CHASING GOLD: World Cup

Chapter 5

Tobin got ready at her locker. Alex was a few spots down from her getting ready as well. She saw the beautiful girl she was in love with, with her eyes closed and bouncing her head to the beat of the music playing in her ears. As Tobin got ready, she couldn't help but think to the little girl she gave birth to 16 or so years ago. Her mind again wandered to wondering if the little girl liked sports. If she did, what sports. Did she play soccer? Did she play like Tobin? She's pulled out of her thoughts as Alex taps her on her shoulder. Tobin lifts her head up to see that the room is empty. Alex reached her hand out for Tobin to grab. Without having to hear it from the midfielder, Alex wrapped Tobin up in a hug. "You'll find her soon Toby. I just know it." With that, Tobin nodded and Alex grabbed the girl she was equally falling for and lead them out of the locker room and to the tunnel.

Arriving to their spots in time, the French players beside them, the refs led the teams out of the tunnel. The crowd erupted as the teams entered the field. Alex turned her head quickly to the beautiful girl a few people behind her and smiled briefly before turning back around.

*****

Kelley O'Hara noticed two girls in the front row right behind the USA bench. One with oddly familiar facial features she thought. Shaking it off, she set her mind back to the game as the beginning whistle blew and the teams were off.

During the game, the girls behind Kelley were shouting and talking. "These girls behind us really know their stuff." Ashlyn said next to Kelley. "The one girl reminds me of someone but I can't fucking place it." Kelley's eyes went wide.

"You hear it too?" Kelley said. "I can't place it either. She looks familiar too." Kelley added. Ashlyn only nodded. She decided to turn around and look at the two girls who were madly involved with the game to notice the two superstars watching them closely.

Meanwhile, on the field, Tobin Heath had the ball at her feet and in typical Tobin Heath fashion, made her defender look silly as she used her footwork to get around the French player. Racing off towards the side of the box, Christen Press and Alex Morgan were making their runs. Lofting a perfectly placed ball in the box, Alex jumped up and headed the ball towards the goal. The crowd erupted as the ball hit the back of the net. Celebrating, she ran to number 17 and jumped in her arms, their teammates following close behind to celebrate with them.

*****

Andy and Theo had just witnessed their two favorite players assist and score a goal. "Just like our game last night huh?" Andy looked at Theo. She thought back to last night and how she had done the same thing that Tobin Heath had just done. "More and more like her everyday." Theo added. Andy brought herself back to reality as the whistle for halftime blew and the teams headed to the locker rooms. She watched Alex Morgan and Tobin Heath walk off the field together. "How long do you think till they get together?" Andy rolled her eyes but smiled nonetheless. "I mean come on. They're perfect for each other." Andy smiled at that. Theo's own statement made her think of her conversation with her parents this morning. She couldn't help but look at Andy. The girl beside her was looking at something on her phone.

Theo admired the beautiful girl next to her and couldn't help but think about them together. Before they both knew it though, the teams were back on the field. Half way through the second half, Alex Morgan was subbed off for Mal Pugh. Theo saw Kelley and Ash talking to Alex and pointing somewhere in the crowd. "I wonder what they're talking about." Andy said, leaning over to whisper to Theo. Before Theo could respond though, Tobin Heath was tackled harshly and brought down. Theo watched Alex's face as she saw what had just happened. She knew the striker loved number 17. Much more then she thought Alex even knew herself. As Theo turned to explain to Andy what she had just seen though, Andy was expressing an angry and determined face watching as Tobin was holding her ankle. Seconds later, when Tobin got up and walked it off, Andy's face visibly relaxed. Theo thought it was way more of a reaction then anyone else would have but she knew the importance of Tobin Heath to her own middie.

"Hey." Theo said, grabbing Andy's hand. "You ok?" The concern on her face way to easy to see.

"Yeah. I just- I don't know. When Tobin got tackled, I had never felt so pissed off but also worried before." Andy explained. "I've seen her get tackled so many times and I've never felt this angry. I guess in person makes it more realistic I guess." Andy didn't let go of Theo's hand as they put their attention back on the game.

*****

The game ended with a 3-0 victory for the USA. Alex Morgan scoring twice and Tobin Heath once. As they shook hands with each player, Kelley finally placed the girls or at least the one girl she had seen up in the stands. She found Ashlyn immediately, not knowing where Alex and Tobin were yet. "Ash. I know who she looks like." Kelley said frantically.

"Who?" Ash asked.

"She looks like Tobin." Kelley said. Ash looked confused, but seconds later her eyes went wide.

"You don't think-" Ash started but didn't need to finish as she saw Kelley's head nodding, thinking the same thing. They looked around in search of Tobin and Alex. Tobin was talking to some French players she knew and Alex was signing things for fans.

As Alex, got closer and closer to Andy and Theo, she could feel something in her gut. A voice she had fallen in love with, spoke. "I don't know, maybe." She turned around looking for the brunette she loved only to see she was several feet away from her, talking to someone else. She looked up as a little girl called her name and that's when she saw her. She quickly signed the little girls jersey and took a picture, her eyes never leaving the two girls in front of her. When the two girls noticed Alex staring, their eyes widened in shock.

Alex only whispered to herself the name her best friend always talked about. "Andy?"