ʀᴏᴏᴋɪᴇ | ᴋᴏ ✔︎

16

After the win against Boston, the team was ecstatic and obviously so. We were just happy we won, that we managed to prove to ourselves that we can compete in this league, it just took us a few months to get there.

It's almost like being with a different team. Everyone is at ease, and smiling - even Hope, who felt worse than all of us because of her goalkeeping record. She confided that she felt like the worst keeper in the world, instead of the best in the world, like she really is.

Getting back to Seattle was different, too. It felt good to be home, to bring the happiness to the club and the community that comes with a W.

It's the 28th, and Hope, Pinoe and our favorite Aussie - Emily, are helping me get settled into my apartment, along with Kevin who wanted to know where I'll be staying. His new family wanted him to spend time with me whenever he gets the chance, and obviously I'm not opposed to it either.

The only downside to the arrangement is that my brother gets to meet Pinoe. So, Hope, Emily and I are pretty much stuck with two 5 year olds.

"Can you two at least sit down and let us finish up?" Hope asks, coming to the end of her patience. Something I can agree with.

"Fine. Sorry, mom." Pinoe mumbles as she plops down on a chair, pouting like a child, making Kevin laugh and copy her actions.

"Hey, Rookie?" Emily calls me as she walks into the kitchen. It's an open space layout with my living room so she doesn't have to walk far. She approaches with a box in her hand.

"What's up, Wallaby?"

"Thanks, Wallabies are cute. Where will I put these?" She hands me the box and I open it. It's filled with pictures from my childhood. I immediately tense and everyone notices - Kevin included, who marches to my side like a little soldier.

"What's wrong, Lo?" He peers around my shoulder and takes a picture out. It's Kevin and I with our parents. Both of them. When dad was around and mom wasn't an alcoholic.

It's like looking at pictures of another family. A normal, loving mother and a faithful, devoted father. Neither of which was true. My mom always had issues, and my father was a cheating scumbag who had another family.

"You okay, Logan?" Hope asks. I can tell by the gentleness in her voice that she's walking on eggshells around me.

"I'm fine. I'll put these in my room, thanks Em." I take the box, letting Kevin keep the picture that he took, and I leave the small group to walk to my bedroom. It's all setup, thanks to my teammates, and I take one last look at the box before shoving it under my bed, not caring if anything inside it gets ruined.

"Okay. Lunch, Kev?" I ask my brother once I venture back out to the kitchen. He nods enthusiastically, Pinoe copying his movements.

"Yeah. I'm starving. Moving is exhausting." Pinoe grumbles as she rubs her stomach dramatically.

"The hell would you know?" Hope deadpans, smacking Pinoe upside the head and walking out with her keys. 

We take her car, simply because my truck is busted once again. We go to a small cafe that Kevin loves, since it was his choice, and we settle in to eat. I pay for everyone, it was only fair, they were helping me move in afterall.

Hope drives us all back to my place, since they all parked here and they each head home to get their kit for practice. I take an Uber to the Griffin's and greet Clarissa, who is happy each and everytime I've spoken to her.

"Hi, Logan! Great game the other day!" She hugs me tight as she greets me at the door. Kevin smiles at our interaction and hugs me one last time before disappearing.

"Thanks, Clarissa. Kevin's had lunch." I inform her, and she nods happily as I say goodbye and get back into my Uber who takes me home. I ask him to wait as I run upstairs, grab my kitbag which I left by my door and just as I'm about to turn and leave, my eye catches the box under my bed. I open it and glance at the family picture again, my heart filling with the lost feelings of love I once had for the two adults. "I miss you, dad." I put the picture back and kick the box further under my bed, and I book it back down to the driver who takes me to practice.

The Next Day.

It's game day, and after a victory in our last outing, we're feeling more upbeat about our chances this time around. We're hosting Chicago, an opening day reverse fixture which ended in a draw, but we're happier now, sharper, faster, and lighter on our feet.

I get off the bus with my team, greeting some of the Seattle fans that lined up outside to see us. We don't get long to say hi, before we're all told to get inside. The last thing I hear is a young girl asking if I'll represent the States. I just grin at the small girl, she's got to be around 8 years old, and I shrug in response.