Attached - Mallory Pugh/USWNT

Chapter 10

April 6th, 7:00 pm

Morgana's POV

After a long media day, they wanted us to do more. They wanted to film a few videos to post on YouTube to gain interest. They picked Mal and I to be one duo because we were the youngest, and the team claimed we were funny. 

But the upside of today, we got our jerseys that had name and number and everything. 

When I put on my 22 jersey it just felt RIGHT. It was perfect, it fit perfect, the number was perfect, (my lucky number) and MY name on the back of a USWNT jersey....how can things be so perfect right now while also flying out of place? 

The best picture we took today was the picture that I took with Mal and Ashley. We were all just kind of talking, deciding our next poses when were all laughed at something and the cameraman just snapped pictures of us. 

We had a team dinner starting at 6:30 as well. I thought I was going to get to have a nice, easy dinner, I would sit with Abby Dahlkemper and Lindsey Horan, 2 people who didn't make my life difficult today, but the staff members decided it would be nice to ASSIGN seats to us. 

So I got stuck next to Kelley, the first person to make my life miserable. 

It was pretty awkward, so I got better acquainted with the girl to my left, Sophia Smith. We had talked a few times at camp and obviously knew eachother, but we didn't actively hang out like I did with Ashley Sanchez or Mallory. 

Ans across from me was someone else I was thrilled at. Ashley Sanchez. I did a good job of hiding my anger or whatever. We made some small talk, but made awkward eye contact through the past half an hour. 

They finally took our orders after sitting here for 30 minutes, and I hoped it would be quick so I could get out of here and go to the hot tub to clear my mind. (No, I don't need a lifeguard there( 

"So what are you up to after this?" Sophia asked. 

"Nothing much honestly. I'm probably just going to go to the pool and sit in the hot tub. Clear my mind a bit." I replied, finding it weird how she essentially read my mind. 

"Maybe I'll come with you. I'm getting pretty sick of hanging with the same people." She sighed. "And you're a bit more my age then them." 

"I feel you. I haven't gone an hour without seeing Mal's face the past, like, 3 days. And honestly I'm pretty desperate for friends." 

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April 6th, 10:00 pm

"I'll be back in like an hour." I told Mal, and headed for the door. 

"Alright. See ya." She said, not taking her eyes off the TV. 

I met Sophia by the pool, and we put our stuff on chairs and climbed in the hot tub. 

"Honestly I didn't know if I was going to come down here alone. Freaks me out really. Thanks for coming with me." I told her. "And besides I'm looking to make new friends beyond my little inner circle. They caused me a bunch of problems today."

"You wanna talk? I'll listen.: She said. 

"Eh, you probably don't care." 

"Nah, I'm all ears. Go ahead." 

So I explained everything. Everything from soccer growing up to what Kelley said at the gym to what I said to Ashley. 

"I have a lot of questions, but you can't answer them. But there's one you can." She said after letting me talk for a solid 10 minutes, no interruptions. 

"Hit me." I said. 

"Do you like her? Because at the end there you talked highly of her towards the end there." 

"Oh Soph. That's the burning question." 

"So yes or no?" 

"I don't know." I paused, and when she didn't say anything, I continued. I spent so much time hating her and convincing her she's the worst...am I going to let a single week change that?" 

"Well that's for you to answer. I can't answer that." 

"I know. I'm not a bad person for hating her right? I mean I like her now. Just I'm not a bad person for it then, right?" I asked. 

"I don't think any differently about you. It was all jealousy, Morgana. All jealousy. You never actually hated her, you were just jealous. And that's okay. You moved past it. Your actions, feelings and thoughts from the past don't define you as a person now. Remember that." 

"So you don't think I'm a horrible person?" I asked. 

"Far from it." Sophia replied. 

"Thanks. That means a lot. It really does. And also that was the best advice I've ever gotten." 

"I'm here to be a friend whenever you need." She told me. 

We chatted for about 20 more minutes, and then a bunch of guys that were probably about 22 or 23 ish, because they looked young and had beer. 

Sophia and I locked eyes, and they started to talk to us as they set some of their stuff down. 

"We got some pretty girls!" Said one of them. 

We looked at eachother again, and I moved in closer to her. 

There were 4 guys, each had a case of beer. 

"That's a lot of beer." I whispered to Sophia. 

"I'm pretty sure you can't have that here, but it's whatever." She replied. 

"Should we dip?" I asked. 

"Hell yes." 

When we tried to stand up and leave, they stopped us. 

"Where are you going? We were hoping you could hang with us." Said one of the guys. 

"We have to go..." I said. 

"Stay for a little at least?" He asked. Sophia and I looked at eachother and agreed to stay. 

"So what's your name?" Asked one of the guys as he sat down next to me with a beer. 

"I'm Morgana." I replied simply. 

"Want a beer?" 

"Uh, I'm 19." 

"Just try some." He handed me one. 

"Done." I tried it, and it was pretty good. I handed it to Soph, telling her to try it. 

"Morg..." She said. 

"It's actually good." I handed it to her. She took a drink, and agreed. 

"Damn." She said. "Can I have one?" 

"Yeah." One of the guys handed it to her. 

"Just one, because I have practice and I'm 20, so this isn't actually legal." She said. 

"Oh and I hope you know you aren't getting shit from me tonight." I told them. 

"You're not single?" The one guy asked. 

"It's complicated." I replied. 

"Very." Sophia added. 

"So are you two-" 

"Oh no no no." Sophia said, both of us laughing. 

"Okay." One of the guys said slowly. 

So somehow we all started chatting, and the beer loosened me up. I had another after that. And I think another. 

It can't be that bad, right?

This chapter is a bit different, but important! Enjoy!!

P.S. I met Ashley Sanchez the other night and she was so sweet I can't! She signed my poster (because it had her name on it) and took a selfie with me which was awesome, and she only signed mine since it was an away game for the Washington Spirit