In the morning I look around for Tierna at breakfast but she doesn't appear to be awake yet. I'm looking around where to sit when Morgan comes up behind me with her own plate of food.
"Come sit with me?" She pleads.
"Good morning to you too," I say turning around. "Are you sure I should sit with you guys? All the other youth players aren't sitting with the national team." I glance around confirming what I've just said.
"That's on them," she shrugs. "Or maybe on their mentors for not inviting them over," she reconsiders. "Anyway since I'm clearly the best mentor and your the best apprentice pleaseee come sit with me?"
"Yeah of course," I say. I'm actually quite grateful for her offer and follow her over to her table.
Carli and Hope seem to be in some sort of passionate conversation at the end of the table. Next to them are Kelly and Alex eating their breakfast with a lot less passion. Finally Christen and Tobin are looking at a video on Christen's phone while they eat. We slide in next to them and Morgan and I look at Christen's phone which she is holding in the middle of the table. It's some video about the wildlife in Canada. Morgan and I start eating our breakfast and chatting about the mornings practice. Morgan is speculating that there will be a scrimmage with both teams combined. I agree and we debate who will be on what team. It's a pointless debate but it passes the time.
Morgan suddenly stops talking and looks behind me at the door then locks eyes with me. I sigh,
"Tierna?"
"Yupppp," she says her eyes following her across the room.
"Well it really wouldn't be kind of me to let her sit all alone would it? Young ones gotta stick together?" I smile and Morgan nods.
"I have to go annoy Kelly anyway," she says with a grin slipping out of her seat.
"I heard that," Kelly grumbles. She shifts over to make room for Morgan none the less though.
I get up walking back towards the buffet under the pretense of getting more food.
"Morning," I say with a smile. I slide in right next to Tierna in the buffet.
"Morning," she says looking over at me with a warm smile. "Man, Morgan ain't smooth at all." She says turning to me and looking me right in the eye. I turn bright red.
"Not my fault," I say looking away and adding some fruit to my plate still blushing hard. Tierna laughs nodding towards an empty table. I follow her over and shoot a glare at Morgan who quickly looks away.
"So how did you sleep?" Tierna asks. Saving me from the awkward moment.
"Terrible. Karina snored," I lean in and whisper the last part.
"I'll lend you some earplugs for tonight," she says sympathetically.
"Lend?" I say grimacing a little.
"Ok yeah that's a little gross I'll give you some I mean." I nod approvingly.
"Morgan thinks we are gonna scrimmage today," I say.
"I hope so. I want to play," she says excitedly.
We chat over breakfast and agree to meet in the lobby a bit early to hang out before the bus. Neither of us are exactly close to our roommates so we don't want to hang out in our rooms longer than necessary. I give her my number and tell her to text me when she's ready.
I change and pack my bag I sit on my bed and text Maia back. 'I got her number' I text. 'Ooooh' Maia immediately responds. 'Now give it to me so I can send her vaguely threatening text messages to not mess with you' she sends next. 'No way' I say. 'Heading down!' An unsaved number sends to my phone. 'Gotta go to training' I text Maia. I quickly save Tierra's contact and hop up. I wave bye to Karina,
"See you down stairs!" I say over my shoulder already out the door. The elevator beeps and opens almost instantly revealing Tierna standing inside it.
"That was fast," she laughs as I join her inside.
"The awkward silence in my room was suffocating. Karina seems nice and all but I think its funny that Morgan who's 22 has an easier time relating to me than a 17 year old" I say with a shrug.
"Well Morgan is probably a lot more confident and comfortable then Karina," Tierna points out.
"Oh, that's a really good point," I say looking at her. She has her hair down a hair tie on her wrist for late. She looks very good.
The elevator stops on the ground floor and we walk into the lobby. We are 20 minutes early but there's already plenty of players in the lobby. We weren't the only ones with this idea. I feel a bit disappointed Tierna and I will be interrupted but I suppose its probably good to socialize with the other players.
Carli is standing in a group with Morgan conveniently. We walk over to the group and they wordlessly expand the circle for us. Abby (Whambach), Meghan (Klinginberg) , Christie (Rampone), Sydney (Leroux), and Heather (O'Rielly) are also in the circle. The discussion seems to be surrounding the girls pets as several people have their phones out showing a dog or a cat. Heather is holding a picture of a goat explaining how it plays soccer with her and is better than any dog. I stand between Morgan and Tierna staying out of the conversation so I don't have to explain how Maias Dog is basically mine ect. Morgan puts her arm through mine showing me her phone.
"My dog is the cutest right?" She says in a serious tone. I look down at her phone and jump backwards knocking into Tierna who grabs my arm to steady me. "What's wrong? Rupert is such a sweetheart!" I cough a bit trying to tell if she's serious.
"Yeah! What bred is he?" I ask trying to keep a straight face.
"Chinese crested! He's 14!" She replies enthusiastically. I look at the dog again nodding my head.
"Yeah super cute" I say more convincingly.
"I'm fucking with you," she says with a laugh. I sigh with relief.
"Do you actually have any dogs?" I ask.
"Oh Ruperts really my dog! I just know he's ugly as fuck." She says and a few more players laugh. I laugh too joining in the joke now.
Morgan shows me her other dog (much cuter) and we see a few more pets before boarding the bus.
When we get on the bus Carli sits down next to Hope not leaving room for Tierna. Tierna looks a bit flustered I feel bad for her and am struggling with what to do when I see that Morgan has sat with Kelly. I take Morgan and I's normal seat and Tierna joins me.
"I thought they would stick with us a little longer," I whisper at her in reference to our mentors abandonment.
"Dani look around." I did. All the other mentors still sat with their apprentices. Hope and Kellys apprentices sat just across from them.
"Oh." I say.
"I gotta say Morgan was a little more sneaky with that one." She admits and I feel hear rising in my cheeks again.
"I'm sorry. I promise I didn't say anything this is all her," I say apologetically.
"Don't worry I know. Also I don't mind," she looks over at me smiling. Butterflies again.
YOU ARE READING
They come in dreams
General FictionDani Hunt is a soccer player always has been always will be. Soccer makes her feel whole when there are so many holes to fill.
