Madison's Journey

Part 22: Tobin's POV

A/N: What did you guys think of the NWSL final the other day??

"Hey everyone shut up!" I yell finally losing it. "All you need to know is that Madi is staying with Chris and me and that she is really good at this sport. She wouldn't be here otherwise. Just wait to see her play before you start passing judgments on her." I finally start calming down when Chris places her hand on my shoulder.

I look over at her and she gives me a small smile. I look down to give one to Madi as well but she isn't there. I look around the room frantically trying to find her, "Where is she?" I ask to no one in particular.

"Hey, hey she's fine. Alex took her to get her stuff." I don't hear the calls of "Mama Toby" and "Don't want to mess with the mama bear" as I rush out of the room trying to get to Madi.

'Why am I such an idiot? She was probably so scared and nervous. Was she scared of me? Oh please don't tell me that I sacred her.' When I don't find her in the coaches' room I book it up the stairs, cause it will be faster than the elevator to her room. I'm just about to knock when the door opens hitting me in the face and forcing me to fall.

"Ow, shit! What the..."

"Oh my God Toby are you ok?" I look up and see Alex standing over me. I wave her off and rush into the room. Madi is backed up into the corner with her head in her knees. "Madi, are you ok? I'm sorry about what happened downstairs. They should have never..." She looks up at me and shakes her head.

"S-sorr-r-ry-y. I-I d-didn't-t me-mean-n t-to." She tells me backing herself into the wall even more.

"What? What do you have to be sorry for?" I ask her keeping my voice low and soft to try and coax her out.

"I-I h-hit-t y-you."

"Oh, the door? No, that's ok. I'm fine, see." I say in hopes that she'll lift her head. I was right and she lifts her head just enough to take in my face.

"O-ok?"

"Yep, and we should get going, we have a meeting to get to. You feeling up to it?" She nods. I back up and she stands. We meet Alex back out in the hallway.

"I was getting worried. I thought I would have to find Mal to get you two out of there." She comments with a smile to let the both of us know that she was joking.

The three of us head back downstairs and are the last to enter the meeting room. I lead Madi over to the open seats next to Chris and have her sit in between the two of us.

Madison's POV

When we get to the meeting I sit next to Christen and Tobin almost feeling like having them surrounding me protects me from everything else. I listen as coach explains what they are looking for from this group during camp and the hopes for us with the World Cup being the next big event coming up.

The meeting lasts almost two and a half hours and I'm getting hungry by the time it's over.

"Alright everyone go get some lunch. Be on the bus at 1:15. We will leave without you." Coach tells us.

"Come on kid. We want to get there before they take all the good food." I nod and follow her back to the room we ate in this morning. "You up for a turkey sandwich?" I nod. "Ok then do you have a preference in vegetables?"

"N-no." She nods and makes plates for us both. Only Chris, Alex, Kelly, and Mal join us at our table. Mal and I eat in silence as the other girls make small talk about the things going on since the last time they have all seen each other.

"Everyone have everything?" Christen asks when we finish.

I shake my head, "I-I l-left-ft m-my my bag-g in th-the r-room."

"I'll go up with you," Mal says, "I've got to grab my bag as well."

"Ten minutes, I don't need the two of you being left behind." I nod and head up back to our room with Mal.

"You good? You left breakfast early and were really quiet since you came back."

I shrug. "F-fine."

"I know that this can all be overwhelming so just let me know if you need anything. I understand how hard it can be to have to go to the older girls with everything. You don't want to be seen as a nuisance or burden since you are already so young."

"Th-thanks-s." When we have our bags we head straight to the buses just to make sure that we aren't late. We end up being the last ones on and Mal heads over to take a seat next to Alex. I clutch the strap of my bag a little tighter as I make my way toward Tobin and Christen near the back of the bus.

"H-Hi."

"Hey kid. You get everything that you needed?" I nod. "Alright let's find you a place to sit." Tobin stands up and glances around the bus. "Why don't you go sit up next to Syd and in front of Mal? Chris and I will only be two rows back if you need us ok?"

I nod though I would prefer being closer to them. 'That's kinda far. I don't know Sydney what if she doesn't want me to sit next to her?' I slowly walk two rows up before stopping in front of Sydney Leroux who is looking at her phone with her earbuds in.

I look back to Tobin not knowing what to do. She smiles at me a little and I wipe my hands on my pants. I take a deep breath before tapping her lightly on her shoulder. She looks up at me and takes out her earbuds.

"Hi, Madison right?" I nod, "Did you need something?" She asked it softly as if I hadn't just interrupted what she was doing and as if I wasn't actively bothering her. I try to form the words but I end up just opening and closing my mouth like a fish. After only a few seconds I give up and simply point to the empty seat next to her.

"Oh, do you want to sit here?" Despite the fact that I don't, I nod my head. "Ok." She gets up and allows me to slip into the window seat. I look back to see Mal smiling up at me.

"Long time no see." She smiles at me. I smile back and sit down waiting for the bus to head to the training field. At exactly 1:30 all of the coaches walk onto the bus with the last of the gear.

"Everyone here, good, let's head out."

'Wow, she wasn't kidding when she said that if we weren't on the bus she was going to leave us behind.'

A/N: Thanks for reading let me know what you think or if there is anything that you would like to see in the future!