USWNT - High School

Chapter 8

Alex's POV

"Oh my god, I think I saw her." Kelley panicked, trying to hide behind Tobin. I looked over in the direction of her eyes, and saw absolutely no sign of the goalkeeper.
"Kelley." I said slightly annoyed, for the hundredth time this evening. "She's not here yet. And even if she were, I'm sure she's hiding from you too." I grunted out, causing Tobin to laugh lightly at the annoyance in my voice.
"I don't get it though, why are you hiding again?" Tobin asked, looking somewhat confused at Kelley. I had to agree with wondering why, but I hadn't really asked because I don't get that whole Hope/Kelley thing anyways. I don't think anyone does.
"Because," Kelley hissed, probably getting tired of trying to explain and getting the same confused reaction.
"She needs to come to me, okay? Come looking for me. It'll all be spoiled if she just sees me right away. I want her to worry a little that I didn't show, miss me." Kelley argued, like what she was saying was obvious. It wasn't.
"But everyone else has already seen you, and if she asks them won't they tell that they saw you and it'll kinda just get awk-" Tobin started rambling on and pointing out flaws in Kelley's plan, and knowing my friends, this won't end well if it goes on.
"Tobin, why don't we go over there? Let Kelley do things her way, okay?" I asked, but my look didn't leave her with much choice. She luckily caught on to it rather quickly.
"Sure, why not." She mumbled and got up, just smiling at Kelley. "Good luck." She said rather sarcastic, but Kelley chose to ignore it.

"Why you gotta do that to her?" I asked, as we sat down on a couch in the corner of the room. I had to lean in close to her ear to speak, since the music was terribly loud at this spot.
Tobin grinned, trying not to laugh.
"I'm just messing with her." Tobin said back, her now leaning close. I tried focusing on her words, but my body tensed at feeling her warm breath on my skin.
"That whole thing, they're making it too complicated. They both like each other, why not just be together? I don't get it." As Tobin spoke, I couldn't help but wonder if she was talking about someone else as well.
"It's not that simple though." I said back, not sure who I was talking about either.
"Why not?" She continued being persistent, not letting me get away from this one.
"It's hard to tell if the other person feels the same way." I answered, now for sure knowing I was no longer talking about Kelley and Hope.
Tobin looked right at me, a smile creeping on her lips as she now bite down on her lower lip.

"Is it hard to tell if I like you?" We were talking about the same thing now, but her words still caught me off guard. We were sitting so close that I could feel her presence all over me.
I gulped, trying my best to get control over my severely clouded thoughts.
"I- yes, it's hard." I managed to breath out, voice trembling under my breath.
Tobin let out a wide grin, just looking at me.
Her eyes stared deeply into mine, while occasionally falling to my lips.
She moved her hand to my face, carefully placing a lost string of hair behind my ear.
I fought hard not to let it show how her touch set me on fire.

Before I was able to think of anything else to say, Tobin leaned in close. Within seconds, she was a breath away from my face, and I immediately forgot how to breath.
She took her time just looking at me, and I didn't waste it either. I took in every feature on her flawless face, seeing it in a new perspective from this close up. She was beyond beautiful.

I was out of time. I needed to feel her lips on mine, to feel her touch and how she tasted.
"Kiss me." Tobin suddenly breathed out, with a huskily voice that sparked all kinds of emotions in me. I didn't need a second beg.

I crashed my lips on to hers, clumsy and passionate all at once. The second I felt her kissing me back, it was like my insides were set on fire. A burning desire for her, more of her.

**

Kelley's POV

"O'Hara!" Ashlyn suddenly stumbled her way over to me, crashing down next to me on the couch. She had a smug facial expression, and I new what was coming next.
"Wanna hear something funny?" She continued, now looking at me excitedly.
I just nodded, for sure feeling like I wasn't drunk enough for this yet.
"I called Hope, O'Solo." She laughed as she said it, barley being able to keep it together. It was definitely not that funny, but I couldn't help but smile at the giggly senior.
"You did? Wow, I'm assuming she got mad." I said back, knowing Hope had probably wanted to strangle her best friend at that moment.
"Have you seen her?" Ashlyn asked, trying to keep her voice down but really still yelling.
I just shook my head, now taking the cup she was holding out of her hand.
The smell alone caused me to shiver, but I needed something to keep myself from doing stupid things. Or maybe help me do them.
"Wow there, that's not-" Ashlyn tried stopping me, but I didn't listen. It one swift motion, I drank the whole cup. It burned as the liquor ran down my throat, and I couldn't help but make a weird face as it did.
"Not your smartest move, O'Hara. That's some strong shit." Ashlyn suddenly sounded almost worried, but still had a little smile on her face. She knew this was bound to get entertaining.

**

"It's happening!" I heard Ashlyn yell from behind me, and I knew exactly what she was talking about. I had made the terrible mistake of wanting another drink, and apparently so had none other than Hope.
I stopped in my tracks, being taken off guard at the sight of the goalkeeper. She looked just as terrified at the sight, if not even more.
I took a deep breath, and got it together the bets I could. This is ridiculous.

"Hope." I said weak, trying to control my voice. The older girl flinched at her name from my mouth, but seemed to snap out of her thoughts as well now.
"Hi Kels." She said, but seemed to immediately regret the use of her nickname for me.
Old habits die hard, I guess.
"Having fun?" She added, probably trying to get the subject off of that.
I nodded, moving over to the many bottles on the table. "Yeah, I'm in need of something more though." I half-joked, already looking for the stronger stuff.
Hope followed me to the table, standing at a fair distance next to me.
"Same." She said simple, drinking the last drops she already had in her cup.

I turned to look at her. I truly could not get myself to understand the goalkeeper. I know she likes me, and she knows I like her. Why do we keep doing this?
"Hope." I felt her name escape my lips unintentionally, and I wasn't sure why. She looked up to meet my eyes, and for a moment we just stood like this. It felt like an ocean between us, but at the same time I felt so close to her. Her eyes drew me in to her.
I couldn't help myself but to move closer, I hadn't even noticed before I was a couple steps away. She seemed to only then notice too, and looked somewhat scared.
I took another step, then another. We stood so close I could feel her tense body and how she was holding her breath.
I moved my hand up towards her face, but as fast as it had happened, it ended even faster.

"Kelley, don't." Hope said weak, her voice trembling under her breath.