Chapter 3
Christen woke up with the sun, around 6:00, grabbed her yoga mat, and headed to the main lobby. She asked a receptionist if there was access to the roof, and there was. So, she headed to up to get rid of her pre-camp jitters. Christen sighed as she looked out over the sunset, instantly forgetting all of her troubles and just beginning to be. She rolled out her mat, and began to meditate when she heard the opening of the door.
“Christen?”
“Oh, hey Allie! What’s up?”
“Just coming up to relax I guess, Kling is a loud sleeper.”
Christen laughed, as Allie came to sit beside her on her mat. The two chatted for awhile, and landed on the topic of the team.
“So, what do you think of the roster this year Christen?” Allie asked.
“Well, I uh don’t really know anyone that well except for Tobin, so I guess good?”
Allie smiled. “Oh yeah! Tobin’s a cool gal. We are the Harry to each other’s Harry!” Allie said while chuckling.
“Um, right..” Christen hesitantly said.
“Oh! It’s a joke. But uh yeah, Tobin is really cool, I think you’ll like her. A lot. Wait, now that I think about it, you guys are like perfect for each other. Like, you could be closer to Tobin than me. What. The. Actual. Heck.”
Christen just awkwardly giggled, and wondered what in the world Allie meant.
“Uh, yeah. Oh! It’s almost time for breakfast, we better go.”
“Right. Want me to save you a seat?”
Christen nodded gratefully, and let out a huge breath as soon as Allie left the elevator.
Allie’s nice, but I could barely catch up to half the things she was saying. Plus she talks so fast. Holy crap.
Christen got back to her room, where Tobin was still asleep, and got changed into her training gear. Tobin must’ve heard her getting ready (or ‘accidentally’ seen her) and let out a groggy, “G-goood Morning Chris,” as she tried to get up and change. Christen laughed and threw Tobin’s training set at her, so she could get ready too.
“Ready Tobin?”
“I. Need. Coffee.”
Christen giggled and shook her head as they made their way to the tables. As promised, Allie saved them both a seat, and Christen sat next to Ashlyn and Tobin. Tobin had waken up a little bit since the morning, and offered to get Christen some coffee.
“Chris, do you want any coffee while I’m up?”
“Yeah, thank you. Um, regular’s fine with a little bit of sugar.”
Tobin winked flirtatiously (which made Christen blush, per usual.) and walked off while Ashlyn snickered.
“What!” hissed Christen, clearly annoyed at how “14 year-old-boy-ish” Ashlyn was being.
Ashlyn just shrugged and said, “Oh, nothing. It’s just that Tobin never winks at anyone. Unless she likes them. Or is trying to impress them. Or is trying to get into their-”
“OKAYYY Ashlyn! Thank you, for the information. That was so unneeded and cruel that it’s actually amusing.” Morgan Brian said, while Kling was high fiving Ashlyn.
Christen rolled her eyes, and shot Morgan a “Thank you times a billion” look while Morgan just nodded and smiled.
Morgan mouthed to Christen, “They are a mess. Get used to it.” Christen giggled and gave her the thumbs up.
Tobin came back with the coffees, and the rest of the breakfast went smoothly. Christen only stared at Tobin 9/10 of the breakfast and Tobin only caught her -! Well, Tobin caught her almost every time. But, it’s not like Tobin wasn’t staring too. When Christen was telling the group a story, or just passionately talking about something, Tobin looked at her like she was the best thing since a soccer ball. She had a goofy grin on her face, and Ashlyn totally noticed. She sent Tobin a text.
Ash>Tobs: You’re drooling.
Tobin wiped her mouth as soon as she saw the text, which sent Ashlyn into a silent giggling fit. Tobin rolled her eyes, and subconsciously continued to stare at Christen, again. Ashlyn just shook her head and smiled.
These two are just hopeless. Well, not hopeless. Hopeful? Yeah. Hopeful. I think I mean they’re cute. Ashlyn thought, while analyzing the couple. Ali caught her, and gave her a slight nudge.
For the remainder of the breakfast, Tobin ‘accidentally’ bumped arms with Christen, touched fingers with Christen, nudged Christen, you name it. Anything to get close to her. And Christen did not mind at all. In fact, when Tobin subtly wrapped her arm around Christen without the group knowing, she gave Tobin’s hand a little squeeze. They were so happy, but they knew deep down in their hearts, this is not what friends do. Not. At. All.
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The team stepped out onto the training field, with smiles on their faces, glad to be back. Coach Ellis instructed the team to partner up for running, and then passing. Of course, Christen and Tobin went together.
“Tobs? Do yo-”
“Yes. Let’s go get this running over with.”
They ran a couple of laps, and talked it away.
“I’m really nervous for today Tobin. What if I suck!”
“You’re not going to suck, you’re great! Just play like normal.”
Christen nodded. “Yeah. Who are we playing this weekend?”
Tobin flinched as she said it, “Costa Rica.” Christen noticed how tense Tobin was when she said the name, and decided not to bring it up.
“Ooh, that’s a good team, but they’ll be fun to play! I can’t wait.”
“Mhm.” Tobin looked off into space, not paying any attention to Christen at all. Christen gave her a little nudge.
“Tobs? Are you okay?”
“What? Oh, yeah. Yeah, I’m okay, just thinking about stuff. You know.”
Christen have Tobin a reassuring look. “Stuff you want to talk about?”
“Not necessarily.”
Christen smiled, and gave Tobin’s had a squeeze. “Well, when you’re ready, I’m here.”
Tobin looked into Christen’s eyes for the first time in a while, and smiled gratefully. “Thank you Christen. Not a lot of girls get it, you know? They just want answers, drama, information, just to make things worse. They just want to stir things up and it always sucks. I always just want to go hide and be by myself just to get away from all of that. But, yeah. Sorry I’m rambling. Um, just Thanks for understanding.”
Christen beamed. “Uh, yeah no problem Tobin. I get it. Really.”
They jogged over to the team, sneaking glances at each other a few times, and catching each other every time. The rest of the practice went smoothly, and Christen and Tobin did really well. The whole practice they connected passes, assisted and scored, and automatically knew where the other person was going. They were so insync, it was like they could read each other’s minds. Coach Ellis noticed, and called them to her office after practice.
“Hello ladies, exceptional job at practice today.”
The girls thanked her.
“Well, I first wanted to tell you that both of you have earned a starting spot for this weekend.”
They looked at each other and Christen had a smile so bright, and Tobin was just as happy for her. First cap, first start, and hopefully first goal.
“Also, I was wondering, have you two ever played together before? You two were on fire! I was astonished. You knew exactly where the other was, and how to get the ball there. I’m going to need that at the game this weekend.”
“Um, no ‘mam. We haven’t played together before. But thank you.” Tobin said, and Christen nodded.
“Well, that’s quite the chemistry you two have out there. Christen, great practice today, you can go. Tobin stay behind for a minute.”
Christen nodded and whispered in Tobin’s ear, “I’ll wait for you.”
Goosebumps rose on Tobin’s skin from Christen’s warm breath, and her lips on Tobin’s skin. Christen left the room, and went to her locker to change. She just had her sports bra and nike pros on when Tobin came running across the locker room and scooped her into a hug that lifted Christen off the ground.
“What happened?!” Christen asked.
“I got it! I got captain!” Tobin screamed. And Christen screamed with her. She laughed and squeezed Tobin harder as she spun Christen around. Tobin set Christen down, and Tobin’s heart was racing.
Do I kiss her? Does she want that? Just kiss her Tobin. 3,2,1…
Tobin leaned in and have Christen a soft kiss on the lips. Fireworks exploded in her head, and she smiled into it.
Christen was beaming, but realized something. “What about friends?”
Tobin shook her head and leaned in again, “Screw friends.”