Stealing for Keeps (Frost Lake High Book 1)
Stealing for Keeps: Chapter 2

My hero is scowling at me.

I drop my bag and stand at the back of the group. The guy next to me offers a reassuring chin jut. He’s the only one. Everyone else looks as annoyed with me as my new coach.

Coach Collins continues, removing his gaze from me, “We’re starting with skill stations in the groups I called off. Rotate around the field clockwise on the whistle. It’s day one. Don’t hold back. I want to see what you’re made of.”

He dismisses us with a nod. I groan. I can’t believe I missed the entire meeting.

Everyone starts to walk off, but then Coach Collins looks directly at me as he says, “One last thing.”

My skin prickles with unease. I’ve only met Jude Collins once before when my family visited Frost Lake earlier this spring. He let me forego the traditional tryouts for the team based on my stats and performance at my old school. He was friendly, all smiles that day.

Today he looks like he’s seriously regretting that decision. The look he gives me is the same one he used to give reporters after games when they’d ask combative questions to try to get a rise out of him. He never took the bait with words, but that look screams total and complete annoyance. Always cool and collected under pressure. So unlike me right now.

“Practices start at three o’clock sharp. The easiest way to ensure you get cut from this team is to show up late.”

No one moves, but I can feel their stares.

“That’s all. Let’s get to work.”

My new teammates break off into groups while I stand there, unsure of what to do. I’m definitely not asking.

“You’re Austin Keller, right?”

I turn to see the same guy who offered a friendly smile earlier. His light brown hair is held back with a black headband and brushes the collar of his shirt in the back.

“Yeah. Otherwise known as the guy most likely to be cut first,” I joke.

“I was leaning toward Disco as a nickname.” He has an easygoing way about him from the slant of his shoulders to the smile he continues to aim at me.

“Disco?”

“Yeah.” His smile widens, and he makes a circle in front of his face. “Because of all the glitter. What’s going on there?”

I wipe a hand down my face. “It’s a long story.”

“I’ll bet. You kind of look like the Twilight dude when he steps into the sunlight.” He looks like he’s holding back laughter. I guess I can’t blame him. “I’m Rowan. You’re with us.” He motions with his head for me to join him and two other guys standing nearby.

“Thanks. I mixed up the location and went to the gym first.”

“Ah, yeah. No, we only start there on Fridays for weight training. Mondays and Wednesdays, we do weights after practice. And sometimes, when the girls’ team has a home game, we’ll end there so they can prep the field.”

Frost Lake High is three times as big as my last school. Back there, everything was in one general area. Here, the gym and the field are on opposite sides of the huge property. My head is spinning, and Rowan must realize it because he laughs.

“You’ll figure it out. Until next week, just come here. Before practice starts preferably.”

“Thanks. So what are we supposed to be doing?” A few of the groups are already on the field. I’m anxious to get to work. I desperately want to change Coach Collins’s opinion of me, and the easiest way for me to do that is with my game.

“Passing drills on the far side.” As he points, Rowan leads our group toward the orange cones set up for us.

In the distance, two girls are sitting in the grass. I recognize the girl I ran into in the hallway. She’s staring this way but too far away for me to read her expression. I hold up a hand in a friendly wave. She doesn’t acknowledge me, which isn’t surprising. I’m not usually a jerk, but I was late and frazzled. I didn’t see the boot on her foot until after I nearly trampled her. She is beautiful though. Hopefully there are lots of beautiful girls walking around the halls next week when school starts.

We break off into groups of two for passing drills. The other guys introduce themselves as Hunter and Blake before pairing off, leaving Rowan with me.

“What year are you?” he asks as we work out.

“Junior. You?”

“Same.”

We fall quiet as the assistant coach walks by and watches each of us in action.

When he’s gone, Rowan asks, “What school are you coming from?”

“Valley High.”

“Is that near Detroit?”

I give my head a shake as I send the ball back to him. “Nah, Arizona.”

“Damn. That’s a long way. What brought you to Michigan?”

“Coach Collins. Frost Lake High.”

“No shit?” He stops the ball and looks up at me. His brows lift, and one side of his mouth quirks up.

“He’s the best, and the program he’s built here is everything I’ve dreamed of.” Jude Collins: former English professional footballer, arguably the greatest midfielder of his generation, and my idol since I was seven. I would have walked over broken glass to learn from him. Since he’s taken over as head coach, Frost Lake has produced some of the most promising young soccer stars. Many have gone on to receive college scholarships to play soccer and two have even been drafted to professional teams.

“Was your old team any good?”

“We did all right.” I shrug. We weren’t terrible, but in the two years I played, we never made it past the quarterfinals. Frost Lake’s record is unmatched. The best talent in the country in a public-school setting—something that was very important to my parents. I’d be happy if soccer was my only priority, but they feel differently.

I’m excited to see how I match up with these guys—if I don’t get cut before I get a chance to show my new coach what I can do.

The whistle blows, indicating we need to switch to the next drill. For the next hour, I do nothing but focus on playing my heart out. I get to know Rowan as well. He’s a midfielder with the best spatial awareness of anyone I’ve played with.

We’re taking a water break, and the other guys are chatting with one another. There’s one group still going, and Coach Collins stands on the sideline watching.

After splashing some water over my head, I approach him.

Without looking at me, he says, “What can I do for you, Keller?”

“I wanted to apologize for being late. I got confused about the schedule and went to the gym first.”

He glances over at me. His dark shades keep his eyes hidden, but I can feel his scrutiny. “Were the instructions I sent out not clear?”

“No,” I blurt out quickly. “I mean, yes, they were clear. It was my mistake.” Water drips down my temples, and I swipe it away with the back of my hand. “Anyway, I’m sorry, and it won’t happen again.”

He nods and returns his gaze to the field. “Good.”

I start to walk off, and he says, “Keller?”

“Yeah?”

“Do you usually wear glitter to practice?”

I want to sink into the ground. I glance down at my shirt. Even my hands are covered in it from wiping my face. “No, sir. I had a run-in with a girl holding what I think was an entire glitter aisle as I was rushing out to the field.”

The tiniest smile pulls at the corners of his lips. “Let that be a lesson. Nothing good happens when you show up late to my practices.”

* * *

After another grueling two hours, I’ve survived my first practice. I walk almost numbly with the rest of the guys to the sidelines where our bags are stashed.

“Yo, Disco.”

I’m pulling off my sweaty T-shirt when Rowan walks over. He tips his chin at me.

“I’m stuck with that nickname, aren’t I?” I wipe my face with my shirt and grimace when I somehow replace more glitter on it.

“It’s catchy.” He laughs. “Congrats. You made it past day one.”

“Was there any doubt?” I smirk. Aside from showing up late, practice was good. I worked hard, and I kept up with the biggest, fastest guys on the team.

“A bunch of us are going out tonight. Matt Doyle’s family has a camp out on Highway 2. You know the area?”

“Not really,” I admit.

“No problem. Hand me your phone.”

I do, and he puts in his number and hands it back.

“Shoot me your address, and I’ll swing by and pick you up on the way. If you want.”

“Uhh…” I hesitate. “Are you sure it’s cool? We have practice tomorrow.”

He waves me off. “It’ll be chill. Mostly just the guys here and a few other people. It’d be good for you to meet some more of the team. Even our captain will be there. Right, Vaughn?” He opens his stance as the star forward of Frost Lake’s soccer team approaches. “Did you meet Disco here? He did his makeup for us, hoping to make a flashy first impression.”

I wipe my face again, but I’m sure it’s futile.

“Of course I’m coming. Someone has to make sure everyone stays out of trouble,” Vaughn says coolly. He tosses Rowan a practice jersey.

We spent all day in the same groups, which meant I didn’t get to put names with faces, but I recognize Vaughn. He’s the best high school forward in the state. Maybe the country. He’s broken every school record in the state and led Frost Lake to two championships. He’s magic on the pitch. Everything you would expect of Jude Collins’s son.

His blue eyes meet mine and scan me in question.

“I had an unfortunate glitter incident,” I say in case he thinks Rowan is serious.

He cracks a small smile. “You’re Austin Keller, right?”

“That’s right.”

“Your stats last year were pretty good. Especially considering your season ended so soon.”

I stare at him, slack-jawed. Vaughn Collins knows my stats?

Rowan chuckles. “You’re gonna give the new guy a big head. Our dear captain makes it his job to know everything about everyone.”

Vaughn hands me a jersey. “I said pretty good. Your footwork under pressure could be better.”

Damn. He’s right. “I’ve been working on it this summer. It’ll get there.”

Whatever flaws he sees in my game, I want him to know I won’t rest until I fix them. Lucky for both of us, there aren’t many flaws in my game.

“What kind of drills have you been doing?” Vaughn asks.

Before I can answer, Rowan groans. “Oh no. There’s two of you now.”

“He means that as a compliment,” Vaughn says to me.

Rowan shoulders his bag. “Excuse me for caring about more than soccer. Practice is over, and I’m exhausted. We can chat drills and stats tomorrow.”

With a laugh, Vaughn walks backward. “I gotta hand the rest of these out, but I’ll see you both tonight. Keller, let’s chat. I have some ideas that might help.”

“Yeah, that’d be awesome.” More than awesome. It’s perfect.

I met my hero, and the captain of my new team knows my stats and wants to help me improve my game. What a freaking day. Not even a look at my sparkly face in the rearview mirror when I get in my Jeep to drive home can ruin my mood.