Last Kiss

I still remember 
The looks on your face 
Lit through the darkness at 1:58 
The words that you whispered 
were just for us to know 
you told me you loved me 

When Ali slowly slips out of her peaceful sleep, she feels a thickness in the air. This is surely not how the morning after should feel. Before she even opens her eyes she knows the keeper isn't laying next to her. Her heart stops beating for a second untilher mind calmsher (she just went to the bathroom or is getting coffee down stairs. Everyone knows how much she loves her coffee first thing in the morning.) 
 
When she opens her eyes, to take in her surrounds, she notices the clothes that were thrown about haphazardly the night before are gone. (Relax Alex she probably just went downstairs) she reasons with herself. Looking over at the clock she grunts, "what the hell" 5:18am. she scrunches her face in confusion while her mind wonders (why would she be out this early? Breakfast isn't till 8.)

She flops back down on the bed, body still exhausted from the intimate events that unfolded last night. Her fingers mindlessly retracing every inch that had been so passionately touched just hours ago. Her body still felt like pure bliss. Remembering the intricate details of how the woman caressed her and began tounravel herself to Ali. Remembering how those four words had sounded like a sweet whispered lullaby coming from the lips of Ashlyn Michelle Harris. As they laid there wrapped in each other. "I love you Alex..." Ali had been seconds from sleep but she was able to whisper back "I love you too Ash.." She felt a small sweet kiss on her lips, before sleep consumed her. It was the first time they said I love you and it was perfection. 
 
Now, as she laid in the half empty bed, she felt her eyes get heavy again. She closed her eyes hoping that she would wake to those beautiful hazel ones in a few hours. 
 
So why did you go ... away 
 
Ali's heart felt heavy when she woke again to no Ashlyn. She let out a heavy sigh, looks at the clock once more. 7:36 am. She grabs her phone from the nightstand and calls the keeper. Each ring taking a piece of her with it (why isn't she picking up) "Sorry I didn't catch you in time. Leave a message." Her voicemail. "Ugh" Ali furiously taps at the end button and tosses her phone on the bed. "Ok Ali relax, I'm sure there's a good explanation why she's not here. Ashlyn would never leave like this... Better be a damn good reason" she says releasinga deep sigh and running her hand throughher tasseledhair.  
 
Reluctantly the defender gets up to start getting ready. By 7:55 she's heading down the stairs to attend breakfast with the rest of her teammates. 
 
Once she opens the doors to the conference room, she looks around. She noticed that all her teammate were here (that's a first), all except Ashlyn that is. 
 
"Hey Kriegs," Tobin smiles, asking as she's approaching Ali. "Where's Ash?" Tobin's smile falters when she sees the dejected look on Ali's face. 
 
"No idea... I thought she was down here" Ali says with a sadness in her voice. The only time Tobin had heard that sadness from the defender was when she was visiting during camp after Ali tore her ACL in Canada. 
 
"Well she couldn't have gone far" Tobin says trying to lighten the mood. "come sit down, I'm sure she'll pop up in a few" Ali lets Tobin guide her to the table, after she gets some breakfast she knows she's not going to eat. The table consisted of the usual Kelley O'Hara, Alex Morgan, Megan Rapinoe, Sydney Leroux, and Whitney Engen. Tobin sits between KO and Alex, leaving the two chairs to the left of Whit and right of Kelley open. 
 
"Where's your keeper" Pinoeasks with a smirk plastered on her face. 
"Umm.." Ali mumbles, looking down, taking the seat next to Kelley. 
Every one looks at Ali expecting to see the brunette blushing.

Ever since her and Ashlyn become a couple, 6 months ago,they loved to tease Ali. When they see her head hanging low, the hurt evident in her body, they all look around sharing their concern. 

"Hav... Have you seen her Whit?" Ali's voice is small, fragile even, as she looks to Whit. Right away the rest of the teammates know something is terribly wrong. They all look expectantly at Whitney, praying that her next words can save their normally strong, confident right back from shattering. 
 
Whit feels all eyes on her, she hadn't heard from Ash since last night. She hasn't noticed anything wrong with her best friend that would cause her to go MIA. "Not since last night before curfew." She manages to say, wondering if she should try to reassure Ali that she knows Ash will be here any second. That is until Ali sinks farther into her chair. Look of defeat clearly written across her face. 
 
The sight alone is enough to make the most heartless person in the world cry. No one can handle it as the silence settles across the table. 
 
Jill voice breaks the silence from across the room, "Krieger, can I have a word please." The whole room goes silent. Jill would never calls some one out like that, she never has. Ali gets up and walks over to the door, head still hanging low. The entire team is looking on confused and worried.

Jill walks out the door followed by Ali. Jill speaks, anger and hurt evident in her tone, "You know I'mreally hurt Ashlyn didn't talk to me first, didn't you think I deserved to know? That the team deserved to here it from her?" 

Ali looks Jill in the eyes, confusion clearly flashing though them. It hits Jill and she realizes that the defender has no idea, her face softens as she sighs. "You don't know either..." Jill places both hands on Ali's shoulders. She sees the emotions in Ali's face and eyes change in a matter of seconds. Confusion, worry, panic, desperation, hurt, and finally anger. 
 
Jill's hands feel like a ton of bricks to Ali. "What are you talking about" Ali voice is ragged, she holding back the hurricane threatening to break though the flood gates of her soul. 
 
"She took a red eye this morning... She sign with The German National Team as No. 1 goalkeeper ... I'm sorry Ali" 
 
Ali closes her eyes consumed by her emotions, she collapses into Jill's arms. Her guard is down and the hurricane escapes. She lets it all go,letsit take its destructive path through her soul. All she knows is she falling. "but she said she loved me..." 
 
Goooo away... 
 
The conference room is loud as everyone is trying to figure what is happening just outside. 
 
"What the hell is going on?" 
"Where's Ash?" 
"No ones seen her since last night" 
"Is Ali ok?" 
"Did they get into a fight?" 
"Do think Ash is hurt or something?" 
 
A voice of reason speaks, "Ok settle down!" everyone looks at Abby,standing near the front of the room closest to the door. "I don't know what's going on anymore than you guys, but I know coach will be filling us in when she's done talking to Kriegs. So we all need to stop the speculation until we know the facts. Yes I know you are all worried... So am I, but what ever it is we are a team, a family, and we'll figure this out together. Alright" 
 

Everyone nods their heads in agreement when Jill opens the door "Solo, O'Riley." 
 
Hope is half way across the room when everyone's eyes fall on her then HAO who is now close behind. Hope and Abby share a worried look. 
 
As the veteran keeper steps out the door first, she looks to her left, where she finds her right back wrapped in herself laying on the ground.(oh my god) 
 
Heather drops down to Ali. "Ali, hun what's wrong" she tries to sooth her long time friend. (What the hell is going on) 
 
Hope looks to Jill. "Ashlyn signed with Germany, she took a red eye early this morning... No one knew about it." Both of their faces fall, they look at each other then down at Ali whose breathing is erratic as her whole body shakes. "Hope carry her to Heather's room. Heather stay with her the rest of the day... I don't want her alone. I'll tell the rest of the team."All the twogirls can do is nod at their coach. 
 
Hope squats down and puts her arms under Ali and gently lifts her up, "shhhh... I got you Ali.." Hope whispers to her distraught friend. She follows Heather to the elevator when HAO turns to her, "I don't think she'll notice.." Hope just nods as the doors open and they step in. ( I swear, I'm going to beat the shit out of you Ashlyn Harris. How could you do this to her?) 
 
Ali can hear voice but she can't make sense of what they are saying, the last thing Ali remembers is feeling weightless as two strong arms pick her up and carry her somewhere unknown. (Wake up Ali it's just a dream. A bad dream. A nightmare.) Secretly hoping its Ashlyn carrying her out of this nightmare. She knows it's not. But a girl can Hope. 
 
Heather walks out of the elevator first luckily her room is three doors down. She opens it and let's Hope in. (Why would Ashlyn do this) Heather walks over to the bed and pulls the covers down. She watches as Hope delicatelybegins to lower Ali down. 
 
Slowly Hope releases her arms from under Ali until she feels the defender grasping on to her shirt for dear life and whispers, "please...don't leave me".Hope freezes and looks over at Heather silently, desperatelyasking her what she should do. Heathernods to her,signaling that Hope should stay. So the veteran  keeper leaves onearm under her broken right back, and calmly lays on the bed, lettingAliformherself to her body. As Ali rests her head on Hopes chest she feels herself beginning to relax.  

The tears are still running down her face, like a steady river that's been flowing effortlessly for centuries, but her breathing has managed to come under control. It's gradually falling into sync with the keeper, Ali can feel her mind slipping, she can't allow herself to get to far gone, so she holds on. 

Alexandra Krieger holds on to the only thing that’s keeping her from slipping into oblivion. Which happens to be the last thing she ever expected, and that is the voice of Hope Solo, "I'm not going anywhere Ali… I'm right here ok... I got you..." 

For the second time today Ali lets the exhaustion take over, letting Hopes voice anchor her as she lets go, "… I got you..."  

With the faintest whisper, that could be sweptaway by simply turning the page of a book, Ali manages to get out a few words"...she said she loved me..."