Encroachment

It didn't need to be awkward. That's what Sara kept telling herself as she got comfortable on the plane and ready for the flight to Paris. I mean she could handle it, a crush really just a small tiny crush. She wasn't thinking about how she woke up from a dream in the middle of the night and looked over to see the star of her dream asleep in the bed next to her. Albeit wearing much more in reality than she did in her dream. She was fine, everything was fine. She looked up and saw Ava and could feel her face flush as Ava looked at her confused.

Ava walked by and glanced back at Sara who she saw slouch and bury her head in her hands after she passed by. Ava looked back towards her seat which was a few rows behind her. And fuck her luck if she wasnt sitting next to Helen of all damn people. Ava put on her media smile and sat down tucking her bag at her feet for the time being. She would pull out her book once they were in the air. Helen smiled at Ava who was praying that maybe this flight isn't full so she could move later when it was time to sleep.

Ava watched as the flight attendants started their typical spiel about safety. But she lost focus deep in thought about Sara earlier when she passed by her. Come to think of it, she had been acting weird all morning. They were packing their stuff and Ava cracked a joke about her inability to pack or mostly she laughed at Sara for not folding anything. Sara just chuckled and didn't say anything. Seemed a little odd, but then Sara who had been sitting with her on the bus the past few weeks had decided to sit with Kara on the bus leaving Lena and Ava to sit together both confused slightly.

Ava had gotten back yesterday after her run and Sara wasn't in the room. So she had gone about her nightly routine and was asleep by the time Sara returned. She wondered for a while if Sara was out with Helen and then decided it didn't matter. Whatever this was, these weird thoughts, this jealousy towards the very woman she was sitting next to needed to be shelved. She had to stay focused on the prize. Olympic Gold that was the prize, Helen possibly tripping and falling on her face at some point during media days or whatever was just an added bonus in her imagination. She glanced over at the blonde and smiled and then looked back at the flight attendants. “Asshole” Ava thought.

Sara tried to sleep, she really did.

Ava tried to sleep, she really did.

France was warm, it was unusually hot and practice was intense. The team was focused on the upcoming games. Their group stage was filled with dominant teams. Of course they were in the group of death. They had to play Germany, who was physical, China who was tactical and Brazil who was both. Getting points was their goal, winning games and getting out of the group stage was their main focus.

Ava and Sara were still roomed together; it had been three days since they arrived. Their first game was in three days and the coach noticed a small issue and called the duo into her office. They both arrived and took seats across from Coach Gideon.

“So ladies, I called you in to ask what's going on?” Gideon asked.

“What do you mean?” Ava asked, glancing over at Sara who kept her eyes forward.

“In training camp you two were on point, passes were amazing and communication was fantastic. And now it’s all…” Gideon waved her hands around in the air and then dropped them to her desk. “Now it's disconnected.” She said but tilted her head as if that wasn't the right word.

“It’s me.” Sara said quietly. “I’ve just not been in the right frame of mind. I’ll work on it, coach.”

Gideon sat back without saying a word just looking at the pair. Ava was looking at Sara who was keeping her attention on the Coach. She couldn't figure out what the issue was but something was going on and someone wasn't telling her what the hell it was. “This is the Olympics.” Gideon said and leaned back in her seat.

“I am just stuck in my head. I read an article that wasn't really shining a great light on my playing and I let it get to me.” Sara said, looking down at her feet. “I’ll fix it.”

“You’re sure?” Gideon asked and Sara nodded looking back up to the coach with a smile. “Alright, social media dark as of now. No magazines and we can pull you from media if we need to.” Ava snorted and Sara finally looked at her.

“What?” Sara asked, looking at Ava.

“Nothing.” Ava mumbled and Gideon leaned forward.

“You have something to add, Sharpe?” Gideon asked

“No, it….” Ava faltered “Sorry.”

“No, what was that?” Sara asked and Ava looked at her with a stern look trying to say not now. But Sara wanted to know what the snort was. She knew Ava was still holding that kiss against her. “I told you that was nothing.” Sara mumbled as Gideon watched the duo have a stare down in front of her.

“Yeah well I doubt Helen will be happy about you not doing media.” Ava scoffed and looked away from Sara.

“She doesn't get to decide.” Gideon chimed in and both women looked at her.

“Is this why you haven't been talking to me? You’re still upset about media day?” Sara asked and Ava looked at Sara.

“You haven't talked to me either so don't make this about me.” Ava replied coldly. “You have been acting weird since it happened. Not me.”

“Wait, what are you talking about?” Gideon asked and both women looked at her.

“Nothing.” Ava said and Gideon stood up.

“If it’s causing the two of you not to communicate then it is something. I will not have personal issues come between my players.” Gideon said walking around the front of her desk in front of the duo leaning against it and crossing her arms over her chest. “Now what does Helen have to do with this?” Gideon asked, motioning towards them.

“Ask Sara.” Ava said, causing Gideon to look at the smaller blonde.

“It was nothing.” Sara said. “I wish you would just admit it upset you.”

“It did Sara, she is a member of the staff and she kissed you. That isn't okay. You said so yourself that she did it without your consent.” Ava turned towards Sara whose eyes had gone wide.

“She kissed you?” Gideon said in shock.

“I think she just misread the situation. I mean I do tend to flirt sometimes and…” Sara was cut off.

“It is not nothing. I was very clear that staff and players do not intermingle.” Gideon said as she moved back to behind her desk. “I will take care of this. You two are excused.”

Sara stood up and stormed off before Ava could even stand up. She glanced at Gideon when she saw how angry Sara was. She slowly stood up and walked out of the office and closed the door quietly. She moved into the training room where Sara was waiting and she looked pissed.

“What the hell Ava?” Sara angrily approached Ava.

“Hey, woah calm down Sara.” Ava said, putting her hands up in the air in defeat.

“Calm down? You realize Helen is probably going to get fired now?” Sara said in disbelief.

“Well she broke the rules.” Ava said, trying to move past Sara who put her hand on Ava’s shoulder to stop her.

“I told her I would keep it between us.” Sara chimed in and pushed slightly on Ava’s shoulder.

“Sara, I can tell you are upset. So I am going to walk away and we can talk about this when you have cooled off.” Ava went to move again and Sara stood in her way.

“No, we talk now.” Sara said and Ava tilted her head from side to side, the bones cracking slightly as she closed her eyes and tried to remain calm.

“Sara.” Ava said quietly but the smaller blonde stayed right where she was, when Ava opened her eyes she saw the determination on Sara’s face. “Helen put you in an awkward position and it does bother me. She is staff and the rules are clear. So yes I'm mad and believe you me I wanted so badly to say something to her on the eleven hour flight here while i was sitting next to her. But I didn't. But don't pretend like it's not causing an issue. You haven't been yourself since it happened, you have been acting weird.”

“That’s not why I've been off.” Sara said and pointed to the door of Gideon’s office. “I read an article.”

“Yeah, ok Sara.” Ava made to walk away again and Sara stopped her again. “Sara.” Ava said sternly this time her shoulder shrugging. She was tired and fighting with Sara was not what she wanted to be doing. She wanted to rest and relax before their afternoon practice.

“You don't believe me?” Sara asked and Ava shook her head.

“Sara, it doesn't matter.” Ava said and tried to walk again but Sara moved to stay in front of her. “I’m tired Sara and I don't feel like arguing with you.” Ava huffed out.

“Why don't you believe me?” Sara asked and Ava stared at her, refusing to answer her. “Oh so we aren't talking again. You’re insufferable, did you know that?”

“Are you kidding me right now?” Ava asked and moved forward causing Sara to step back. “Insufferable?” Ava repeated and shook her head. “Coming from you that’s rich, you are by far the most insufferable person I have ever met. And you are calling me insufferable.” Ava took another step forward as Sara stepped back again. “I know you're lying, you get this wrinkle in your forehead when you lie Sara. So tell me the truth or just shut the hell up and let me leave.”

“I…” Sara was looking at Ava and couldn't say it, how exactly do you say. YOU. It’s your fault. Sara’s mind could think of the words but her mouth and brain were not working in tandem today. So she just stood there like a fish, her mouth opening and closing without words coming out. Ava rolled her eyes and shook her head.

Ava pushed past her and walked away leaving a stunned and silent Sara in her wake. Sara watched her as she left. She turned back towards Gideon’s office to see the coach standing in the doorway leaned up against the frame with a raised eyebrow. Sara’s eyes went wide knowing Gideon had heard everything. FUCK! Sara turned and stormed off knowing she had to fix this.

“We have a major problem.” Nora said as she walked into Zari’s room dragging a sleepy Kara with her.

“Nora, I was taking a nap.” Kara mumbled as Nora pushed her towards Zari’s bed where the blonde curled up on top of the covers as Zari turned towards them from the desk she was sitting at with a laptop.

“What now?” Zari asked and Nora made her way towards the dark haired woman.

“Helen went and got herself fired.” Nora said and Zari’s eyes went wide. Both women turned towards the sound of snoring coming from the bed. “Kara!” Nora yelled and Kara sat up looking at both women sleepily.

“Mom, the bus can wait.” Kara said and looked at Zari and Nira wide eyed. “Sorry she mumbled as both women rolled their eyes.

“Helen is out so now what do we do?” Nora asked.

“Why is Helen out?” Kara asked

“Fired, catch up supergirl.” Zari said, turning towards Nora. “We could send Kara in and see if she can make Sara jealous.”

“Ewww no way.” Kara said, standing up and moving towards Zari’s mini fridge.

“Hey what are you doing?” Zari asked.

“I’m thirsty.” Kara said looking inside. “All that's in here is energy drinks and donuts.” she grunted and closed the door sitting back on the bed.

“Yeah i'm with her, Kara would never be able to pull it off.” Nora laughed as Kara flipped her off. Nora’s hand went to her chest. “Kara, I don't think I have ever seen you cuss before.”

“I didn't cuss.” Kara replied.

“Flipping me off is literally you saying Fuck You.” Nora said and Kara laid back on the bed.

“Why don't you just ask them?” Kara mumbled sleepily.

“What was that?” Nora asked.

“I mean you both have known Sara and Ava for how long? Why not just ask them if they like each other instead of trying to make this whole dramatic jealousy thing happen.” Kara said as she rolled over and looked at both women.

“Kara, you're a genius.” Zari said and Kara sat up with a smile.

“Yeah?”

“No, shut up.” Zari replied and Kara fell back on the bed. Zari turned towards Nora and bit her bottom lip. “We have a common denominator, and I say we play it now.”

“Already?” Nora asked and Zari nodded.