This Girl I Met

3

They ended up loosing 3-1, with a hat trick from Lotta Schelin.

As usual, the whole team is meeting up at my place, so I left without even saying goodbye to my friends. Allie seems upset, so I don't ask any questions. UCLA played dirty on that one, and the team wasn't happy about that. I am in a car that Bati drives, and with us there's Allie (on the passenger seat), Tobin and Christen on the back with me. I'm used in being around couples, and since either of them is really touchy with each other in public, I don't mind. They all respect me, and know I'm Allie's little sister. In a way, I am the whole team's little sister.

After two hours criticizing the other team, and then make some prediction for the upcoming games, the door rings. Alex rushed to go and open the door. A sweet voice raises, and Allie can't help but go and find out who that is.

There is a little silence, before Allie yells : « Linds, I think that's for you ! »

I tense up. Maybe it's Moe. Or maybe just Cari who forgot something in my bag. She always forgets things. I slowly walk pass my sister's friends, and finally get to the door. Just outside of it, holding a computer in her hands, is Sonnett, who is looking down.

« You're fucking kidding me, right ? » I let out angrily.

Before I can say anything else, and her eyes not leaving the ground, she speaks up : « I'm sorry. I moved in the apartments right in the end of the street and I don't have any connexion, and I need it to register in my new school, and- » When she finally looks up, her face is stroke by confusion. « Lindsey ? »

« Wait, you're living on my street ? » I ask, annoyed. How am I supposed to ignore her if she lives in the same street than I do ?

« I guess, yes. » she says. « I'm sorry if I bothered you, Imma just, uhm, go, and- » she stammers.

Before I can tell her that's a wonderful idea, Allie appears next to me, putting her arm around my shoulders. She looks at Sonnett, and then at me with a big smile on her face. I know what that smile means, and I already hate it. 'No, Allie, don't.' I think.

« Hey, I'm Allie, Lindsey's sister » my sister energetically says, presenting her hand to Sonnett, who just shakes it. « What are you still doing outside ? » she exclaims, looking at me, before pushing me somewhere else so the cute girl could make her way in. « Excuse my sister, she's a bit wild sometimes. Often. Come in ! Do you need some WiFi ? »

I can see Sonnett is so uncomfortable that it's almost cute. 'What ? No, you can't find that cute, or call her the 'cute girl', that's lame', I think, rolling my eyes at myself after slamming the door. Allie gares at me, while she is gesturing to tell me I gotta take care of this. I can only imagine Sonnett's face when she sees all those people energetically talking and laughing around her. She seems so shy.

I sigh.

« Fine, this way » I say, showing Sonnett the stairs.

Allie burst into laughter behind me. « See, that wasn't so difficult ! » she yells.

« Fuck you » I snap back, knowing that she usually isn't as welcoming as she was with the newbie. She just did it to annoy me.

Sonnett follows me closely, as I am opening my bedroom's door. I like simple things. So let's say my room is simple : a giant bed, surrounded by lights all over the ceiling and floor, and then a small desk that I only use when I've got to work my maths. I usually just work on my bed. Then, I just have somewhere to put my clothes in, and that's it. I show her my bed, and she sits on it. I then search in my things to find the WiFi code, that is written on a piece of paper. I then throw it on her, and she catches it and hurries to write it down.

When she gives me the little shit of paper back, I can't help but contemplate the way her hand slightly touches mine. I shiver a little bit, immediately hiding the fact that I am slightly blushing by turning around and put the paper back on its initial position. I then turn around, not sure what to do anymore.

I then roll my eyes. 'Damn it', I think, before sitting on a chair in front of Sonnett, who is already focused on what she's gotta do.

« I'm sorry » I let out.

She stops typing and lifts her eyes.

She is surprised by my apologizes. I mean, I wouldn't have expected them if I was in her position. She just nods, and goes back to what she's gotta do. I curse myself. 'At least try to be nice, and tell her you're not a bitch. She's fine. She's cool. She's cu- NO, she's not' I think to myself again, willing to kill my little thoughts. I take a deep breath, as talking with new people is not my thing. I've been friends with my friends and with my sister's that I've forgotten how it feels to meet new people, and to actually be nice to them.

I curse myself.

« I'm sorry for behaving like a bitch » I add, trying to look composed.

She looks up again. « It's okay. You don't like new people, I get it. » she says. She then starts frowning. « I swear I didn't know you lived there. I've tried all the other neighbors but they weren't home, or were too old to have WiFi... » she starts to explain.

« It's okay. » I say, smiling kindly. « I'm kind of happy you're here now ».

She seems surprised. « Really ? Why ? »

« I don't want you to get the wrong idea of me » I explain. « I usually am not like that, it's just... a shitty day, that's it. »

« We've all got some of those » she comments, returning my smile. She then keeps on typing on her computer. « I'm almost done, and then I'll leave you alone. »

She doesn't seem very happy about getting back in her new apartment tho. I frown. 'What do I say now ?' I wonder, knowing very well that I'm not good with people. I then make a decision, and say while closing my eyes :

« Take all the time you need. I mean, you don't seem thrilled to have to go back out there, so... » I say, quite honest.

She sighs. « No, you're right, I'm not. »

I don't know if I'm allowed to ask anything more. I mean, we don't even know each other. But something inside of me just tells me to insist.

« I'm here if you want to talk » I say.

She hesitates a second, before closing her laptop. She then throws a cute smile at me, and gets up, her computer under her arm.

« I'm fine, don't worry. I'll go now, thanks for the WiFi. »

« Anytime » I say.

She smiles at me one last time, before I hear her going down the stairs and closing the door behind her. There is one question on my mind right now : why do I fucking care if she's not okay ? I only know her for one day. I shouldn't care. Right ?

I shake my head, as I hear Alex yell 'Mojitos !' I smile and join the squad downstairs.