In the pitch Lincoln start the warm up
The turf pulsed beneath their cleats as Lincoln High began their warm-up.
Sharp passes, short sprints, stretches in rhythm—every motion heavy with focus.
Five minutes in, a ripple cut through the crowd.
San Dimas had arrived.
Their entrance wasn't quiet. Gold and silver shimmered under the floodlights as they stepped onto the pitch, their coach leading the way.
Coach Owen broke off from Lincoln's huddle, striding toward the woman walking at the head of the San Dimas squad. Chelsea Olivia—calm, sharp-eyed, her posture radiating command.
The two coaches shook hands. Words were exchanged, brief but edged with weight. Respect between generals before the war.
Behind her, San Dimas peeled off their jackets, their movements crisp. Boots tapped the grass, stretching bands snapped, and their players checked studs and laces with surgical care. They weren't here to warm up. They were here to sharpen blades.
