Play the Game (11 page)

‘Hi, honey,’ called Mum from the kitchen as I shut the front door.

She was stirring a pot on the stove and there was mess everywhere. Mum always cooked
like that. It drove Dad mad. He couldn’t understand how she always managed to use
every pot.

‘Tess dropped in. I thought you were out with her,’ said Mum, still stirring.

‘Um, I went to shoot baskets instead.’

‘You mean goals?’ said Mum, looking confused. When I’d first started playing netball, she kept calling my goals baskets because
she’d been a basketball player way back. But now she knew better.

I shook my head. ‘Nah. Baskets.’

My phone rang before I could explain further. It was Tess.

‘Where have you been?’ said Tess.

‘Practicing,’ I said, knowing that would surprise her.

I heard her laugh. ‘Well, you’re going to be tired by the end of the week. The extra
training session’s on Thursday.’

‘This Thursday?’

‘Yeah. Justine just called. I said I’d let you know, save her a phone call,’ said
Tess.

‘But …’ I flailed, not knowing what to say.

‘What’s the matter?’ said Tess.

I wanted to tell Tess what the problem was. That I was sick of training. That my
feet hurt and I’d started wishing I’d never joined the team in the first place. But
I didn’t want to let my best friend down. And maybe Finn was right. Maybe preparing
for a proper game was all I needed to remind me why I loved netball. Surely he’d
understand if I had to pull out of the date.

But I really liked Finn. He was the first person who understood how it felt to be
conflicted about something. And I wanted to go to the disco with him – perhaps not
actually to dance, but definitely to hang out. Surely missing one training session
couldn’t hurt? After all, everyone kept telling me I was a natural. What was I going
to do?

I bit my lip as Kerry waited patiently for me to explain why I’d pulled her aside.
I took a deep breath, then blurted it out before I could change my mind.

‘Kerry, I’m sorry, but I don’t want to play the part of the Nurse. When you hinted
last week that I had an important role, I thought you meant I’d been cast as Juliet.
I kind of had my heart set on that role.’ There. I’d said it. I didn’t want to play
a different part and watch Belle star in the role I’d thought was mine.

‘Edie, I’m really sorry if I confused you. You’re a great actor and you could have
a great future ahead of you. But the part of Juliet is enormous, and this is your
first real production. I wouldn’t put you under that sort of pressure. I’m sorry,
I thought you understood that lead roles go to the more experienced students,’ said
Kerry.

It made sense. How could I have expected to play the lead when all I’d ever done
were class exercises and a couple of tiny parts last year? I nodded. I didn’t want
Kerry to feel bad. It wasn’t her fault that I’d jumped to the wrong conclusion.

‘Normally I’d take any role, and I’m sure the Nurse is a great part, but I gave up
a spot on the state netball team because I thought I was playing Juliet. If I go
now, I might actually make it to the court in time to try and beg my way back in.’

‘I know that would have been a big decision, and I’m sorry about the misunderstanding.
Is there anything I can say to change your mind?’ asked Kerry with a sad look on
her face. I shook my head. I couldn’t wait to tell Tess I’d be playing netball with
her after all.

‘Well, I hope you can come and help out in some small way, if you have time. It would
be a shame not to have you involved at all,’ said Kerry kindly.

‘Of course I will,’ I said.

I gave Kerry a big hug, hoping I was making the right decision. She asked if I wanted
to come and say goodbye to the cast, but I said no. I had to rush if I was going
to get to the netball centre in time, and besides, I felt embarrassed about pulling
out of the play. I was pretty sure the rest of the cast would think I was sulking
because I didn’t get the part I wanted. But I really wasn’t. I just wasn’t prepared
to give up state netball for the part of the Nurse.

Leaving the theatre I felt really strange. I’d spent days dreaming about playing
Juliet, imagining myself in the role. Now, suddenly, I was out of the play completely,
about to ride to the stadium to try and beg my way back onto the netball team. It
felt crazy.

‘Hey, Edie,’ I heard someone call as I reached my bike.

I turned around and saw Jackson walking over to me. ‘Where are you going?’ he asked.

‘Um, to the netball centre,’ I said, avoiding his gaze.

‘Why? Aren’t you rehearsing?’

He was going to find out anyway. ‘I’ve dropped out of the play,’ I said.

‘Oh. That’s a shame.’ He looked like he meant it.

I nodded, wondering if I’d made
the right decision. ‘Did you get the part you wanted?’ I asked, trying to change the subject.

‘No, but I got Friar Lawrence – Kerry assures me it’s a great part!’ he said with
a smile, which made me feel even worse. It seemed like everyone was happy, despite
being cast in roles they hadn’t wanted – everyone except me.

‘I’d better go, Jackson,’ I said.

‘Okay. Hopefully I’ll see you around. Maybe we can pair up again in chemistry?’

‘Yeah, absolutely,’ I said, giving him a distracted smile as I jumped on my bike. ‘Catch
you later!’

Trying not to think about Jackson, I jumped on my bike and raced to the State Netball
Centre. Dumping my bike, I ran up the stairs and down to the training courts. I could
hear the telltale sounds of netballs being thrown and sneakers squeaking on the courts.
I tried to remember what I was going to say. I’d worked it all out on the way, but
now that I was there, walking onto the court to find the coach, I’d completely forgotten.

I spotted Tess doing ball drills with Maggie. She was red-faced and sweaty looking
as she passed the ball back and forth, trying to second-guess where Maggie would
throw it. As I watched her train, I felt awful. I missed her like crazy, and I couldn’t
believe I’d chosen acting over playing netball –
state
netball – with my very best
friend.

‘Excuse me, are you okay?’ asked a woman, walking towards me.

‘Oh, yeah, hi, I’m Edie Thomas,’ I said, hoping she’d recognise my name and I wouldn’t
have to explain myself. But she just looked blankly at me.

‘Oh, um, I was supposed to be in this team and then I pulled out but my life’s changed
again and I can join the team now,’ I garbled. It was the worst explanation ever,
but the woman just smiled at me.

‘I’m Justine. The coach.’

‘Oh, hi,’ I said. ‘Tess Lucas is my best friend,’ I said, madly waving at the court
where Tess was training.

Justine nodded. ‘Right. Now I remember. Edie Thomas. Goal Attack,’ she said warmly.

I was so pleased she’d finally worked out who I was. ‘Yes, that’s me!’ I said, relieved.

‘I’m sorry, Edie, but we’ve just offered your position to another girl. I can’t just
take you back. It doesn’t work like that,’ said Justine.

I felt sick. Of course I couldn’t just change my mind. This was state netball. ‘What
if I try out?’ I said, realising that it sounded like I was begging.

‘Sure, but the next tryout isn’t until later in the year.’

I slumped. I felt stupid.
And to top it off, at exactly that moment, Tess looked over and noticed me talking
to Justine. She tossed the ball to Maggie and jogged over. ‘Edie? What are you doing
here? Is everything okay?’ She sounded quite worried – she must have seen how awful
I looked.

Justine stepped back from us. ‘I’ll give you two a minute to talk.’

Now that I was here with Tess, I didn’t know what to say. I didn’t want to admit
that I’d thought I could get back onto the team just because I’d changed my mind
– but what choice did I have? I had to tell her the truth.

‘I was trying to join the team,’ I said lightly. ‘Rejoin the team,’ I added quietly.

Tess looked like she thought I was crazy. ‘What about Juliet?’

‘Um, I’m not playing Juliet. Long story,’ I said, not wanting to get into it just
then.