Saved By Carli

XXV

Sage's POV

It's been a couple of weeks since the game against Canada in San Jose. Mom has been very busy and I haven't left her side. Needless to say we are both still on edge from what happened before we left for the November camp.

So a little recap of what has happened in the past weeks. We had thanksgiving with her family which was awesome since it was my first time to have thanksgiving ever. Mom got invited to a Rutgers football game where they played Michigan State. They got washed 40-7 but it was still fun to go to. Mom then got invited to watch the Real Madrid v Borussia Dortmund game in Madrid which was amazing. Ronaldo scored which made the experience even better. After the game we met Christian Pulisic who is a very nice person.

Today Mom has a clinic for young girls so thats where we are. She is out coaching while I'm sitting on the sidelines watching and was texting Mal, but she had something to do with her family. Long distance sucks.

With an hour left I decide to Facetime Ash and Ali. "Hey Sage" Ash says when she picks up the phone and Ali waves and smiles

"Hey Ash... Hey Ali."

"How are you?" Ali asks.

"Doing good. Trying to think about gifts for Christmas for Mom."

" Oh yeah? What have you thought of so far?"

"Well I already have one present for her. But I want to get her some other things since I know she is going to spoil me. I just can't think of anything."

"What present do you already have?" Ash asks and I look around to make sure Mom isn't around.

"I'm flying Christen in for a week." They both aww and smile at me.

"I'm guessing Carli doesn't know" Ali says.

"Nope." I say with a smile.

"Thats gonna be one hell of a surprise." Ash says. I nod and we then talk for another thirty minutes till they have to go and two minutes after I hang up with Ash and Ali Mal calls and I spend the rest of the time on the phone with her until both of us have to go.

Yeah long distance blows.

- - - - -

Mom has an interview today at our house so thats cool. This interviewer seems nice. I think she use to play for the National Team, but I can't remember. I think her name is Julie Foudy.

After a some questions there was a sudden issue with the audio so Mom takes a break to get her a drink. The interviewer talks to her producer then walks over to me.

"Hi Sage."

"Hi" I say shyly.

"Would it be okay if we asked you some questions as well?"

"You'd have to ask my Mom."

Mrs. Foudy turns to Mom when she comes back in the room." Hey Carli is it okay if we ask Sage some questions as well?"

Mom comes over and whispers to me." Do you want to do this?"

"Only if you sit with me."

Mom then turns to Mrs.Foudy " She will do it, but only if I am allowed to sit with her."

"Of course." Julie says and smiles.

The crew from ESPN then begin getting me ready to be interviewed which was a little nerve racking. Once they were done I sat next to Mom and intertwined our hands and immediately got a sense of safety that I've grown to love.

"Alright you two ready?" Mrs. Foudy asks. We both nod so she begins. "Welcome back to part two of our interview. I'm Julie Foudy back with Carli Lloyd and we have been joined by her daughter Sage." I smile. "So Sage whats it like being Carli Lloyd's daughter? And is it hard to have a famous mother?

"It's amazing. She is the perfect mother and I couldn't have asked for a better mother. She loves me in ways I never knew a mother could love their daughter. And I don't really see her as famous but I guess thats because I actually know her. When she first became my mother I was very nervous to tarnish her image, but she told me there is nothing I could do that would make her love me any less."

"What's it like being around the USWNT?"

"It's great. They're like family now which I never thought would happen."

"Who are you closest to on the team?"

"Well besides Mom probably Mallory Pugh. She was one of the first people to come talk to me after Mom adopted me and after that we clicked and have become best friends. But I have become close with everyone." I would've said girlfriend, but I didn't know if Mal wanted the world to know. I need to ask her about that later.

"We've seen you at games on the bench who's idea was that?"

I look at Mom not knowing if I can say who's idea it was and she nods then whispers that I can tell them. "It was Jill's idea. At the first game her and I were discussing where I would sit and she suggested that I wear the coaches attire and sit on the end of the coaches closest to the players. I think she knew that I need to be close to Mom."

"Do you see yourself ever becoming a professional soccer player?"

"Most likely not." Apparently that stunned Julie a bit because she took a brief pause after that answer

"Is it hard for you to travel with the team during your high school years?"

"No because I'm in college now and so I take online classes so it's not that difficult."

"That's awesome." I smile and wait for the interview to end. A couple minutes later it does and the ESPN crew leave our house so Mom and I relax on the couch while watching tv.

"I'm glad she didn't press the school subject." I say to Mom.

Mom nods then kisses my head."I'm proud of you Sage."

"Why?"

"That was your first interview and you handled it with ease even though I know you were nervous." This causes me to smile and lean my head on Mom's shoulder.

"Do you really not want to try playing professionally? I mean you kicked butt when you scrimmaged with us." Mom says after a period of silence.

"No, because I know I couldn't be away from you for that long. You're one of three people that can calm me down from a panic attack. And besides I much more enjoy watching you guys play."

"Hey Mom?"

"Yes?"

"What are we doing for Christmas?"

"I believe we are going to My parents house and some other family you haven't met yet is coming over."

"Sweet."