Memories

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'Ah, home, let me come home
Home is wherever I'm with you'

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Thalia was allowed out of the hospital on Sunday afternoon. The doctors were satisfied that they'd pumped her with enough blood and that her stitches would hold. One member of the team just had to be with her at all times. Not that she wasn't already. She sat in the stands at practice on Monday morning and afternoon, and as for her classes, all her teachers were made aware that she wasn't allowed out of the classroom without another student with her. 

Thalia knew she wouldn't be playing against the Trojans the next Friday, but just being there to support the rest of her team was enough. When people saw her, they went wild, because apparently people had thought her dead. It was fair enough, Thalia realised. She hadn't been seen since Baltimore, and so people would have assumed things. Assumed she was dead. 

"We don't have that to our advantage anymore," Thalia muttered to Kevin as they entered the locker room. "Riko will know before the end of the night."

"Fuck Riko," Dan said. Thalia raised her eyebrow and smiled slightly in amusement.

"I mean, sure, but don't actually." Thalia said. That made Nicky laugh. 

"We don't have USC's line-up," Wymack asked a staff member when they stopped by. 

"I'll see if I can get it." She said. Wymack nodded in thanks and then when she closed the door, turned to his team. "Kevin, Dan, think about what you're going to say at pre-game."

"Should I go with? Just to let people know that I'm not actually dead?" Thalia asked, raising a shaky hand. Even three weeks after her injuries, she was still feeling the impact, and quickly lowered her hand. 

"No, Thalia. You stay here for now." Wymack said. She nodded. "But you can sit on the bench during the game." Thalia smiled. She'd been surprised the Foxes were actually allowed to play last week, with both Thalia and Neil out, but she supposed they were still on the team, so it had been allowed.

"Does 'We're excited to be here' and 'We're going to do our best' cover everything?" Dan asked slightly nervously.

"How about 'We're gonna own these losers'?" Nicky said sarcastically, and Thalia smiled. That made Nicky smile even wider. He'd been spending the past week trying to make Thalia smile. She was grateful for his efforts, and genuinely felt better.

"And that's why you're not allowed to do press," Matt said dryly. Thalia laughed and Matt raised an eyebrow. She shrugged. It was funny. 

"Then why is Neil allowed to talk to the press?" Thalia asked. Everyone looked at Neil, who rolled his eyes and stood to go get changed. Everyone but Thalia followed. 

When the Foxes went out to the benches, Thalia looked around and smiled. The stadium was packed, and they'd been told there were multiple news stations and recruiters from major summer leagues and pro teams in attendance. Somehow, though, it didn't make Thalia more nervous for her team. It only made her excited.

She looked across the court and saw the Trojans, but, more importantly, Jeremy Knox walking across the court. Thalia followed Kevin and Wymack to meet Jeremy when he reached their side of the court. She smiled and shook her head at him. Jeremy's serious expression fell into a smile when he saw the team.

"Coach Wymack, welcome to SoCal," Jeremy said, shaking Wymack's hand. "We're excited to host you tonight." Wymack nodded. Then Jeremy turned to Kevin and Thalia at Wyamck's side. "Kevin, you crazy fool, you never cease to amaze me. You've got a thing for controversial teams, I think. But I like this one much better than the last."

"They're mediocre at best but they're easier to get along with." Kevin said. Thalia rolled her eyes and Jeremy laughed.

"Same old Kevin, as unforgiving and obnoxious as always. Some things never change." His tone was friendly, however. Thalia smiled at their friendship. "Some things do," he looked at Thalia.

"Hello Jeremy, it's nice to see you again." Thalia said. Jeremy shook his head at her.

"You turned down my team for the Foxes?" he asked jokingly.

"I wasn't thinking about exy at the time you approached me. It's why I didn't agree to your contract." Thalia said and Jeremy nodded in understanding. "How is Jean, by the way?" she asked, a knowing smile on her face.

"He's doing just fine, adjusting to life with us." Jeremy said. Thalia nodded. He handed Wymack a folded piece of paper. "Our line-up," He said. "I know it's a little late to be getting it to you, but we were trying to avoid as much backlash as possible." Thalia frowned at that. Wymak skimmed over the paper.

"Backlash?" Dan asked, as confused as the rest of the team. Wymack handed her the paper and shook his head at Jeremy.

"Your pity's misplaced." he said. "Tell Coach Rhemann we don't want any handouts."

"This isn't pity," Jeremy explained. "We're doing this for us, not you. Your success this year has us rethinking everything about how we play. Are we second because we're talented, or because we have twenty-eight people on our line-up? Are we good enough as individuals to stand against you? We have to know."

Kevin took the paper out of Dan's hands and Thalia looked at it over her shoulder. One..two..three...ten players. There were only nine players on the Trojans' line-up for the game.

"You're joking. You're joking." Matt said, also reading over Kevin's shoulder. "You're not?" Jeremy shook his head in confirmation. Allison pulled his sleeve, wanting an explanation. "There are only ten names."

"And you called Kevin crazy." Thalia mumbled, hoping Jeremy wouldn't catch it. 

"Two goalies, three backliners, two dealers and three strikers," Jeremy said. "You've made it this far with those numbers. It's time to see how we'd fare in that situation. I'm excited," he smiled widely. "We've never played a full game before. Hell, most of us don't even play full halves. We don't have to because the numbers are always in our favour."

"You'll lose," Thalia said, looking up at Jeremy.

"Maybe, maybe not," Jeremy said with a shrug. "It'll be fun either way, though, right? I can't remember ever being this psyched for a game." Jeremy laughed. "Bring it Foxes, and we'll bring it too."

"See, the optimism is part of why I said no." Thalia said to the Foxes once Jeremy had left. She shook her head and went to sit down on the bench. She'd be the only one sitting out the whole game, but she could watch and figure out how she'd play against the Ravens in two weeks time. They were going to win, no doubt about it. The Trojans didn't stand a chance. They weren't prepared for the intensity of full games. And there wasn't any doubt in her mind about the Ravens winning their game, either. The Foxes would make it to finals this year. And Thalia would beat Riko. She'd finally beat him at his own game.