There's More to Soccer Then That

Chapter 10

// Alex \\ (When Kelley fainted)

I observed Kelley, watching as she stumbled a bit. I sat up slowly, looking at one of my closest friends with concern. "Kelley, are you okay?" Julie asked, slowly standing to reach her. Kelley didn't answer, she just tried to walk around the seat to get to me, when suddenly she collapsed. "KELLEY!" Hope exclaimed as she jumped up, following me as I slid to her side. I gently rolled her onto her back, as she blinked her eyes open. "Kelley. Kelley!" I repeated her name, trying to get her to focus as she sat up, rubbing her hands over her face. Hope knelt down beside us, Bean and Julie doing the same. "What happened..?" She questioned weakly, and I shared a worried glance with Hope as we turned our attention back to the defender on the ground. "You tell us." Hope said, as the two of us pulled her off the ground and helped her sit in a chair. I knelt at her legs, resting my hands on her kneecaps as I looked up at her. I had a feeling I know what was happening, this had happened another time last year when we got a call that Hope had been in a car accident. Kelley cares so much about our select squad of people, that if one of us is hurt or in a touch situation, she'll worry and give herself a panic attack. I turned to Moe and Jules. "Can you two go get a pitcher of water and some cups? I think she could benefit from it." I said, and they nodded before jogging out of the room. I turned to Hope, then to Kelley. "Kels, take a deep breath. You passed out because you were worried about Jade, am I right?" I speak softly, and she looks down at me with a slight smile. "You remembered." She said softly, Hope looking at us a bit confused. Kelley turned to Hope and laughed softly at the Keeper's facial expression. The defender hugged the Keeper's neck, and Hope simply let her, gently patting her back. "I'm glad you're okay." Hope said softly before standing up, and moving to sit in the chair next to hers. Morgan and Julie came back in with a clear pitcher of water and a few glasses, we all took a cup and poured water. We sat silently, anticipating the return of our squad members.

After a while, Carli walked into the door, and almost all of us stood up and rushed her. "Is Scarlet okay?" Hope asked almost instantaneously, then realized she may have been to fast and stepped back. She put her hands in her pockets and put her head down as she shyly waited for Carli to explain. "She..... Got knocked around a bit while behind the cell doors." The Captain's voice was a bit soft as she said that, and she walked over to sit next to me, since I had decided to stay sitting. Everyone else walked over to take a seat around the table. "What happened?" Morgan asked, concern filling the normal happy midfielder's voice. Morgan was usually the girl who was laid back, and rarely ever got upset over anything. That's where Carli and her shared similarity. But they both seemed to be worked up over Scarlet. Honestly, I think this entire room of team mates and friends, were upset. Scarlet is sweet, innocent, and protective. She definitely did not deserve this. "When we showed up, Ellis worked everything out and filled out the paperwork for her release. When the guard went to retrieve Scar, she came back..... Roughed up. She had blood covering her face, bruising through the blood, and she was walking with a limp.. Tobin just about got herself arrested, but Jade got her to calm down." Carli explained, and we all sat around simply listening. "On our way back, Scar explained how a few Korean inmates weren't too happy to have an American with them. They were taunting her to fight, but she said she simply allowed them to attack. If she would have fought back, she would have proven them right." It was silent for a few, everyone digesting the events of the day. "So where's Tobs?" Kelley asked, and we all looked at Carli. Tobin hadn't actually gotten herself arrested, had she? "She's upstairs with Jade.. It's funny actually. We all know Tobin hides her worries and concerns for others right?" Carli said, we all sort of chuckled and nodded. She was right. Ever since I knew Toby, she didn't express her worry for barely anyone. The only times I saw her expressing anything close to concern is when I broke my ankle a couple years back, when Kelley got busted up in the World Cup, or when Hope had been in the car accident. She hadn't had the chance to express her feelings for Carli, Jules or Moe, but I'm sure she would. That's why I wasn't surprised she had went up to aid Scarlet. Tobin has a way of staying quiet and acting tough, but she's actually a sweet heart. Just as I was about to head up and check on them, the two of them walked in laughing about something. "I swear I thought it was a pull door!" Tobin exclaimed through her contagious laugh, and it brought a smile to all of our faces. Scarlet stumbled in after her, laughing so hard she was having trouble catching her breath. Her bruised and battered face lit up with her pure whites, her black hair cascaded down the back of her dark gray tank top. Her crystal blue eyes were closed from the laughing. "I-I can't.... I literally-" She continued to laugh, both of them falling to the carpet as the laughing spread. I found myself chuckling as Kelley looked at them curiously, also laughing. "Scarlet stop-" Tobin started to say, but just kept laughing. Before long, Julie's laugh sounded. That girl is forever laughing, and her laugh makes all of us burst into laughter. We continued laughing for a good 5 minutes, until everything finally calmed down. We glanced around the room, Scarlet sat on the floor with Tobin lay on the floor with her head against the midfielder's thighs. I guess they had really became close after this, and I was extremely glad. Tobin needs more close friends. Because if she's not with Kelley or I, she's not with anyone. Lately she's been warming up to everyone in the "squad", but I get the feeling her and Scarlet hit it off well. I sat next to Kelley, she leaned back against me as she was talking to Morgan and Julie across the table. The two new kids were talking about something, and Julie was still laughing. I shook my head with a laugh, and turned to look at Hope sitting next to me. She was talking with Carli, and seemed to be dragging the two on the floor into the conversation. "So are we ready for the game on Thursday?" I randomly asked, not particularly to anyone, just outloud. Everyone went quiet as they glanced at me, their facial expressions lighting up. "What is today?" Morgan asked, sitting up straight. "Tuesday." I laughed, and then everyone exploded. "WE HAVE A GAME IN 2 DAYS?!" Kelley exclaimed, and fell out of her seat. We all began to laugh again and with that we decided to head down to the dining hall. None of us had eaten dinner, since we had been in here. I walked beside Scarlet and Kelley, Scar in between us. Morgan, Julie, and Tobin were walking ahead of us, and I couldn't help but smile at the fact that she was being more social. The adorable, funny, nonsocial Tobin I've known has finally began to show her inside heart. The heart Kelley and I saw multiple times, but no one else knew of. And I had Scarlet to thank for that. Ever since Hope introduced her to us the first day, everyone just grew to love her. Even me. I look forward to our years in the future together, knowing this group of friends would hold tight through thick and thin, no matter what.