Chapter Text
Ali's POV:
"Hey Ali! Come on" shout my rowdy roommates, letting me know dinner is ready. I sigh in mild aggravation, since I just stepped out of the shower. I throw on some clothes and sidle my way into the empty chair, laughing at their exasperation, as if me being late is such a burden, or a surprise. We jostle and grab food as if we've been starving for days, while multiple conversations tumble about the table. I kind of laugh to myself, thinking how shy I was my freshman year and can barely believe how comfortable I am now with my roommates, my teammates.
"So, this is big time, yeah? Senior year, first game of the season, last chance to win another title with the team" Amy smiles over at me. "Yeah, thank goodness I'm all healed up from last season. We're going to totally crush UNC tonight" I say with gusto. A round of yeahs and fist pumps follow. Jen asks, "Hey, did you hear about their new keeper? Think she's a junior, but supposed to be pretty hot." This gets a few laughs and even a cat call and someone yells "Oooh, as in hot hot or just an awesome keeper?" Jen blushes and stammers "Oh, I just heard she was really good." Again, more laughter and "What's she supposed to be good at?" And Jen's blush turns a deeper red. After choking off my laughter, I take pity and say "Yeah, she is supposed to be a good goalkeeper." The conversations and volume ramp up again, and I just shake my head, wondering how we even manage to follow a single conversation. I hear a scraping sound and look down, shocked that my plate is somehow empty, shrug my shoulders and head to the sink to rinse my dishes.
Amy runs over and pulls me into my room, "So, Ali, I saw Brent yesterday and he asked about you. Have you talked to him lately?" I shrug her off in resignation, "No, and I have no plans to." Amy gives me a hard look and sighs. She knows I haven't dated anyone since I broke up with him last year. "Look, I know you thought he was the one, but you have to move on and..." I quickly interrupt her "It was over last year and I HAVE moved on. Really. I'm just not in the mood for dating right now, OK? Leave it alone." I find myself sighing and looking back at her with a small smile, which she returns. "OK, I just worry about you", she mutters, so I pat her arm and shrug "Maybe I'm just meant to be alone." She gives me an odd look, but leaves it at that.
To be honest , lately, I've started to wonder if I am.. meant to be alone. After nearly dying from heart attacks after my fracture last fall, even though it was Brent who realized I needed to get medical attention, even though he basically saved my life, I had suddenly realized that I didn't love him. I remember sitting in the hospital bed, my mom holding my hand, taking about how great Brent was, and suddenly saying "Mom, I don't love him." I thought she'd be shocked, or surprised at least, but she got this strange look in her eyes and just said quietly "I know honey." Then it was my turn to be surprised. How would she know, when I'd only just realized it myself? I wanted to ask her what she meant, how she could possibly know, but then Brent walked in and the moment was gone.
Days later, I remember trying to figure out when I'd stopped being in love with him, but came to a startling realization that I don't think I ever was. All those dates, all the making out, even just kissing him had actually left me cold. It was weird, I couldn't explain it to myself. Somehow, I'd been caught up in his excitement about dating, about my friends and family constantly encouraging me that we were the 'perfect couple.' Suddenly we were engaged, and the whole time it was surreal. I guess it was a good thing we'd only had sex once, although he'd been bringing it up like all the time. It finally happened one night after a party, when I was buzzed enough to have my defenses down. I remember thinking, shit, maybe he'll stop bothering me about it if we just do it. It had been awkward and painful and afterward I'd lied and said we had early practice so could he leave so I could get some sleep. I remember taking one of the longest showers of my life immediately after he left. I just felt dirty and ashamed I'd given in when I really didn't want to do it. All that time with him, it felt like I'd just been going through the motions and playing the perfect girlfriend part or something. Maybe it took me nearly dying to realize all of that, to realize that if I was dating someone, much less consider marrying them, I'd be damned sure I was totally in love, mind, body and soul. I didn't want to go through the motions anymore. I had realized that life was precious.
I shook myself out of the memory and smiled my best smile at Amy, "It's good, sorry to yell at you. But look, we need to get ready for the game!" She laughed and went to the couch, muttering that she was already ready. I laughed and turned back to my room. In moments, I'm in a near panic, unable to find my jersey. "Has anyone seen my jersey?!" I yell in desperation. Then I sigh in satisfaction at just now finding my shorts. "Yeah, they're on the dryer" Amy yells back and laughs at me as I fly to the laundry room. Thankfully, I keep the rest of my kit in my large gym bag, so I know I've got everything else ready. Now, I just have to do my hair and makeup, so I can 'look good, feel good, play good.' Twenty minutes later, in a rush and running late as usual, I run out the door, smiling as I hear everyone yell and cheer me out the door.
As I race toward our locker room, I have to slow myself for a moment when I nearly run into a tall blond girl. I catch her eyes for a moment and gasp. I quickly look away and continue into our locker room. Somehow, I'm only 5 minutes late and luckily coach is in his office talking with our keeper. I high five a couple of girls on the way to an open bench, then quickly sit down, try to act like I've been there all along, and pull out my cleats. I'm distracted though as I think about the blond, she was stunning, and I shake my head at thinking that type of word to describe her, and her eyes had made me lose my breath for some reason. I could only hope she didn't notice, as I couldn't understand my odd behavior. Excited voices fill the locker room as each of my teammates prep for the game. We quickly head out to the field to warm up, jostling against each other, barely able to contain our excitement for our first game of the season. All too soon the whistle blows for the final lineup before the match.
While the UNC team lines up, I start my pre-game look at their players, most of which have carried over from past seasons. I could feel someone's gaze and I looked around and saw that same tall blond staring at me. The intensity in her hazel eyes surprises me, and I find myself blushing for getting caught looking at her. After a second though I can't help but look again. She is striking. She looks more like a damned model than a soccer player, I find myself thinking, then realize she's looking at me again as one of her defenders whispers someone to her and she laughs. Wow, her smile is incredible, and she has an incredible dimple on her left cheek. And I can feel my face flushing again. What the hell is wrong with me, I wonder, and I turn to my mid back and ask if she knows which one is their new goalkeeper. She nods her head towards the blond and says "That's Ashlyn Harris... Oh, and she's supposed to be quite the stud" and laughs. I turn to her in confusion, to ask her what she means, but then coach yells us over for a huddle.
As we line up to shake our opponents hands before kickoff, I find myself looking at the blond again, yet trying not to look like I'm looking. She's joking with her defenders and suddenly I feel her gaze catch me again. And dammit, like a shot, I feel a blush start up again. I quickly look to the ground, trying to gain my composure, to focus back to the upcoming match. What the hell is going on with me? The line starts moving and we quickly shake hands with the Tar-Heels. Suddenly, I feel as if I've been struck by lightning and I look up to see their blond goalkeeper looking at me intensely and I find that I can't look away from those eyes. A cough startles me and I look down to see I'm still holding the blond's hand. I feel a strange tingling heat racing up my arms and my legs go weak. "C'mon Ali, what's the hold up?" my mid back gently shoves me from behind. I look quickly back to the blond, who has a smug look in her eyes, and I stammer and yank my hand from hers. By the time I reach the end of the line, I still feel weak and.. just off. What the hell?! I force myself not to look at the blond again, focusing on my teammates and getting into game mode.
Ashlyn's POV:
To say I'm stoked would be a huge understatement. Tonight is my first start as GK for my team. My dream is finally happening and I can barely sit still. My roommate Tobin is casually watching ESPN yet manages to chastise me with a "Chill out Ash" before she heads in to take her shower. I just shake my head, jump off off the bed, take a quick round the hotel room and sit back down in agitation, trying to focus on whatever the heck is on ESPN, all needless to say without much success. Within what seems like just a few minutes, Tobin walks out with the towel wrapped around her and a "It's all yours" nod toward the bathroom.
"Hey, did you say there was a party you heard about after the game?" I say as I walk out from my shower. Tobin rolls her eyes, "Maybe I heard about one..." and does her slow smile. "Cmon, don't hold out on me Tobs! What do we know about this party?" She knows I'll need something fun after my first start, so her teasing is to be expected. "Well, actually it's supposed to be the party that the Lions are going to, but it's supposed to have a sweet crowd regardless." I turn and give her a look of surprise, "So after we play them, then we can PLAY them at the party?" I laugh at my silly turn of phrase and Tobs smiles, nodding her head. Sweet, I mutter under my breath. "So, are you gonna try and pick up one of them at the party or what?" Tobs laughs at my leering grin and I nod, playing into her thinking that I'm such a player with the girls. Sure, I like to flirt, but I'm not really a player, but it is kinda cool having my teammates think it. Tobs continues shaking her head in awe of my amazing skill with the ladies, and tells me to hurry up and get dressed.
We jump off the bus with excitement, knowing that this first game of the season is against a tough team. As we head in to the locker room, a few of the Lion's team are hurrying into their nearby locker room door and suddenly I catch my breath. A short brunette with cinnamon brown eyes hurries past me with a quick glance that nearly knocks me off my feet. She is so beautiful that I swear I've forgotten how to breathe. Tobs runs into me with a what the hell and I start breathing again. I turn to her, "If I'm picking up anyone at that party tonight, she's the one!" and Tobs smiles and nods, "Yeah, she was pretty hot" and drags me toward the locker room. I basically fall onto the first bench I can find and shake my head to try to focus on the upcoming game, not the goddess I nearly ran into just moments before. Finally, I drop my bag and start putting on my gear, trying to ignore the minor roar of my teammates winding up for the game.
As we warm up before the game, I keep stealing glances at the gorgeous brunette. I can feel the heat in my face as I watch her focus and her skill as she dribbles and sends a quick pass to her teammate. She is one those rare girls who looks like she could be in Vogue and yet has the hot body of a soccer player, a killer combination. The ball hits me on the head and I turn in irritation to our GK coach, but bite my tongue instead of cussing him out. He just smiles and tells me to focus, and I drop my head for a moment realizing he's right, I need to focus, to get into game mode. The coach yells for us to gather and I jog over slowly, catching one last glance of the brunette, sighing in complete and admittedly lustful admiration.
We line up for the game, many of us hopping up and down, excited and ready for the game. As they call off the starting lineup for the Lions, I carefully wait to see what the brunette's name is, what position she's at. I'm guessing back or midfield based on her stature. Number 22, Ali Krieger, playing right back is announced and the brunette, my brunette (I smile to myself), steps forward. Ali, nice name, I think. When they start calling off our team, I catch her looking directly at me, not once but several times and it almost looks like she blushes. I take in a deep breath, thinking I'm probably being a bit hopeful. Yet I continue staring at her and she keeps looking back at me. Oh my gosh, I totally have to talk to her at the party tonight! Then I feel myself start to blush and my stomach clench with nerves. What the hell? I never get nervous about girls. Then we start jogging down the lines, shaking our opponents hands. When her hand touches mine I swear I might have jumped from the electricity of it. I quickly look to her eyes to see if she noticed and her gorgeous eyes lock on mine, and for a moment that seems like forever we just stare at each other. Then she's jostled by her teammate to keep moving. She looks down to see she's still holding my hand, which I don't mind at all, considering how good it feels, but then she yanks it away and I swear she's blushing as she looks down and heads on to give Tobin her handshake. I realize that I haven't taken a breath and do so, when I'm yanked toward the sideline by a grinning Tobs. I shrug my shoulders, like What? And she just hits me on my arm and mouths focus! I give one last glance to the brunette, Ali, as she walks over to their sideline and then slap my hands together and pat my defenders as we head out to take the field. The match is on!