It has always been you

chapter 5

After dinner with like half the team the group decided on another night of drinking games. They finally had the following day off again and everyone was excited to just get to stay up late for one evening.

After some back and forth they decided on never have I ever. Again.
"So... Mh... Never have I ever...stolen something" Kelley started the first round.
"Oh come on" Pinoe laughed and took a sip. Along with almost everyone else. It was only the first question but everyone was already laughing about someone. Of course they then told the stories of what exactly they stole. For the most part it was innocent stuff like a pack of gum as a kid.

And then there were some crazy stories, of course. Pinoe explained how she'd stolen bunches of things from her twin sister Rachel, just to piss her off. Which worked most of the time since they were teenagers when Megan did it.

Ali thought about telling them about the time she stole her brother's drugs from him. Only so that he wouldn't take them. And how they ended up having a huge fight about it. Addiction really changes people.
But it only took her a split second to decide not to. As much as she loved and trusted every single person on that team, they didn't need to know everything. Maybe she could tell Ash someday. Maybe.
So instead she told them that she took her dad's watch for a few days because she loved it, and him, a lot.
Everyone got some good laughs but they moved on quickly.

"Never have I ever...cheated on someone" Pinoe then said.
Surprisingly not one person in the room took a sip.

"Never have I ever... Gotten a tattoo" Ashlyn laughed, very obviously being covered in lots of gorgeous tattoos.
Everyone drank and so they went on to explain their own and ask others about their tattoos. Some really had some good stories to them, others were just beautiful.

Now it was Ali's turn.
"Never have I ever... uh.... caught my parents having sex" she then giggled. Everyone laughed as well and a few people drank with Ali.
"Some kinda trauma, huh?" Pinoe asked between laughter.
"Oh for sure" Ali laughed even harder now.

"Oh I have a good one. Never have I ever... Kissed a girl" Allie said.
Ali was really anxious all of a sudden and leaned into Ashlyn, who was thankfully sitting right beside her, a bit. Not too much that it wouldn't seem platonic but enough to get her a little comfort.
As much as she dreaded it, she took a sip along with most other players. They were the most surprised about Allie herself drinking though. All eyes were immediately on her. Nobody noticed Ali cuddling even more into Ashlyn.
Allie just shrugged. "It was in College. Everyone experimented. I mean what's college without" she laughed.
"Cheers to that" Pinoe shouted and within second the room was filled with laughter again.
Ashlyn just shot Ali a grin but she knew not to say anything. Instead she put her arm around the brunette for some comfort. Ali first tensed a but but as she realized the group was already somewhat drunk and nobody cared the least bit that she was cuddling with Ashlyn, she leans into it. And if she was being honest she never wanted this to end.

For the next few rounds she stayed in Ashlyns arms. She felt comfortable in a way she hadn't in a long time. And she was glad nobody really cared. Or at least that's what it seemed like.
Ashlyn didn't mind either. She was just happy that after the brunette came out to her she didn't ignore her. She'd had that happen before. And after a while she put her arm around Ali as well. She of course tensed at the contact at first but soon relaxed again.

The next day Ali was left alone in her room and decided to call her brother. He picked up almost immediately.
"Hi sis, what's up?" she could hear him smile on the other end.
"Hey Kyle" she sighed.
"Oh god, what's going on? How bad is it? Do I have to book the next flight" he asked jokingly.
"No" Ali now laughed a little.
"It's just... I wanna tell you something. I need someone to talk and I think you're the only person I can talk to about this right now." she explained.
"Okay. Go on. I have time" Kyle encouraged. He heard Ali on the other end take a deep breath.
"So uhm... I think... I kinda.. like girls" she then stuttered.
"So what you're saying is... You're gay too?" he said way more enthusiastically then Ali had expected.
"I... Yeah, I think so." She smiled now. That was a relief.
"So.. is there anyone in particular?" Kyle grinned and Ali could envision it.
"Uhm...." Ali went very quiet all of a sudden. And she started blushing.
"So there is, okay. What's her name?" He asked.
"Uhm... Ashlyn" Ali whispered.
"Oh my god as in Ashlyn Harris your new goalkeeper on the team?" Kyle almost screamed into the phone.
Silence on the other end. Now Ali had a few quiet tears streaming down her cheeks. It was all too much. Falling for a girl the first time. Really falling, not just a crush. And it scared the hell out of her.
"Ali" Kyle asked after a few seconds.
"Yeah" she muttered. He could very clearly hear she was crying.
"Oh Ali. I really wish I could just give you a hug right now. I know this is a lot. And thank you for telling me" he said in the sweetest tone.
"Thank you" she immediately said back.
"So... Am I the first person you told or should I be offended" Kyle then asked which made Ali laugh again.
"Well uhm... About Ashlyn yes. But about the liking girls thing actually..." She trailed off.
"Oh my god. Who?" Kyle started screaming again.
"Calm down" Ali laughed at the other end.
"Yes yes whatever. So who?" Kyle asked again.
"Ashlyn" Ali answered innocently.
"Awwww. But she doesn't know you like her?" he questioned.
"Yeah.."
"But you know she's gay?"
"Yeah. That I do" Ali smiled.
"Well in that case... Go get your girl" Kyle laughed and Ali joined in too.
Shortly after there was a knock on the door.
"K. I love you. But I gotta go" Ali said.
"Love you too. Byyyyyyeeee" Kyle laughed.
"Byyyyyyeeee" Ali said back before heading towards the door.