"Oh. My. God." Sam yells, looking at Cari, and then at Moe, and then back at Cari. "Are you serious ?" 

That makes my two friends laugh. 

We currently are on the locker room, waiting for our game to begin. It's been four days since Emily came to that slumber party, and we always text each other, even though I don't really like technology. Since she's wearing number 16, she's on the opposite side than us. I, on the other hand, usually sit next to Cari, Moe and Mal, who are number 5,6, and 9. Wearing number 7 is a pure choice, only because it's Allie's favorite number. 

The team has been joined by the two people Hao told us about. They came during training this week, and I gotta admit they're pretty cool. 

Andressa, the Brazilian girl that chose to come and study here, really is a cupcake. She and Cari are on some classes together. Even though she doesn't talk much, or even really doesn't know how to talk English that well, she is just constantly doing goofy things, messing around with Cari, who seems to be her favorite victim. The other girl, on the other hand, is nothing like the brunette. She's talkative, self-confident and overly sarcastic and funny. Rachel is the kind of girl that always is in a great mood. Plus, she run fast. 

So, with those two new faces, and also Steph, who is still injured, we are 14 players. Just enough to play the games. The only problem is that Jane is our only keeper, so if she gets injured, one of us has to go in goal. 

Back to the current situation : Cari and Moe are laughing their asses off. I, on the other hand, just roll my eyes. 

Cari seems offended. "Yes ! Why is it so unbelievable that I actually date someone ?" she asks, raising her eyebrows. "I mean, look at me. I'm obviously flawless"

"You have a boyfriend ?" Andi asks, late to the party. Her eyes are wide open, as she is just as shocked as everybody else. 

"Yes !" she says, rolling her eyes. "His name is Nick."

Danny's eyes go wide. "Wait, as in Nick Besler, the freaking university's soccer star ?" she exclaims. "I fucking knew it !"

Cari blushes a little bit. It's been seven months since they actually started getting close, and only one ago he kissed her. So now, they're a couple, and I have to say they fit each other just fine. Plus, he's Eric's best friend, and also Drew's (my childhood friend) friend. 

While everybody is congratulating her, Sam is just letting her eyes wonder on the bench. The locker room is divided in two sides : the numbers under 10 - 10 not included - and then the ones above 10. So Jane (1), Cari (5), Danny (4), Moe (6), Sam (3), myself (7) and Mal (9) are on one side, while Emily (16), Dahlkemper (14), Andi (10), Ashley (12), Rachel (13) and Andressa (17) are on the other. 

I follow Sam's eyes, and I find them locked on Abby, who is currently talking with Sonnett about defensive matter. She came back this week, claiming that her absence was due to a death in her family. I've seen her and Sam fight over something after practice on Monday, and it's already Thursday and they still haven't talked. I can see Sam's hurt, but she's also too proud to go and apologize. And Abby is exactly the same person. I suddenly feel bad for her, especially since I am the one always saying they better not get together. 

Since Sam is not next to me, I can't say anything. So I just listen to Moe talking : 

"Oh, and Danny has a crush !" she exclaims. 

We all are looking at Danny - aka the most non-sentimental girl ever - and she suddenly blushes and look down. 

"Morgan is obviously inventing things that don't exist !" she exclaims, trying to get out of this uncomfortable position she's in. 

But my friends aren't the kind to just give up. "Who ?" Mal asks, smiling. 

"Sofia Huerta" Moe and Cari say in the same time. 

Danny's face couldn't be any redder. 

"Wait" Sam says, and I can see Dahlkemper looking at her while she's looking away. When she sees I am watching her, she blushes and looks away. Bro, you really have to talk to her. I put my attention back on Sam, who is dramatically looking at Danny. "The cheerleader chick ?" Sam then asks. 

"She gay ?" Ashley Sanchez asks, frowning. 

"No !" Danny says in an angry voice. "That's why this whole 'crush' thing is stupid."

"Someone don't seem thrilled about it though" Stephanie says in a sarcastic voice, raising her eyebrow. 

"Just, shut up" the brunette says. 

Before anyone can say anything else, Hao enters the room, her game face on. 

** 

"1... 2... 3... BOOM BABY !"

The game ended pretty well. 3-3, and I must say that as much as a draw is frustrating, we are lucky to have gotten out with this result. Our back line has had a hard time controlling the game, as Dahlkemper was constantly fouled by a giant girl, and the referee was blind. So she basically went down fifteen times, but he never called it. Ashley and Mal each had a goal, and I had the last one. 

After Hao gave us her little speech, she left and told us that tomorrow's training is going to be intense. I sigh : no recovery for us this week. 

As usual, Andi and I are the last one leaving the locker room, the others already went to catch their bus. I like Andi - she's like the calm person in a group of crazy people. She always is here whatever happens, and always tries to be happy about things. And when they don't go her way, she just deals with it. The only time she really was angry was when Trump was elected president. I swear, she could've killed someone. And if there's someone she hates more than the elected-president himself, it's his fucking vice-president. 

She seems to be frustrated. 

"You played well" I tell her, knowing that she's blaming herself right now. 

She is about to say something, but then she says something else : "You too." Then, she just remains silent for a while, before saying : "Linds, can I ask you something ?" 

I look at her. She seems worried of my reaction. "Sure." 

"Is there something going on between you and Em ?" she asks in a not-very-confident voice. 

I immediately feel trapped. "No ! Why would you-" I say. 

"Sorry for asking" she apologizes. "It's just that.. you never talk about your love life..."

"Because it's non-existent" I cut her. 

But that doesn't stop her. "... So we don't really know where you stand. And, she seems to like you. A lot." she carries on.

"S-she does ?" I ask. 

Shit, why did I say that ? Andi frowns. 

"Yeah, I think so." she says. "I'm sorry, you seem really disturbed right now... Maybe I'm wrong and I am misinterpreting the whole thing ! Don't worry about that. You're not gay, and don't need to be confused."

"No" I say. Be more specific. "I mean, it's okay. I just hope she doesn't like me this way, I appreciate her, and I don't want everything we built to be ruined." 

"Gotcha" she lets out, thoughtful. She then checks her watch. "We should go, otherwise we'll be locked in here."

I nod, and we head off to the exit. 

As soon as I put a foot outside, I freeze. Emily is here, holding her phone in her shaking hand, tears in her eyes. I make a small sign to Andi to just go, that I'd take care of her, because that's what I do now. I approach her, and before she can say anything, I wrap my arms around her and pull her closer. She erupts in tears, and that takes her ten minutes to stop crying and pull it together. 

She then looks up at me. 

"Em, what's going on ?" I ask in a sweet voice (that doesn't sound like mine at all.)

She looks down. "My mom is home"

"What ?" I half-yell, my eyes going wide. "They let her out ?" I see her nod, sadness and fear going through her eyes. "Okay, you're not going home with that crazy woman. You're coming with me." 

"Lindsey..." She weakly says. "I can't avoid her forever." 

"I know. But I don't want you to get hurt again. I couldn't handle seeing you like this again". 

Those words slipped out of my mouth. I freeze, and Emily, who is still quite close to me, just hugs me again. 

"Thank you." she whispers, her warm breath against my neck making me shiver. "But I have to fight my demons." 

"I won't let you. Not tonight." 

There is a small silence, before she breaks it : "Okay." 

{A/N : So, I guess you need to pictures the pairing I introduced in this chapter. So here are some pictures to help you : 

(they broke up in real life, sadly.)

(Cari's bf in real life (I think))

(they actually are not together in real life, but, like, I ship them.)

Oh, and the Ashley in this story is , of the u-17s & u-20s

I hope you like the story so far. I chose to focus on Lindsey's PoV, but is also focuses on the team and what they have to achieve. 

Thanks for reading. Peace out people.}