| Cody |

It's been about a month since Jack and I came back to school, and things haven't gotten any easier.

I remember, when I lived with the monsters that raised me, when they beat me so badly that I was kept hidden, kept away from prying eyes so that nobody would see the bruises. I remember missing school, wanting to be there, with my peers, so desperately that I prayed my bruises would heal faster.

Now, when I walk down the hallways towards classes, with or without Jack by my side, I'm bombarded with looks, whispers and questions about whether or not Alex really is my mom.

Am I lying about everything? Am I just trying to steal her money? Do I want the fame and attention?

What do I have to do to be left alone, show them the DNA test results?

Now, I actually miss my old life. Not the beatings or assaults, but the invisible aspect that came along with it. The only people that noticed me were Jack and Joanna. Now it seems that Jo has more followers, online and offline. She's loving that people are taking notice of her because she goes to the same school as me and she's my captain.

I don't miss anything she says about me on Twitter, or what she says about my family. Biological and the 'family' that raised me.

My mom let me know that she's seen everything on Twitter, due to Jo constantly tagging her in her posts, and because my mom refuses to stoop down to Jo's level, people assume that what my captain is saying must be the truth because 'if it wasn't true then Alex would say something'.

My mom went back to Orlando to finish the season. It's not going so well, which is hard to watch. I mean, yeah I love The Thorns but since finding out who my mom is, Orlando has grown on me. They have some great players, they don't deserve to be where they are. It's even harder to watch my mom getting frustrated on the pitch, the fractures within the team obvious to see.

We keep in touch, calling each other as much as we can, and she Facetimes me at least everyday. I get the feeling she wants me to know without a shadow of a doubt that she didn't want to leave me here, and go back to Orlando, but I understand it's her job. I'm sixteen yeah, but I've had to grow up a lot faster than other kids my age.

The media isn't slow to notice that I'm not with Alex. While some people are respectable, and give us our privacy, there's still a lot of outlets that talk shit about me. Asking if I'm really her daughter or if it's all just one big publicity stunt. Not only that, but because Ali is injured and living here with us - Jack, Hope and I, we've been bonding. Which means actually venturing outside, with other humans. The media wasn't slow to pick up on that either, making assumptions that I'm just 'getting around the team'. I had to stay off of Twitter, IG, everything really, for weeks because I was getting more and more irritated and taking it out on players on the field.

Speaking of being out with Ali, I am right now. We're having dinner at a small restaurant with Hope and Jack, since Kelley is at camp with the National team in Scottsdale, Arizona.

Jack and I are having some downtime while Ali and Hope talk about the upcoming National games against Brazil and Australia, while I finally venture back onto Twitter. I'm not surprised when one of the first things I see is Joanna on another one of her rants, probably about me or Alex, or Jack, who seems to be a new target for our Captain. What does catch my eye though is a new article posted by Fox Sports. Jack notices how I've tense, of course she does - she is my best friend.

"What's wrong Maxi?" She asks, gaining the attention of the adults with us and I see all three of them are looking at me. I don't speak, I show them my phone, and Jack reads the headline outloud.

"Kristie Mewis dating Rachel Daly. We sit down with one half of the NWSL's 'IT' couple."

It's silent, I don't cry, I've done enough of that over her but I am confused.

"Wow. It didn't take her fucking long, bitch." I chuckle when I hear Jack mumble, only to get scolded by Hope. Ali grabs my attention when I feel her arm wrap around my shoulder, pulling me into her so she can whisper in my ear.

"Are you okay, Cody?" I smile at how much she cares already. I'm honestly still adapting to this whole 'people caring' thing, but I like it.

"I'm fine Ali." I start, being met with looks from the three females at the table that say 'we don't believe you', I flash them a smile, shaking my head in amusement of their stubbornness. "I'm serious, I'm fine. She said I'm too young, I should have read between the lines but I'm fine."

| Alex |

"So...you're okay with her dating Rachel so soon after she broke our little Cody?" I look at Kelley, raising an eyebrow.

"Our little Cody?" I ask Kelley, my eyes flicker to Kristie who is sitting beside Carli, who is sitting beside Kel.

"Uh, yes!" She states, as if it's the most obvious thing in the world, "We all love her Jan, and if Talex doesn't claim her as their child, I'll happily do it!"

"Me too." I roll my eyes as Carli agrees with Kelley.

"Calm down, Worm. But yes, I'm fine with it. She told Cody that she's too young and I have to agree with her. She's still a kid. A kid who has issues whether she wants to admit it or not. Ali calls me, telling me how Cody's having nightmares, more flashbacks, but when I talk to Cody she doesn't even mention it. She doesn't need to be worried about dating right now."

"Maybe she just wants to look strong for you, or maybe she's just ignoring the problem hoping it'll go away. You know, kids can be stupid like that."

"Why is she here anyway?" My head snaps to Ashlyn, as she motions at little Mewis. Ash has gotten a lot more protective of Cody since she's started to bond with Ali.

"She's our teammate." I sigh out, not liking the treatment Kristie is getting from the team. "Whatever happened between her and Cody is in the past, got it?" I ask my teammates around me. "It's nothing to do with anyone else but them." I finish, being sure to make eye contact with everyone at our table.

Our talk is interrupted by a text from Ali, asking to Facetime, and that it's important, so I finish up with my teammates and walk to my hotel room for my laptop, being followed by Ash who wants to see Ali, which is adorable. I open and turn on my laptop, waiting for the call to connect and when it does Ashlyn's face lights up when she see's Ali.

"Hi baby!"

I laugh at the enthusiasm she shows when she talks about sharks, and sit quietly while the couple reconnects.

"So, Alex? Cody wants to go to a-"

"HEY MOM!" I don't even care what Ali was going to say the second I see my baby. Relieved when she dons a face-eating grin, looking as happy and healthy as the day I left her.

"Hey, baby girl. How are you? Are you being good for Ali?"

"Duh. She's the troublemaker here, not me!" I watch and laugh as Ali does a double take of my daughter's face, obviously surprised, and it warms my heart that my friend and my daughter are getting along.

"Anyway, mom, can I go to a party tonight?"

I try not to but I freeze when my only child asks me that, my own flashbacks coming back to me from that night, and when Cody speaks again I notice that Ali and Ashlyn have left.

"Mom? I know you're thinking about that night." I take a shaky breath, watching my daughter through the screen who is too wise for her age as she talks. "I'm going because Jack doesn't want to go alone. I won't leave her side, and I won't take a drink from anyone." When she finishes, I don't speak, which makes her nervous that I'll say no but I know my daughter, she's smarter than I was at her age.

"I miss you sweetie"

"I miss you too mom" When she answers back I can't help but smile, happy that we can keep our relationship strong no matter the distance between us. Unfortunately we're interrupted, this time by my roommate entering our hotel room, I just forgot to mention who my roommate is, but it's too late, Cody already spotted her. "Kristie?"

"Oh, uh hi, Cody. I'm sorry Alex I didn't mean to interrupt."

"It's okay, you're not interrupted, my mom was just about to tell me I could go tonight. Please mom?" I look at my daughter, watching as she begs but I can tell it's only to stop herself from falling into a conversation with Kristie.

"Ugh. Fine! But be careful, don't let Jack out of your sight and you keep in touch with Ali. And if you do drink, you don't drive. Got it?"

"Wow, strict much?" Cody sasses back, and I just look at her, watching her squirm. "Okay, okay! I promise."

"Why are you going to a party?" I'd almost forgotten Kristie was here, Cody did too apparently because she freezes for a second before clearing her throat.

"'Cause there's a girl there that Jack likes, but she didn't want to go alone, so I'm on wingwoman duty." I laugh as my daughter flexes for the camera, laughing when she does. I can tell Mewis is concerned, wanting to stop Cody from going, but I can also see that my daughter is uncomfortable, and trying to shut Kristie out so she doesn't get hurt again.

"Are you going for anyone else?" She asks my daughter.

"Nope. But I wouldn't be against it." Cody replys back, shining in false confidence until Jack comes into the camera view and I see my daughter visibly relax. Jack on the otherhand looks pissed to see Mewis, so before anything can happen I step in, knowing Kristie feels bad enough.

"Hi Jack, how's things?" Lame, I know, but it works.

"Hey Mama Morgan!" She replies, and I laugh when my daughter smacks her on the head. "Ouch! I'm telling your mom!...Alex, she hit me!"

"You're both ridiculous." I chuckle out, watching the teens playfight like toddlers.

"I gotta go, I'll talk to you tomorrow mom, I love you! Bye!"

"Be safe baby girl, I love you too."

I turn off my computer, before I pivot to Kristie.

"I said I don't have a problem with you. I don't. I agree that my daughter is too young for you. But you don't have a right to ask her questions like that, like you don't want her hanging out with other girls, living her life. And you sure as hell don't have a right to try and talk her out of going to a party. If she meets someone, she meets someone. You moved on, you can't make her think you're still interested."

I stand, putting my Nike's on and leaving Kristie alone in the room to think about what I've said, as I go out to dinner with Ash, Tobin and Kelley.