2
Then it happens Ash sees her. She is still outside the car. But she sees her. Ali had just broken her embrace with Whit.
That smile… Ash could see that smile everyday for the rest of her life and not have a complaint in the world. Ali Krieger looks like she just stepped out of a magazine. Even though she has been traveling all day from Germany.
All of a sudden Ash is broken out of her trace as Whit hops in the van with Ali right behind her. Ashlyn has to tell herself to breath when she makes eye contact with Ali.
Whit turns to Ali and begins to introduce the two.
"Ali this is Ashlyn Harris, she was my roommate at UNC. This is her first official call up."
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Ash is fortunate in this respect. Since she went to UNC many of her college teammates are on the national team. So for years when she gets together with her college friends they have been telling her stories of the national team.
Besides Ashlyn's college teammates she hasn't meet many of the national team players but through stories she knows a few things about most of them.
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Somehow Ashlyn manages to speak in a somewhat normal tone back to Ali "hi I am Ashlyn it's nice to meet you. The girls talk about you a lot"
She laughs and Ash thinks to herself that it's the best sound she has ever heard in her entire life. "Hi Ashlyn it's nice to meet you. And whatever they have told you about me isn't true"
There it is again she laughs, smaller this time. But still beautiful.
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Ash has a million come backs but none seem appropriate ranging from " they said you are beautiful and they weren't wrong"…to…" they told me that your shy but I want to change that"
but she stick with a standard statement
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" you don't have to worry they only say nice things and talk about how much they miss you. It's nice to finally but a face to the girl they all mope about not having around"
Ali smiles but in a sad way and slightly mumbles " I miss them more than they have missed me"
The team hotel is close to the airport so after the Introductions Ali and Whit chat and caught up for a few minutes. Until the van arrives at the hotel. Getting out of the van Ash opens up the back and puts her bag over her shoulder and picks up both Whit and Ali's bags. Ali reached her hand out for her bag but Whit stopped her. "Ash likes to carry things to make her feel strong and she could use and arm workout anyway let her have it" Ali turns to Ash not completely sold. But Ash winks and smoothly states "princesses don't carry their own bags"
Inside they all check in and find out Whit and Ash are roommates. Once Ash drops off Ali's bag at her room which is right down the hall from Ash's room. Whit opens the hotel room door and the both enter. They both start unpacking. With little talking happening between them. Just each asking which closet the other wants and which bed each prefers. While whit still has her head in her suitcase she ask "so are you going to be pulling the Harris charm with all the gals or just Kreigs"
Ash blushes. She was hoping it wasn't that obvious that she was into Ali. But Whit has always been able to see through her. Ash still attempts to cover it up none the less "just because I'm nice to someone doesn't mean I'm trying to sleep with them Whit