Sunday Candy

Pre-Game Rituals

I honestly couldn't believe today. I got woken up by Pinoe screaming, "We're at the Olympics!! And it's our first game! Ahhh!" , which by the way was very loud and was only loud because of how early in the morning it was. And then I spilled my coffee all over my practice uniform, my heart actually broke.

"Earth to Mare?" Kelley's hand waves in front of my face.

"What? Yeah"

"C'mon we have to get to the bus" I didn't realize that we've been standing in the lobby for a while.

"Damn. You're right. Let's go!" And with that I grab her hand and run to the bus. She laughs behind me as we step on. Everybody was already with their bus buddies. With the retirement of many of the teammates a lot of bus buddies were separated but we all have a place on the bus and sit next to whoever honestly. 

Kell and I take our separate ways as she sits with Alex and I go to the back.

I decide to do my pre-game tradition and call my best friend who I actually consider my brother. It's something I do before every friendly, national games and club games.

I take out my phone and scroll through my contacts. I press Marcelo's name. I hope he's available. He might not be considering he's in America with the boys from Madrid. I'm pretty sure he had a game today. But i'm not sure what time.

The call rings twice before he answers.

"Mare!" He yells through the phone.

"Marcelo! How's my favorite person ever?" I laugh.

"Good! Very good actually! We just won a game in your home state, New Jersey! The boys are actually surrounding me right now to say hi" A huge smile appears on my face.

"It sucks that I'm not there. I miss playing with you guys. And put me on speaker!"

"Okay. You're on"

"Hey boys! I miss you guys" I say sadly but still happy.

"Mare! Oh how good it is to hear your voice. These guys are crazy without you here" I hear Kroos yell. I then hear a bunch of "heys!" and one "ow".

"We're doing just fine. Kroos is exaggerating a bit" Sergios sighs.

"Oh is that true peanut?" I ask Sergio.

"Mare bring home that gold!" Lucas says. For some reason that made me look to my side and look at the tan girl with the surprisingly sharp jaw line.

"I'll do my best"

"Dedicate me a goal baby doll" Benz comes out of nowhere.

"Of course. If I make any goals, i'll make sure to dedicate them to you guys" I smile cheekily.

"Mare? Is your Kelly friend there?" Varane asks. I gasp giggling.

"Give me a second. I'll go get her" I hold the phone to my chest and I stand up carefully considering the bus is moving quite fast. 

"Kells!" I whisper shout hoping she hears me.

She didn't.

"Kells!" I try again a little louder.

Still no use. What is she doing?

"M, do you need me to call Kelley?" Tobin asks watching me struggle.

"Yes please"

She bends a little over the seats in front of her taping the freckled girls' shoulder. She turns around startled.

"Mare has been calling you" Tobin tells her. She turns around grinning and I whisper a quick thank you to her.

"Varane is asking for you" Kelley squeals and runs over to me. She grabs my wrist excitedly.