《Seeing Double》16
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"I'm so bored." Kelley whispers.
"Well I can't help you there." I say.
We're doing group recovery today after our 3-0 shutout win against Spain which advanced us to play France in the quarter finals. Lindsey got a goal off a corner then Christen came on and got two goals.
That woman's a beast.
"Let's play never have I ever." Kelley announces and everyone looks at her. "Raise your hand if you have done something."
Everyone looks at Kelley to continue.
"Never have I ever kissed a guy." Kelley says.
Me, Tobin, Ash, Christen, Kling, Pinoe, and Tierna all leave our hands down.
"Kelley you have kissed a guy." Christen says while chuckling.
"Oh yeah...My bad." Kelley says. "You go Astrid."
"Never have I ever been to prom." I say.
Everyone puts their hand up.
"Well then."
"Why didn't you go?" Emily asks.
"I was an out lesbian in Georgia. Not many parents wanted their daughter seen with me."
"Ah."
I may or may not have tuned out after that since I was just humoring my sister. A while later I tune back in when my name is called.
"Astrid." Alex says and everyone looks in-between us.
"Yes?" I say and look at Kelley then at Tobin.
"You wrote an article for The Players' Tribune?"
"I did. Right before the last World Cup." I admit while leaning against a wall rolling my legs.
"No offense." Christen says. "But why didn't we hear about it?"
"Well only three people on the 2015 team knew I existed and I only used my first name. I guess nobody connected the dots."
"Three?" Ali asks.
"Hope, Christen, and Kelley."
"I wanna see." Kelley says.
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"Here." Alex says and slides Kelley the phone so she can read.
"You put your letters to me and Christen in it?" Kelley asks after a period of silence.
"Yeah. I wanted to....." I say then take a deep breath. "yeah I did."
"Do you remember what you said in the letters?" Sam asks.
"Yeah." I say. "I remember the whole article."
"Can we hear them?" Mal asks. "The letters."
I nod then look at Christen, who's eyes widen when she realizes I'm reciting her letter first.
Hey Pressy,
By the time you read this I'll be long gone to Europe. I'm sorry I'm leaving like this, but I can't be here without Lily. Everything I see reminds me of her and I need to get away. I can't continue living here knowing that everytime I walk into our apartment building I'll see the place she died.
I'm so sorry I'm not as strong as you and Kelley. I wish I was, believe me, but I'm not. All I want to do is curl up in a ball and never leave my room, but I think we both know how that would end and neither of us want that. You have my number and I'll always be here for you to rant and rave to at anytime of day and especially after you read this letter.
I hope one day you can forgive me, but I understand if you don't. You'll always have a special place in my heart Pressy and I'll never forget all you've done for me.
Look after Kelley for me.
Love your favorite twin,
Astrid
P.S. Keep that girl from Berkley around. I think you two will be together for a very long time.
"I forgot about that part." Christen says then she pecks Alex's lips.
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"You knew?" Alex asks and I nod.
I then look at Kelley and take a deep breath.
This letters gonna suck
Hey Kelloggs,
By the time you read this I will probably be in Europe.
I can't do it Kels. I can't be strong like Mom taught us too. I can't get over this hurdle. All I want to do is curl up in a ball and never leave my room. Actually what I really want to do is go to the gun store, but that wouldn't solve anything. Just bring more heartache to your life.
I'm so sorry Kelley.
I know we have a no secrets policy, but I've been hiding something from you for a while. I've had a couple offers to go play professionally overseas so I'm gonna take one of those offers and go play in Europe.
Don't worry I'm not giving up my dream of working with planes. Stanford's being really cool and letting me do my school work online. Apparently they're testing some new online school and I'm going to be their guinea pig.
Kelley I'm so sorry I had to leave this way, but I can't do it. I have to do this or I'm going to end up doing going insane.
No matter where I am in the world I will always be here for you to talk too. Wether that's about some obnoxious professor, after a rough game, you telling me about your crush on Hope Solo, or even if you just need to hear my voice. I am always just a phone call aways.
I love you Kelley
Your twin,
Astrid
"Woah." Ali says.
"Yeah." I say and wipe a tear from my eye then kiss Kelley's head. "Everyone can read the rest online."
"So." Christen says trying to move the conversation along. "How's wedding planning going Kels?"
"Tiresome." Kelley groans. "So many things have to be done."
"Like?" Alex asks.
"Photographer, diner menu, wedding cake, dress fittings, flowers, finding an officiant, invitations, honeymoon."
"You do know we can help with that?" I say.
"I know." Kelley says. "But Hope and I wanna do it."
"Alright, but let me know where the two of you are going for the honeymoon."
"I will."
"What are your colors?" Ali asks.
"Red and Gold." Kelley says.
"Dammit." I say and rub my face.
"What?" Kelley asks.
"I just remembered I'm wearing a dress for your wedding."
"And singing." Kelley says with a smirk.
"And singing." I repeat.
"Not a fan of dresses?" Allie asks.
We've gotten to be on better terms.
"I haven't worn a dress since I was 7." I admit.
"Wow." Alex says.
"Kelley's lucky."
"How?" Tobin asks.
"She's one of three people I'd wear a dress for."
"Who are the other two?" Ash asks.
"Christen and Tobin."
"Aww." Mal says making me chuckle while my girlfriend blushes.
"Do you know what you are singing?" Julie asks.
"Yep."
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In the year 2090, technology has advanced to the point where Simulation Boxes, (Sim Box for short) are common place, allowing for the user to link up their brain's neural network to a full dive Simulation. While initially used for educational purposes, recently a large gaming company, Averon, released a fully fledged immersive MMORPG simulation where users can become anyone they desire, level up, choose their class, and become a hero or a villain. The name of this simulation is The Shattered World Online. Eli Winters had no interest in playing it. His father, a jobless bum who spent his entire life playing games in the hope of becoming a famous player or streamer, was able to use the release of The Shattered World Online to gain wealth and fame, quickly becoming the number one player and a household name as the game took the world by storm. He immediately abandoned Eli and his mother in favor of being with someone from his guild, despite his mother having worked two jobs to support them and raise Eli by herself. Eli had nothing but spite for his father and the game. When Eli's best friend convinces him to try out the game, his father's fame begins to interfere, culminating in him being singled out and shunned by his peers, and his father offering to pay for his university tuition in return for Eli hiding their relationship and quitting the game. Instead of complying with his father's wishes, Eli decides to prove to everyone how useless a guy his father is by challenging him that if Eli is able to surpass him in the game world he must delete his account and quit his streaming career. His father accepts the challenge believing his son to be useless at games - but Eli will soon show him just how ambitious a spiteful person can be. ----------- Updated Daily
8 1084Revolution & Redemption [Seinen Fantasy Light Novel]
In a not so far away place called Alem stood a great empire. Once hundreds of warring states, the region of Central got unified through the might of a single King. A Demon so powerful, they called him the pinnacle of their species, the summit of power, the Conqueror: King Kairi. King Kairi ruled for many years, fought injustice, brought peace, but all these luxuries had a price - the freedom of the people. One day, a century after the birth of United Central, a most peculiar Demon entered Central from the East. A man with many names, but one he swore was true: Cuma - a name that came to be known throughout the whole of Central, for every brick the magnificent ruler King Kairi had laid, got broken down by this foreigner through the most heinous of ways - because Cuma, an engima even amongst friends - a short, frail little man, has a skill that could crumble any empire. Cuma lies, manipulates, cheats, and deceives. After a fiery revolution, caused by Cuma, King Kairi stepped down, but swore vengence upon he who demolished everything he had worked for these long lost years. Fitting his unpredictable nature, Cuma, along with King Kairi's previously most loyal henchmen, left Central the same day Kairi did. For Central was not enough for Cuma. No, Cuma had his eyes on a different Kingdom, a Kingdom far-far East. Join Cuma as he deceives his way home, with the walking apocalpyse called Kairi chasing his scent. Follow Revolution & Redemption (RaR), a high fantasy epic with Demons using different powers and specialties.----------------------------------- If you like the Beserk/HxH treatment, I'm your man...
8 108A World In Motion
The world is great and so much remains shrouded in darkness. We can stand on the shoreline and see the outline far in the distance but too often we fail to grasp what goes on. We limit ourself to our immediate surrounding and claim our small piece of land to be the center of it all. A king meets his end so it falls upon the son to wield the power of the crown. What if things were different? What can i do to facility such changes? With a need for something the newly raised king embarks on a journey to find out just what is possible in this world, his world. Historical fiction - The world has the same principal rules as our own but from the perspective of culture/technology/and more its different. Multiple Lead Characters - With time more characters will become relevant so you will experience this world from different vantage points but it's all connected and with purpose. Drama - True depth to a story rests in the arms of character you grow to love or hate, their humanity. Drama is an inevitable feature of humanity so if i succeed in creating fictional humans then drama will surely follow. Action - Place one human in the same room as another and you'll eventually witness action. Action with all the blood and pain associated will it is a natural extension of the human experience. Welcome to my world. ------------------------------------------------------------------------------ Image by Peder Balke (1849) Nationalmuseum. Public domain.
8 154Peerless Hegemon
Warning: Can be quite tearjerking and depressing (or so others say). If you are weak to that and hates that kind of thing, then this story is not for you === Ye Feng lived two lives in one lifetime. First, he basked in the light of Righteousness, becoming an idol of peace and justice. Second, he trod the mired path of the Darkest Path, becoming an object of fear and death. One lifetime, Two Identities, countless experiences, still without purpose. A meaningless existence. An empty husk. In his selfishness of wanting to fill the void in him, he became the catalyst that destroyed Reality. He now controlled everything, ultimate power, uncontestable by none. But he cast it away, to be reborn anew. With a new name and a family, his goal was to understand, his place. To understand how to no longer feel empty. With his family consisting of a Reincarnated Twin Sister and Parents with inscrutable pasts, his desire was not that of grandeur. In this lifetime, he wishes not to hold power, not to gain eternal life, nor control of everything, he only wishes to live, and hopefully look at sunrise with a smile on his face. === Disclaimer: The story focuses on the Main Character’s emotional and personality growth. He is someone who is, obviously OP in some perspectives but almost crippled in others. He is not soft and does not spare anyone because it is “Bad” so expect that there would be genocide and some bloody encounters. I want this instead of just the MC’s search for life and its complication. Where Philosophy and values exist. A story where every action has proper consequences, and not everything can be conquered with a single punch (unless it can be, no need for an unnecessary complication if it can be avoided). Further Notes: This is a story that will gradually increase in word counts and become Chunkier as it progresses and will almost never be below 2000 words, but if the word count will only lengthen the chapter at the expense of a finished tale, it could and would be cut off before 2000 mark), give it a try, it won’t disappoint (I hope). And if by chance that you like it, giving a good Rating and Review will be encouraging to me and possible readers. Schedule: Monday and Friday If you want to read ahead and/or support me to creating this story, you can do it through my Patreon (link below the next chapter button.) This is also a rewrite of this: Peerless Hegemon [OLD] | Royal Road
8 114The Bracelet I Got Was More Than I Bargained For
Andrew and his friends, Isaac, Lisbeth, and Cameron meet a shady man on the way home from school. This man promises them adventure on another world, called Calorin, if they are willing to help him with an experiment. This experiment requires the use of a bracelet, one that cannot be removed once bonded to but will give them abilities such as healing or enhanced strength. Thanks to some peer pressure Andrew reluctantly agrees to join the experiment. The friends are soon on their way to Calorin but Andrew notices feelings coming from the bracelet, ones that want nothing to do with the strange man. It is just before they arrive at their destination that the bracelet changes everything for Andrew and he finds himself separated from his friends and the strange man. Stuck in the middle of a forest Andrew will need to find out where he is, how to find his friends, and why the bracelet has been acting the way it has. Author's Note:This story is a sidequel/prequel to Artifice: Tools of the Gods. As it only has one or two connected characters there is no need to read one or the other to understand them.
8 107Life's Allegory
Explore the Barbarian Tundra, the Hito Mountain Villages and unknown lands of wonder and horror across Gaia and the worlds around her. See through the eyes of a few, experience the harsh realities of sword and sorcery and how Sachihiro, a young man who takes a path never before tread by another carves a place from the chaos of the world or dies trying. ______________________________________________________________________________________ Part I: The Followers of the Way Part II: The Fall of the Tribes Interlude Part III: The Lost Part IV: The Lost: Death and Birth of Legends Part V: The Fall of Worlds ______________________________________________________________________________
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