Saved By Carli

VII

Sage's POV

Today the girls have training and while they are doing that I'm working on college work and sitting by their bags. I really hate college but in todays society you cant get very far in the business world without a degree. Well I mean you can, but only if your very rich or very lucky and since I am neither of those I have to work hard to get somewhere in life.

I never realized how intense their practices are. Some of the conditioning they do would tire out the best of athletes. I now see why they are the best in the world. The work they put in on the training ground pays dividends when it comes to game time.

After about 2 hours the team is done with practice and they all come over to get their bags and change their footwear to more comfortable shoes and relax for a few before it's time to go. They're just chatting about random ass things for about five minutes till Abby notices me with a laptop.

"Hey what are you working on Sage?" She asks.

"Something for my Journalism Ethics and Diversity class. It's really monotonous, but apparently it is needed for the degree." I say with a sigh.

"What is the class about? And what are you majoring in?"

"The class is about contemporary ethical problems in journalism. And I'm double majoring in journalism and film and media studies. And I don't mean to be rude, but I need finish this assignment before the deadline, so if you want to know why I'm majoring in those areas then ask Tobin, Carli, Christen, or Alex."

"Okay well Tobin, Carli, Christen, or Alex why is she majoring in those areas?" Kling asks.

"Well she has always liked writing and always wanted to be a sports journalist. And then she has also always wanted to make documentaries about different things like she would love to make a documentary about a season with one of the players on the National team and show people the good and the bad times of a season with club and country. She also want to travel and see other cultures. "Tobin answers.

"Yeah what she said" I pipe up.

"Well okay then. Hopefully all goes well with the classes. Now it's time to go." And with that everyone gathers their stuff and heads to the bus so we can go to the hotel. On the way to the us Mal and I agree to go get food when we get back because we're both hungry.

As we are getting on the bus I'm pulled onto someone's lap. "Ow. What the hell. Oh hey Ash and Ali."

"Hi Sage." Ali says.  

"Um is there anything you want to talk about?"

"A few things."

"Okay like what."

Ash just smirks. Uh oh this can't be good "Well how your classes are going? How are you doing? When are you gonna ask Mal out?"

"Damn is this whole team that forward. Um classes are good and they're super easy. I'm doing good. And probably won't ever ask her out."

"Why won't you ask her out Sage?" Ali asks with a sad look in her eyes.

I sigh then begin speaking "I really don't want to talk about this again so if you really want to know just ask Tobin. I'm gonna move somewhere else now. Bye."

And with that I go and find a lone bus seat and sit in it. I put my headphones in and pull my knees to my chest and try to block everything out.

- - - - -

Ash's POV

What did she mean she didn't want to have that conversation again." I ask Ali.

"I don't know she said ask Tobin so I guess we can text Tobin." She says

We text Tobin and she tells us everything about their conversation at dinner a couple nights ago.

"I don't understand how she can't see how beautiful she is." I say. Ali just nods and gets up and walks toward Sage I'm assuming to talk to her.

- - - - -

Sage's POV

I see Ali coming back to talk to me and I wipe away the tears and remove my headphones and wait for her to get to me knowing what this is going to be about.

"Hey Sage can I sit next to you?" She asks. I just nod and she sits down, wraps her arm around me, and we sit in silence until I speak up.

"I'm sorry for snapping at you and Ash."

"It's okay. We didn't mean to push you and get you upset. We just see the way you to act around each other and it reminds us of the two of us at the beginning of our relationship."

"I know you meant no harm. I don't know why I got upset. Well I actually do and you do too now as well I'm guessing or you wouldn't be back here."

"Yeah we do and just so you know you are beautiful just like Mal." I would argue with her that I'm not as beautiful as Mal, but what's the point. We sit in silence again until I decided to talk

"I will probably ask her at the next camp though." Ali smiles and says, "Well I will help you out with the date if you want." I just look up and smile at her then lean into her and we stay like that till we arrive at the hotel.

When we get to the hotel Mal goes and takes a shower and gets changed while I wait in the lobby for her to get down. 15 minutes later Mal comes down and we head out to find food. We find a sandwich place down the street from the hotel. Once we get into the restaurant we find a booth and wait for the waiter to come over and take our order

The waiter gets to our table and looks at me and begins speaking, "Hi I will be your waiter today what can I get you?"

"Hi I will have the grilled chicken caesar wrap with a water." He nods and writes down my order then looks at Mal and smiles at her. I already don't like him. "And what can I get for you beautiful?"

Mal laughs to hide her nervousness. "Um I will have the grilled chicken club with a water as well." After he takes her order he smiles at her again and walks off. Yep I really don't like him.

"Prick." I mumble.

"Sage it's okay. I will let you know when I get uncomfortable."

The douche comes back over with the drinks. He sets them down and leaves, but he left a napkin with Mal's drink that had his number on it. This guy is pissing me off and I think Mal can see it because she comes and sits next to me and intertwines our hands.

"Sage I'm fine. He won't get anywhere with me. I will admit he is annoying, but I need you to calm down. Don't let that idiot ruin our lunch. Can you do that for me?"

"I'll do it for you Mal." I say with a smile and her cheeks blush which makes me happy. Oh fuck the waiter is coming back over with our food. I guess Mal notices that I've tensed up because she squeezes my hand.

"Here you ladies go. I hope you enjoy." He turns to Mal and smiles. "And I hope you will call me."

Thats it I'm gonna hit him. I try to stand up, but Mal starts talking, "Yeah I won't call you ever. And If you keep harassing us then my friend and I will not hesitate to talk to your manager and get you fired. Now the next time you come over here you better have our check and you better not say a damn thing to either one of us. GOT IT?!?!" He just nods and leaves. Angry Mal is hot. Hopefully I can get the courage to ask her out at the next camp.

The waiter does what Mal ask and we pay and leave. As we are walking back to the hotel I notice Mal and I's hands are still intertwined which I don't mind at all so I don't say anything. For some reason I feel really safe with her. Once we get to the hotel Mal has to go to do team yoga so I go up to the room and work on more work for college. I stay up there till dinner and then after dinner I go back up to the room and finish off my assignment then go to sleep.