Saturday and Sunday passed easily.
Julian, as usual, split his time between training his body and sharpening his mind, refusing to let even a day slip by.
And then—Monday came fast.
But this time, instead of heading straight to the pitch after pulling on their blue Lincoln uniforms, the players were told to stay inside the locker room.
Laura stood at the front, a black board ready. Coach Owens entered, his presence heavy as always, and gave her a short nod.
"You can start, Laura."
She tapped the board with her marker, eyes sweeping over the team.
"Our last four matches," she began, voice steady, "will be different. Not just difficult—crazy difficult. The physical demand will be on another level. Because from here on… we enter dangerous territory."
One by one, she pasted sheets across the board. A league standing chart, names and numbers neatly printed.
Julian leaned forward, eyes narrowing.
At the very top—Lincoln High.
Second—San Dimas.
Third—Crenshaw.
