Childhood Flames (Ashlyn/You)

2

Y/N was out for the rest of the season with her MCL that was actually torn, not sprained like we thought in the first place. At the end of the season, she was traded to Portland Thorns FC, so she left. Not like she had much of a choice, but she went anyway. Said it would allow her to go and get more experience and grow as a player. She seemed excited to go, so who was I to stand in my best friend's way and selfishly try to keep her here in DC with me. Yeah, I know she'd stay for me, but I couldn't do that to her. I wouldn't be able to forgive myself for getting in the way of such a great opportunity for someone as special to me as she is. If you love someone you have to let them go, and if they come back, then you were meant to be together. If not, you're fucked.

"Is that everything? You're sure you're completely packed?" I ask Y/N and she smiles, nodding at me as we carry the last two boxes out to my car so we can go ship them to her new house in Portland. When we get home, she comes over to me and hugs me tight, remaining silent as we just stand in the living room in a tight embrace.

"Ugh, I'm going to miss my best friend and all of her crazyness. I'll see you and Ali next boot camp, right?" She asks and I smile.

"I hope so. Tom would be stupid to not want you back on the roster again after that last camp." I say and Y/N smiles at me, yawning.

"I'm going to go to sleep." She says and I smile softly at her.

"Yeah, okay. Sleep well." I say before going into my own room and crawling into my own bed, falling asleep almost instantly.

In the morning, I take Y/N to the airport and see her off. After she's gone past security, I leave and go home to get ready for training in an hour.

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Y/N
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When I land at PDX, I get my bags and go to where Alex said she'd meet me, and smile when I see my new teammate, walking over to her and hugging her.

"Hey." Alex says as she leads me to her car and helps me with my bags before getting in the drivers seat as I get in beside her. When we get to my apartment building, her and I head up to my apartment and I smile as I see some of the Thorns waiting outside my apartment for Alex and I. So I let everyone in and we spend the day getting me settled into my new place, today was a regular day in the off season, and tomorrow we had a short meeting with the entire team. I'm not going to lie, I'm kinda scared to meet the whole team tomorrow, but I'm gonna have to at some point, right? Now or never. When we finish setting my place up, we go get dinner together as an early welcome to Portland, Thorns FC, and my new lifestyle in general.

"You're going to love it here." Tobin promised after a toast to me, their new friend, sister, and teammate." When I get home from dinner with the girls, I call Ashlyn right away and smile as she answers on the fifth ring.

"Hey, love." Ashlyn says and I smile at the name she always uses to address me.

"Hey, Ash." I say, smiling.

"How are you liking Portland so far?" She asks and I smile to myself.

"I love it already and the season hasn't even started yet. I can't wait to get on that pitch with those girls. I miss you already though." I say and hear Ashlyn sigh.

"I'm glad you're liking Portland already. I knew you'd fall in love with the city and the club. I can't wait to see you at the next camp." Ash says Andy sigh. Hey, I'm going to bed soon. Had a long day cleaning the house. I'm exhausted." Ash says and I nod to myself.

"Of course, Ashy. I completely understand. Get some rest. I'll talk to you later." I say before hanging up and deciding to go to bed as well because I too had a long day of housework.