Furia

Camila resists the urge to call Diego, and at soccer practice the next day, she gets the chance to play a scrimmage against a North American team on tour in Argentina—Coach Gabi’s team. Camila knows that if she makes a good impression, Gabi’s connections could be her ticket to playing soccer in the States. Arriving at the pitch, Camila notices how her team looks in comparison to the North American team: “a puzzle made up of mismatched pieces” (162). As the team warms up, Marisa’s replacement joins them: Rufina, a girl who formerly played for their rival team.

Coach Alicia makes announcements about the upcoming Sudamericano tournament. It will require sacrifice—including missing the high school graduation ceremony in December—but Camila is committed. Coach then introduces her sister, Gabi Tapia, who explains that she’s looking for players who can go directly into the National League rather than playing for a university first. She will be one of the many scouts at the Sudamericano, and the tournament will be a “showcase” opportunity for the players.

Camila feels la Furia take over on the field and crosses the ball to Rufina for a beautiful goal. From the sidelines, she hears Diego cheer and scans the crowd looking for him. In her moment of distraction, Camila’s foot lands in a hole in the field, and she twists her ankle. Devastated that she lost her chance to show Gabi her skills, Camila holds back tears and turns away from Diego when she sees him approaching. After the game, Gabi compliments Camila on her finesse with the ball and tells her to come back stronger than ever; she will be watching her in December at the Sudamericano.

Diego comes over to Camila after the girls from both teams pose for photos with him and get his autograph. Even Coach Alicia and Gabi are a bit starstruck when he approaches. Diego expresses admiration at Camila’s soccer performance; he didn’t know she was on this team and is clearly impressed at her abilities. Fighting the urge to run away, Camila remains on the field with Diego as the rest of her team trickles home. Suddenly fighting a wave of nausea, Camila leans on Diego to keep from falling over. He tells her she needs something to eat and convinces her to come with him one more time before he has to leave the next day.

Now that Diego knows about her secret life as a futbolera, Camila feels vulnerable but relieved. Diego stops at a bakery for fresh bread and pastries, and they go to the river. Diego helps Camila when she gets a cramp in her leg, gently rotating her ankle and giving her mineral water to drink. They sip mate and talk about the talented soccer players Diego now gets to call his friends. He was at the field today because it was his “lucky field” as a child, where a Central scout discovered him. Camila shares her goal with Diego: She wants to play for a professional team in the United States. He encourages her, telling Camila to “keep fighting” and admiring her for becoming “[her] own savior” (192). Unable to resist her attraction to Diego, Camila leans in, and they kiss passionately on the sand. Diego tells her he loves her and that even though he must leave tomorrow, he has a plan.

As Diego takes Camila back home, he says he will come inside with her and tell her parents that he loves her, but Camila resists the idea. After her father’s words the day before, she doesn’t want her family taking advantage of Diego’s love for her. She convinces him to lie in a text message to Pablo and to say he happened to come by El Buen Pastor where he found Camila stuck there, waiting out the storm, and gave her a ride home. When Camila gets home, Pablo reluctantly believes the lie and promises he won’t tell their parents she got home so late.