Running

Chapter Thirty-Three

HOPE SOLO

*Two Days Later*

They won their game against Nigeria 1 - 0. It would have been cherished so much more if Abby hadn't gotten a red card in the forty-fifth minute. The players walked to the bus, most chattering happily to another.

Hope place her headphones over her ears and went to her special place in the back. The keeper took her phone out to check for texts. She had none from anyone, Hope didn't know what she expected to be honest. As she was about to turn the phone off her music was interrupted by the ringing of a phone call.

She took her headphone off and looked at the caller, it was Perry. Hope tapped on the green button to accept the phone call. "Yes?"

There was a few seconds of silence on the line. "I am an idiot, the biggest idiot of them all." Perry told her.

The keeper was unable to suppress her smile. Her daughter was finally admitting to being wrong. How could Hope not smile? "I know you are. But you are my little idiot."

"And my idiot!" Chimed in Sydney, somewhere farther up in the bus.

The team let out chuckles before returning to what they were doing.

"I'm sorry, I am very sorry. I felt that since I gave you all of my trust, it didn't feel like you gave me all of your's when you didn't tell me." Perry sucked in a deep breath. "It wasn't until Christie talked to me that I realised I am stupid."

Hope nodded, though the girl on the other end of the line couldn't see it. "You are brash like me, don't hold yourself to this too much. I should have handled this differently." She let out a thoughtful sigh. "I need to act more like a mother. Hell, I barely even know how to raise a kid that is ready to go to college soon."

Amy rolled her eyes upon hearing Hope. "That is why you have us, idiot! We are family after all."

"No, this is all on me. We both know this very well. I will never act like that again. In truth I am my own enemy." Perry told her firmly, wanting to get her point across. "Is there a chance I could come back to Canada?"

The keeper of course was going go say yes. But she took the costs into mind. Hope didn't exactly enjoy paying for a two or so hour flight, if even that. "Yes, then to pay off the expenses I'll figure out something."

Perry let out a chuckle, a slightly dry one. "Alright, talk to you later. Love you Mom."

"Um, yeah, love you too." Hope replied shutting off her phone. That has been probably only the second or third time she has been called "mom". It is the most confusingly wonderful feeling in the world.

Carli turned to Hope with a curious look. "So I take it Perry is coming back?" She wondered, giving a soft smile.

She nodded, "Yes, she is coming back."

"Great, we enjoy having her." The brunette midfielder responded.

*(Another) Two Days Later*

PERRY SOLO

Perry was on a mission. She decided to become a better daughter by being a better person around Hope. Which meant no making bad decisions when angry/stupid. And to finally tell Hope about her sexuality. She of course was nervous for the latter of the two. It would be a big step for her. Only Julie knows since the who kiss thing.

With a churning stomach she went through all of the security and such before seeing Hope and Carli. The two were standing in the seating area looking deep in conversation as they sipped on Starbucks. It either had to be a no training day, or no training till later day. Perry mentally shrugged, not caring too much. All she cared about was being with her "soccer family" once more.

"Hey Hope and Carli." Perry greeted when she reached the two women.

Hope stood up and gave Perry a hug. Carli followed what the goalkeeper did. "How was the plane ride back?" Questioned Hope.

"I was sitting next to this girl who was chatty, so I talked to her. She is apparently on the U19 national team for the US." She said, adjusting the straps on the book bag. Perry failed to metion that she found said girl pretty. She would probably tell that to Hope later as well.

Carli cocked an eyebrow as she sipped on her warm coffee. "Did you get a name?"

She pondered for a little bit before coming to a name. "Yeah, Samantha Hiatt."

"Did you give her your name?" Questioned Hope nonchalantly.

Perry let out a scoff. "She said she already knows who I am. I mean, you did introduce me to fans after the Aussie match." She smirked at the two.

Hope kind roll her eyes at her own stupidity. "We better get going. I have a feeling that Christie is going to want a word with you."

"Most likely." Perry agreed, being to walk of with them.