WOSO Imagines

The Call Up pt.2 (Emily Sonnett)

"You changed your name?" Emily asks, stepping out from behind her–our–teammates.

"Yeah, I was constantly reminded that I couldn't live up to my original, so I legally had it changed when I left," I reply sharply, my contempt evident.

"Liza..."

"Don't!" I realize I'm shouting when she recoils. The rest of the team stares at the two of us, confused. "Sorry, I'm a little jet-lagged. It was lovely to meet you all, but if it's alright, I'd like to go to bed." I glance pleadingly at Kristie.

"Sorry, girls. The interrogation is gonna have to wait," she teases, breaking some of the tension.

I follow her to the elevator. As soon as the door shuts, I sigh and feel a stray tear fall. "I'm sorry for yelling."

"It was nothing, don't worry about it. Are you okay?"

"No. And I don't really wanna talk about it."

"Okay. I'll let Vlatko know you'll be missing team lunch."

"Thanks, Kris."

The first thing I do when we get to our room is pull out my phone to Facetime Jessie. She picks up on the second ring, her cute, freckled face and slightly damp curls appearing on my screen.

"Do you want me to leave?" Kristie mouths to me.

I shake my head at her.

"Hi, you," Jessie says.

"Hey, what're you up to?"

"About to head to Millie's for dinner."

I frown. "I forgot about that. Now I'm sad I'm missing it. I miss you."

Kristie 'aws' and I throw a pillow at her.

"I miss you, too. How's everything going? Is everyone being nice?"

"We got to the hotel like ten minutes ago, but I'm with Kristie." I flip the camera around to Kristie who waves. "She's just okay." She throws the pillow back at me.

Jessie laughs. "I'm glad you have a friend. I know how shy you can be, and I'd hate to think you were lonely," she teases.

"You are so mean to me," I whine. "I thought all Canadiens were supposed to be nice."

"I've been in England too long."

"I don't wanna hold you up if you're supposed to be at Mil's. I just needed to hear your voice, see your lovely little face."

She smiles and my heart skips a beat. God, I'm in love with this girl. "I'm happy you called. It was weird waking up alone. I don't think that's happened since, like, senior year of college."

"Have we really been together that long?"

She nods. "Four years."

"Best of my life, babe."

"You're so sappy. There is one thing I wanted to ask you, but it can wait until later?" I have an inkling about what she means, and I assume her hesitation has to do with Kristie being in the room.

"Ask me now."

"How was it seeing Emily?"

I chuckle awkwardly. "I kinda yelled at her, told her I changed my name because I couldn't live up to the expectations of my given one."

"Good." I raise my eyebrow at her. "I just mean, it's good that you stood up for yourself. Just...don't let it translate to the pitch because there you're a team."