MELISSA'S POV

Coach’s voice sliced through the locker room like a blade.

"What the hell was that out there?!"

We all froze, every single one of us drenched in sweat and frustration. My chest still heaved from the first half, heart pounding like a drum in my ears. Xavier sat silently on the bench beside me, jaw tight, gaze fixed on the floor.

"You think talent wins games? It doesn’t. Focus does. Grit does. And right now, Team America is eating you alive because they want it more. You came ...