The school cafeteria was usually a place for eating soggy pizza and gossiping about homework.
But today, it was the center of the universe.
A small television was wheeled into the corner. It was perched on a trolley that wobbled every time someone walked past.
The room was packed. Students were standing on tables. Teachers were ignoring the "No Standing on Tables" rule.
Alex sat in the middle. He was not eating. His stomach felt like it was full of butterflies. Angry butterflies.
"Eat your apple," Maya said. She was checking her watch. "Gareth Southgate is due to speak in two minutes. Your blood sugar is low."
"I cannot eat," Alex said. "What if he does not say my name? What if he thinks I am too young?"
"You won the Champions League," Maya stated calmly. "You beat Real Madrid. You beat Bayern Munich. Statistically, leaving you out would be a mathematical error. Gareth Southgate likes waistcoats, but he does not like errors."
