Saved By Carli

XXI

Sage's POV

Yesterday we flew from Vancouver to San Jose for the second game against Canada. The flight was fine as we were surprisingly the only ones on it so that was cool.

Jill doesn't want a draw in the next game so she wants the team to bond more so that they can be more in-sync on the pitch. So the team is having a day at the hotel pool then having something else after dinner.. Everyone was either changing or already at the pool. I decided to change into a bikini and then head down to the pool. As I'm changing I catch a glimpse of myself in the mirror and all my old mothers words comeback, worthless, ugly ,fat, unattractive, slut, whore. Thats all it takes for my body confidence issues to resurface which causes me to fall on the ground and curl up into a ball and the tears to flow. Maybe i'll never be normal.

- - - - -

Alex's POV

As Christen and I are walking down to the pool we hear what sounds like crying coming from a few doors down."Hey Christen do you hear that?" I ask

"Yeah it sounds like crying."

"It sounds like it's coming from Sage's room."

"Shit " we say simultaneously.

We sprint to her door and luckily its unlocked and cracked so we knock then enter the room and see Sage in the fetal position crying."Go get Carli" I whisper to Christen.

As soon as she leaves I go scoop Sage up and bring her to the bed and hold her. "Hey sweetheart I got you. You're okay. I got you. You're okay. I promise."

I just hold her until I see Carli and Christen come in the room and they rush over and we all just comfort her and let her calm down and let whatever this is thats going on subside.

- - - - -

Carli's POV

Once Sage is calm enough and she can see without the tears she hugs me and I feel her loosen up."Sage honey what happened? " I ask.

"I was changing to go down to the pool with the rest of you and I...I accidentally looked in the mirror and all my body confidence issues resurfaced and I just kept thinking about all the things my old poor excuse of a mother would use to call me when she would hurt me. She would always call me worthless, ugly ,fat, unattractive, slut, whore, and everything just came rushing backing and I couldn't hold it in anymore and well I guess Alex and Christen found me in a ball on the floor crying and here we are". When she said this it broke my heart.

Alex speaks up before I can think of something to say "Well first off she was dead wrong about you because you are beautiful, fit, special girl, who has an infectious smile, and who is worth so much to her friends and family that will always love and cherish her." Sage can't hide the beautiful smile she has after she hears what Alex says.

Christen speaks up next "Sage sweetie promise us next time you feel like this you will come talk to one of us. We will always be there for you when you feel like this. You never have to feel alone ok?"

"I promise Chrissy." Sage says with a slight smile.

Finally I speak up "Sage I will always love you and you will always be able to talk to me and I promise I will never let you forget how gorgeous you are. I love you Sage"

"I love you too mom." She says with a smile. "I also love you too Alex and Christen and thank you for helping me."

Soon after we all walk down to the pool and most of the team was there either goofing off in the pool, talking with each other, reading, or tanning. I went and sat on a chair on the side of the pool and was joined by Sage, who as she sat down leaned her head on my shoulder.

After a while of reading a book I decide to take a break and make sure everyone is here, but Sage still has her head on my shoulder so I just look around from where I am sitting. As I'm looking around I see Mal looking at Sage with such love and affection. Sage is looking back in the same way, but suddenly her facial expression turns to one of confusion and it looks like she's thinking about something.

"What are you thinking about?" I say kissing her head and she snaps out of her trance.

"Huh...oh just about how hard being away from Mal will be after I ask her to be my girlfriend." She chuckles and looks at me . "It'll be hard for both of us mom."

Now I chuckle. "Yeah it will, but luckily for both of us we will see them every couple of weeks and Mal is always a car ride away." After a brief pause I speak up. " You really like her don't you."

Sage smiles. " I really do Mom."

"Well I guess I need to have the don't break my daughter's heart talk with her."

"I mean I already gave Christen that talk so it's only fair." Sage says while smirking.

"Wait what?"

"What?" She asks confused.

"You talked with her about that?

She sighs." Okay you remember last camp before Mal and I's date where you talked to Mal?" I nod. "Well I sat with Christen and when I saw her looking at you while you two walked by I asked her about her feelings toward you, to which she admitted to having feelings for you. I then told her to wait till this camp to act on her feelings because, selfishly, I wanted you to have a little more time to yourself. You know about her and I's conversation before she asked you to dinner, but I never actually told her to not break your heart because I know she won't. She loves you too much."

After wiping the tear that fell from my eye and hugging Sage. " What did I do to deserve a daughter like you."

"Mom can I ask you something a bit personal?" I nod while she plays with my fingers, something I've never seen her do. "Were you always attracted to men and women?"

"I didn't think I was." I say then look at Christen tanning across the pool and I must say she looks fucking amazing in a bikini. " but Christen made me realize that with the person I love I don't care what their gender is as long as they treat me right, they love me, and they love you I'm perfectly happy to love whoever and it just so happens that Christen is that person for me.

"Have you told her you love her yet?"

"We actually said it at dinner when we started dating." Sage smiles and we sit their in comfortable silence. After a while I remember about the bonding thing tonight.

" Hey Sage there is team bonding tonight in our room."

"Okay sounds fun. Do you know what we are doing?

"I have no clue, but knowing some of the girls on this team probably truth or dare. "

After a while the team start to leave the pool to get ready for dinner.