"I'm telling you, Ben, there's something wrong with Andrew," Ferry told his friend about what he had seen the night before.

They were on the side of the school's football field waiting for the selection of the football team to begin. Billy and Andrew were among the candidates. The latter seemed in great shape and nothing in his behaviour made him suspect that he was suffering from any illness. He looked like a different person than the feeble, sickly boy from the night before.

Ben shook his head: "Come on, Ferr, don't tell me you're going to start with this all over again. I thought we've already decided Andrew was just a normal boy. Maybe he's ill. Maybe he needs help, and he can't tell your dad. You don't know what the relationship between them is ..."

"I don't know ... I think he's hiding something ..."

"Aren't we all?" Ben replied. "Let's just watch the match, shall we? Look, everybody's here."

Indeed. Everyone had come to watch the selection for the football team, even on a cold, gloomy autumn day. It was an important competition for their high school, said Mr. Owen, the sports teacher.

Celia and her group passed them by as if they weren't there, although she did cast a short glance in their direction; so short, that no one else noticed it. Instead, they went to the boys on the football team with whom they changed a few words, laughing and giggling. One of the girls gave the captain of the team her scarf to bring him good luck. Danny Stevens, who'd been in the football team for several years, was joking about the situation, slightly envious that he hadn't received any scarf.

May and Steph were on the other side of the field. They were wearing thick coats and looked like they didn't want to be there. Steph waved her hands in their direction, while May smiled at Ferry. Since the Fires in the Hills, they hadn't spoken. Ferry thought she might, like him, be embarrassed about the kiss that didn't happen.

There was little until the start of the match, and almost all the high school students gathered on the side of the football field. And yet someone was missing.

"Where's Matt?" asked Ferry.

"I don't know," Ben said. "I haven't seen her in the last couple of days. She was busy training."

"That's what she told me," said Ferry. "What kind of training is she doing, anyway?" When Matilda entered the field, dressed in the equipment of the football team, both boys realised what kind of training Matilda was doing.

"Miss Harper, what do you think you're doing?" asked Mr. Owen, stepping closer.

"I'm here for the selection, of course. Haven't you said anyone was welcomed?"

Mr. Owen burst into a nervous laughter, "I did... I said any boy was welcomed."

 "You didn't make that clear enough," said Matilda, untroubled.

 But the sports teacher seemed like he was losing his patience, "Miss Harper, girls are not fit for this sport. You can try gymnastic. Or the majorette team." 

Matilda shook her head, "They're not for me. What will it cost you to let me try?"

 Mr. Owen thought for a few moments. "All right, but don't think you will be treated differently just because you're a girl."

 Matilda nodded and began her warm-up exercises. "I never expected that," she said confidently.

 But the boys on the football team didn't seem to agree. The captain of the team was the one to speak, "Mr Owen, you can't let her on the field! She's—She's a girl!" 

Mr. Owen laughed, "Don't worry. She'll want to get off the field faster than you think." 

Then, the teacher separated all the candidates into two teams and blew his whistle to announce the beginning of the game. To everyone's surprise, Matilda was the most agile player on the field. She always played offensively, and the ball was always in her possession. And after she disposed Billy of the ball several times, she passed through the opponent players like lightning, came in front of the goalkeeper and scored the first goal. 

Ferry and Ben jumped for joy, encouraging her from the side "Go, Matt! You can do it!" 

The girl waved at them, wearing a big smile on her face. Danny, who was a veteran of the football team and he was now also playing, congratulated her with a wink. Matilda replied with the same wide smile. 

The game began again. Matilda was still the most agile player on the field. Again, the ball came into her possession, and once more, the girl headed for the gate with no one stopping her. But a strong strike from Billy Pride made her lose her balance and fall into the mud that had formed since the last rains. Mr. Owen whistled, and the game stopped. Matilda seemed to have injured her knee, the blood blending with the mud. Ferry could barely breathe and he almost felt her pain. 

"Mr. Owen, it was a clear foul," Danny shouted, approaching the teacher. "I'm sorry, Mr. Stevens, but Miss Harper seemed to have stumbled and fallen. You know how girls are like, a bit— delicate," he said, grinning. 

Danny helped Matilda get up. The girl was limping but refused to leave the field. The game started again, but after a few moments, Billy reached Matilda, and pushed her even harder, this time. The girl fell again, screaming in pain. This time, Mr. Owen didn't even stop the game. Ferry felt his gaze turning blurry, and that strange heat seized him again, tickling his fingers. 

Danny, who had seen the whole scene, made his way to Billy, grabbed him by the collar and lifted him into the air; then, he slammed him to the ground. Billy fell on his back with a loud thud. Andrew, who was on the other half of the field, ran to him in a flash. With gentle gestures, he helped him get up, his hand reaching for his forehead, looking for bruises; then, Andrew's hand rested on Billy's neck a bit too long. The two looked into each other's eyes for a moment, then Billy brutally removed Andrew's hand, pushing him out of his way. He turned to Danny, fuming. In the bustle that was created, in the screams of the players and the spectators, Danny was brutally pushed, flying a few feet in the air, then striking hard on the ground. And then, he remained motionless.

 Mr. Owens finally stopped the game, and all the spectators entered the football field, surrounding Danny who was just lying there, his eyes closed. 

"Danny, wake up!" Matilda shouted; she was among the first to reach him. 

Mr. Owen was turning agitated, "Make room, step aside!" he yelled, pushing aside the people around Danny. Matilda refused to leave him. 

Ferry and Ben took a few steps aside, not losing the motionless Danny from their sight. 

"Danny, please wake up," she begged, gently placing her hand on his forehead. "He's burning hot," she told Mr. Owen wit tears in her eyes. 

At her touch, Danny opened his eyes, moaning. He smiled at Matilda and slowly began to come to his senses. A teammate gave him a bottle of water which Danny drank in a sip. 

"I feel much better now," he said, and everyone could breathe easily. 

"What happened out there?" asked Mr. Own, frowning.

 "I don't know..." said Danny. "I felt some wave of heat in my chest that was suffocating me. Then, I felt like a giant hand grabbed me and threw me over there..." 

"That's it, everyone, out of the field!" the sports teacher decided. "The game is over."

 "How about Matilda," asked Danny, "was she selected for the team?" "Of course not," Mr. Owen replied. 

"I can't take the chance to have chaos on my field each time she plays." 

But Matilda wouldn't want to give up, "Please, Mr. Owen, I have trained so hard. I'm better than half the team, and you know it. Please, give me a second chance. You know Billy hit me on purpose. You saw it, too," she said, and her voice broke. 

The teacher was relentless, "Maybe this just shows that your place is not among the boys," he said, turning his back on her. 

Matilda stood in the middle of the field, her shoulders sloping. Billy grinned in her face as he passed by, leaning on Andrew. The girl was trying not to burst into tears. She was covered in mud from head to toe, and her knee was bleeding, the blood flowing down her leg.

 Ferry slowly came closer, "Let's go, Matt. I'll take you home," he said softly. 

 Matilda shook her head, "I don't need your help. I don't need anyone's help. One day, girls in this bloody town will be able to do everything they want. I'll make sure of that," she said and stepped out of the football field, limping. 

"Let her go, Ferr," said Ben. "Now, she just wants to be alone ..." 

Ferry looked behind her and his heart melted. 

"I have to tell you something," Ben said, taking him aside, where no one could hear them. Almost everyone had left the field.

 "What? asked Ferry, trying to pay attention, his eyes still on Matilda who was moving away. 

"What happened to Danny earlier ... It wasn't Billy. He didn't push him. He didn't even get to him..."

 "What are you talking about?" 

"It was Andrew," Ben said, almost in a whisper. "Everyone was paying attention to Billy and Danny, but I didn't let Andrew out of my sight. He seemed worried about Billy, at first. But then I saw him ... changing ..." 

"Changing how?" Ferry asked, now intrigued. 

"I don't know ... He looked tense ... His face was shifting ... Turning darker... Even his eyes had a different colour. Like he wasn't himself anymore. He raised his hand and— Danny flew into the air. You're right," he said. "There's something off about this boy." 

This chapter is dedicated to all the girls (and boys) out there who never stop trying. Stay strong! Stay beautiful!