Only Friends

Chapter 8 - International Break

I picked up Sam first, then Caitlin. Despite being the youngest, I am the designated driver in most situations. Not sure whether that is because I am the best driver, or the most mature, but I don't really mind it.
"Sammi Wammi," I said, as she got into the car after I had pulled over in front of her apartment.
"So late!" She said, as she hopped in.
"Sorry," I replied, "I was just saying goodbye to Jill." Sam knew about Jill, and our relationship, but we couldn't talk for long before we got to Caitlin's apartment.
"Foordster," Sam screamed, as Caitlin got into the car. We headed to the airport, and met up with all our fellow Matildas. Hayley, Emily, Mary, Steph, Lydia and Tegan were all there at the airport when we arrived, as well as our coach and staff. We smoothly got onto the plane and headed to Madrid.
Due to covid, there are no crowds at the Stadiums when we play, and the restrictions are tight on us. We cannot go out in shopping malls, or grocery stores. We are confined to outdoor spaces and our hotel.
I end up rooming with Sam, which is a first, as we don't normally room together. Once we have settled into the room, unpacked our gear and are just laying on our beds, Sam caught me up on what has been happening between her and Kristie.
"We have been talking all the time," she started, "our conversations just flow."
"That's great," I reply, already knowing a lot of this information from what Kristie told me. She too said they had fluent conversations, and that Sam was one of the funniest people she has talked to. Sam has the classic Australian humour, it's very smart, witty and cutting. She knows how to retort and respond.
"I just really like talking to her," she continued on. From what I had been let in on, Sam is infatuated by Kristie and her aura. She loves her confidence, her smarts, her ability to know what she wants. Kristie has always been sure of who she was, and, from what I have seen, Sam likes that.
"Well, I was going to ring Kris tonight, to talk," I said, slyly. I had planned to talk to Kristie that night, and catch up, as the time difference worked. I was going to bed as she was off from training.
"We've never talked like that," Sam said, looking nervous.
"You don't have to talk or anything, I was just letting you know."
I facetimed Kristie and she answered. She had her hair in her classic top knot and was in her USWNT gear, as she had just got a call up to the squad again.
"Indi," she said, as she walked through her hotel door.
"Hi, who are you rooming with?" I asked her, curiously.
"Lyn," she replied. Lynn Williams is another USWNT player, who is very close with Kristie and her sister, Sam. Sam and Kristie were dubbed the best up and coming players in the early 2010s. Born and raised in Massachusetts, they both played soccer for the US in the under 15s, 17s and 21s. Sam and Kristie, although not close when they were younger, became best friends when they were around 21, and although they aren't twins, they are only 19 months apart. "What about you?" She asked, knowing I was in Spain with the Matilda's. I turned the phone so it faced Sam, who was lying on her bed on her phone. She looked very focused, probably looking at instagram memes. Kristie's eyes widened slightly when she saw Sam as my roommate. She mouthed "Sam?" I nodded my head and she lightly chuckled.
"Sam," I called out, "Come say hi to Kris." Sam looked at me, reluctantly, coming over and sitting on the bed with me.
"Hi," she said, sort of awkwardly, and Kristie did the same.
"Why are you guys so awkward?" I asked, trying to defuse the tension. There was a light chuckle in the air, and I continued to talk.
"So, Kris, how was your first game back with the national team?"
"Oh yeah, how was it?" Sam chimed in.
She proceeded to tell us about how she had got a goal, in her first game back. That was her second national team goal, over 6 years from when she originally scored. It was a record time between goals, which she said she didn't know whether to feel pleased or embarrassed.
"You should feel good," Sam said, "Goals in international games are hard to come by."
"Not for you," Kristie replied, jokingly.
"Well, as a defender," I chimed in, "Goals, period, are hard to come by, let alone international ones."
"Well we all know that you could never be a 9," Kristie retorted at me while looking at Sam through the screen.
"Well, you two can't get past me in defence, so I think I am doing my job," I reply to both of them. "Sam, talk to Kris while I go to the bathroom". Not only did I really need to go to the bathroom, I also wanted them to talk to each other without me, and see if they had the connection I know they have. As I was in the bathroom, I heard them both laughing and talking, so my plan worked.
When I walked out of the bathroom, they were both laughing about something or other, but at this point, I actually wanted to talk seriously with Kris, and Sam if she wanted.
"Guys, guys," I started to say, "Can I ask you a question?" They both nodded their heads. "So, you know how I have this thing with Jill Roord?" They nodded again, "Well, I don't know what to do. Like, do I ask her to be my girlfriend? Do I make her ask? I have never really done this before," I said, looking down, away from the screen and Sam.
"Indi," Kristie started to say, "relationships are confusing like that, it's normal. It is okay not knowing what to do, or where to go. I think you need to have that conversation with Jill and ask her what she wants. Have you guys gone public? With your team I mean?" I shook my head.
"No, we haven't. Although, it's possible the team already knows, we aren't trying to hide anything on purpose," I replied.
"Have you guys like done stuff?" Sam asked curiously.
"Sammi!" Kristie exclaimed, "that private stuff." I was bemused, not by the comment Sam made, but by Kristie calling Sam, Sammi. I didn't realise that they were so close.
"Um," I started to say, "sort of. But not, all the way." They both nodded, knowing what I was alluding to but too embarrassed to say.
"But, yes, I agree with Kristie. You need to talk to Jill," Sam replied.
"Yes, okay, I will." We swiftly moved on, and talked about everything from soccer, to news, and gossip. By the time an hour or so had passed, it was very late in Spain and time for Kristie to have dinner in the US. We hung up the phone, and turned the lights out.
"Sam?" I asked her, as we lay awake in the darkness.
"Yeah?"
"You like Kristie, don't you?"
"Yeah, I really do"