The things we can't control

Chapter ten

Today our soccer team is heading to Florida for a game against Florida State Univercity. The flight is scheduled for 5 pm this evening. We would meet up by our team bus at 2 pm and before that I desperately needed to see Evie.

Since Thanksgiving we started to text again and I had a little bit of hope that we could revisit our friendship. I knew that I had to control my feelings otherwise it won't work but I have a lot of confidence in my self. Who knows, maybe one day she'll come around, because if there's one thing I'm sure about, it's that Evie isn't as straight as she makes herself out to be.

I was on my way to her dorm when I saw her talking to a blond, elderly woman and a pretty tough looking guy. I walked over to them not wanting to disturb their conversation but also not having the time to wait.

Evie didn't seem to notice me as I neared them and I could hear some parts of the things the man was telling her. "your mother is right. Yesterdays routines looked sloppy. Trust me those routines won't get you to another Olympics and that's what we want." Evie looked like she wanted anything but that right now but the man just continued. "I adjusted your plans and would like for you to come home regularly. I need to work with you more. This here is obversely not working. You could even come to the gym on Christmas, how does that sound?" Before Evie had the chance to say something the women did. "Yes that's perfect, right my little star? You will be home anyway and more practice never hurts." Evie nodded, defeated and that's when the posh looking lady noticed me.

"Excuse me, who are you?" Evie caught my eyes and hers widened a little. "Mom, this is Grace, a friend of mine. Grace this is my mother, Astrid." She introduced us and her mother gave me a once over. She wrinkled her nose, barely noticeable, as her eyes reached my stomach.

I'm already wearing my Stanford soccer track suite. Trough the open jacked you could see a withe crop top that ended right under my chest, so a little bit of the tattoo on my right rips was noticeable.

It was a simple fine lined tattoo of a wave under the sun, always there to remind me were my roots are, in Spain. Jackson and my parents died shortly after my birth and I'd like to imagine they loved us very much and didn't want to leave us. To honer them and my home country I got this tattoo when I turned eighteen, with my mothers permission.

If Evie's mother knew, that I've two more, one on my hip and another one down my spine, she would probably faint right here. It was incredible how judged I felt just within the first thirty seconds of meeting her. I looked at Evie, trying to ignore the horrible woman and saw her also eying my tattoo. Unlike her mother she seemed quit intrigued with it.

"Well, Grace, it's very nice to meet you." Astrid said with a fake looking smile. "Likewise" I replied also giving my best fake smile. "I just wanted to say goodbye to Evie before I leave for my game."

I hoped I would get a 'good luck' hug but Evie just gave me a wave and wished me a good game. I thanked her and headed back to my dorm to finish packing some last things.

I somehow imagined that a little different but it explained a lot. Her mother was the falsest person I've ever met and we only exchanged two sentences. Also, who I presumed to be her coach from back home, was talking to her as if she was incapable of making her own decisions. Actually both of them acted like that and I felt under pressure just standing in a few feet radius of them. I couldn't imagine how Evie must feel.

I sighted and continued packing.

***

It was the last minutes of our game against Florida State and we were definitely loosing. On of our defenders got a questionable red card in the fist half and since then we played with one player less than our opponents. We might've been able to pull that off against another University but not Florida State. They were a tough Opponent when we were at our best but with only ten players they destroyed us.

I was proud I at least managed to get one goal but that still didn't safe us from a 5-1 loss. When the final whistle was heard and the Florida girls celebrated, we left the pitch depressed. Not even one of Haley's speeches could lift the mood and we all just returned to the hotel and got into our separate rooms.

I got my phone and left the room sitting in the lobby, since I hoped to reach Evie and didn't want my roommate to be annoyed. I halted just before pressing onto her name, wondering if she even wanted me to call. After a few seconds I decided that I needed to hear her voice and she had to deal with that.

Evie picked up after the first ring. "Grace?"

"Hey Evie, I just wanted to know how you are doing." I started the conversation, biting my lip nervously.

"I'm doing fine but what about you?" She asked followed by a silence from my end. I felt like shit and not just because of todays match but I wouldn't tell her that.

"I watched the game and saw your goal. Who knew you could actually hit the goal." I had to laugh a little about her hint onto our first meeting and she joint me shortly. At the sound of her laugh I already felt better and knew that it was the right decision to call Evie.

"I miss you." I blurted out without thinking and was immediately scared she would hang up on me. But she didn't, instead she replied.

"I miss you too, Grace." She said and I could've died right there, in that moment.

Our conversation continued and with each passing second I felt better until I eventually was happy. After nearly two hours of talking Evie had to go and I quietly returned to my room getting ready to sleep.

My last thought before sleep overtook me was, that Evie started to become my comfort person and I knew that she could make me incredibly happy, while on the same time break my heart in an instance.