"Tobin. Tobin wake up." Alex muttered, worried quite frankly that the two would arrive late to the team dinner as per usual.
"Hm, what? I'm awake." Tobin lurched upward, that beautiful ear to ear smirk entwined in her facial features all the while. "I'll be ready soon, Lex!"
Alex only scowled and returned to her daily routine, hopeful that she would in fact be presentable within the next few minutes or so.
• • •
"Tomorrow ladies, we play Australia. It's extremely important that we break away here with a solid lead and early as well." Jill spoke in pure seriousness, stress visible in her posture. "I expect you all to be down at the bus and ready at four o'clock sharp. Don't be a minute late."
Once the conversation had come to an end and the players were dismissed, each and every one of them found themselves in a scramble toward the food. Once they had scooped up their meals, they dispersed and found themselves at their respective tables. Tobin of course, sat next to the New Kids and Alex; each nervous and jittery about their opener tomorrow afternoon.
"Excited?" Cheney said, a smile stretched across her lips as she spoke.
Alex was the first to respond, brows furrowed. "Yeah, 'course Chen."
Tobin took a sip of her water and leaned back. "When am I not?"
All three couldn't help but chuckle at her antics. She was, after all, the "chill" one on their team.
• • •
Beep, beep, beep.
Alex and Tobin simultaneously rolled over and mumbled to one another, distressed and exhausted from the previous day.
"Game day, babe." Alex cooed, her raspy voice carried over the bedroom as she'd spoken.
Tobin blinked once and sat up, a yawn released in the process. "Man am I lucky to wake up to that voice of yours." She said, a smile taken to those tan facial features she possessed.
• • •
Alex slammed her fist into the locker, clearly frustrated with her lack of improvement since the injury. The team had come out on top with a three to one scoreline as predicted, but she was not pleased.
"Alex, relax." Tobin snuck up from behind and wrapped her arms around Alex's waist, she then rested her head on her shoulder and spoke once more. "You've been out a while, cut yourself some slack."
"You don't understand. There's many forwards with potentional, it's evident I could lose my position to any of them at any time." Defeated and clearly frustrated, Alex sunk back and into Tobin's arms.
"That isn't possible. You're the best forward I know. Not biased when I say that." Tobin cracked a smile, however, she knew it wouldn't convince Alex or even make her doubt what she had assumed.
Alex didn't respond to what she had said, and instead she snatched her water bottle and started the trekk toward the bus. "Come on, we can't hold them up."
Tobin frowned and followed in suit, unsure of how to comfort Alex at this very moment.
• • •
Alex coiled up in the corner of her bed, knees pressed to her chest and head buried into her palms. She hadn't played many minutes in today's match, and she wasn't pleased with her performance when she had the opportunity to step onto the pitch.
Knock, knock.
"Open up in there, baby horse!" Ali and Ashlyn shouted happily.
Tobin walked up to her and Alex's room and noticed both of the two outside the door. Confused, she questioned why they'd been there and if she could help them.
"We came to see you two, of course!" Ali chirrped.
"Time to celebrate." Ashlyn spoke, a smirk on both their faces.
"I'm not sure how Lex feels." Tobin stalled for a moment then quickly continued on. "She's exhausted. You know, first match back and all?" She didn't like to lie, but in this situation she felt it necessary.
The two nodded and skipped off down the hall, most likely to pester other teammates. Tobin merely chuckled and slipped quietly into the room, eyes locked on the curled up Alex.
"Come on, smile. " Tobin scowled and slipped beside her. "Let me see that beautiful smile of yours."
Alex didn't even move, however, she mumbled inaudibly in response to Tobin's words.
"Hm?" Tobin shook her head and scooted closer, then quickly moved Alex into an embrace. She kissed the top of her head and spoke for what she pictured to be the last time today. "I love you. I know it doesn't count, but you played well. Don't be too hard on yourself. You have tons more time to prove it to everyone, even yourself." She paused for a moment and admired the prescense beneath her. "I love you, baby horse. Cheer up."
"I love you too, Tobes." Alex muttered and leaned into Tobin. Like that, she was out.
Tobin waited until she had fallen asleep, and when she did, she rested her body beside her. Excited for what was to come within the tournament, she smiled.
It was only the BEGINNING.
