USWNT - High School

Chapter 25

Ashlyn's POV

"Have you heard anything?" Carli whispered from the seat beside Ali and I, and I shook my head in response. I looked over at Ali and met her eyes, as she carefully placed her hand on mine to let me know it was okay. I gave her a genuine smile, and she removed her hand. We were in the middle of a test, which neither of us were really able to focus on by the way, so keeping it low key was essential.

Hope and Kelley were on all our minds today. I had gotten a text from Kelley earlier, saying she was home alone with Hope because Melody had to go back home for something. Last period had never felt longer, when we still hadn't gotten any updates hours later.

**

"We should call her, maybe just go over?" Carli sounded worried, as we made it out of the classroom. The teacher had initially made us stay for an hour, which I think was good because I managed to get most of it done by then. Now my mind was fully on Hope again.

"I'll call Kelley from the car." Carli argued herself, and started walking in the direction of the parking lot. I sighed, knowing Carli is more stressed and nervous than she's letting on to. She hates that she wasn't there when Hope got out, but this test was important so none of us could get out.

I took Ali's hand in mine and we walked after Carli to the car. HAO and Becky were with us, and we all wanted to see how Hope was doing. I felt slightly bad for Kelley as she had been left all alone with the older girl, I was even worried about Kelley with her alone when Hope was still Hope. At least I was in the beginning. You never know with Hope, that's just it. I wasn't physically afraid, more mentally. That Kelley would end up having her heart broken and usually I didn't really care about Hope's gals all hat much, but I knew Kelley from the team. She became our friend. I genuinely didn't want to see her get hurt. Eventually I believed Hope truly cared for her though, and I let my walls down. I trusted Hope to take care of Kelley, and she still got her heart broken.

"Guys, I got a text from Kelley." Carli looked confused and nervous at her phone, holding it up for all of us to see. HAO seemed to be the first one to question the moment of panic in all our eyes, and opened the message on Carli's phone. 'Get here as fast as you can' The text read, and we all probably felt a mixture of panic and hope as we stood still huddled up outside the car.

We didn't need a second text, and we all hurried into the car. Becky seemed to be the calmer one, so she got to drive. I didn't take long to get to Hope's house, but it still felt like the way had never been longer.

As soon as the car stopped, we all jumped out and rushed towards the door, Carli in front. But when she got close to the door she suddenly stopped, causing HAO to physically walk into her from behind. In any other situation I would've found it highly amusing, but my mind were elsewhere at the time.

"Should we- I have my key, but I'm technically a stranger now, is it bad to lock ourselves in?" Carli held up her key to Hope's house, and looked torn on what to do with it. I wasn't quite sure what would be right either, but ringing the bell made the most sense technically. Even though it felt terribly strange.

The front door flew open seconds later, and the excited face at the door had us all confused.
"Carli, Ashlyn!" Hope looked at us, but oh so very different than before. I almost didn't dare to even think the thoughts, but I swear it was like she recognized us, like she knew who we truly were. She looked at us like her best fiends again, but I was too scared to get my hopes up.

"Hope." Carli said, sounding somewhat skeptical. She was representing us all pretty accurate, knowing none of us truly dared to believe it was true.
"Carli, since when did you stop using your key?" Hope smiled widely, and I swear I saw something different in that smile.

"Hope?" Carli said again, more eagerness in her voice this time. Hope nodded and that was enough to confirm the unbelievable.

"I'm so sorry for what I've put you all through, I can't imagine how it's been for you." Hope spoke up, as she hugged Carli tight. I jumped to be next in line, realizing just how much I missed her. The real her.
"Don't even start with that, we were just worried about you." I said, as she opened her arms to me now. I gladly accepted the hug, and I felt emotional all of a sudden. I literally had to fight the tears at this point. I was just so overly happy with having her back.

"Ashlyn." Hope spoke my name, and the way she said it was enough. I didn't need her to say another word, she remembered me.

"So you remember everything now, just like that?" Becky was the first one to question it, while still being happy herself. Hope's smile fainted for a brief second, before she quickly recovered it again.
"No. I don't know, I don't think so. I remember people, I remember my friends, you guys. I still don't seem to recollect recent events, fairly new people. But I remember you." Hope spoke, and she seemed to be more than okay with what she had gathered. I too felt it was more than enough for the time being. She remembers us, that's really all that matters at this point.

"What triggered your memory?" HAO asked, as she got the hug after Ali. Hope sighed, but she seemed to be trying to act causal.
"Uh well, Kelley did. She uh, said something and I remembered." Hope suddenly got slightly uncomfortable, and like on cue the younger girl was standing in the doorway beside Hope.

"Kelley." Carli went straight in for a hug, and I actually liked that the two had gotten this close. We all know they are both immensely important to Hope, so it's just easier that they get along.

Carli let go of the younger girl, and Kelley quickly looked back at Hope again. The admiration in her eyes were there as always, and Hope looked back with so much passion and love. It was ridicules that the two weren't like halfway to marriage by now.

I noticed something unusual though, something that didn't seem to be there before between Kelley and Hope. I at least can't recall the strange tension between the two. They always had this connection and literal tension, but this was more like they were trying to hide something. The uncertainty that was always there, the insecurity and the unknown, it was like it had vanished. Like they suddenly now had no secrets and it was just all out there floating between them. I couldn't imagine that to ever happen with Hope though, I honestly gave up on that after she left Kelley the second time around. But who knows, maybe this whole trauma has changed her, changed the situation. I know I certainly hope so.

**

(A/N: thank you so much for commenting and voting! I absolutely love the enthusiasm!)