Defending Irene Read Online Free Page B

shoes. At every practice, the grandfatherly coaches had knelt at his feet and tightened his laces. Matteo had stared off into the distance with the attitude and confidence of the great Brazilian soccer player, Ronaldo.
    â€œMatteo is so full of himself,” I complained. “He acts like no one belongs on the field with him.”
    Giulia’s upper lip curled. “No one is worthy to be on the same field as Matteo. Not even Matteo.”
    â€œNo one is worthy to tie his shoes,” I said. “Too bad he can’t do it either.”
    Giulia giggled. “Well he can now.”
    â€œAre you sure? Maybe his mamma does it for him at home.”
    â€œAh, we are making his ears whistle today,” Giulia said with satisfaction. “The other girls don’t understand the Dr. Jekyll and Mr. Hyde of soccer.”
    â€œHe’s different at school?”
    â€œOh, sí . The girls are crazy for him. Some of them have his photo on a key chain with the English words ‘I love you!’ Really! It is too funny. It pleases me to meet someone who understands.”
    â€œAgreed,” I said, finally seeing the perfect opportunity to ask my big question. “So, would you like to play soccer with me this year?”
    Giulia jerked away from me, her fingers closing into fists. “No! Never! It is impossibile .”
    â€œWhy?” The word slipped out before I could stop it.
    Giulia uncrossed her legs and hugged her knees to her chest. “Of course, it would be possible. It is very simple to ask Signora Martelli for a practice uniform. But wait, I do not even have to ask. My old one is not too narrow for me yet. And my papá would pay. It would not please him that I play soccer with the boys. It never pleased him. Soccer is not for girls, he thinks. But since Emi plays, he could not say I was too busy with school.”
    â€œGiulia, I’m so sorry. I wish I hadn’t asked.”
    â€œNo, no. It is nothing. I’m glad that you asked me. It means you wish to be friends, no? If only you had come earlier, Irene. I had already been the only girl for years. I knew I would never make the traveling team. I am a good player, better than many of the boys who quit before me. But now, it’s not worth the trouble.” She stopped and shook her head. “Maybe I played so long just to annoy Matteo.”
    I snorted.
    â€œI wasn’t joking.”
    â€œI know.”
    â€œI have lost a year, Irene. You will leave next summer, and I would have to quit again.” She paused and tilted her head to the side. “Of course, Matteo would hate it…”
    I let the silence between us lengthen, hoping that she might change her mind. Instead, she closed her eyes and shook her head. “I cannot. I’m sorry.”
    â€œIt’s nothing. Don’t worry yourself. So, now it is my turn to annoy Matteo.”
    Giulia’s shoulders straightened. “Very good! I will come to the games to watch him suffer, and you can come to my volleyball games. Unless…”
    â€œWhat?”
    Giulia leaned forward. “Unless you’d like to quit soccer and play volleyball with me. I am learning to play. I am too short to spike or block, but you are tall. That is an advantage in volleyball, no?”
    If I switched to volleyball, it would be an honorable escape from a team that didn’t want me to a team that would. People might smile when I walked into practice instead of wishing I’d go away and never come back. I might lose a year, but I wouldn’t lose all my conditioning. And I was sure that Giulia would be more than happy to kick the soccer ball around with me for fun.
    I found myself staring at her. I could see traces of Emi in her nose and high cheekbones. She had his wavy hair, dark eyes, and warm enthusiasm. Had this been Emi’s plan all along—having his sister tempt me away from soccer with volleyball?
    â€œNo. It can’t be,” I