez gathered the team together. "Great job today, everyone. Remember, you're all here because you have talent and potential. Keep pushing yourselves, and we’ll have a winning season."

Opening Day arrived, and the air was electric as everyone waited for the game to begin. Grace and Annie stood side by side, their hearts pounding as they awaited the referee's whistle to start the match.

As the game began, Grace's nerves were a tangled mess. She clenched her fists as she stood in the goal, her eyes focused on the players from the opposing team. The first few shots came hurtling towards her, and she managed to block them. Her confidence grew with each save, but the scoreboard remained stubbornly unchanged at 0-0.

At halftime, the team gathered around Coach Rodriguez, listening intently to her words of encouragement. "You've all been giving it your best out there. We just need to stay focused and keep pushing forward. Grace, you've been doing an excellent job in goal, but remember, they might try to sneak one in from the side. Be ready."

Grace nodded, absorbing the coach's words. She couldn't shake off the cheerleaders' mean comments, but she was determined to prove them wrong. The second half began, and Grace felt a renewed sense of purpose.

With determination in her eyes, Grace stopped every shot that came her way. Her teammates fought hard to keep their lead. The game clock ticked down, and with just two minutes left, their team was ahead 1-0. Hope danced in Grace's chest as she dared to believe that they might win.

But then, the unthinkable happened. A striker from the opposing team sprinted toward Grace's goal. She remembered the coach's warning about sneaky side shots, but before she could react, the ball slipped past her and found its way into the net. The crowd erupted in cheers for the opposing team, and Grace's heart sank.

"Goal! It's tied 1-1!" the announcer's voice boomed through the microphone.

Grace's shoulders slumped, and she heard faint boos coming from the cheerleaders in the stands. It felt like a knife to her already wounded heart.

Annie rushed over to Grace, concern on her face. "Hey, don't let that get to you. You've been amazing out there!"

Grace wiped away a tear, her voice trembling. "Not so amazing just then! And it's harder when they're so mean."

Annie placed a reassuring hand on Grace's shoulder. "You can't control what they say, but you can control how you react. Remember why we're here — we love soccer, and we're a team. We win and lose together."

As the final whistle blew, the game ended in a tie. The team huddled together, disappointment evident in their eyes. Coach Rodriguez gathered them close, her voice firm but encouraging.

"We fought hard out there today, and I'm proud of each and every one of you. Remember, a tie is not a loss. We'll learn from this and come back even stronger next time."

CHAPTER 6

After that game, Grace practiced as she never had before. She was determined that she wasn’t going to let in another goal that would cost her team a win.

Every day, she would go home exhausted, barely able to eat. Between that and the exercise she was getting while playing, she noticed she was starting to lose weight. Her mother did too.

One morning, as she was getting ready for school, her mom said, “Grace, those jeans are a little loose on you. Have you taken off a few pounds?”

“I may have, Mom,” she answered. “And you know, I feel a little better too.”

Her mother answered, “Hmmm. Maybe I’ve been wrong continuing to bake so many treats. Perhaps I should be feeding you all some healthier meals and snacks.”

“Oh mom, you know we love your cooking…” Grace said.

“Yes,” her mom interrupted, “but I’m not doing you any favors by giving you food that’s going to put weight on you. I’ve got to think about that.”

“Well, thanks, Mom,” Grace said. “That really might be a help.”

The following week, the team got ready for one of their toughest games of the season. Grace felt more fit and ready than she had since she started playing again.

On the day of the game, the soccer field almost glowed as the sun shone brightly. Grace stood ready in front of the goal, like a brave knight guarding a treasure. Her teammates were like a group of speedy cheetahs, running and passing the ball with all their might.

The game went on, and Grace glanced at the clock. The score was tied at 1-1, and there were only a few minutes left. Suddenly, the ball was intercepted by one of the midfielders on Grace’s team. She weaved down the field and, with a swift pass, the ball went soaring towards the forward. Grace held her breath as she watched their forward's powerful shot find its mark — the ball slammed into the back of the net.

The crowd erupted in cheers, and Grace's eyes widened in disbelief. It was 2-1! Their team was ahead with only forty seconds remaining. But all of a sudden, Grace understood the responsibility that was on her shoulders. She had to make sure the other team didn’t score!

As the opposing team charged down the field, Grace's focus sharpened. She knew that she couldn't let her team down again. Her heart pounded in her chest as she got ready for each move. The other team's striker managed to get close enough to take a shot, and Grace's body moved to block it.

She threw herself to the side of the net, her body diving through the air as her hands shot out to stop the ball. Time seemed to slow down as the ball hit her palms hard. It stung, but Grace barely noticed. She saved the goal and the ball was out of play.

The referee's whistle cut through the air, signaling the end of the game. Grace's teammates rushed towards her, their faces filled with joy and pride. Everyone hugged as the crowd cheered wildly. Through all the noise, Annie's voice rang out.

"Grace, you did it! You saved the game!"

Grace smiled through her sweat and tears. The weight of the game, the comments of the cheerleaders, and the doubts that had worried her had all been washed away in that moment. She was part of a team that had won, and she had played an important role in their victory.

As the team celebrated, Grace realized that she was so much more than her size or what others thought of her. She was a dedicated teammate, a hard-working player, and a young woman who had courage and strength. Learning that was the biggest “save” of all.