Mark Mars

“I’ll mark Mars,” you say, glancing over at the huddle of girls.

Charlie nods, and once the rest have picked targets, you spread out in Keegan’s half. You sidle up next to Mars, who smiles at you before looking back towards the center circle. “How’s it going?” she asks.

“Same as five minutes ago,” you say drily. “How about you?”

“About the same,” Mars smirks.

Katie and Khloe kick off, and instantly Mars darts behind you. You sprint after her, but just as quickly she stops, and you rocket past her, leaving her completely open for a pass. Khloe knocks the ball to her, and she deftly slows it with a touch. You sink into a defensive stance, and Mars smiles confidently at you as she edges forwards but never lets the ball out from under her feet. Then she kicks it slightly too heavily, and you seize the opportunity to stick your foot out. Just before you can get to it, however, Mars realizes her mistake and slides haphazardly, her studs making contact with the ball and knocking it away towards Val.

As Val dribbles away with the ball, you look down at Mars, who is sprawled on the ground. “Smooth,” you say, holding out your hand.

“Shut up, I kept the ball, didn’t I?” Mars mutters, but she takes your hand.

You heave her to her feet. She’s lighter than you expected, and you must have pulled a little too hard because she has to grab your chest to steady herself. {if@ Mars >= 30} A blush rises to her cheeks. {elseif Mars >= 60} “Easy,” she smiles, her hands lingering on your chest for a little longer than was needed. {else} “Sorry,” she says, quickly letting go of you. {endif}

“Mars, Alex, are you playing or flirting?” Daphne shouts from across the pitch. You exchange a look with Mars, before she winks and darts past you.

Cursing under your breath, you turn and chase after her just as Katie passes her a through ball. Mars runs on to it and sprints down the wing, but as you start to close her down, she switches it back, but you anticipate and block her approach. Out of options, she knocks it onto her left foot and pings a cross into the box, but it flies too high for Daphne or Val to get a head to it and instead it goes over the far sideline.

Although your breath is ragged and your legs are burning by the end of the half, you succeed in keeping Mars’ blistering pace contained. Every time she gets the ball, you’re close enough that the only option she has is to either pass it back to one of the twins or attempt a rushed cross, until eventually Daphne blows her whistle.

“Alright, switch sides!” Daphne shouts.

“Finally,” you groan, doubling over in exhaustion.

You look over at Mars and see that she seems equally tired. She walks towards you and pats you on the back, her small breasts heaving in time with her breathing. “Nice game,” she grunts.

The other half of the game is frustrating for you. {if Jack <= 0}Pretty much every time Jack gets the ball, he tries to dribble through Mars and Val, and while it works once or twice, soon they form an impenetrable blockade that stops him at every turn. Despite this, he refuses to pass to you even when you’re in a better position than Jason, Javier or Charlie.{else@}Despite getting several opportunities and mostly maintaining possession, you’re unable to convert your shots into goals. Daphne seems to chase down almost every ball, the twins lock off the short passes, and Mars and Val are there to mop up the ball when it flies loose. Jack tests Keegan once or twice, and in frustration you take a longshot that he barely tips over the crossbar, but the back of the net remains untouched.{endif}

The shrill whistle calls an end to training. “Good job, team,” Daphne says as you join into a huddle. “Our defensive chemistry is good, we just need to make the same happen on the offensive. Alex and Charlie, I want to see you making yourselves an option to spread the play. Jack, learn when to get rid of the ball. Jason, Javier, start making those incisive runs down the wing and cut in when you can.” She looks around at you all, seemingly satisfied. “Alright, go get changed.”

Mars +10