"You ready for this Lex?" I question as we arrive at the stadium for our first match against Thailand.

"A little nervous if I'm being honest," She says glancing out the window again, I take her hand in mine making her look at me.

"You're going to be fine Alex, I promise, you'll be okay," I say giving her a cheeky wink

"I feel privileged that you used your motto on me," Alex says holding a hand to her chest

"I can take it back" I reply raising my eyebrows

"I'm sorry, I'm sorry! It was nice if you though, I know it means a lot to you" She says and gives my hand a light squeeze.

Neither of us let go of the others, finding comfort in the feeling of them touching

"do you know if Jill has told the world about you yet?" Alex asks me

"She said that she's going to wait until she gives them the team sheet that will have my name on the bench list," I tell her reciting exactly what Jill told me earlier today

"the press is going to have a field day with that" Alex says giving me a small smile

"Oh I know and practically everything about me will be dug up and broadcasted to the world," I say letting out a deep sigh

"shit, I didn't even think of that are you okay with that happening," She says sitting more upright to look at me concerned.

"I don't really have a choice, it's either play in the world cup and have my life exposed or don't play and you guys be disqualified for having an insufficient number of players, plus I want to play in a World cup," I say giving her my cheeky grin in hopes to cover up the fact that I'm a little scared.

"Just know that when it happens, the whole team has your back and we'll defend you the entire time," Alex tells me making me give her a grateful smile

"Thank you Lex, it means a lot knowing you've got my back," I say honestly

"Looks like that time is probably now," I say looking out the window to see the bus pulling up to the stadium with all the press are waiting for us.

"right ladies! Before we go out there I want to just inform you what might go down. As you know Toni is not a professional soccer player like all of you, while we know she most definitely can play like one, the rest of the world doesn't. I will most likely get a lot of stick for my decision to have a player on our roster who's only signed a pre-contract, but this also will affect you, after the game today you'll most likely be asked a lot of question on Toni and my decision so I want you guys to remain respectful to them and answer to the best of your abilities. Also a lot will be dug up about Toni that some of you may not know so while this will be hard for us it will be a lot harder for Toni, we're a team and we're there for each other no matter the circumstances and this is no different. Now, let's go out there and show them why we're the raining champs!" Jill says making the bus erupt into cheers and loud claps.

"I'll be right but your side the whole time," Alex says giving my hand one last squeeze before we step out this couch and face the press.

I just nod my head wanting to stay calm and focused on not having a panic attack.

We let go of each other's hands just as the door open and the loud screams of fans can be heard.

I keep my head up straight, wanting to see confident and not scared of anything do the press don't start talking shot about me looking worried and therefore unreliable in the match.

Alex turns her head to give me a cheeky wink which does crack a smile on my face and soon enough we are inside the stadium building.

"Now that wasn't too had was it" Alex says nudging my arm slightly

"No, but now that everyone's seen my face, let's see how long it takes for them to find out who I am" I say laughing slightly, all of a sudden I have a great idea.

"I've just had the best idea" I say giving Alex my usual look when I've got a stupid plan

"Oh god that look means your going to do something stupid" Alex says giving me a disapproving look.

"It's not stupid, just a little bit of fun that will help loosen us all up" I say as we arrive in the changing room.

I let everyone get changed and do their pregame rituals not wanting to jinx anyone, but I have my own anyways.

Once I've said my chant in my head I wait for everyone to be sitting around to go and turn the music off

"Hey! That was a good song!" Kelley shouts in protest

"Kelley you've played it every time you were given the phone" I say making a few people laugh

"Anyways, I though we could have a little fun before the match so I had an idea and I've decided to name it, 'O'Neill's life reveal'" I say smiling proudly at the name

"That's a good name," Allie says and a few heads bop in agreement

"and it rhymes too" Kelley says grinning like a madwoman.

"Thank you miss Stanford, it took a lot of taken to think of that." I say taking a bow

"so what exactly does 'O'Neill's life reveal' entail?" Christen asks

"Well Christen since you asked so nicely I'll tell you, as we all know my photo is probably out there in the world right now and I want to have a bet about who will find out who I am first." I say getting a lot of excitement back from it

"what the prize?" Mal asks me

"$100 dollars for whoever can get the closest time" I say making everyone gasp in shock

"$100! I thought it would be something shit like paying for the persons next lunch!" Lindsey says

"I don't do shit bets Linds, all-out or nothing at all," I say.

"what are the rules then?" Alex asks

"Well you guys have to give me the time that you think the first newspaper or gossip site will find out who I am, that doesn't mean finding my name since the team sheets just been released but I mean everything about me when I was younger, where I grew up, what sports I played as a kid, I'm a pretty well known in the fitness world so they'll find that out quick." I tell the team who all nod their head clearly ready for my bet.

"I'll pass a piece of paper around and everyone right their time next to their name and the winner will have the closest one. Oh and if you get it bang on, it's double" I say making the room go into absolute chaos.

"you just love a good competition don't you T" Alex says as I sit down next to her while we watch it all unfold.

"what can I say, makes life a little more exciting doesn't it," I tell her smirking

"settle down, settle down ladies, why are you all so excited and smiley, don't get me wrong I'm glad you're not nervous but maybe a little bit of composer" Jill says walking in with the rest of the staff.

"Toni gave them a bet," Alex says

"I'm definitely going to win this $200!" Kelley says writing down her answer on the paper

"The prize is $200! I want apart of this" Jill says making us all laugh

"what is the bet in the first place," She asks

"Guess what time the first article about my life growing up will come out, closest time wins $100 but if you get it spot on then it's double," I tell Jill.

"I'll put my time down in a minute but first up I need you all to listen, I've got the lineup here" She says holding up a single piece if paper that manages to get the whole room silent.

"Alyssa in goal," Jill says making me gasp in fake shock

"Really! I thought it would be you Kelley" I say looking at the defender

"Me too!" She says back just as seriously

"Hahaha Toni, now shut up before I take you off the squad," Jill says as I fake salute her

"Kelley, Abby, JJ and Crystal you're my back four," Jill says as the player subtly high five each other

"Rose, Lindsey and Sam you're my midfield"

"and Alex, Christen and Toni, upfront trio to begin with. Everyone know what they're doing?" Jill's ask receiving a chorus of yes's back in response.

"well then, let's go out there and show the world what we're made of!" She shouts getting everyone pumped up.

"you've got this T, show them what you can do with those feet," Alex says coming up beside me as we line up in the tunnel

"I'm going to do more than show them, Lex, I'm going to prove why I deserve to be here," I say smirking to my fellow forward

••••••••••••

We walk off after the halftime whistle blows into the changing room, currently being up by three goals to nil.

I take my seat next to Alex and have a big swig of water before Jill comes back in to talk to us all.

"well done girls, we're winning at the moment but we've had countless chances to get more goals in the back off the net so we really need to take the next half. Individually, you've all been playing great so I'm not going to make any changes yet but I will later on in the half" Jill says as we all nod our heads, eager to get back out.

"you ready for some more goals Lex?" I question Alex

"Oh you know it, ready to get some yourself?" She asks me

"Oh you know it" I reply smirking at her.