offsides | c. clark

twelve.

2020
The University of Iowa
Iowa City, Iowa

Kassidy entered the dorm room and noticed Alex lying on the bed, she offered her a quick greeting before heading to her side of the room. Alex had gone home to visit her family so Kassidy had been without her partner in crime.

Her brows furrowed as she paused, took three steps back, and looked back at Alex. Her eyes widened as she stared at her roommate, noticing that not only were Alex's braids gone, but that she'd straightened her hair and dyed it a brown-almost-red color.

"Alex!"

Alex looked up quickly, startled, "What? What's wrong? Is there a spider?"

Kassidy laughs as Alex leans over and begins inspecting the floor.

"No," Kassidy laughs, "You changed your hair."

Alex's brows furrow and then she laughs, "Oh yeah! I thought I'd change things up since the season was over."

"Has Caitlin seen it?" Kassidy asks and Alex rolls her eyes playfully.

"No, she hasn't. And she probably won't care," Alex says as she looks at her computer, "Besides it's beanie season! I'm about to wear the hell out of a Carhartt."

Kassidy snorts as she leans against Alex's bed, staring at her. Alex tucks her hair behind her ear and Kassidy's eyes widen as Alex reveals an ear littered in piercings.

"Alex, what the hell did you do over the weekend?" Kassidy asks.

Alex shrugs, "I just felt like I'm in college and I'm a national champion, so I need a change."

"Damn, what's next your belly button? Your nipples?"

Alex flushes at the suggestion, "Uh neither of those."

Kassidy smiles, "Well I think you look hot as fuck."

"Thanks," Alex says with a shy smile as she looks back at her computer screen.

Kassidy walks over to her side of the room when there's a sudden knock at the door. Alex slams her laptop shut and jumps out of bed, exclaiming, "I'll get it!"

Kassidy watches Alex amused, she's never seen her move that quickly off the soccer field. Alex looks in the mirror and looks at her reflection, fixing her hair before taking a deep breath and opening the door.

To Alex's surprise and disappointment, Caitlin isn't standing there, but rather their teammate, Lauren. Lauren was a sophomore and was not liked by many of the girls on the team because she'd ditched them all for her boyfriend who happened to be on the men's basketball team.

"Lauren," Alex says, "Um hi."

"Hi," Lauren says, her voice cracking slightly, "Can I come in?"

"Sure," Alex says as she steps aside. Kassidy looks over at Alex confused and she shrugs as Lauren enters their very small dorm room.

"Lauren," Kassidy says, "What brings you to our very small and very far from your apartment, dorm room."

"Well um Joe broke up with me," Lauren says.

"Oh," Kassidy says, "Um that's – that's terrible."

"I know!" Lauren exclaims as she bursts into tears. Kassidy and Alex both exchange looks and Alex reaches out, gently patting Lauren on the shoulder and she launches herself into Alex's arms, forcing Alex to comfort her.

"I – I thought we were going to get married!"

Alex's eyes widen, while Kassidy rolls her eyes.

"Did he um did he say why?" Alex asks.