Rachel Daly - Dashed Hopes

Dashed Hopes - Part Six

In America, off season starts a lot later than in Europe meaning all your friends from back home go off on holiday while you're still playing competitive football. By the time it was your off season, your friends would be back to work and trying to squeeze in a vacation with them was pretty impossible. You loved visiting your parents and extended family but sometimes you wish you played in the WSL with them so you could have more time together other than international breaks. You weren't even sure if you'd get called up again but knowing England are competing in America this break gave you a better shot seeing as you're already here.

Since returning home to The Dash, Rachel had been hard at work trying to win you over again - staying up until the early hours in the morning to be able to call you, often paired with FaceTime. You rarely gave her the same luxury, you didn't stay up at all hours of the night so you could speak to her and everything was on your terms; every Monday she asks when you're available and makes sure she calls you in the allotted time frame you give her. It was obvious that she was doing everything within her power to get back with you, whether that meant long distance or you eventually going back home to England.

You looked forward to seeing your national teammates in a few weeks time when England compete in the She Believe's Cup, it meant that for once, you wouldn't be doing the 8 hour flight to base camp and they'd all be coming to you! Rachel had been talking about the camp nonstop and didn't hide her excitement of being able to see you again. She was happy to take what she could get, be that as a friend or even if it just meant acquaintances, at least your were speaking again and that was enough for her. You couldn't lie that you didn't look forward to her evening phone calls and the attention she gave you made you feel good but you weren't allowing her to consume your every thought like before. Propping the phone up on the kitchen counter as you cooked dinner her voice floated through the speaker from another continent, "I saw you got the call up!" she beamed, knowing your fears of Sarina forgetting you existed, "I told you after your World Cup performance, nobody could forget you!" You smiled into your saucepan of steaming pasta, pleased for yourself before sitting on the sofa to eat and stream Love Island. In America the series was being aired 2 weeks behind England and Rachel had avoided all spoilers to watch it with you, she'd often fall asleep half way through and you'd be lying if you didn't think she looked adorable. Still, you were determined not to get sucked into the facade she played and as soon as her eyes closed you hit the red button. You hadn't forgotten what she had done the year previous but your feelings towards her had certainly softened.

Reaching the last few games of the season you were mostly packed and ready to fly to South Carolina for the tournament next month. Tying up your boots and trotting out for warm ups ready for your game against the Red Stars you noticed louder than usual cheering when shooting practice began. "Is today something special?" you asked Ebony as you lined up to take shots at goal, she didn't say anything but subtly nodded upwards towards the East Stand. Looking towards the source of the noise you spotted a familiar face you'd been getting used to seeing through a 6inch screen. 'What the fuck is she doing here?' you thought, rolling your eyes at the sight of her hyping up the crowd from her seat. Standing in the middle of the pitch in your bright orange jersey with your hands placed on your hips and an unamused pout, you waited for her to notice you and when she did you pulled a gesture that can only be explained as "what the actual fuck?!" Rushing down the stairs in excitement you'd be cancelled in a second if anyone knew you hoped she'd trip and roll down to the bottom, chuckling to yourself at the thought. "If you wouldn't come to me, I had to come to you didn't I!" she shouted, her grin expanding as she neared closer to you. 'That's rich', you thought! "Or an even better idea would have been to not leave in the first place" you said sarcastically, one of your eyebrows raising to display an unamused look that your ex knows all too well. "Hey, be nice. I thought you'd be pleased to see me!" she jeered, acting like she thought her appearance would be like something out of a rom-com. "Shocked more like! You're wearing my shirt" you said, arms still folded as you spotted your number under the club badge. "Yeah! Bought it at the gift shop, they're flying off the shelves!" bouncing around to do your signature celebration by pointing at your name on her back, you couldn't remember the last time you've seen her with so much energy! Shaking your head in amusement it was time to go and get changed and as you jogged away she shouted out to you "good luck captain!" smiling and waving like a fan girl which was seriously giving you the ick. You turned and stared at her smugly while walking backwards towards the tunnel, "have you seen the league table lately? Don't need your luck mate, we got this!" Running back up the stairs to her seat she placed herself next to your parents who had agreed to also be bought along for the journey. With everything going on you hadn't spotted them - it was either that or the fact they were hiding behind their programs!

If you had known your parents were in the crowd you would have celebrated your goal with them but instead you celebrated with the opposite stand, desperate not to give Rachel any more airtime than she probably already had. You tried not to pay any attention to where your ex was sitting the entire game but according to other players (particularly ones that were unfamiliar with what happened between you) she was your biggest cheerleader, barely in her seat the entire game, shouting and cheering at every possibility. You pretended after the match that you hadn't heard her but her strong northern accent boomed around the stadium; however distracting, you can't deny that having someone from home in the stands pushed you on.

Shaking hands and making your way around the field to thank both teams you finally looked up to see not only the blonde but... "Mum? Dad?" you screamed, shielding the sun out of your eyes long enough to see it was undeniably your parents. Launching yourself over the barrier faster than Usain Bolt you sprinted up the steps towards the back of the stands as your dad came bounding down towards you, scooping you into one of his giant bear hugs as you met in the middle. Your mum quickly wrapped her arms around you both to stop your dad from falling over from the shear force you threw yourself at him. Rachel watched everything unfold from afar, a tear rolling down her cheek knowing bringing them along had made you so happy. Surely you'd have to forgive her now, right?!

Rachel stayed until the end of the season, spending time getting to know each other again like it was the beginning. She came to every single one of your games and this time, it was her wearing your name on her back. For so many years it was the other way around when you didn't play on the same team; you'd go to watch her but Rachel being in a higher league barely had time to show up to your games. Your walls may have been broken down easily but the team certainly hadn't forgotten what she did to you and how they had to rebuild you after she left. It was extremely messy, it wasn't a secret that you two were dating and the fans very quickly realised the 6 year relationship was over when Rach abruptly announced her departure from The Dash. Conspiracies and rumours flew around the internet for months trying to guess what had happened and who was the victim - Rach being the bigger name tended to get the most sympathy. You know you shouldn't have read the comments online but you couldn't help yourself and it nearly drowned you, if it wasn't for your teammates you never would have made it out the other side. Now club captain, you had made your own name for yourself, no longer riding off the back of Rachel's multi continental fame. You are (y/f/n) - striker, captain and leader. You are so much more than Rachel Daly's ex girlfriend.

Since her return, the rumours had started spiralling again – 'had they broken up?', 'are they back together?', 'is Rachel trying to take her back to England?' – it was relentless! On the last game of the season, Rachel was invited to make a speech at half time, stating how proud of the team she was and how Houston still feels like home to her. She donned a specially made jersey and given a commemorative photo album to take home with her. You couldn't stand it and waited in the changing room until she'd dispersed back to the stand. She did do a lot for the team when she was here but it's your turn now, you're sick of still being in her shadow even when she doesn't play here anymore! The back stabby feeling stuck around for a while, bitter that the fans and club still loved her, she even handed out the medals for winning the league! Having to stand there and shake her hand, accepting the trophy from her to take to the rest of the team made you want to drop it onto her foot but you saved face and smiled politely when inside you were dying. Just when you think she's doing everything right lately, she does everything wrong... again!

Celebrating in the changing room you'd had a little too much to drink when she burst in, keen to join in the party. 'Oh no fucking way' you muttered under your breath, slamming your bottle down on the table a little to hard and pushing her right back out of the door she'd just entered from. "This isn't your party, why are you here?" you slurred, becoming a little braver with your words now your body was filled with alcohol. "I just thought-" she started before you cut her off, "no, you didn't think! This is my first win as captain and you're here to take over!" your voice becoming louder and louder, earning you a few stares from passing staff. Even after everything that happened, you couldn't believe that the club had asked her to be such a huge part of todays celebrations, everyone knows what she did and half of them helped her do it. They watched you for months trying to become yourself again after the worst heartbreak you had ever endured and still thought making it all about her was a good idea! "Just leave, I want to celebrate with my friends" you ended your rant, exhausted with still having to fight with her. "Okay" she nodded solemnly, "have a good night" her head bowed as her feet swivelled and she walked off. "Right!" bursting back into the changing room, "let's get this party started!!!"