Chapter 3
Ash and Whit finish unpacking
They have about 4 hour till team dinner. Ash showers while Whit calls her boyfriend. Once Ash gets out of the shower they are both ready to sleep a little after their long day of traveling
Whit and Ash both arrive for team dinner a few mins early. Both grabbing their plates and sitting next to each other at the first table they see. The whole team isn't there yet.
After a few mins more girls start filtering into the room. Tobin and HAO along with a couple other girls Ash hasn't meet before. Walking in together. They all introduce themselves once they get their food.
They find out who everyone is rooming with Tobin tells Ash she is with Alex Morgan. Tobin and Alex have been roommate every since Alex came to the national team. Both seem the feed off each other well on the field so the coaches have just kept their rooming situation the same. HAO had taken the seat next to Ash. But had not mentioned her roommate yet. Ash nuges her to get her attention away from the chicken breast that was on her plate. " hey who is your roommate". HAO replied with a smirk "Krieger is my roommate. She will be down in a bit she was asleep when I got here and when I woke her she wanted to take a shower before dinner"
Sure enough the doors to the dinner room open and Ali walks in with her hair in a wet bun on top of her head. Fresh mascara on her eyes with only a little other make up. She is wearing a purple Nike shirt with charcoal grey leggings on. Purple and gold Nike shoes to match.
Ali didn't make it 2 steps in the door before 10 teammates had jumped up from their dinner and were running to go say hi to her.
Ali knew this was going to happen and even though she hates hugs she is ready to except as many as she can from the girls she has missed so much.
Germany has been great for her. It has been great for her game, for her independence and it has helped her grow so much but she will never get the time back that she has lost with her friends and family while away.
Everyone is speaking at the same time asking her "how are you?" "How is Germany?" "How was your flight?" Ali can barely make out the questions but she just smiles happy to be back in the company of her favorite people.
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Every one sits and enjoys catching up with one another. Until they are all done eating and coach stands up in front of the room. "hello girls I am happy everyone could make it. I have high expectations for this camp. We have a lot of great talent here. Our goal is to learn from one another, challenge one another and compete. This will prepare us for our next set of game. Tomorrow we start training from here on out we will be going off of the itinerary and rules I sent out a few weeks ago. If anyone has any questions or concern please feel free to come to me and let's make the most out of this camp."
After Coach's speech the girls sit around and chat for a few more mins before everyone heads back up to their rooms. Everyone tried from traveling and ready to rest for tomorrow.
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It's early on the first day of training. Ashlyn heads down to the trainers/ equipment room to get her hands taped and ready for practice. This time seems like the clam before the storm. She still doesn't know what to expect from training. But she's not nervous about it anymore. She has confidence that she will do well no matter what is thrown at her.
Walking into the room Ash is startled out of her own thoughts when she sees Ali rummaging through the snack bins. Ali looks different then she did yesterday wearing her practice kit. Red uniform top and black shorts with her socks up to the top of her knees. For some reason Ashlyn finds it weird for Ali to be in a uniform kit devoid of her own style and uniqueness. Yet Ali still looks completely Beautiful and flawless even in chunky practice clothes.
Ali looks up making direct eye contact with Ashlyn. "Hey keeper, looking for something or do you just like staring at me" Ali says it with a wicked smirk. Ash can't recover quick enough. Words just start dropping out of her mouth" im am… sorrrry. Immm looking for. I didn't mean to. I'm just looking for tape". Ali smiles glad she can make the cocky goal keeper stumble a little bit. She points " tape is over there in the blue medical/ athletic bins"
Ash shutters out a "thanks" before turning towards the blue bins. Before she can even take a couple steps Ali speaks again " next time you miss me and come looking for me you don't need to use tape as your excuse and don't tell anyone that I already started taking from the snack bins. Pinoe would start a riot" Ali says this as she walks out of the room with a couple for protein bars in her hand and a big smirk on her face.