Tobin patiently waits near the locker rooms, right after the volleyball's team win against USC tonight. The whole campus attended the game, that marks the most impressive winning streaks the team has had.

But Tobin didn't come for volleyball : she came for Laure.

When the French girl finally shows up, Tobin grows nervous, as her hands start to sweat. When the volleyball captain sees her, she immediately says bye to her teammates and walks toward the soccer girl. Ever since Alex Morgan kissed Laure, Tobin and her haven't exchanged a single word. Something deep inside Tobin is broken, because she is afraid that Alex might have stolen her love interest.

Because, yes, that's what Laure is to Tobin : her biggest crush so far. The middy knows her reaction wasn't appropriate, but it's not really her fault if she simultaneously hates Alex and gets jealous when someone else approaches Laure. And the only fact that Laure didn't push Alex away that day made Tobin doubt.

As soon as the French girl finds herself in front of her, Tobin starts shaking. But she manages to say what she came here to say :

"I'm sorry to have reacted the way I did the other time"

Yes, it's been like one month ago, but everything is still fresh to Tobin. And now, she can bet that it's the same for Laure, because her soft eyes have a weird expression. When the opens the mouth, a cold tone comes out of it :

"Don't even bother, Tobin" the girl says, shaking her head. "Alex told me why you acted this way, and I can understand it."

The middy tenses up.

"What did Alex tell you exactly ?" she asks, bitter, before actually thinking of something. Angrier than ever, she continues : "So are you and Alex a thing now ?"

The smirk on Tobin's face doesn't affect Laure, even though the Frenchie seems quite upset about the tone the soccer girl is using. She crosses her arms against her chest, and Tobin can feel her building walls around her in order to protect herself.

Laure shakes her head.

"Yes, we are dating." she confirms, and Tobin's heart takes a knock. "I know about the rivalry, and also what you guys did to some of their players" she then continues, quite angry.

Tobin smirks.

"Sure, she told you what she wanted to, and if you want to believe her, then do it. But just know she doesn't really love you ; she's just using you to get to me."

"The whole world doesn't revolve around you, Tobin" Laure says, in cold blood.

"I can guarantee you she will not stick around for long" the middy insists, getting closer to the girl. As she feels the nerves growing angrier, Tobin tries to contain her words, but the only fact that Laure is dating someone is making her so angry. "She'll use you, and then throw you away, because she only wanted to hurt me."

"Hurt you ?" Laure asks, frowning.

The midfielder bursts into laughter, before clapping her hands with sass. The smaller girl only looks at her, slightly confused.

"Whatever."

As she is turning around, Tobin feels a light pressure on her wrist and turns around. Laure is staring at her in the eyes, raising her eyebrows.

"I think you don't know her, Tobin. She's sweet, caring, protective, and she really is well-driven and clever, she-"

"I think you're the one knowing her the least between us" Tobin cuts her off, running out of patience. "Good luck with your relationship, Laure."

"Why are you mad then ?"

There is a small silence, before Tobin sharply says :

"Because I am in love with you."

As Laure is recovering from the news Tobin just threw to her face, the middy turns around and walks away for good this time, her heart broken into millions pieces. She knows she has to remain calm and collected, but all she wants to do right now is find Alex and make her pay to use Laure like this. Or maybe Tobin just doesn't want to see the fact that Laure might like her rival more than her.

Knowing pretty well that she's making a mistake, Tobin pulls her phone off her pocket and calls Alex Morgan.

*

"Here you go, babe" Becky softly whispers, her facial expression pretty neutral. She then hands Shelina the cup of tea she made for her, before kissing her forehead and sitting down next to her. She then shakes her head. "Sorry I had to go earlier, I had a few things to take care of" she adds, honest.

Shelina shakes her head.

"So you're back with the Bruins ?"

"Well, as soon as the season starts, yes." Becky confirms, confused. Her girlfriend seems to be somewhere else.

Maybe she knows I know. Melissa or Haley probably told her. Becky's thoughts are running 100%, as Shelina is not even able to look at her in the eyes, shameful. The captain suddenly grabs her girlfriend's hand, before staring into her eyes.

She can see the Canadian is afraid of something.

"Look" Becky starts, not sure what to say yet. "About what Melissa told me..."

"I understand if you don't want me anymore, Becks" Shelina interrupts her. She then bursts into tears, but when Becky tries to hug her, she just softly pushes her away. So the older girl just remains seated, ready for her girlfriend to give her an explanation. "Yes, I have a few mental problems or predispositions or something, but I didn't do it on purpose."

"Do what on purpose ?" Becky asks, raising her eyebrows.

"Killing my dad."

There is a deadly silence between the two lovers, as Becky is not letting go of Shelina's hand. She knows what she has been through now. And she now gets why Shelina never talks about her past or the relationship she had with her father : he was just a wealthy businessman that let other people do her education, and only came home to her in order to beat her up because of alcohol.

Becky nods, silent. Shelina resumes :

"When he got home that night, I heard him scream on the hallway. He was so drunk that it took him three attempts to only put the key on the locket, and then six more to open the door. I hid in my room, because I knew what he was going to do to me. I was 12. What 12 year-old-girl has to deal with a violent drunk dad, uhn ?"

Her voice breaks, as Becky caresses her arm.

"Babe, it's okay..."

"A-and, when he finally got to me, I was so scared that I didn't open the door and let him calm down. When I thought he was asleep, I got out of my room to get some food in order to spend the night by myself. But he wasn't asleep, and was waiting for me with his belt. He started hitting me, harder and harder every time. And then I had enough, I grabbed something and just hit him with it, thinking that while he was on the ground, I would've had the time to get out. And indeed I had, but he never got up again."

Tears are running down Shelina's cheeks, as she is now crying very hard, with soft convulsions. Becky, who is as affected as Shelina is at the moment, is holding her own tears back to show her girlfriend she is strong for her. She pulls her closer, wrapping her arms around her, letting her cry on her shoulder.

After a few minutes - about six or seven from what Becky recalls - the captain kisses her forehead again, before grabbing Shelina's cheeks and forcing her to look at her in the eyes. And the amount of pain in Shelina's eyes are making Becky's body shake.

The older girl takes a deep breath, before saying :

"Babe, it's okay. I'm here, I'm not leaving." After a small silence, she adds : "But you will have to tell me about your mental health so that the doctors and I can help you the best that we can, okay ?"

"Okay."

Becky was relieved that the Schizophrenia was only existent as symptoms such as sudden change of mood (bipolarity they say) or depressive periods. She knows that Stanford would've used mental illness as an excuse to discredit Shelina's testimony from when she was violently assaulted by her own. But now that Becky knows that, and knowing that Maro is a very clever law student, they won't be able to use this as an excuse for assaulting her.

After Becky lies down, Shelina finds a shelter inside her warm arms, letting some sighs out of relief.

"I love you." Becky whispers, kissing the girl's lips softly, as she is fast asleep.

"Thank you for sticking with me" Shelina says in return.

"Always."

*

Jill is looking at her players, serious.

"Girls" she starts in a sharp but encouraging voice, as her eyes are wandering at the 16 girls in front of her. The whole team finally is back, even Becky. Dawn, who is standing right by Jill's side, is ready to come up with a great speech as well. The British woman goes on : "I've heard from the official committee this afternoon, and they made the decision to, even though there is an investigation going on at the moment, resume the championship. Which means we have three days to get ready to welcome Duke here. Dawn ?"

The other coach nods.

"Therefore, we are going to have three intensive training days, and I am going to ask you guys to skip some classes. Of course, the school knows about this and won't penalize you. Practice will take place every day from 9 up to 11:30 am, and then from 5 to 7:30 pm, with possibility of night sessions in regard of your performances of the day."

The room remains in total silence, as some glares are getting exchange. Everybody here knows what's at sake : the Final Four can only be reached if they have good performances until the end. The goal obviously is to win the six remaining games, as they will not face Stanford until the semis or final.

Jill looks around, before saying :

"Kelsey ?" When the keeper looks at her, Jill nods. "With Ashlyn gone, you are the starting goalkeeper. I count on you to elevate your game, because the team is going to need you. Dawn found you a good coach, as you and Jane will train separately from the team at high intensity for the first two days. I hope you're ready."

The goalie exchanges a concerned look with Jane, but energetically nods and gives her coach a thumbs up with a grin on her face. The whole room let a loud giggle out, but then silence immediately comes back.

Dawn then smiles.

"Now is the time to shine, so go and get some rest tonight, and be ready for tomorrow girls ! Time for the huddle."

Once the girls have done the traditional UCLA huddle, everybody goes back to their own dorms in order to study or just relax, because the next few days will be physically and mentally tough to come by.

But at least they have each other, Jill thinks to herself.