Chapter Text
After retiring from national team stardom, the famous couple known as “Krashlyn” decided to open a soccer clinic for the first time. The clinic was taking place during a scolding hot summer in no other state but Florida. They hosted little girls from ages six to twelve divided into a few groups depending on skill and age. Ashlyn was going to take care of the older kids, while Ali was going to take on the younger ones. It was their first time doing it and they had quite a few kids signed up.
“Ash, love, we have 40 kids in this camp” Ali told her as she put down her coffee and pushed back her hair, a little concerned.
Ashlyn giggled and walked over to Ali. “Ali, you’re the one that came up with this brilliant idea. We didn’t have kids, although we are still fertile (she stressed), these are now going to be your little munchkins!” This made Ali smile and she replied, “We’ll have kids”
“Yeaaaah, okay, princess, okay” Ashlyn says sarcastically as she closes the fridge door.
Ali plays with her wedding ring and smiles, looking down at it.
“We’ve been through so many rough patches, Ash. I can’t believe we’ve made it through” She finishes her sentence before she looks up.
The blonde wife looks straight at her love and smiles. “Okay, stop being gushy, I will cry. You know I have a weak spot.”
Ali replies with a genuine smile and gets up.
“What time’s the camp at?”
“Uh, it starts at 1. So after lunch.” Ash gets the clinic booklet to make sure what she’s saying is right. She sees 1PM and nods in agreeance.
The camp would take place every weekday from 1PM to 4PM for 3 weeks. It was a fifteen-day camp that every American soccer daughter wanted to attend. Children travelled across the States to attend and crammed in hotel rooms to save the price. It was a once in a lifetime opportunity they thought, unless Ali and Ashlyn decided to host again.
After a few hours of preparation, the two pack their cars with net bags full of soccer balls and extra soccer equipment.
"Did you get the extra shin guards?" Ali checks with Ashlyn. Ali nods a yes and they both get into the car.
Ashlyn is the one driving, as Florida is her home state and she knows her way around. Ali runs her hand along her wife's thigh and feels her stomach knot. She wants to make love with Ashlyn but she knows she can't.
"Alex, babe. Just think of the kids faces if they just caught you with your hand there" Ali whips her hand away. "Okay, whoa! No no no" Ali shakes her head.
Ashlyn laughs and smiles at her girl. Ali always manages to put a smile on her wife's face. It's hard for Ashlyn to take her eyes off of Ali, though she knows she has to concentrate on driving.
"Kay, 2 minutes and we should be arriving at the pitch" Ashlyn informs Ali.
"Oh, yeah okay. I see it coming up" Ali confirms. "This is gonna be so fun. Like I can't wait to be with all those little cuties playing our game" Ali feels all gushy and excited and smiles wide. Her contagious smile causes Ash to smile too. Ashlyn parks the car in the lot, where some cars are already parked. Children are playing outside, slowly getting to know each other. Some of the parents are standing around, though it looks like little girls are outnumbering parents.
The couple shares a quick kiss in the car and get out, getting the equipment. They drag their things to the pitch and greet the girls with smiles and waves. It's a quarter to 1 and most of the kids are arriving by now.
Ashlyn goes up to the kids and parents and shouts out. "Whenever you guys are ready, we are! Make sure to bring your bags to the benches and have your cleats on!" She winks and runs back to the field.
The nervous little girls drag their big bags towards the benches and kiss their moms and dads goodbye for the next few hours.
The girls gather around and sit in a semi-circle shape.
"Hi girls! I'm Ali, as you know. This is Ashlyn. "Ali points her hand out to Ash and they both smile.
"Who is under 9 years old? I've got my list, but I want to meet you all!" Ali asks joyfully.
"Whoever is 10 and older, join me in this circle!" Ashlyn walks over to the far right.
The girls split up and form 2 semi equal groups. There are a few more girls in the older group, though not significantly higher.
"Okay, so, I'll call out your names. Raise your hand when you're called and I want you to tell your group how old you are and one very special fact. We won't only work on your soccer talent, but your friendships, too!" The little girls all look at each other with smiles and with blank faces.
"Emily?"
"Here! I'm 7, and I like to play Volleyball sometimes." "Thank you, Emily!"
"Maria?"
"I'm Maria, I'm 8 and I speak 6 languages." "Very cool, Maria. Thank you!"
"Morgan?"
No response. A slight hand was raised with a head looking down. When little Morgan raised her head, her eyes seemed red, as if she had just cried herself to camp. "I'm here. I'm 9" Morgan let out quietly.
"Would you like to share anything else, Morgan?" Asked coach Ali.
Morgan shook her head no. "Okay, Morgan, it's nice to meet you!" Ali tried her best not to embarrass the young girl in front of the group and tried to make her smile as much as she could, though she did not seem to have much luck.
Over at Ashlyn's group, they were already playing an active game involving soccer skills and meeting each other at the same time. Ashlyn made them pass the ball to anyone and whoever they had passed to, had to say their name and a fact.
An hour has gone by and both coaches set up skill games. They met up in the middle and started talking. "Sooo any stars, Ash?" "I've spotted a few but I'm treated them all fairly! No self-fulfilling prophecies in my class!" She gives Ali a wink and a small nudge. "Hey! I never asked you to favor one" Ali gave Ashlyn the silly stink eye. "There's a little one in my group, Morgan, she doesn't seem so thrilled to be here, but I mean, she's kind of gotten the hang of it." Ali looks over to her group and looks for Morgan.
"Which one is she?" Ashlyn asks.
"Uh... Okay, hold on" Ali runs off and meets her group.
"Hey girls, time out! Has anyone seen Morgan?" Ali asks, stressfully.
"Which one is Morgan?" Samantha asks.
"The crybaby" A 9 year old Jenny calls out.
"Hey! No, no name calling. Everyone reacts differently in every situation. We will respect one another" Ali rubs Jenny's arm, somehow consoling her, though she should be consoling the one in distress, Morgan.
"I think she went to the bathroom" Emily says and Ali begins jogging to the main building.
"Morgan?" She yells out as she gets closer to the building.
"Morgan, hun? You in here?" Ali is about to panic. It's the first day and she's losing kids.
"Here." A little voice says coming from a stall in the bathroom. Her purple cleats are dangling from underneath and Ali leans on the door. "You have to ask me if you want to go to the bathroom, Morgan. Okay?" "Ok, I'm sorry" Morgan apologizes.
"It's okay." Ali tries to calm herself. The door to the stall opens and Ali almost stumbles, not realizing the door was going to open any time soon. Morgan's face was wet. "What's the matter, love?" Morgan shrugs her shoulders and begins walking to the sink to wash her face with water. Ali gets a sudden flashback of herself as a young girl washing her face at the sink at soccer camp. A girl had pushed her and told her she wasn't good enough. Morgan's shoulder length brown hair resembled Ali's as a child. Ali realized how she felt in that moment. She did not want to talk to anyone and she let Morgan breathe a little.
"I won't pressure you, but if you need to talk, talk to me"