Read a preview
Chapter 1
Chapter 1: The Name in the Hat
Gus Martinez liked being invisible.
On the Riverside Rockets soccer team, invisible was safe. Invisible meant nobody yelled at you when you missed a pass. Invisible meant you could stand near the corner of the field during practice and watch the clouds drift by while everyone else fought for the ball.
Gus had perfected invisible. Three years on the team, zero goals scored, zero memorable moments. Just the way he liked it.
"Alright, everyone, gather up!" Coach Davis blew her whistle, and the team jogged to the center of the field.
Gus shuffled over, positioning himself behind Tommy Chen's tall frame where Coach couldn't see him. Perfect.
"I have some news," Coach said, her voice heavy. "Mia broke her leg yesterday at gymnastics practice."
Gasps rippled through the team. Mia Rodriguez was their captain, their best player, their everything. She could dribble past three defenders while making it look easy. She gave speeches that actually made people want to run through walls.
"The championship is in two weeks," Coach continued. "We need a new captain."
Derek Sullivan stepped forward immediately. Derek was the team's star striker, with bleached-blond hair and a confidence that filled every room he entered. "I'll do it, Coach. Obviously."
"That's not how we're doing this, Derek." Coach held up a baseball cap. "I've put everyone's name in here. Leadership isn't just about being the loudest or the best scorer. It's about heart. So we're letting fate decide."
Gus felt his stomach drop. His name was in that hat.
Coach reached in, swirled her hand around, and pulled out a folded slip of paper. She opened it slowly.
"Our new captain is..." She squinted. "Gus Martinez."
Silence.
Then Derek laughed. "Good one, Coach. Seriously though, who is it?"
"Gus Martinez," Coach repeated, looking around. "Gus? Where are you?"
Gus wanted to melt into the grass. He wanted to become so invisible that he'd simply cease to exist. But Tommy stepped aside, and suddenly twenty-three pairs of eyes were staring at him.
"There must be a mistake," Gus whispered.
"No mistake." Coach smiled. "Congratulations, Captain."
