Draft Pick Day
Shelina wakes up first, as the early light of the morning sun are invading the hotel room where she and Becky spent the night.
They arrived in New York one day earlier, and took the day off to visit the city together because Becky's parents arrive. When they saw Shelina, they immediately accepted her : her kindness, honesty and modesty were just everything they thought their daughter deserved. Let's be honest : Becky and Shelina are perfect of each other, everyone can see that. The Sauerbrunn sleeping on the room next to them, the couple had to stay calm the night before.
The Canadian, after putting a lock of hair behind Becky's hair, starts to caress her girlfriend's arm, trying to wake her up. She hasn't slept very well because of the stress, calling Kelley in the middle of the night.
"Babe" Shelina whispers, kissing Becky's arm, neck and then cheek. "Your parents are waiting for us to get breakfast."
"Uuuuhm, can't we just send them somewhere else ?"
That makes the brunette laugh, but she still is pretty persistent.
"They came especially for the Draft, babe. You can't send them anywhere." the Canadian reminds her girlfriend, amused by Becky's weird ideas. She then smirks. "Besides, they seem very happy to finally see you more than two minutes."
"That is very true..." Becky starts, but then she reverses the situation and gets on top of Shelina, a wide smile on her lips. "... But I'd rather spend this time with my wonderful girlfriend, because we might not have that much time to spend together in the future."
Shelina frowns.
"Depends on where you are playing next year" she points out, hopeful.
"Baby, let's not pretend anymore" Becky says, her smile fading. "The nearest town is either Portland and Seattle, but neither is interested in a center back."
"I know" Shelina sighs, before shaking her head.
The two girls kiss each other for a moment, before finally getting up. Afterwards, Becky suddenly thinks of something :
"I should ask Kelley if her and her parents want to join us for breakfast ?"
"That's a great idea, babe"
The two girls join the Sauerbrunn, hand in hand.
*
"In the first pick of the first round, FC Kansas City select : Rebecca Sauerbrunn, from UCLA !"
The rooms roars in applause, as Becky freezes on her chair. Shelina is the one snapping her out of her trance by caressing her arm and whisper in her ear : 'babe, it's time to go'. So the defender gets up and walks toward the scene. She crosses Sam Kerr and Steph Labbé's paths, as the two Harvard girls hug her. She then comes across from Kelley, who almost jumps on her, before finally reaching the scene.
The first person she sees in the assembly is Shelina, of course, and then her eyes slips to the Stanford graduates, who are all applauding her : Ali Krieger, Lauren Barnes, Jess Fishlock, Yael Averbuch, Merritt Mathias, and even Marta. Everybody is on their feet : the whole room obviously knows about what Becky has been through this past year, and this is their way of showing respect.
So it is a very moved Becky that talks in the mic :
"First of all, I want to thank Kansas City for selecting me. Second, my school, UCLA, for being so supportive in my decisions and years here. Third, my coaches, Jill and Dawn, for believing in me when nobody could. But most importantly, my teammates..."
Her voice breaks, as she catches eyes with Kelley, who is surrounded by Julie, Allie, Tobin and Ada, all smiles. She pulls it together, before saying :
"... They are the best thing that happened to me. They supported me when I lost everything, and now it is safe to say they're like little sisters to me.
"UCLA has always been a team with an important moral legacy, almost a tradition that occurred during the years. You never truly understand it until you live it yourself : captaining this team is a blessing. It means fighting for what's right. Giving your all. Rallying the troupes. That's what I tried to do during my time here.
"But now I am almost gone. I'm done with being the captain of this team. Therefore, I brought something very special tonight."
Becky gets something out of her pocket : two black captain arm band. She then slowly shakes her head, smiling.
"As you may have heard, my dear friend Julie lost her sister a few years ago, an awful car crash that cost the life of a beautiful soul. I know I wasn't involved in it, but still, I can't help but think : 'what could've I done to prevent this from happening ?'. Life can end at any moment, and this is why I bought those two arm band. From now on, the future captains are going to wear a black arm band in the memory of Whitney Engen.
"And today, it is time for me to pass the torch, my own Holy Grail."
While speaking, Becky walks down the stairs and immediately walks toward her teammates - or more like former teammates - and smiles to them. Her eyes drowns in Allie's and Tobin's, before she says, holding her tears back :
"You are the two people I trust with this team. I want you to be co-captains, to prevent the ship to sink while I'm gone. Can you do that ?"
They both nod in unison.
"Yes."
The Harrys both get up on the same time, and hug their captain. The room once again applauds, as Becky bursts into tears. And the applauds won't cease until Becky has found her seat next to her girlfriend.
The announcer then says :
"In the second pick of the first round, Sky Blue FC selects : Kelley O'Hara, from UCLA"
Something in Becky can't stop making her cry. This pride she has inside of her : they did it together. They fought and won. They are now on top of the world. So when Kelley runs toward her, Becky gets up and gets ready for Kelley famous jump, that she always does during games.
The brunette then says in Becky's ear :
"Thank you"
"No, thank you"
What a night it is.
*
Results of the Draft (13 first picks) :
1. FC Kansas City - Becky Sauerbrunn (UCLA)
2. Sky Blue FC - Kelley O'Hara (UCLA)
3. Orlando Pride - Marta (Stanford)
4. Seattle Reign FC - Jessica Fishlock (Stanford)
5. Sky Blue FC - Sam Kerr (Harvard)
6. FC Kansas City - Sydney Leroux (Duke)
7. Seattle Reign FC - Lauren Barnes (Harvard)
8. Orlando Pride - Stephanie Catley (Harvard)
9. Orlando Pride - Ali Krieger (Stanford)
10. Washington Spirit - Stephanie Labbé (Harvard)
11. FC Kansas City - Amy Rodriguez (Duke)
12. Portland Thorns FC - Adriana Franch (Duke)
13. Portland Thorns FC - Nadia Nadim (USC)
