The Sound of Silence (USWNT)

Call Up?

*Victoria's POV*

I slowly unpacked my bags but I couldn't help but smile as Mal chattered away, sitting on her bed, looking over at me with a smile on her face.

"So yeah, I got called up from one of the recruiting camps near my area, and I'm assuming you did too?" She asked, looking at me, patience and acceptance present in her eyes, making me feel more at ease than I ever have with anyone as I nodded with a small smile.

"That's so cool! I was so nervous that I'd be the only young once, but you're only a little younger than me!" Mal exclaimed as I unpacked my sketchpad, and I pouted playfully at her, making her laugh. I smiled widely at the sound for some reason.

Mal looked at the sketchpad and my case of various graphite pencils, colored pencils,etc. And smiled at me. "Oh do you draw?!" She asked excitedly, her seemingly never ending smile or energy making me smile more than I ever have.

I nodded, pinching my fingers together to indicate a little bit. "That's really cool!" She grinned, helping me to unpack the rest of my things.

Once we were done we both sat down on our beds, facing each other. I pulled out the notebook I usually use to communicate and a pen.

"So how do you usually communicate with people since.." Mal cut herself off, looking mortified. "Oh my gosh, I'm so sorry I didn't mean to offend you,I was just wondering!!" Mal panicked fumbling over her words.

I smiled reassuringly, and indicated for her to look at the notebook.

"I usually use this, a phone app that reads my texts, or sign language preferably if people know it." I wrote.

"Wow that's really cool! Um, would you maybe mind teaching me sign language?" She asked shyly, rubbing the back of her neck nervously. I was surprised, the only people who had asked me to teach them were Allie and Steph,and it was after a week or 2.

I nodded quickly, not able to fight the smile that had been on my face since Mal had first introduced herself to me.

"Thank you so much!! I'm so excited! I think we'll be great friends!" She beamed, pulling me into a hug. I tensed up for a second, still not used to hugs. But I had never felt more at home.

It had been 2 weeks since camp started, and I loved it. I felt even more at home on the pitch than I ever have before. Like I could finally be myself without worrying how different I was. Maybe it was because I was always up top with Mal or Steph. We won our first 2 games as a team, Mal scoring 3 goals and an assist to me, me scoring 2 goals and an assist to Mal and Steph, and Steph scoring 2 goals with an assist from Allie.

Mal and I were laughing as I taught her the sign language for "Allie Long is a big nerd." I couldn't help but beam at the sound of her laugh. For some reason being around Mal always made me smile. The door opened and we were both still laughing as Mal looked up to greet Allie and Steph.

"Took you both long enough! We started our lesson, and the movie without you!" Mal said playfully, gesturing to where She's The Man was already playing on the small hotel TV.

The smile slowly fell from my face as I saw the normally cheerful Allie and Steph looked nervous, Steph fiddling with her hands, and Allie pacing slightly.

"What's wrong?" I signed.

"Well, you know how coach wanted to talk to us?" Allie said gently, moving to sit down on my side.

I nodded hesitantly, their guilty looks making me nervous. "Well apparently Jill called coach, and Allie and I...." Steph trailed off.

"We got called up to the senior camp. We have to leave in a week." Allie finished off.