The Trio

chapter three

2015.

A-Rod was married, Lauren was married.

The team was now home to a ton of new faces.

They had become a family, with the extended amount of training and traveling.

The world cup began in one week, and the team was on their way to Canada.

After the loss in the 2011 world cup final, the team had gotten closer. The next year, they won the gold medal in the 2012 olympics.

Now, the NWSL was up and running, and everything was going well.

The media was more involved now, they were everywhere. The fans were ready.

And 23 women were about to take the world by storm.

—

"Open up, Tobs! I have a question!" Tobin heard Kelley's voice from outside of the hotel room and smiled.

Tobin and Alex were always roommates and bus buddies during trips, but Tobin and Kelley were starting to develop something more. They didn't know what it was, but it was different than the friendship that they'd had for the past four years.

Tobin opened up the door and was greeted by a tight hug. "Hey, Kels, what's up? Are you done packing?"

"Yeah, I just finished. Are you done?" Kelley walked in and saw Tobin's full duffel bag.

"Well, I don't really unpack, so yeah, I'm packed." Tobin grinned. Kelley chuckled and sat down on one of the beds.

"Where's Al?"

"On the phone with her mom. I think she went outside for a bit," Tobin responded, adding her last snapback to her bag and zipping it up. "Wanna grab some coffee? We don't have to be on the bus for another hour."

"Sounds good. You excited?" Kelley asked as they stepped into the hallway.

"For what?" Tobin asked, pressing the elevator button.

"Oh, you know, that thing." Kelley smiled. "The, uh, what's it called? Oh yeah, the World Cup!" She gave Tobin a punch in the arm. The elevator stopped on the fifth floor and Pinoe walked in with Ash and Ali.

"KOBIN!" Pinoe yelled, pulling the midfielder and defender into a hug.

"What did you just call us?" Tobin asked as Ali and Ash were doubled over laughing.

"It's your ship name." Pinoe replied simply as Tobin and Kelley gave her a confused look.

"Like, people who think you guys would be cute together. They ship you. It's basically your names combined. It's easier than saying both of your names. For example, here we have Krashlyn." Pinoe gestured towards Ali and Ash, who glared at the blonde.

"You're so weird." Tobin sighed as they reached the lobby.

"Where are you guys off to?" Pinoe asked as Kelley stepped out of the elevator.

"Coffee. Wanna come?" Kelley asked, but Pinoe declined because she was busy third wheeling with Ali and Ash.

—

"Come on, Kel! We only have like ten minutes!" Tobin pulled Kelley's arm as they crossed sixth avenue.

"Oh no, did you feel that?" Kelley looked up and realized that it was drizzling. A few moments later, it wasn't drizzling anymore- it was pouring rain. The two girls ran through New York City, only two blocks away from their hotel. They sprinted down the sidewalk and finally found themselves at the entrance of the building, soaking wet.

They ran into the rest of the team as they walked towards the elevator to get their bags.

"Oh my gosh, what happened!?" Alex's eyes widened at the sight of her two best friends drenched with rain.

"Mother Nature decided we needed a shower." Kelley sighed.

Jill had already sent some staff members to grab Tobin and Kelley's stuff, so they made their way to the bus. Kelley found HAO, her "Irish Soul Sister," who she always sat with during bus rides.

"So, how's Mama Pam?" Tobin smiled as Alex took her window seat.

"Good." Alex responded quietly, looking out the window.

"You okay?" Tobin asked, as the bus began driving along the road.

"Yeah. Homesick, I guess." Alex put her headphones over her ears, which was a clear sign that she wasn't in the mood for conversation.

Tobin sat back and sighed, examining the girl sitting next to her. The ice blue eyes, the long brunette hair. The little crease at the tip of her nose. Tobin and Alex had come so far, both injuring their ankles and then Alex's knee issues. They had connected off the field and become best friends. Tobin could easily say that Alex was her closest friend on the team, followed by Kelley, Lauren and Amy. But there was something about Alex and Tobin that fascinated everyone. They did almost everything together, but rarely fought or argued about things. They had a connection on the field, as well. A midfielder and a forward, and both always seemed to know exactly where the other person was. Tobin always timed her passes perfectly with Alex's runs. Alex always knew where to go and what to do when Tobin had the ball. They worked so well together, it was almost too good to be true.

The team arrived at the airport, went through security fairly quickly, then made their way onto their charter flight. Four hours and they'd be in Winnipeg, Canada. Four hours and their World Cup journey would begin.

"Where's Alex?"