Venice, Italy

Julie smiles.

Her mentor and now best friend is freaking out, and it's something the blonde has never seen before from someone that usually is so calm and collected. She is stressing out about every detail of the upcoming wedding, willing to make sure Shelina has the best day ever. The past year has not been that easy with the Canadian living either in Washington during the season, or flying back to her hometown during the holidays, while Becky was flying back and forth in between Kansas City and UCLA to support the girls.

But it's their moment : their holidays.

Thinking that a baby here wouldn't be the best idea ever, Julie gave Freya to Zach, so that he could take care of his baby girl and introduce her to his family back in his hometown. Kop, who also is pretty busy with calming Shelina down, is nowhere to be found, while most of their teammates - well, now former teammates - are visiting the city.

But Julie and Kelley are here, against all odds.

"Dude" Kelley lets out, rolling her eyes. "There's no need to stress out like that."

Becky throws her a death glare, that makes Julie smirk.

"I need this day to be perfect" the defender explains, firing dagger at her former teammates, not her opponent on the league. "I owe that to Shelina."

"You know she'll find it perfect as long as she is with you, Becks" the brunette insists, determined to make Becky relax.

The defender doesn't say anything, while checking her dress is here for the hundredth time. Julie and Kelley exchange a look, before smirking.

The blonde thinks it's time to change the subject.

"I still can't believe that even after all those years, you've never admitted your feelings to Allie" she says, serious.

That immediately makes Kelley blush and look away.

"I'm still the exact same chicken I've been for years" she settles, shaking her head. "Our friendship is so important to me... I'm scared I might lose her."

Becky rolls her eyes.

"You never wondered why Allie never dated anybody ?" she asks, raising her eyebrows. "Maybe she's waiting for someone in particular."

"I could bet my life it isn't me then"

Both defenders roll their eyes, but Kelley doesn't care : she will never be able to admit her feelings, especially not now with Tobin and Kelsey (aka Allie's best friend) around all the time.

The brunette then smirks.

"You never told us how you and Shelina met" she points out, and that immediately makes Julie pay attention to something else than Allie.

Becky blushes.

"Mhm" she only lets out.

But the minute she sees Julie and Kelley ready to strangle her if she doesn't say anything, the older girl sighs.

She then says :

"Fine, so that's how it happened..."

###

It was like five years ago, I was just going out with some friends because Zola had upset me, and we found ourselves in that shitty bar because someone wanted to see their crush there. It was in the middle of the city, not far from both campus.

I remember two things about that day : it was raining cats and dogs, and it was the day before my first day as a freshman.

When I sat at the bar, I didn't notice her right away, mostly because I was criticizing some dude that looked like Sponge Bob. But then, as my friends were taking off without me - those bitches - I spotted her in the other side of the bar, right in front of me.

She was wearing a beautiful tunique, all black, and her eyes were sparkling in the night. When my eyes crossed hers, I immediately knew she was the one : the way she was moving, slightly smirking and then gave me that seductive yet innocent smile... Man I knew I was in trouble.

After a few drinks, I finally decided to go and sit down next to her. She watched me the whole way, and when I was next to her, and handed me a drink.

She then said :

"That whiskey was waiting for you for the past two hours"

As my mouth was like wide open - it was ridiculous, especially for me because nobody usually impress me - she started giggling.

At that very moment I knew I could let her go. But as I wasn't saying anything, she continued :

"I'm grad you're here, and I hope you enjoy Whiskey."

I remember I shook my head, before saying :

"Honey, I drink far worse than just whiskey"

That made her smile.

That night, we talked about everything but school, and the following week, we spent a lot of our free time together, enough to make me fall for her.

She was perfect, until the car accident that killed Whitney Engen happened, and that both school parted ways. After that, I had to hate her.

But I never really did.