DISCLAIMER: This is entirely a work of fiction, despite references to actual places/people, and any similarity to an actual person, living or dead, is purely coincidental. The town of Pine Hill, Ontario, as well as the Great Divide Ranch and the town of Chestnut Grove, Alberta, are figments of my imagination.

EDITED! I've edited the first four chapters, but they're not major changes; likely only stuff you'll notice if you really go looking for it. So don't worry, no huge plot changes involved, and sorry for the false alarm on your author alerts.

NOTE: This story is rated T for now, but that will change if I get enough reviews to push me as far as the second part of the story. Just thought I'd warn you.

As promised:

FULL SUMMARY: She cheered him on to get their school soccer team to the playoffs, and got quite the kiss – or kisses – in thanks. But, before they can pursue anything, she leaves, never seen again. When they meet again ten years later for an interview – she as the interviewer and he as the interviewee – will they be able to keep it on a professional level as they’re supposed to? Or will they take a gamble and see if what they started ten years ago is worth continuing? For all they know, this could be life giving them a second chance...

Life’s Little Chances

— Part One: High School —

ONE: A One-Girl Cheering Squad

Ten Years Ago

Alex lifted his head as a shrill, piercing whistle shattered the still, expectant silence that reigned over the four hundred or so students of Pine Hill High, then raised his eyebrows as he caught sight of a flash of movement and amber hair: Sasha Miller, scrambling down from the bleachers to act as a one-girl motivation squad for the soccer team.

“Come on, guys! Where’s your school spirit?”

A few people cheered weakly, and Alex could just picture the disappointed frown that would be creasing Sasha’s brow, even though she stood with her back to him, far off in the crowd. However, Sasha didn’t seem to possess the words “give up” in her vocabulary, and before too long, even the shyest freshmen and the surliest seniors were taking up the chant that was raucously echoing through the heavy June air:

“Let’s go Alex, let’s go! Let’s go Pine Hill, let’s go!”

Alex shook his head, grinning ruefully. Let it never be said that Sasha Miller lacks enthusiasm or spirit for the school soccer players, he thought wryly.

Shaking a fringe of shaggy, dark brown hair from his eyes, Alex looked to the net ahead of him. The noise of the now violently cheering crowd – from which Sasha seemed to stand out far too much – faded, and he waited, psyching the opposing school’s goalie out with an even, disarmingly intense silver-eyed stare. When the short, pudgy blond kid looked sufficiently nervous – maybe terrified would have been a better word – Alex nodded briefly to the referee, who gave one short blast on his whistle – the signal for him to attempt the sudden death shot that would either win them or lose them a place in the regional playoffs.

Alex shook his head again, more to himself than anyone else. He didn’t know why his thoughts slowed like this, but it was a state of mind he rather liked. Detached and calm, he made some of his best decisions in this mind frame.

Suddenly realizing that anyone holding their breath in anticipation might well have suffocated (or at least turned blue, he reasoned) by now, Alex wasted no more time, kicking the ball hard and unexpectedly, catching the goalie off guard for just a moment.

That momentary lapse of action was all it took for the ball to sink deep into the net.

Alex grinned widely as his teammates bolstered him onto their shoulders, yelling hoarsely and pumping their fists; even the coach was shouting out whatever came to mind, causing the principal’s eyebrows to rise worriedly. But then, many of the four hundred gleeful students now streaming down from the stands had yelled worse. Sasha sprinted in front of the pack of happy students, somehow still managing to stick her fingers in her mouth to emit a high wolf whistle. The students engulfed the soccer players, laughing and chattering happily.

Alex watched it all from atop his friends’ shoulders as they hadn’t let him down yet. Then a sudden idea struck him.

“Hey, Sasha!” he yelled, watching as Alicia Stevens elbowed her and indicated him, eyes wide. Sasha’s head snapped up, eyes intently focused, never straying from him and snapping brightly.

“Yeah?” she yelled back after a moment.

Noah, the region’s best high-school level defense player and so close a friend to Alex that he knew what he would say, answered. “We owe you, girl! Come to the victory party tonight – it’s at Todd’s place!”

She grinned, turning that bright expression on Noah. “And if I don’t come?” she yelled back. Noah looked at Alex, indicating that he was the one to answer this question.

He hopped down from the shoulders holding him up and walked forward through the crowd till he was right in front of her before answering her.

Putting a single finger under her chin, he lifted her head to look straight at her, right in the eyes. This was the first time he actually did so, except for brief glances in the hall, and it shocked him. He’d heard people say she had green eyes. This wasn’t true. She did have green eyes, but the subtle undertone of gold in them made them look... mesmerizing. Hell, he could have sat there and looked at her eyes all day.

A slight smile hovering on her lips, she looked back at him, waiting. As an eleventh grader facing a senior, she should have backed down if the non-official rules of high school society were to be followed, but Alex realized that he should have known better as far as Sasha Miller was concerned. She gazed back at him with pure interest, baldly and unabashedly.

“If you don’t come,” he said finally, pitching his voice low, the deep tones rumbling quietly, “I come find you and we have a party all our own.”

He didn’t know why the hell he’d said it, but he had, and he realized the words had merit. This girl was a puzzle to him. With her not-too-tall and not-too-short height and her slightly curvy figure, not to mention those bloody eyes of hers and her thick, glossy amber hair – he wanted to run his fingers through it, to see if it felt as soft as it looked, but didn’t let himself – she was the type of girl who was always being asked out by the middle-class boys in her grade. Yet she was never seen with a guy at her side, only Alicia and a few other girlfriends. It was confusing, dammit, and the more serious side of Alex wanted to figure her out.

Sasha’s eyes widened at his words and she drew in a slightly ragged breath, cheeks turning pink, but she didn’t step away. The girl had guts.

“All right,” she said finally, malicious smile returning as she turned back to Alicia. “Then I guess I’ll see you tonight... one way or another.”

End of Chapter One: A One-Girl Cheering Squad

A/N: Okay, yes, I’m putting up something new. So sue me. (Not literally I have nothing worth suing for – although you can have my brothers at no cost if you like.)

Anyways, let me know how you liked this (in a review, of course). Also, let me know if it’s worth continuing? I’ve been working on this for months, which is a huge accomplishment for me, and this is kind of turning into my baby. No flames. Just R&R and tell me honestly if you want me to continue. And Bethani you’re not allowed to just ask when I’ll update MMH or MWPH, okay?

- LL