I plop down on the bed after a long day. I don't really know who will share a room with me. I tried to sneak a look at the clipboard but figured that wouldn't be the best idea for my first night on a new team. After atleast an hour of grinding on Duolingo for Spanish, Mallory Swanson, Rose Lavelle, and Lindsey Horan walk through the door. I'm sure I looked like a deer in headlights.
"Yo quiero un reloj" Of course my computer decides to act up now, of all times.
"I want a watch" Rose tells me, a small grin prancing at the corners of her mouth.
"What?" Lindsey questions, being caught off guard by Rose's answer.
"Yo quiero un reloj is Spanish for I want a watch," Rose states, staring at me now "Rose Lavelle."
"Maddy, well, technically it's Madeline but.." Thankfully Mallory saves me then.
"Mallory Swanson, but I go by Mal mostly."
Lindsey steps forward, offering me a warm handshake. "And I'm Lindsey Horan. Welcome to the team, Maddy." she says, her smile genuine. I mutter a quick thanks, still trying to process that I'm in the same room as three of the biggest names in women's soccer. My face must show my shock because Mal lets out a laugh. "Yeah, it's weird at first," she says, tossing her stuff onto the bed next to mine. "But it'll feel normal soon. We're here to play, just like you."
Once Rose and Lindsey finish catching up with Mal, they gather their bags and head out, each muttering a small goodbye. Now it's just the two of us. Mal plops down in her bed, stretching out like she's done it a thousand times before. I stand up to start unpacking my clothes carefully, still adjusting to the fact that I'm even at this camp— and that my roommate is Mallory Swanson. She catches my eye and gives a small, easy grin. "Well, guess it's just me and you, roomie," she says, breaking the ice just enough to make me relax.
I smile back, feeling some of the tension melt away. As I start pulling out my clothes, Mal props herself up on her elbow, watching me with a curious glint in her eye. "So Maddy," she begins, "first camp, huh? How's it feel so far?" I pause, trying to find the right words, then laugh a little. "I mean, I'm still shocked. I've never been so far away from my, well, life. You know?"
Mal tilts her head, studying me for a second. "So tell me about home, Maddy." she says, genuinely curious, "What's life like when you're not playing soccer?" I pause for a moment, a bit caught off guard, but her relaxed smile put me a to ease a bit. "Well, I go to a boarding school in Chicago," I start, shrugging. "Most of my time is spent either studying or training. I don't get time home much, so my life's kinda... on campus. I mean don't get me wrong, I have a good group of core friends. I dorm with my best friend, Livy. But with everything else kinda pushes that stuff to turf back burner." Mal nods through it all, " Man, that's intense, juggling school and soccer at that level. No wonder you're here. Takes a lot to manage that." Her words make me smile, I've never really thought of it that way.
Mal leans back onto her bed, still watching with interest. "I get it," she states. "It's like your whole world is built around this one dream, and some other things just... fade into the background." She pauses, then adds " It's good, though, having those people that you know are there for you." I smile, think of Livy and my other friends back home. "Yeah, they keep me grounded."
Mallory glances at the clock and stretches, stifling a yawn. "Alright, Mads." she says with a grin, "we should probably call it a night. Big day tomorrow." I suddenly feel the days exhaustion settling in. I finish putting away my things, trying to mentally prepare myself for whatever tomorrow will bring. Mal flips off the lights, and the room falls into darkness, a calm stillness engulfing the room.
"Night, Mal."
"Goodnight, Maddy."
YOU ARE READING
CHANGE- uswnt
Fanfictionnoun 1. the act or instance of making or becoming different. Madeline Reese was only 15 when the call up to the senior national team came, and would be a lie to say no one expected it.
