Chapter Text
Christen had always had a Type A personality. She lived for lists and agendas and schedules and all things organization. When things didn't follow her plan, Christen tended to become a bit of a nervous wreck. So when UNC student affairs changed her housing assignment the day before she moved in, Christen struggled to not freak out.
She had just touched down at the Raleigh-Durham International Airport after spending the last several hours on a plane, sandwiched between her parents (so they could both spend time with her, her mother claimed). Christen is antsy to be off the plane and after taking advantage of the free, and surprisingly good, coffee the airline offered, she is in need of a bathroom. She switches her phone off airplane mode and almost immediately it begins to buzz with notifications. Before she can figure out why she had suddenly become so popular, her mom is nudging her to get up and make her way off the plane.
It isn't until Christen is settled into the back of the rental car that she is able to pull her phone out and figure out what’s going on. She has a couple of emails, one from UNC housing and one from coach, and 25 text messages. She decides to check her texts first and quickly realizes that all 25 were from a group chat with her new roommates. They had gotten their room assignments early in the summer and had quickly added each other on social media and shared phone numbers. They talked a lot in the weeks since then, even having weekly Skype dates, and Christen could already tell they would all be great friends. She quickly scrolls through the texts and her confusion and anxiety grow as she reads through what she had missed while on the plane.
KO: Did u guys get the housing email?! My room was changed to 318a wtf
JJ: Yeah! But mine is 318c...why would they change it when we move in tomorrow?
Alyssa: Got the same email, 318c. I'll call and see if I can get any info
KO: Good idea...where are you Chris?!
JJ: She's probably on her flight silly. But like since we're all still 318 we're still together right?
KO: We better be or I will freakkkk out. Chris, how do you not have in flight wifi ugh we need to know that you're still our roooomie!
KO: Should we hack her email?
JJ: Kelley relax! She's supposed to land in like 2 hours we can wait
Alyssa: Okay, spoke to housing. There was a last minute transfer. We're now in a 6 person suite instead of a 4 person suite. There will only be 5 of us though
KO: Transfer like to the team?? What do they mean transfer?? Who gets their own room??
Alyssa: Depends on Christen's assignment I guess. Julie and I will still share since we both have 318c. If Christen has 318a she's with you
Alyssa: And she didn't say who the transfer was but yes to the team
JJ: Weird. It's a little late for transfers
JJ: omg. Did you guys get coach's email?
KO: Holy crap holy crap does that mean we are going to be roommates with Tobin freaking Heath?? I'm gunna die
Alyssa: She's going to be a sophomore, why is she living in freshman housing? Talk about last minute transfer! We have our first practice in 2 days!
JJ: This is crazy I can't believe our new roommate is an Olympian
KO: I'm still dead. Do you think she'll sign something for me? Should I bring my posters? Is that weird? Do you think she'll bring her medal? Do you think she'll let us touch it? I'm gunna pass out
Alyssa: Relax O'Hara! I guess we get our answers tomorrow. Can't wait to finally see you guys
KO: Not if I die first
JJ: I'm so excited!! You're all getting there at 9 right? Can't wait!
Alyssa: Knowing my parents I'll be there at 8:30 waiting outside for our keys
KO: I will be there just look for the one that's dead
JJ: Stop being so dramatic Kelley!
KO: Can't help itttt, our roommate is Tobin Heath! Chris text us as soon as you land!
Christen is feeling panicky as she switches over to her email app and opens the email from housing. She sees that she was assigned to room 318a. She quickly shoots out a text to her roommates, "landed safely in NC! Assigned to 318a. I can't believe they changed our room so last minute! How can they just do something like that? We're going to be living with a total stranger (Olympian or not) and we're supposed to be okay with it?"
Christen switches back to her emails and reads the short message from Coach Dorrance. In it he explains that there was a last minute transfer and Tobin Heath would be coming to UNC from UCLA. He requests that the team make her feel welcome and says he will see them Sunday.
Christen spends the rest of the car ride to the hotel alternating between the group chat and googling Tobin Heath. In the group chat Alyssa and Julie are attempting to calm the excited Kelley and anxious Christen. Christen is feeling slightly less anxious from her friends' reassuring words as she reads yet another article about the superstar midfielder Tobin Heath. She reads about how Tobin had started playing with the youth national teams at age 12 and had broken Mia Hamm's record when she earned her first cap with the US women's national team at 15 years and 3 months of age, 2 months younger than Mia Hamm in her first cap. She was also the youngest national team player to be capped in the Olympics in Rio last summer at 18 years old, and the youngest to score with her game winning goal against Sweden putting the US through to the semi final against Brazil, before notching an assist in the 2-1 win over Germany for the gold medal. As she reads, she realizes that there is little to no personal information about Tobin. All she can find is information about her stats and where she has played. Christen already knew most of this...Tobin Heath had become a bit of a household name in America after her amazing performance last summer. However, Christen never would have expected that she would be living with someone so talented and well known. She is again a bundle of nerves as she locks her phone, closes her eyes, leans her head back against the headrest, and attempts to meditate for the rest of the drive.
---
Christen has a hard time falling asleep that night. After all she is still on California time, and even though the clock says it is 12:15am, her body is telling her that it’s only 9:15pm. It doesn't help that she can’t stop thinking about the fact that not only is she finally seeing Kelley, JJ, and Alyssa in 9 hours, but she will also be meeting an Olympian. Christen is worried about how to act with their new roommate. She feels a little star struck but also really wants to make her new teammate feel welcome. She has seen Tobin play on TV numerous times and she seems flashy and intense. However, she has also watched videos and interviews and in these Tobin seems the opposite of her playing style. She seems modest and laid back and even silly. Christen isn’t really sure what to expect with her new roommate. Exhaustion finally takes over and Christen falls into a deep slumber.
Christen is dragging a bit the next morning. She is usually a morning person, but jet lag is not her friend on this bright and sunny Saturday morning. She groans as her mom shakes her shoulder. "Honey it's already 7:45. We need to leave here in 40 minutes. You get ready and I'll go down and bring you up some coffee," her mom says brightly as she brushes hair out of Christen's face. Christen smiles in appreciation as she slides out from underneath the covers.
She quickly straightens her hair and is putting on some light make up when her mom comes back with coffee from the complimentary breakfast downstairs. "Dad has the car all packed and ready to go. Hurry up and get dressed so he can bring your suitcase down too" her mom states as she places the coffee on the vanity next to Christen's open toiletry bag.
"Alright, gimme 5 minutes. Thanks for the coffee" Christen smiles as she meets her mom's eyes in the mirror. She quickly rifles through her duffle bag, settling on denim shorts, a loose fitting athletic tank top, and a pair of Nike sneakers for her busy day of moving in.
Christen and her parents pull up outside her new dorm at 8:50am. They would have been there sooner but Christen had requested they find the nearest Starbucks after 2 sips of the crappy hotel coffee. They get out of the car and walk over to where there already is a line of people waiting in front of some folding tables. Christen needs to check in at the table and sign some papers before she receives her keys.
As they walk towards the end of the line Christen spots a familiar face in the crowd. "Alyssa!" she calls out. The tall keeper turns at her name and breaks into a wide smile at the approaching brunette.
"Hey Christen" she exclaims as Christen gets closer and pulls her into a hug.
"You're taller than I expected" chuckles Christen. Even though this is the first time the girls officially meet she already feels a bond with Alyssa, as well as her other two roommates. The girls make small talk with each other and their parents chat as they wait for the line to begin moving.
Christen signs one last paper and the women behind the table slides a set of two keys across the table to her. "The big key is for the hall door and the smaller one opens your bedroom door" the women exclaims as Christen picks up the set of keys. She thanks her and is about to turn around when she feels a body barrel into her from behind almost knocking her down.
Two arms wrap around her waist and Christen whirls around in confusion before beginning to chuckle at the sight of her roommate grinning back at her. "Hi Kelley" Christen hugs the freckled girl back.
"CP! How excited are you? Did you see Lyss? I haven't seen JJ yet, did you?" her voice drops in volume and she looks around suspiciously before she leans closer. "What about, you know, the new roommate? Have you seen her yet?" she whispers, eyes wide.
Christen laughs as she watchs the smaller girl bounce on her feet and babble on a mile a minute. "Yes, no, and no. Get your key! I'll meet you up at the room," she states before steering Kelley towards the table and turning to walk back to her parents.
"You got it roomie!...Oh, my parents and I stopped and picked up bagels and coffee, we'll bring it up in a few minutes!" Kelley calls after the retreating Christen who flashes a thumbs up and a grin back to her.
A half an hour later Christen is sitting on her new kitchen counter munching on a cinnamon swirl bagel when Julie burst in to the suite. "I'M HERE!" she announces. Christen hops down and skips over to Julie for a hug.
The next few hours are a flurry of activity as the girls get settled in their new suite. The door opens into a small living room with the kitchen to the right. Past the kitchen is a small hallway with 2 bedrooms on one side and a bathroom then a bedroom on the other side. Christen and Kelley have the first room on the left, across from the bathroom, while Julie and Alyssa have the room on the right, next to the bathroom. The room next to Christen and Kelley's remains empty as the girls move all their stuff in. The bathroom has a double sink vanity then a small room on one side with just a toilet and a small room on the other with just a shower. The dads keep busy with carrying things in from the car and working to set up the large flat screen TV that Kelley had brought for the living room. The moms make beds and clean every inch of the new space. Christen, Kelley, Julie, and Alyssa unpack in between joking around and chatting with each other. Every once in a while one of them peeks in to the third bedroom to confirm that it is still unoccupied. At some point someone's dad leaves and returns with sandwiches and chips and the group eats a quick lunch off paper towels while standing around in the kitchen and living room. Finally, the girls are all moved in and completely exhausted. The group makes plans to all grab an early dinner together before the parents head back to the hotel or to the airport.
Christen tries not to cry as she hugs her parents goodbye in the parking lot outside her dorm after dinner. Her mom gets choked up but assures her that they will see her soon and she should call them every day. She hugs them each one last time and watches the rental car pull out of the parking lot in the humid Carolina evening before turning and heading back to her room.
The 4 roommates lounge in the living room and chat for a while after they all say goodbye to their parents. "Don't you think it's weird that she's not here yet? Maybe they made a mistake and she's not really rooming with us," Julie whispers while glancing towards the bedrooms.
"Why are you whispering?" Kelley laughs. "It's not like she's going to hear you, she's not here." Julie just shrugs and shoots another glance toward the bedrooms. The girls continue talking for another hour or so until the exhaustion sinks in and they all begin getting ready for bed. Their first practice is the next morning and Christen, Kelley, and Julie agree to walk over to the practice field together since Alyssa would need to be there 45 minutes before them for a goalkeepers meeting. They mumble goodnights to each other before heading to their rooms.
Christen trudges over to her bed on the right side of the room and pulls her new blankets around her tightly. Kelley comes into the room seconds later from the bathroom and blows Christen a kiss and says goodnight before flipping the lights off and heading to her own bed. Christen drifts off to sleep almost immediately.
---
Christen wakes up with a start to a loud bang outside her door. She blinks a few times in confusion as to where she was and what was going on. "Chris? Did you hear that?" she hears Kelley whisper from across the room.
"Yeah, what do you think it was?" she replies.
"I don't know should I go investigate?" Christen can hear that Kelley is drifting back to sleep even through her adventurous offer.
"No, I'm sure it was nothing" she replies as she too feels sleep reclaiming her. Kelley doesn't even respond. Christen starts to drift off when she hears voices though the wall she shares with the empty bedroom. She hears shuffling sounds and laughter through the wall as she falls back asleep.
---
Christen's alarm begins it's familiar song all too early as Christen is roused from a dream about green grass and white goal posts. She hears Kelley groan from across the room and she gets up and walks to her desk to silence the alarm. "Come on Kells, we have to get ready for practice" Christen prods as she picks up her pile of clothes that she had neatly laid out the night before and begins to change into them. Kelley finally rolls out of bed and begins digging around in her drawers for something to wear.
Christen opens the bedroom door and is greeted by the scent of coffee. She walks into the kitchen and reads a sticky note from Alyssa saying that she had made a pot of coffee for them and she would see them at practice. Christen smiles as she gets out a mug for herself, getting out a second mug when she sees Julie walk into the kitchen dressed and ready to go. "Hey Chris, thanks for the coffee. How'd you sleep?"
"Don't thank me, Lyss made it before she left. I slept okay. I just woke up to noises once. I think maybe Tobin might have gotten in at some point last night," Christen replies.
"Yeah I heard her come in at like 2am and I don't think she was alone," Julie states.
"Well should we wake her for practice?" Kelley quips as she walks into the kitchen and gets herself a mug.
"I guess it would be the polite thing to do," Christen muses as she sips her coffee.
The girls return to their own rooms and get their bags ready, meeting back up in the living room a few minutes later. They briefly argue about who should be the one to go knock on their new roommates door. Christen loses the rocks paper scissors tournament and begrudgingly walks down the hall towards the room. She stops outside the door and listens closely, hearing only silence, before she brings her fist up and lightly raps on the door. She waits for what seems like minutes before glancing down the hallway at Kelley and Julie's eager faces. Julie mouths for her to knock again while Kelley gestures wildly.
Christen turns back to the door and brings her fist up to knock again when the door suddenly flies open. Standing before her in a just a pair of Nike pros and a sports bra is Tobin Heath. Christen quickly looks her up in down with wide eyes, thinking to herself, Crap I'm totally screwed if we're expected to be in that kind of shape to play here. Her eyes move back to Tobin's face as she blinks sleepily back at Christen with a confused look on her face. She cocks her head to one side and raises an eyebrow as Christen continues to stand in front of her wordlessly.
"Oh...right sorry, hi, uhm," Christen gestures to herself, "uhm I'm Press, uh Christen Press, we're roommates, and uh teammates I guess and I, well we, were getting ready to leave for practice and I didn't know if you were coming or if you knew we have practice or if we should wait for you but I just figured I should ask and we can totally wait for you...or not if you don't want us to..." Christen trails off as she feels herself rambling and notices Tobin staring back at her with both eyebrows raised and an amused expression on her face.
"Hi Press uh Christen Press. I'm Heath uh Tobin Heath" the girl mocks. "And yeah give me two minutes and I'll be ready. Forgot to set an alarm," she states then turns back into the room. Christen looks around the bedroom as Tobin digs through a large duffle bag on the floor. There's a smaller bag on the bare bed on the right side of the room and some boxes on one of the desks. Christen takes in the clothes littering the floor before her eyes wander to Tobin's bed on the left wall, right on the other side of the wall from her own bed. Her eyes widen when she notices the bed is occupied. She quickly looks back to Tobin who has put shorts on and is looking around the room with her finger tapping her chin as if thinking. She then walks over to her bed and Christen watches as she shakes the figure laying there.
"Hey...uh...you" Tobin mumbles as she pulls blankets back. Christen watches as a pretty and petite blonde girl rolls over, rubbing her eyes.
"It's Taylor," the blonde giggles as she sits up in the bed.
"Right, Taylor. I need this," Tobin states while tugging on the sleeve of the t shirt the girl has on. Christen watches with wide eyes as the girl shrugs and pulls the shirt off and holds it out to Tobin, revealing that she had nothing on underneath. Tobin mumbles a thanks and pulls the shirt onto her own body before sliding her feet into a pair of flip flops.
"So listen Taylor," Tobin begins as she puts her hair up with a hair tie off her wrist. Before she can finish the girl is off the bed and sliding into a dress that she picks up off the floor.
"Don't worry Tobin, we agreed it was a one time thing. I won't tell your fans and you won't tell my boyfriend," the girl winks as she puts on a pair of heels and picks up a small handbag from the floor. She flashes a smile at Tobin, smiles warmly at Christen, and slides past her out the bedroom door and down the hall. Christen is dumbfounded as she turns back to see Tobin sling a bright orange backpack onto her back and use her feet to flick a worn soccer ball into her hands. She glances around the room once more before turning and grinning at Christen.
"Ready Press?" she questions. Christen can do little more than nod as her brain races to process the scene that had just unfolded in front of her. She turns and follows Tobin down the hall and past Kelley and Julie who stand near the door shooting questioning glances at Christen. Christen mouthes 'later' at her two roommates, grabs her soccer bag off the floor and follows Tobin out the door with Julie and Kelley trailing behind her.
Christen ponders the strange turn of events as they walk down the stairs and out of their dorm. So she's gay? And has random one night stands? With straight girls? And acts like it's nothing? Who is this girl? she wonders as she watches the midfielder drop the soccer ball and flick it back up into her hands every few steps. She can already tell that it's going to be a long year.