Only Friends

Chapter 15 - Quarterfinal

For the quarter finals, we were set to play Great Britain. Rachel played for Great Britain, and Leah as well. After Rachel and Kristie broke up, although I never officially chose Kristie, we all knew that my friendship with Rachel would not survive. I always was more connected with Kristie. We had this unbreakable bond that no one could top or falter, and that meant distancing from Rachel. She was fine with it, from what I saw at least. Her best friend, Millie Bright, and her are inseparable and she did not need me. She also got a new girlfriend so quickly after the break up with Kristie. I thought it ironic that both myself and Sam were going to have to play against Rachel. Especially Sam. 
I was on facetime with Kristie the night before the Great Britain match.
"What do you think about me and Sam playing against Rachel?" I asked her.
"You guys better win!" She proclaimed.
"I fucking want to."
"Are you guys talking?" She asked me, in reference to Rachel.
"Not really. After you guys broke up, she realised that you were my best friend and I would never leave you, so she left me." I looked down, kind of sad realising I lost a dear friend.
"I'm sorry that happened, I feel so bad."
"No, don't! It's not your fault. I promise. People grow apart. But we never will!" I said, confidently.
"Of course! You and me forever!" She replied.
We hung up the phone and went to bed, needing to energise for the game the next day.

Great Britain was a challenge. The entire game was a crazy roller coaster with the leader changing every 20 minutes. By half time we were leading 1-0, due to a goal by Alanna. However, Ellen scored a header in the second half to make it 1-1. To make matters even worse, Ellen White scored again to make it 1-2 in the 66th minute. Despite having 24 minutes to find another goal, it was only in the 89th minute that Sam pulled in a miracle to make us go into extra time. In the extra time, Sam scored again and so did Mary. Although Ellen White did complete her hat trick in the extra time, it was too late. We were going to the Semis. We had beaten Great Britain.

To say we were elated would be an understatement. We were ecstatic, crazed, shocked, and bewildered. We were guaranteed a fight for a medal, which gave us all hope. It was the best finish for the Matildas in an Olympic games ever. Sam, as captain, really pulled through and showed why she is the best player in the world. And why, in my opinion, she is the GOAT.

I posted on my instagram a picture of me running up to Sam and jumping on her after she scored her second goal in extra time. She was hugging me while my legs were wrapped around her. In the background, one can see all the other girls coming up to us and huddling. I captioned it:

indiharrison: You aren't all too bad at football @samanthakerr20

samanthakerr20: Thanks for the confidence Inds!

The sarcastic banter is what both Sam and I love. We don't really like the soppy and too kind friendships. Every friendship needs to be constructive, as we like to say.

Although we had made the top 4, it was still a daunting process. Sadly, for Jill the Dutch team lost in a penalty shootout to the USA. This meant that the top four were Canada, Sweden, USA and us. As the rules became more flexible as time went on, I was able to find Jill and walk with her around the village. We met at the rings, and I saw her for the first time in a couple of months. I can see the blood shot eyes and the sadness that was lingering on her.
"Baby," I said, holding my arms out to her, "come here." We gave each other the first hug in months and held each other for a long time. I made her look at me while I wiped the tears off her face.
"We really wanted to win," she said, solemnly.
"I know, I know," I replied, hugging into her again. She took her mask off and I did too, and we gave each other a quick, but meaningful, deep kiss. One we hadn't been able to give each other in so long.
"I missed you, my girl," I said to her as we broke apart.
"I missed you like fucking crazy," she replied as she grabbed my hand and we start walking and talking, catching up on all things.
"I was scared that we were going to have to verse each other," I said, as we were walking through the communal park.
"Me too. That would've been the worst," she answered back.
"Sam and Kristie had to verse each other, and they may have to again," I exclaimed.
"Wow, that's annoying," she said as she wrapped her arm around my shoulder as we walked. We walked in silence for a little while, trying to soak up our time together before she had to go.
"When are you going?" I asked her.
"I head back to England tomorrow night." I nodded my head in reply.
"Okay, well I'll be back home as soon as you know it." When I turned to look at her, I could tell in her eyes that there was something she wanted to say or tell me.
"Babe, I know when you have something on your mind. What is it?" I asked. She was hesitant, at first, to open her mouth.
"Ok, so my lease is up on my apartment. Should I sign another one?" She looked at me, like I was going to help solve her lease issue.
"Yeah, I mean, when a lease runs up, you normally sign another one," I replied, confused.
"No, you don't understand, should I sign another one or should we maybe..." her voice trailed off but I caught on.
"Do you want to live with me?" I asked, jokingly, giving her a slight tickle on her arm.
"Do you want to live with me?" She asked back.
"Of course I do, you goose!" I leant into her kissing her neck and collarbone, not caring if random athletes saw. She grabbed my face and kissed me back. I was going to move in with Jill.
If random people saw us, they would see a girl wearing orange and another wearing green and gold, kissing in the middle of the village, not giving a damn about what people thought.