The Call
*Victoria’s POV*
I groaned as my alarm went off for school. I begrudgingly got up, knowing if I wanted to get a run in before school I had to get up now. I sat up, wiping at my bleary eyes. I saw the notification on my phone that I was getting a facetime call from both Allie and Steph. I grinned and hit accept, they hadn’t had time to facetime me since the camp with their college classes, and I had really missed being able to actually see them.
I absentmindedly played with my soccer ball in my hands as I waited for the screen to load. I grinned when their faces replaced the dark screen a few seconds later.
“Heyo kid!! We miss you already!!” Steph pouted, Allie nodding in agreement. I smiled a little, and moved to put my ball carefully away on my shelf, being careful not to smudge Abby’s writing.
“Hey wait!! What’s that writing on your ball, it wasn’t there before.” Allie said, her and Steph both looking confused. Ah I had forgotten to tell them about nearly getting ran over by our idol.
I held the ball closer to the screen so that they could both read it, anxious and nervous to see their reactions. I could tell that they had both read it, because their eyes were bugging out of their sockets and their jaws were nearly on the ground.
“Wait, what?! How?! When?!” Steph and Allie both shouted, making me smile in amusement. I carefully set the ball on the makeshift display I had made for it on my shelf, and grabbed my notepad and a pen of paper.
“Well, I fell asleep on the bus, so the closest transfer to Buffalo I could get was Elma..”
Before I could write more, Allie interrupted me, her tone scolding. “That’s like an hour walk, and it would have been getting dark!!” She said in a motherly tone, making Steph and I both roll my eyes.
“Geez calm down mother and let her tell us how she met the legend!” Steph said, earning a smack in the arm from Allie. I laughed silently as Steph pouted and rubbed her arm, Allie scowling at Steph, and then motioning for me to carry on.
“So I was walking past the Flash Stadium and I got distracted with so many thoughts, seeing so many happy groups of friends and families together and I got emotional for some reason, and I must have stepped into the street when my vision was blurred by the tears, because next thing I know a car was beeping at me, the lights right in front of my face, and the driver was yelling at me.
Steph and Allie froze, looking equal parts sad and worried, but they didn’t comment, so I continued.
“But they must have noticed my tears because they apologized and asked if I was okay and I looked up, and it was Abby! She basically gave me no other choice than to get a ride home from her, and she basically said to keep my head up and made me promise her that I’d work hard so we’d see each other again on the Senior National Team.” I wrote.
There was silence for a while, Steph and Allie’s jaws still dropped. After what seemed like forever Steph shouted out “Damn! Sign me up for almost getting ran over by the best soccer player ever!!”
Allie shook her head and laughed as I just grinned at Steph’s response. “That’s amazing kiddo! And you better keep your promise! We can't be the 3 musketeers without you!!” Allie said in her Mom voice, her face stern, though her grin was starting to peek through.
“I promise Mom.” I signed, since I had been able to set my tablet down.
Allie glared at me in faux anger as Steph laughed loudly.
“Well I wish we could talk more, but I know you want to run before school, so we’ll let you go.” Allie said.
I pouted, not wanting to stop talking to them,but I knew Allie was right. She usually was, though Steph and I would never tell her that.
“Nope!! Stop with the face!!” Steph said, covering her eyes. Allie laughed and did the same thing, and I just shook my head at them and their dorky behavior.
They finally uncovered their eyes, and Steph said “We’ll talk to you later kid, after we all get the call. You best start packing!” Steph said.
I smiled, though fear gripped me. What if I didn’t make it? What if I lost the only people who actually accepted me. I couldn’t make it much longer all alone in this house and at the hellhole they call school.
I must have hid my emotions better than I thought because Steph and Allie grinned a they waved at me.
“By kid!! Have a good day! Don’t forget to call!” Allie reminded me, and I faked a smile and nodded.
I quickly pulled on a pair of sweatpants and a T-shirt, and plugged my earbuds into my phone. I listened to music as I ran down the familiar, yet lonely streets. I tried to fight back my fears as I ran. That was the one thing I wasn’t used to. Since I never had anyone who really cared about me in so long, I didn’t know how to even think about losing that.
I sighed as I rounded the last corner to the house. I quickly grabbed one of my school soccer team shirts and a pair of jeans, and everything else I’d need. I took a quick shower and dried off, carefully brushing my wavy brown hair after I had changed into my clean clothes. I put on light make-up, and grabbed my Packers hoodie and my backpack and headed to the kitchen I get my backpack down on the chair, and grabbed an apple and I poured myself a glass of orange juice. I ate quickly, and then grabbed my backpack, begrudgingly starting my 10 minute walk to school.
I heard whispers and jeers as usual as I weaved through the crowd of students to get inside. I avoided feet that were stuck out to trip me, but I wasn't able to avoid the numerous elbows and punches I got to my ribs. I sighed as I finally managed to get through the crowd and walked to my locker. I opened it, willing myself to not be upset by the abuse, I should be used to it by now.
I just looked at the small USWNT poster I had taped to my locker door, and smiled slightly, remembering that I had promised Abby to try to keep my chin up, and that maybe, just maybe, I’d soon be a step closer to playing with my idols.
Classes seemed to drag on even more than usual today, maybe because everyone was whispering about how Kayla and I had been at the recruiting camp, and if we would get the call up. I played with my fingers as I sat in my last hour, which was study hall, willing for the clock to move faster to 3:00.
My attempts to block out the gossip failed when I heard the unmistakable voice of Kayla’s right hand women, Karen say “So you’re supposed to get the call if you get called up today right?” She asked.
“Yeah,” Kayla said, her obnoxious voice filled with arrogance as usual. “I mean it’s obvious I’ll get the call. I’m one of the best soccer players ever.” Kayla bragged, and I had to stop myself from rolling my eyes.
“What about Victoria though, I heard she was at the camp too.” Brandy called out, she was one of the few students who didn’t bully me just because I was mute.
“What mute?! Why would they want her? She’s just a worthless mute who’s never going to go anywhere? Why would any team want her, let alone one of the National team's?!” Kayla said loudly, causing most of the room to laugh. Brandy, and Mr. Higgins, both looked like they were going to say something when the intercom beeped, and Principal Parker’s receptionist said “Mr. Higgins, Victoria Swift needs to be seen in the office, tell her to bring her books with her.”
I heard sneers and laughter and Brody, Kayla's boyfriend, called out “Yes! Maybe they're finally getting rid of the freak!”
I kept my head down as I quickly gathered my books and all but ran out the door. I quickly walked toward the office, worrying about what could be wrong. I couldn't be in trouble, could I?
I quickly got to the office door, and reluctantly stepped in, preparing to get yelled at for something. Instead I was greeted by the nice receptionist, a sweet old lady named Pam.
“Hello dear!! You have an important skype call!” She said cheerfully, though the glint in her eyes and the smile told me that she knew something I didn’t. She ushered me behind the desk, and I froze when I saw the familiar face of Michelle French, better known as the coach of the U20 National Team.
She grinned when she saw me appear in the camera frame. “Hello Y/N! It’s so great to see you again!! I know you’ve been waiting, and I’m so happy to tell you that you’ve been called up to the U20 team, but I want you to know up front that this is only to see how well you do at this level, i it all goes well they want to move you up to the Senior National Team, we were all really impressed.” She beamed.
I stood there in shock. I did it, I really did it. I looked down at the Abby Wambach jersey I was wearing and smiled slightly when I realized I was one step closer to keeping my promise.