CHASING GOLD: World Cup

Chapter 11

Waiting is the worst part. And Theo and her siblings had been waiting for about 2 hours. Their parents were in surgery. Theo hoped and prayed they would be ok but she felt in her gut that everything was about to change. She was preparing herself for the worst which would eventually come. She's brought out of her daze, not even realizing she was pacing, when someone came up from behind her and hugged her. "I'm here T." Andy said, hugging Theo from behind. Theo turned around and gave her best friend a huge hug. They pulled away from the hug and Theo noticed the pro players that were behind Andy. Theo gave her a questioning look. "They were worried about you." Andy explained. Tobin then came up behind Andy and pulled Theo in for a hug. Alex hugged her after Tobin pulled away. Each of the pros gave Theo a hug. Hope and Kelley gave Theo a hug last. Something felt different with this hug between Theo and the two pros.

After waiting even longer, the doctor came out. Theo knew the second she came out. She didn't need the doctor to tell her. She just knew. "I'm sorry. Ms. Morgan. They're gone." The doctor said to Theo. Hope and Kelley held Theo as she broke down. Andy would have held her but she herself was being held by her mom and Alex as she broke down at the thought of Theo's parents being gone. Theo's little siblings didn't quite understand what was happening as Christen and JJ kept them occupied. "The driver of the other car is gone as well. The driver was highly intoxicated. They shouldn't have been driving at at all." The doctor explained some more. Theo nodded and went to hug her siblings.

"Where are they going to go?" Press asked Alex. Alex looked at Hope and Kelley with Theo and her siblings.

"Probably to the group home." Alex said. Alex looked over at Hope and Kelley who were talking with Theo.

"I have an idea." Press said. "They may not like it." Alex turned her attention to her friend. "What if JJ and I took the twins?" She suggested. Alex looked over to JJ who was with the twins again. The two were smiling, obviously unaware of what just happened, while JJ talked to them animatedly.

"I think you should definitely ask." Alex said, turning back to her friend. "Wait hold on. You and JJ?" Alex asked, smiling. Christen only smiled and nodded. "'Bout time."

*****

Tuesday
The group of ten got back to the hotel at around 1 in the morning. Someone had explained to Jill and the coaching staff what was going on and Jill told them to do what they had to do but not let it affect the dynamic of the team, which they all easily understood, as the World Cup was coming up in a few months, qualifiers were about to start, and they had a friendly in several days.

With Andy in Tobin and Alex's room, Theo in Kelley and Hope's room, and the twins with Press and JJ, they all finally were able to sleep. In the next few hours, the team got up for their breakfast meeting in the conference room.

Tobin, Alex, and Andy got up around the same time and headed down to breakfast. Most of the team was already there besides Kelley, Hope, Press, JJ, the twins, and the Mewis sisters.

Tobin found Jill when they got into the room and headed over to her. "Hey Jill." Tobin said.

"Hey Tobin. How is everything going?" Jill said, obviously not just asking how the midfielder was doing.

"Uh. Well." Tobin said, looking down at her feet. "So I think you know what happened last night. Why we left?" She asked. Jill nodded. "Well. Theo, Andy's friend, was at the hospital because her parents were in a car crash." Jill put her fork down after hearing this. "Her parents...they didn't make it. Theo has little twin siblings so we brought the three back with us..." Tobin finished.

"Ok. Where are the three now?" Jill asked.

"Uh Theo is with Hope and Kelley and the twins are with Pressy and JJ." Tobin explained.

"Ok. I will talk with them later to understand the plans they have." Jill said. "Thanks Tobin." Tobin walked back to Alex and Andy who were sitting down and eating.

Tobin sat down next to Alex. "Are you going to eat babe?" Alex asked. Andy curved her head to look at Alex who was blushing. Alex decided to ignore what she just let slip.

About 10 minutes went by before Hope, Theo and Kelley walked into the conference room. They got their breakfast and sat down by Tobin, Alex and Andy. The Mewis sisters came down minutes later and sat down at another table with Abby, Ash, Ali, Carli and Becky. Press and JJ entered the room several minutes later with the twins in tow. They immediately ran to Theo. Several of the team members were very confused when the little ones came into the room.

"Um JJ. Pressy. Did you steal these children?" Rose asked. Emily, Lindsey, Moe, and Mal all nodded their heads, wondering the same thing.

"No. They're Theo's siblings." Christen explained.

"Yeah. They're twins." She explained, helping her siblings into the chairs beside her. Theo motioned to the little ones. "This is Jenna and Logan."

Kristie got up and walked over to the two little ones and started talking to them. After 10 minutes and once everyone was in the conference room, Jill started talking. "Ok. So as you all know we are with Theo and Andy's school team this week. This Saturday is our second friendly in Cincinnati against France." The girls all nodded. "On Friday evening we will load the bus and head over to Cincinnati which is about a 3 hour and 45 minute drive. So let's get the day going girls." The girls got up and headed back to their rooms to get ready for the day.

In Tobin and Alex's room, Andy walked up to her mom. "So its about 8. Um my first class is just a study period but I need to be in school to be able to go to practice later." Andy said. Tobin nodded in understanding.

"Ok. Let's get the keys to one of the vans and I'll drive with you." Tobin said. The two got ready and headed down to the lobby. Theo and Kelley were down in the lobby too.

"I texted Theo to tell her we were leaving." Andy explained to Tobin.

The four got into the van and headed off towards Andy and Theo's high school.