They come in dreams

Part 17

I was back at Maias and after a few visits to a doctor I had been cleared to play. After 3 weeks off I was out of shape and rusty. My first game back with my high school team I scored 2 goals in the half that I played but had to come out at half time because I was feeling off again. A week later I managed to play a whole game and after a few weeks I was feeling back in shape again.

I lay on my bed at Maias house on my phone responding to texts from the day. Tierna had asked how my game went and told me a funny story about her day. I responded to her text and she responded immediately. We had been texting back and forth almost constantly since camp had ended. It had probably impeded my recovery but it was worth the sacrifice. I briefly clicked away from the chat to respond to the memes Morgan had sent me. Then to also respond to the memes she had sent in a group chat called 'Tani OG's' this chat had all of the women who had stood around our bed the night we fell asleep cuddling during team bonding. It had started as a place where the older girls nagged us for updates now it was becoming a group just for us to chat with each other.

"I am so tired," Maia flops down on the bed next to me.

"Ew get your sweaty ass off my bed," I say shoving her in the side. She declines the offer and instead looks over at my phone where I am once again texting Tierna.

"I want to meet her," Maia says while staring at the screen.

"I want you to meet her," I agree texting back Tierna and putting my phone down. "What I want even more than that is for you to get your sweaty ass off my bed," I say shoving her again. She laughs and rolls off and heads to the shower. I head downstairs to join her family for dinner.

Maia is down stairs a bit later and we all sit down to eat. We only sit there for about 20 minutes but I am so obsessed with Tierna that I rush to go text her as soon as we get up. I am met with a far less welcome text instead. Tierna has texted me but above her text is one from my mother announcing her arrival home.

It's not that I don't want my mother to be home its that its never for long and she's usually drunk. So yeah I guess I don't want her home. I join Maia on her bed and hand her my phone. She looks at the text than over at me.

"What do you want to do?" I shrug closing my phone.

"I guess I'll go over tomorrow. I'm sure it won't be for long." She nods and hugs me against her side. I text Tierna telling her that my mom has arrived home. 'Shit are you ok?' Her response comes immediately.

"Wait Dani did you tell Tierna everything?" She sounds shocked knowing that I don't give this information out often.

"Yeah she asked me on our first date, telling it all gave me nightmares again but she was there for me." I respond sheepishly.

"Dude you didn't tell me that. Holy shit you really like her," she says in a sing song voice.

"Maybeeee," I respond with a grin. We do our homework and then head to bed. The next day after school and practice I head to my house. As I walk up I notice my moms car isn't there. I pull out my key and head to shower. I take an abnormally long shower for myself sitting on the floor of the shower for a good 15 minutes enjoying the warmth after a cold practice. When I get out and change into boxers and a t-shirt I hear rustling downstairs. I head down apprehensively.

"Hi Dani!" My mom comes over and gives me a hug which I only partially return. "I just got back from the grocery store, I figured you'd be hungry I can make dinner?" She seems perky and sober?

"How long are you home for?" I ask suspiciously, she doesn't usually go grocery shopping when she's back.

"I don't have another trip scheduled! I'm working from home for the next little while," she responds looking happy about it. I on the other hand am feeling very conflicted about her reappearance in my life. I decide to sit down and answer her questions as she makes dinner. I fill her in about my concussion which she has heard snippets of from communication with Maia's mother who acts as my legal guardian in most medical situations. "They had you stay at camp even though you were injured?"