Attached - Mallory Pugh/USWNT

Chapter 3

April 2nd, 2022 7:00 am

I headed down to the gym so I could do a light work out before practice. When I left, Mallory was still asleep, but I wasn't focusing much on being quiet. If I woke her up, not my problem. 

I ran a half mile on the treadmill for a warm up, then I started doing core strength exercises on the mats. 

As I was doing crunches, probably looking pretty stupid, she came and sat down next to me. 

"What?" I said coldly. If she wasn't going to give me a moment of peace, I'd have to make it evident that I wanted one. 

"Someone woke up on the wrong side of the bed." She said. 

"What is it, Pugh?" I flipped to my side. 

"I just had to ask you something." 

"What is that something?" 

She took a deep breath. "Why do you hate me?" 

"Wha-why-huh?" My words all mixed together, unsure of how to respond to that. 

"Yeah, I don't know, I feel like you may kill me in my sleep or something." She flipped onto her side to face me, far too close for my liking.

"I'm not that bad of a person. I swear." I replied. I was practically breathing in her air now. 

"You didn't answer the question." 

"I'm not gonna. So give up." 

"You're really cute, you know that?" She tapped my nose. "I think you should answer the question." 

"Don't start with me, Pugh." I said, trying to figure out her angle. 

"Don't start with you how?"

"Just don't." I stood up and walked over to the weights. 

"Nice six pack." She followed me over to the bench where I was sitting down, debating what sized weight to use. 

"You sounding that surprised leads me to believe you don't have one?" 

"No, I don't, but I'm working on it." 

"Good for you." I replied, sitting up and grabbing some 15 pound weights. 

"Why do you hate me Morgana?" 

"Mallory, please. I'm trying to work out here..." 

"It's not that hard!" 

"You really want me to answer? I don't hate you, okay? I don't." I lied. Then I cursed in French and she left me alone for the rest of my workout. 

----------

6:30 pm

I called my grandma to let her know how my first day of practice had been. Mal was just laying on her bed, scrolling through her phone. 

"I got to know most of the team. I am playing three games instead of my expected two on this break. I'm actually really excited. We are starting here in Columbus, and then going to Pennsylvania. Then the last place is undetermined because where we were originally supposed to go had some sort of problem and had to cancel. I think it was somewhere in California." I told her in French. 

"Well at least you're getting the chance to play three. That's more of an opportunity than most girls get to play in their debut." She replied. 

"It's true. I don't know if I'll appear in all three, but it's one more opportunity than a lot of others get, so I have to make the most of it."

"Just work your hardest. Like you always have. This is finally your chance, Morgana. Work hard but don't forget to have fun, because it's not worth anything if you don't enjoy it." She said. 

That's what she always told me, since I was a little kid. 

"I will." 

"And prove to your coach that you are the most valuable player on this team and you're here to stay." 

"I will." 

"Promise me." 

"I will, Mimi." 

"Well I'm sure you're busy, so go do whatever you are up to. I'll talk to you later." 

"I'm not busy." I said in French.

"Then make yourself busy. Get to know your teammates. I know you have a roommate, why don't you spend time with her?" 

"I'm not-"

"I love you, Morgana. Bye." 

"I'm not busy! I'm not busy!" I yelled in French. "I'm not busy!" I yelled in English as she hung up. 

"Well we can be busy if you want." Said Mallory, finally looking up from her phone. 

"Don't imply stuff with me." 

"No, I mean we can go out to eat or something. Lindsey said she found this good restaurant last time she was here." 

"If Lindsey is going then I'll go." 

"Well I can ask her." She took out her phone and texted her. 

"Is it like fancy or expensive? Because I hope you know I'm practically broke right now until I get paid for these games." I told her. 

"That's okay. Dinner's on me." She said. 

"For real?" 

"Yep. First camp treat." 

"Thanks." I said. "But I don't have anything to wear." 

"Doesn't have to be fancy. Just wear something that's not work out clothes." 

Right now, her words were not spoken with her normal, happy tone. It was quieter, and as if she was afraid to say the wrong thing. As If I was fragile and would break. 

"Is this okay?" I pulled out jeans and a flannel from my suitcase. 

"It's great." 

I put on that outfit with a black tank top under. I also fixed my dirty blonde hair so it looked a bit better then it did after my shower. 

I can't believe I just agreed to go get dinner with her, and ESPECIALLY let her pay for me. There's something in the air here I swear.