Attached - Mallory Pugh/USWNT

Chapter 13

April 9th, 2022 - Gameday - 2:00 pm

Morgana's POV

"I can't eat! I am going to puke!" I said, getting up from the table. 

"Calm down Morg!" Ashley said. "Calm your nerves." 

"You have to eat something so you don't pass out." Mallory said. 

"But if I do I might throw it up!" 

"You won't!" 

"Yeah I will!" 

"After the other night, you have nothing left to puke up!" 

"Huh?" Ashley asked. 

"Never mind." Mal said. 

"Okay then." 

"Get ahold of yourself, Morgana! You're going to be fine!" 

I yelled in french, then Italian, then I took a deep breath. 

"Whatever works for you I guess." Said Ashley. 

"Can you eat now please?" Mal pleaded. 

"I'll try." I took a few bites of food, then stopped to digest. 

"There you go. You have to eat before a game. You know this." She put her hand on my arm. 

"Maybe I'm not cut out for this. What if I suck? What if I do horrible and never get called up again?" I bounced my leg under the table. 

"Morgana, you have nothing to worry about. You're the best one on the field always." She moved her hand from my arm to my leg to stop it from bouncing. 

"Morgana, I was so nervous before my national team debut I left my cleats at my hotel room and brought slippers instead. When I got subbed into the game, I realized that it wasn't actually so scary. It's home to me. And I know damn well it's home to you. SO you have nothing to worry about." Ashley told me. 

"How do I know I can trust you?" 

"Look at me, Morgana. Look me in the eyes." She said. "You can trust me. You know you can. I already apologized multiple times for what happened. I know you trust me." 

"I do, Ash." I told her. "That's behind us, hopefully." 

"Yes, and I'll say it again. I'm really sorry." She paused, and took a deep breath. "Kelley paid me." 

"Oh man I knew it." I laughed. 

"What did Kelley pay you for?" Mal asked. 

"Don't worry about it." I told her. 

"Whole lotta secrets kept around here." 

"You don't even know." I sighed. 

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April 9th, 2022 - 6:00 pm - 1 hour until game time

"Ladies, come in." Said coach Vlatko. 

We all grouped up, and he told us the starting lineup. 

"Obviously we have the not suited players, but they aren't warming up with us. But here we go. In goal, Alyssa Naeher. Left back Emily Fox. Center backs are Abby Dahlkemper and Becky Sauerbrunn. Right back is Kelley O'Hara. Midfielders are Rose Lavelle, Lindsey Horan, and Ashley Sanchez. Up top on the left we have Mal Pugh. Center  Alex Morgan. R. On the left Sophia Smith. We have our subs, which is everyone not listen that isn't in sweats. Let's warm up girls." 

"Starter Sanchez. That sounds pretty hot/" I told Ashley as we jogged out to warm ups again. 

"Shut up." She laughed. 

I wasn't hurt at all by the fact that I wasn't starting. I was a new player, and I honestly didn't mind watching the team play for a while trying to get the groove of the game. And I honestly don't expect to be subbed in. We are playing France, anyway. Tough team and I'm a newbie. 

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April 9th, 2022 - 35th Minute - USA vs France

Morgana's POV

35th minute. Score 0-0. I watched intently as Alex Morgan dribbled down the field, Sophia a few steps in front of her, Mallory a few behind both on their respective sides. Defenders covering all 3. 

Alex slid the ball to Sophia, a beautiful lead pass, and as Sophia went to shoot, the ball was hit out by a defender that slide tackled her. 

Sophia tripped over the girl, and landing hard she hit her head on the ground. 

Girls on the bench with me gasped, I cursed in french, and the trainers picked up their bags, ready to run out when they had to. 

"Shit." Vlatko said as Mallory and the refs motioned for the trainers. "LaRue, up." 

"Me?" I asked in shock. 

"I don't see any other LaRue's." Said Ash Hatch. 

I cursed to myself in French, then warmed up a bit. 

It had been 2 minutes, and Sophia hadn't come off yet, and I couldn't go on until she was off. I just kept stretching and warming up, and I would until she was up. 

"LaRue. Check in." Vlatko said to me as Sophia was being walked off the field. 

"Go Morgana!" "Let's go Morg!" "You got this Morgana!" Were the cheers of my teammates as I stood at midfield, and the ref put up the sign with the number 11 in red and 22 in green, showing that I was coming on and she was off. 

I looked behind me to see that Sophia was going back to the locker room already, probably going into concussion protocol. 

As I ran on the field, the crowd cheered like crazy. I looked for Mal, who was in the corner, setting up the kick. I listened to Alex when she told me where to be, and I stood there. The defender had her hands all over me, and it was annoying but I said nothing. 

Mal took the corner kick, putting the ball right at my head. 

OUCH!

Big moments here!! Just one question: if I were to write a book with Ashley Sanchez would you read? Please let me know because I don't want to write a whole book and get no reads if you know what I mean. Have a nice day :)