Across The Hall

Christen releases one long and terribly exhausted sigh before closing the door behind her and doing an about face. She glances down each direction of the corridor, everything is still at this dead hour of the night. No lingering neighbors, no conversations drifting through the paper thin walls, no socks warningly placed on door handles. Nothing. The hallway is as vacant and deserted as Christen’s ever seen it. Which makes what she’s about to do seem that much more unprecedented, but the nagging thought of her vulnerable roommate urges her forward. She takes only a few steps before knocking on the door.

The first knock goes unanswered. Christen hesitantly looks back down the hallway to make sure she hasn’t disturbed anyone else before she musters another wave of courage and knocks again. This time, with a little more authority and urgency. A few moments later, she hears faint rustling coming from inside the room. Then shuffling of heavy feet before the door finally cracks open.

“We’re not interested in buying anymore of your Girl Scout cookies” Tobin croaks as she rubs her eyes and struggles to stay in the light. Her hair is a little ruffled and she’s dressed in a T-shirt and a pair of soccer shorts, but she still manages to make the outfit look stylish. Christen mindlessly looks her up and down before her eyes fall on Tobin’s legs. Those damn calves again. Seriously, how are they so perfect?

Tobin clears her throat before speaking, drawing Christen back to the matter at hand. “Oh, it’s only you, Chris.”

“Only me?” Christen defensively replies, “What, were you expecting someone else?” Christen places her hands on her hips as Tobin blinks a few times and allows a small grin to grow on her face.

“Not if they aren’t trying to sell me cookies” she cheekily answers, earning a dismissive shake of the head from Christen. “So, what’s up? Why did you feel the need to knock on my door and wake me from my amazing surfing dream? What, couldn’t go more than a few hours without me?” Christen rolls her eyes.

“Get over yourself, I’m actually here for Kling” Christen clarifies as Tobin pushes the door open wider and leans an arm against the doorframe. “Is she back yet?”

“Yeah she’s here” Tobin confirms as she looks over her shoulder, in the direction of Kling’s lofted bed. “Though she’s probably not too happy with you right now for aggressively knocking on the door like you did. Why do you need Kling?”

“Well” Christen starts, “I don’t really need Kling, I just want to know if I can borrow her car. Kelley’s at some sketchy bar on 9^th and she’s drunk off her ass. I need to go pick her up before she does something she’ll regret.”

“Which bar?” Tobin immediately asks.

“Sherman’s.”

“Oh” Tobin mutters as she slowly nods her head and begins to understand the gravity of the situation, “Alright, hang tight while I ask Kling.” Christen nods and Tobin disappears back into the shadowy dorm room. After a minute or so, the door swings open again. “Ok, so Kling said that you can borrow her car” Tobin explains as Christen feels a rush of relief wash over her body, “But only if I drive. It’s nothing personal, it’s just that she’s never seen you drive and she values that thing with her life. Is that cool?”

“Yeah, that’s fine” Christen agrees, somewhat pleasantly surprised and thankful to have some company on her rescue mission.

“Alright, you wait here while I put on some pants, then we’ll go” Tobin instructs. Christen can’t help the small giggle that escapes her.

“Yeah, pants is probably a good idea” she humorously agrees.

“I thought so, anyway” Tobin shrugs as she smiles at the giggling girl in front of her, “Be back in a few.” Tobin withdraws back into her room while Christen waits patiently in the hallway. She inspects a couple posters pinned on the cork bulletin board while Tobin changes. One is a PSA about drinking alone at a party, the other is about quiet hours and a reminder to be courteous of the other residents on the floor. She can’t help but shake her head at the irony. Kelley really should’ve gone to that floor meeting on Move-In Day.

About a minute later, Tobin emerges from her room now wearing a pair of ripped jeans, and a snapback on her head. She has car keys and a leather jacket in one hand while she uses the other to quietly shut the door. Before the door finally closes, Christen hears Kling’s voice sing ‘Bring Spiderwoman and my baby back in one piece! And if she pukes in there, so help me I’ll –’ Once the door is closed, Tobin turns to Christen and the two begin to venture down the hallway.

“So” Christen breaks the silence, “What was that about a surfing dream?” Tobin flashes Christen a humored grin from beside the girl.

“I punched a shark in the face. It was awesome.”

“Sharks have faces?”

“This one did.”

“Well then, consider me impressed.”

“Ok, I’ll consider you imPRESSed.”

“Tobin, no.”

After moving the driver’s seat back and settling into Kling’s cute, yet smallish Kia Soul, Tobin maneuvers the vehicle out of the parking space and the two begin their journey to Sherman’s. Christen mindlessly goes to turn on the radio, but as soon as she does, the car erupts with a barrage of brash rap lyrics and overcompensating low end reverberating from the car’s subwoofers.

“Shit, turn that down!” Tobin commands as she nearly slams the breaks in reaction. Christen’s hands move from covering her ears to quickly fiddling around with the sound control. After just a few seconds of troubleshooting, she finds the volume control and eases the music down to a tolerable level.

“I’m sorry” Christen regretfully apologizes, “I had no idea that would happen. Why the hell does Kling drive with the music that loud?” Tobin sneaks a side glance at Christen and chuckles a little at her obviously flustered and remorseful state.

“It’s fine, Chris, I didn’t know that would happen either” she reassures, “And Kling is one of a kind, I’ll just leave it at that.”

“She certainly is” Christen agrees as she watches the streetlights pass overhead. “How did you two ever become roommates anyway?”

“Hmm?” Tobin mumbles as she keeps her eyes on the road and turns on her blinker to switch lanes, “What do you mean?”

“I mean, you two are so different. How did you end up living together? Did you choose a random roommate, too?” Christen asks, her eyes still floating from one light to the next.

“Actually, no” Tobin answers while checking her blind spot and making the transition to the next lane once a silver hatchback finally passes. “It’s kind of a funny story.”

“Oh yeah? I like funny stories” Christen encourages, guiding her attention back to Tobin’s profile.

“I lied, it’s actually not that funny” Tobin admits, gaze back on the road in front of her.

“Come on, Tobin, just spill already” Christen urges, not wanting to be out-of-the-loop anymore.

“Really, it isn’t that great of a story” Tobin continues to stall, much to the displeasure of her passenger.

“Tobin” Christen states firmly, not appreciating Tobin’s teasing. She shoots the girl a look to match her tone. One brief look at her neighbor and Tobin cracks into a smile.

“Alright, alright, I’ll tell you since I can tell that you’re dying to know” she sneaks another look at Christen and sees that she still has that look of utter unamusement on her face. Tobin’s smile grows. “So you know how before freshman year people post roommate ads on the group Facebook page?”

“Yeah” Christen confirms, nodding her head for Tobin to continue.

“Well, Kling posted one” Tobin reveals while checking her rearview mirror. “She wrote this post saying that she was ‘looking for a fellow soccer player who is chill and clean and won’t be bothered by the crazy soccer schedule.” I fit the bill, so I sent her a reply, and boom, we were roommates. Have been ever since.”

“You were right” Christen alludes, eyes drifting back to the streetlights and telephone wires floating overhead.

“About what?” Tobin questions, slight confusion in her tone.

“That wasn’t funny at all” Christen flatly declares, straight-faced and aloof.

“Told you.”

“Maybe next time I’ll listen.”

“Maybe? Now that was funny.”

“Shut up and drive.”

The car rolls to a stop on the side of the road, across the street from a shabby looking building with young adults and party lights spilling out of it at every opening. The infamous neon pink flamingo lights up the exterior. Sherman’s.

Tobin cuts off the engine before looking to Christen to see if she’s ready. Christen stares blankly at the ominous building for a few moments more before she feels a hand on her shoulder. She looks over to Tobin who offers a firm and comforting expression. Christen gives her a nod and reaches for the door handle. The two emerge from the car, and Christen walks around the vehicle as Tobin locks it. Finally, they exchange one more look before crossing the street and heading to the entrance of the bar. As they near, Christen becomes more and more thankful that she didn’t have to do this alone. Shit, this place is sketchy.

As Christen is just about to step over the threshold of the place, an arm reaches out and stops her in her tracks. One beefy looking dude in a black V-neck steps in front of her. Oh shit.

“Excuse me, Miss” Black V-neck interjects, “Can I see your ID?” What? My ID? I thought this was the place that never cards?!

“Umm… I, uh, I – ” Christen stammers, internally freaking out and not knowing what to say or do to get out of this pickle. Shit, shit, shit! What do I say? I don’t even have a fake ID! How the hell am I gonna get past this guy?

“Oh, leave her alone, Patrick” Tobin’s voice calls from over Christen’s shoulder. Patrick?

“Tobin? Is that you? It’s been too long!” the intimidating chunk of man-meat greets the midfielder. Tobin smiles slightly and nods at the guy.

“Yeah, Pat, it’s me.” Tobin confirms, giving the guy a small side hug when she approaches. Christen just watches this bizarre interaction as it unfolds.

“Where have you been hiding, buddy?” he excitedly questions, his daunting persona completely abandoned.

“Oh, you know” Tobin shrugs, “On the pitch mostly.” Patrick smiles fondly.

“That’s right, you’re a certified soccer-holic! And a justified one at that. Anything I can do for you this evening?” He asks, clearly very thankful to have Tobin around. Who is this this dude?

Tobin turns to Christen and pulls her to her side.

“Actually, yeah” Tobin answers, “This one’s with me this evening. We’re here to pick up her roommate before things get out of hand. Would you mind looking the other way while we head in and collect her real quick?” Patrick looks between the two girls and nods understandingly.

“Sure, Tobin, anything for my favorite soccer gal” he warmly replies before stepping aside to allow the two to enter.

“You say that to all of us” Tobin points out, “But thanks, dude!” Patrick nods acknowledgingly and Tobin turns back to Christen. “Alright, let’s find Kelley and get out of here. I don’t really feel like getting cheap tequila in my hair tonight.”

“You know that guy?” Christen asks, still a little disoriented from their previous encounter with the bouncer from Magic Mike.

“Yeah” Tobin breathes, “Unfortunately I used to get dragged here a lot by the girls on the team. Patrick pretty much has a thing for any girl who plays soccer, so we can always get in without issue.”

“Oh, so you just take advantage of hopeless guys to get into places?” Christen teases.

“One of the many perks of being a proud member of the school’s women’s soccer team. I told you that you should’ve tried out.” Tobin jabs.

“Right, because that’s why I would’ve tried out.” Christen jokes, playing only with Tobin. Tobin smiles and reaches her hand out for Christen’s. Christen looks between Tobin’s hand and her own. What is she doing?

“Come on” Tobin urges, “I don’t want to lose you if we’re going to try to find Kelley in this sea of people.” Oh, I see. Christen nods and finally takes Tobin’s hand, slotting her fingers between the gaps of Tobin’s. Tobin begins leading Christen through the building, pausing at every possible location where Kelley could be. The group of tables at the back, the dance floor, and even the winding line for the bathroom. However, no sign of Kelley. Tobin is about to tug Christen back to the front, thinking that maybe Kelley migrated towards the door during their search, when Christen spots a familiar pink pre-wrap headband near the bar. Alex.

“Tobin, hey, look” Christen exclaims as she points in Alex’s direction. Tobin perks up and begins leading Christen again when her eyes land on her teammate. The two weave through the mass of sweaty and intoxicated bodies until they finally reach Alex.

“Isn’t it past your bedtime, young lady?” Tobin comments from behind her. Alex spins around so fast that she almost falls off of her bar stool.

“Toby!” she shrieks as she pounces from her seat and throws her arms around Tobin’s neck. When Alex pulls back, Tobin is supporting most of her weight. Christen quirks an eyebrow and Tobin chuckles.

“She gets a little friendly when she drinks” Tobin explains as Alex wobbles at her side.

“You know, I would argue with you, but I’m too drunk to do that” Alex admits.

“I know, baby horse. It’s ok though, you’re allowed to lose an argument every once in a while” Tobin devilishly consoles. Alex’ face grows stern.

“Technicality” she declares. Tobin raises her hands in surrender but mouths ‘Bull shit’ at Christen when Alex isn’t looking. I’m not sure which one is acting more mature in this moment.

“Tobin? Christen? What are you two doing here?” a voice calls from a few seats down. That’s gotta be Ali.

Sure enough, sitting on a bar stool two seats away with a bottle of miller light in her hand, is none other than Alexandra Krieger. Her smile lights up the room as she moves to hug both Tobin and Christen.

“Hey Ali” Tobin affectionately replies back, “We’re actually here to collect Kelley. Have you seen her?”

“O’Hara? Yeah she was here, but she left with Pinoe and Paul about fifteen minutes ago” Ali explains. Paul? Oh no, wasn’t that the guy that wanted to get a tattoo? We have to find Kelley. Now.

“No way, Paul was here?” Tobin asks in pleasant disbelief. Wait, you know Paul, too?

“Yeah, he just decided to show up tonight. When I saw him, I was like, ‘Oh my god, it’s Paul!’” Alex adds from her position leaning against the bar for support. And Alex knows him?

“That’s insane, I didn’t know Paul was gonna be here!” Tobin radiates. What’s the deal with this Paul guy?

“None of us did! Total surprise. I honestly still can’t believe that Paul showed” Ali divulges. Is anyone gonna fill me in, or am I just gonna continue to stand here, looking like an idiot?

“Did someone say ‘Paul’?” Ashlyn bellows as she approaches from behind Ali, “I love that guy! Tobs, did you know that he was here earlier?” Annnd I’m just going to look like an idiot. Message received.

“Yeah, I’m super bummed that I missed him” Tobin gloomily confesses. Seriously, who is this guy?!

Christen clears her throat and finally gets her friends’ attention.

“Who the hell is Paul?” Christen asks, probably a little more forcefully than she would’ve liked.

“Paul’s cool” Tobin simply answers. While looking at Christen again, she seems to remember the task at hand. “Did Kelley say where they were going?”

“Well actually – ” Ashylyn begins. However, as Ashlyn starts to inform Tobin, Alex grabs hold of Christen’s arm and beckons her out to the dance floor. What the –

“Come dance with me, Christen!” Alex exclaims, already taking Christen captive as she pulls her to the dance floor. Christen looks over her shoulder for help, but Tobin is lost in conversation with Ashlyn, and Ali is busy paying the tab.

“I don’t know, Alex, I really need to get Kelley…” Christen protests as she tries to free herself of Alex’s firm grip. As it turns out, Alex is actually really strong. Like, really strong.

“Re-laaax” Alex insists, guiding Christen to the center of the dance floor, “O’Hara is fine. She can wait while you share a dance with me.”

“But –”

“Uh-uh, nope. The only ‘But’ I’ll accept is yours on this dance floor” Alex interrupts, determined to get Christen to dance with her. I don’t think I can escape this.

So as Alex begins to sway to the thumping music, Christen reluctantly follows her lead. They idly dance like this for a little while, avoiding over enthusiastic men and sloshing drinks as they do. Until finally, Alex stops from her ‘movin’ and groovin’ as the kids say, and looks directly at Christen.

“I consider you a teammate, you know” Alex randomly blurts out. Christen has a hard time hearing her over the thundering music bouncing off of the walls of the cramped space.

“What was that?” she yells back. Alex moves closer so that Christen is sure to hear her this time.

“I consider you a teammate, Christen. I really do. I’m sorry if all the teasing back at Signore’s made you think that you aren’t one of us, but the truth is, we’re all just a bunch of assholes” Alex explains, yet Christen still doesn’t seem to comprehend.

“You… wanted to tell me that the team is ‘just a bunch of assholes’?” Christen asks, confused as ever. Alex sighs frustratedly.

“No, you’re missing the point” Alex breathes, shaking her head at the naïve girl.

“So what is the point?” Christen questions further while just barely avoiding the falling drink of the wasted guy beside her. Alex grabs onto both of Christen’s shoulders and demands her undivided attention.

“The point is” She speaks slowly and determinedly, “You’re my friend, Christen. You’re my teammate. It doesn’t matter if you’re on the pitch or in the stands, you’re on my team. Alright?”

“Wow” Christen mutters in response to Alex’s genuine kindness, “Tobin was right, you are friendly when you’ve been drinking.” Alex smiles and gives her a playful shove in return.

“Hey, we’ve been over this” Alex lightheartedly warns, “You’re my friend, alright? I care about you and shit. So when Tobin came back into Signore’s tonight and reamed us out for making you feel bad, I felt like the worst person on the Earth. I know I sound melodramatic, but I have a lot of alcohol in my system so I can’t control that and – ”

“Wait, back up” Christen instructs, “Tobin did what now?”

“She scolded everyone one after you left the restaurant. She was so mad, saying things like, ‘That was really fucked up, guys’ and ‘Christen didn’t deserve that.’ Yeah, she was pissed. And Tobin never gets pissed” Alex retells. Christen lets herself absorb Alex’s words before she glances over her shoulder and spots Tobin waiting patiently for her at the bar. Once she sees Christen staring at her, she smiles. Tobin did that… for me? I didn’t think – She didn’t seem like… maybe she did. I mean, she did seem a little flustered when she walked out the door but… but I didn’t think she did all that… for me.

The song ends and Alex releases Christen from her vice-like grip. Christen’s head is swimming when she swears she feels Alex slightly push her back towards Tobin. So Christen meanders through the crowd, but just as she’s about to arrive in front of her expectant neighbor, a girl stumbles into her and accidentally pours her entire fruity drink down Christen’s front. Christen stands still in absolute shock. Did that really just happen?!

“Oh my god, I’m so sorry!” she apologies profusely, but Christen just waves her off as she attempts to make sense of why she’s currently covered in a red, sticky liquid. She looks down to see that her white shirt is almost entirely stained, past the point of salvation. Dammit, I really liked this shirt. Fucking Kelley O’Hara.

Not a moment later, she hears a giggle erupt from in front of her. She looks up to see Tobin desperately trying to suppress a bout of laughter.

“Stop laughing!” Christen commands, shooting daggers in Tobin’s direction. However, this only seems to encourage Tobin even more as another laugh escapes her.

“I’m not!” Tobin deflects, though she can’t help the way her voice trembles as she says it.

“Yes, you are!” Christen reprimands, still not sure what to do with herself now that she’s covered in someone else’s alcoholic beverage.

“Alright, I’m sorry” Tobin concedes, dabbing at the corners of her eyes, “It was just so damn funny.”

“Funny, huh?” Christen argues as she gestures to Ashlyn’s mixed drink sitting on the bar, “Want one to match?” Tobin respectively takes a step back an inch or two.

“Christen, dear, I think you’re great and all, but if you touch mama’s drink, we’re gonna have some issues” Ashlyn half-jokingly informs. This solicits another snicker from Tobin, but she quickly silences it when Christen looks her way again.

“I’m sorry” Tobin repeats, “Truly, I am. Here, take my jacket as a peace offering.” Tobin slides her leather jacket from her body and slings it over Christen’s shoulders. It’s warm and inviting, and Christen feels like she might never want to take it off. “Besides, I get any of this” Tobin says as she gestures up and down Christen, “in the car, Kling might possibly kill me.”

“She has a point” Ali adds, tipping her beer towards Tobin acknowledgingly. Christen lets out one last huff before caving in.

“Alright, fine, I forgive you” she allows, though she isn’t quite as unwilling as she appears to be. “So, do you know where Kelley is?”

“Yeah, I do” Tobin clarifies, “I was just about to come get you before, well, this happened. She’s just down the road, at Octopus Ink.” Ink?!

“Is that a tattoo parlor?” Christen exclaims.

“Yeah, and a pretty shitty one if you ask me” Ashlyn confirms with a hint of melancholy as she covers up a small patch of skin on her arm that she’s not too proud of. Ali notices and rubs her hand up and down Ashlyn’s back.

“Shit, we have to go. Now” Christen declares as she drags Tobin to the exit. The other girls call out their goodbyes and even Patrick bids the two a good night.

Christen and Tobin, upon Christen’s insistence, walk briskly down the sidewalk on 9^th until they approach the tattoo parlor. A giant light up octopus with a ‘mom’ tattoo on one of its tentacles points to the entrance. Through the large windows, Christen spots Pinoe and some dude with a hat as they watch Kelley inspect something on her back in the mirror. Shit, no!

Christen bursts through the door with so much force that it nearly bounces at its hinges and narrowly misses slamming into Tobin as she follows the girl inside.

“Kelley!” Christen desperately and breathlessly exclaims. All eyes fall on Christen as Kelley finally looks towards her.

“Pressy!” her roommate excitedly exclaims, “Check this out!” Kelley turns and reveals the flowery splotch of ink covering a thin strip on Kelley’s lower back. Dear god, no. Christen’s jaw drops.

“Kelley” she remorsefully begins, “Please tell me you did not just get a tramp stamp.”

“Well I had to get something to commemorate my first college cap” Kelley explains as if her rash drunken decision is no big deal. Christen hangs her head in defeat. We got here too late.

Pinoe gets up from her spot on the couch and walks over to the sulking girl.

“Relax, kid” She whispers, “It’s only a spray on.” Christen’s head pops up and she nearly tackles Pinoe with her gleeful hug. Those words are music to Christen’s ears. “Sheesh, if I didn’t know any better, I’d think you were Alex after a couple of drinks” Pinoe jokes as Christen finally sets Pinoe free of her embrace.

“Hey Tobin, how’s it going?” the guy in the hat greets.

“Good Paul, how about you?” she returns. So that’s Paul.

“I’m cool” he shrugs.

“Cool” Tobin echoes. Then the two just stand there in comfortable silence. That’s it? That’s the ‘Cool Paul’ that everyone raves about? Huh, I don’t get the appeal.

“So is my limo ready to take me home?” Kelley asks as she finally lowers her shirt to cover up her hastily applied, temporary tattoo.

“Yes, home” Christen agrees, “Please.”

After one short car ride and a random excursion to McDonald’s, during which Kelley could not stop raving about how ’10:30am means nothing anymore’, the trio arrive back to the dorm. Christen and Tobin slowly guide Kelley down the hallway as she munches away at some fries. They try to be as quiet as possible, and even reprimand Kelley when she crinkles her to-go bag too aggressively.

They just about make it to room 318 when they hear another door open down the hall. They stand still as statues, trying their best not to draw attention, but with no such luck.

“What are you three doing out so late?” Becky’s voice queries from behind them. They slowly turn around and Becky takes a good look at each of them. Each look like they’ve been to hell and back in their own respect. Dammit, we’re done for.

“Well you see, Becky, your honor –” Kelley’s words slur together. Shit, why is she the one that’s talking?!

“Well, we uh…” Tobin tries to intervene. Becky just closes her eyes and holds up a hand to stop each of them from continuing with their incoherent rambling.

“Save it” she dismisses, taking a moment to stare each of them in the eye, “I’ll let it go this time, but if you show up staggering down the hallway at nearly five in the morning again, I’ll have to write you up.” Tobin, Christen, and Kelley bob they’re heads up and down appreciatively. “I never saw you tonight, you got that?”

“Ma’am, yes ma’am” Kelley solutes as Becky turns around and strolls down the opposite direction of the hallway.

“Thanks, Becky” Tobin calls after her.

“I don’t hear anything because I’m the only one in the hallway right now” Becky replies over her shoulder. The girls grin victoriously as Christen gathers her key and unlocks the door to her room. She and Tobin help settle Kelley into bed before finally turning towards each other.

“Thanks for helping me out tonight” Christen whispers, looking Tobin fondly in the eye.

“Thanks for waking me from my dream and making me lose sleep” Tobin casually returns. A smile forms at Christen’s lips.

“Still bitter about that?

“A little.”

“Well, at least our little soldier’s home from war.”

“Ten bucks says she pukes within the next hour.”

“Oh, she definitely will.”

“That’s true. Goodnight, Christen.”

“Goodnight, Tobin.”

“Goodnight, Moon.”

“Kelley, go to sleep.”