The Greyhounds | Jamie Tartt

Chapter 4

Trying to maintain her focus, Ashley joined the offensive drill, exchanging glances with her teammates. The tension between her and Jamie lingered, but Ashley was determined to put on a professional front and make the best out of the situation. Just for today.

During a passing drill, Ashley found herself facing Jamie across the pitch. The challenge was to maintain focus on the exercise while navigating the unspoken tension between them. As the ball made its way towards Ashley, she deftly controlled it and passed it to her teammate. She could feel Jamie's eyes on her, and the competitive atmosphere as well as the fact he was watching her added an extra layer of pressure.

The coaches then called for a joint offensive and defensive drill, bringing both teams together for a collaborative exercise. The Lady Greyhounds and the Men's team were tasked with a series of coordinated plays that required seamless teamwork. Ashley found herself working in close proximity to Jamie, exchanging passes and making strategic moves to reach the goal.

Despite the initial discomfort, Ashley had to admit that Jamie's skills on the field were commendable. As much as she disliked him personally, she couldn't deny his prowess as a soccer player. The collaborative drill forced them to communicate and coordinate, even if it was through non-verbal cues and strategic plays. 

As the joint drill continued, the competitive edge softened, and there was a momentary truce as both teams worked towards a common goal. The shared experience on the field began to break down the walls of animosity, if only for a brief moment.

As Ashley resumed her offensive drills with the Lady Greyhounds, she couldn't help but acknowledge the complexities of navigating personal feelings in a professional setting. The shared pitch symbolized the challenges and opportunities that lay ahead for both teams as they embarked on a season filled with growth, competition, and, perhaps, unexpected alliances.

                                                                               ****

A week of unspoken tension from Ashley and Jamie occurred, occasionally ending in small squabbles during joint practice. Things like: 

"That was my touch!"

"No, you're playing way too far up."

or 

"Nice form. NOT."

"I'd like to see you try doing what I'm doing!"

or 

"That's not funny. You shouldn't say things like that about the King."

"What, do you need me to call you a wah-bulance Tartt? I'll never forgive him for what he did to Diana."

In numerous after-practice FaceTimes, Grayson reminded Ashley of why he hates Jamie and she should too. So she kept her front, unwavering in her mockery.

After the Women's Team finished training one day, Ashley changed from her athletic clothes into her regular, fabulous clothes. She was making her way out of the facility when she heard someone say: 

"Yo, Ash-leigh,"

She turned around and who other than Jamie was leaning up against the wall. Wearing a Nike Tech and a fanny pack, Ashley mentally did an eye roll concerning his fashion choice. 

"Not bad out there today. You know, for an American."

Ashley was about to refute him when Coach Amy walked out of the door adjacent to where they were standing. 

"Oh you two! You know I am so excited for you two to become friends. You are both young, prodigy-like hometown hero type footballers who defeated the odds and became great. You both have unique strengths and I'm happy to see this Richmond Family grow with you as leaders!"

"Huh. I guess we are similar, Tartt, " Ashley realized, "except...I'm not stupid...or British."

Jamie playfully rolled his eyes. He liked when she teased him, as annoying as she was she was also amusing. As much as he tried to fight it, Jamie couldn't wait to get made fun of. 

"Find a balance, learn from each other. It's not about erasing differences but embracing them. That's what makes a team strong. Go Greyhounds!" Coach Amy, enthusiastic as ever, walked away. 

"Hey, I'm not stupid," Jamie rebuked.

"Well you are British, and that's kind of the same thing. I mean c'mon, how do you guys blow a 13 colony lead?"

"I-"

"Now if you'll excuse me, I have to go eat a double cheeseburger while driving my pickup truck to a firework show," Ashley teased. "U.S.A! U.S.A! U.S.A!" She chanted as she walked into the parking lot. She wasn't particularly patriotic, however she was passionate about getting under Jamie's skin. It was fun to be around him, she admitted to herself. Even though they argued, he never took it personally. No matter how personal it was. And maybe one day, Ashley thought, they had a shot at being friends. If only she could forget what Grayson said about him.                                                                                                                                                                         

                                                                                        ***

She got under his skin. Bad. Her overt display of American-ness today was the icing on the cake. Just another instance of her snubbing him in favor of ridicule and mockery. A week of practice had gone by and they had barely spoken to each other. And when they did, they would end up fighting like a cat and a dog. Both of their teammates had noticed their obvious dislike for each other, but decided not to address them until things got out of hand. For now, their quarreling was harmless. Maybe Ashley and him couldn't get along as real friends would, but she was a terrific footballer. And, Jamie believed in second chances. He believed the whole world should, or else he would not be where he is today. Heading home, just 4 weeks left until regular play, Jamie wondered what he could do to alleviate Ashley's torment. He had a plan. 

The next day, Jamie made his way into Keeley's office. He softly knocked on the door: 

"Hey Keel-leigh,"

"Jamie, come on in!" Keeley said with a charismatic smile. "What's up?"

"Well, I think you're doing a great job with the whole buddy program. But I was wondering if you could maybe get the teams to hang out, you know, outside of the work? Or maybe organize some team bonding exercises? Just to make sure everyone is having fun and everything,"

A pause. Keeley discerned for a couple of seconds. 

"Ohhhh, I see. I see you Tartt," Keeley surmised, "You've got a little crush on Ashley. I can see why, she is proper fit."

"What? No, I just...want to fix things with her. It's like the opposite of a crush. Its an enemy."

"An enemy?"

"Well, not an enemy. Like, we just don't get along. And I was hoping with some more time spent together she could see me for me and we could become friends. I just want to be friends." 

Keeley paused for another moment and knowingly smiled. She had seen Jamie with a little crush before. 

"I'll see what I can do," she assured him. 

As Jamie left Keeley's office with a newfound determination, he couldn't shake off the realization that he might indeed have a crush on Ashley. He scoffed at the idea, attempting to convince himself otherwise, but deep down, he couldn't ignore the subtle warmth that crept into his thoughts whenever Ashley's name came up.