My Cure - Mallory Pugh/USWNT (Sequel to Attached)

Chapter 27

July 4th, 2022

Morgana's POV

Game ended 5-0, goals from Alex Morgan, me (Morgana LaRue), Ashley Sanchez, me again, and Ash Hatch. 

After the game, I ran over to my family, and let Hayley hang out with Alex's daughter Charlie while I signed autographs for all the USA fans there. Again, there weren't many people there. Then I went to my family, and I took a picture and talked to them and whatever. Mal joined me, because she was basically part of my family at this point. (And moreso than everyone thinks.) 

I turned around to spot Hayley, and I saw Hatch teaching her and Charlie how to do moves. Charlie kept tripping and falling, which was adorable, and Hayley figured out how to do a stepover in a matter of seconds. 

"She got my athletic genes, Chloe. Look at her." I laughed. 

"Growing up around professional soccer players helps too." Smiled Chloe. "She's lucky to have you guys." 

"It's true." Mal and I said together. 

A few minutes later I got Hayley back to Chloe, and we headed back to the locker room. 

"You killed it today." Mal said, throwing her arm around my shoulder as we walked across the field. 

"Thanks, Mal. You too." I laid my head on her shoulder. 

I've given up caring what people think. Let them say what they want. Nothing will break us. 

"Reporters want you, Morg." Said Kelley as I walked in. 

"Seriously? Why? I didn't have the best game today." 

"Something Rose and Sophia said. I don't know." 

"Oh great." I sighed, and left Mal to go find the reporters. 

"Morgana! Over here!" One waved me down. 

"Hi." I said, trying to hide how annoyed I was. 

"So Rose Lavelle and Sophia Smith both claim that it was you that set up that third goal. How did you come up with that?" She asked. 

"That's a tough question to answer really. I really just picked apart the defense, took advantage of how insanely good Rose is with time and space, and how good Sophia is at taking girls 1 on 1. They executed it exactly as I explained it." I replied. 

"And you had 2 great goals tonight. Never failing to impress the crowd. Good job." 

"Thanks." 

"And I don't know if you heard her, but in the stands we got a great shot of your niece screaming for you, and everyone on the team really. And after the game, her playing with Alex Morgan's daughter. She's so adorable and just so talented." 

"She's my biggest fan for sure. My parents are a close second, but Hayley roots for everyone, and she roots hard. And she's very talented. She loves soccer even more than I did at her age. I'm hoping to see her out there one day, maybe I'll even be lucky enough to play with her. But I know I will always be her biggest fan. Forever." 

----------

July 4th, 2022 - After the game

Sophia's POV

After the game, I felt so tired. Maybe because I got the crappiest night sleep ever last night. I didn't even put up a full 90 but I felt like I just played a game with double overtime and penalty kicks. 

I thought back to the game, trying to figure out how much I ran, but I had almost no memory of much that happened, with the exception of Morgana's play, getting tripped and hitting my head, and getting subbed off.