ғᴏᴏᴛsᴛᴇᴘs | ᴋᴍ ✔︎

Houston, Meet Problem.

tempus edax rerum

| Cody |

Couple weeks later I pack my bag for a flight to Houston to catch their game against Utah. I'm meeting up with my favorite Canadian, Jordyn. Having a few days off while others are on National team duty, it was my friend's idea to meet up and since I miss her, I couldn't say no.

I also have an ulterior motive. Jack has been distant. Not physically, but emotionally. She answers my calls and texts but barely says anything.

My thoughts are interrupted when I hear a playful woof and nudge at my leg.

"Hey boy." I pet Zeus and recieve a happy yelp from him as he runs off again.

I finish my bags and leave them at the front door before grabbing Z's leash and heading out to the Uber that's waiting, locking the door behind me.

_________________

"Oh my God, I've missed you so much!" I hear a Canadian accent squeal as I exit the airport, sidekick along side me.

"I missed you too-"

"I mean Zeus." Jordyn cuts me off, dropping to her knees to get her face licked by my dog while I pout. "Relax, I missed you, too. Doofus."

"That's better."

"I got us a room, two beds, not that far from the stadium. Have you called Jack?"

"Not yet, I'll call her after I've showered, hopefully by then she'll be here and we can go out for dinner."

"Okay, then follow me to my spaceship."

"What?"

"Well, saying 'follow me to my car' is boring. Let's go."

Two hours, one unpacked suitcase and a dog walk later, Jordyn and I get to the small cafe where we're meeting Jack, who landed shortly after I did but had to get settled into her hotel with her teammates.

Jordyn and I are happily chatting for some twenty minutes when a tired looking Jack strolls in, or more like stumbles in.

"Whoa. You look like you walked through a hurricane." I greet my best friend, who cracks a small smile.

She hasn't been happy or sociable so I'll take it.

"Maxi. Hey Jordyn, been a while."

I was worried that this meet-up would be awkward, given that Jack hasn't been herself and Jordyn doesn't really know her that well to begin with. I was wrong, until Kelley got mentioned.

"I still haven't spoken to her. I moved in with Christen-"

"Wait, what?"

"Calm down, Maxi. It's not like we're sharing a bed." Jack deadpans, but reassures me since she knows a certain secret of mine.

"What am I missing here?" Jordyn chimes in, eyes moving between my best friend and I.

"Nothing." We both reply at the same time, which does absolutely nothing to dull Jordyn suspicions.

"Yeah, right. What's going on? Do you have a crush?! Is that what it is? 'Cause you sounded jealous there." Jordyn starts babbling to herself, not giving Jack or myself a second to cut her off. "Are you two into each other? Again? That's it isn't it?!"

"No." I finally answer, and the tone of my voice seems to settle her down.

"Aren't you with Ellie?" The Canadian asks Jack, who nods slowly.

"I am, nothing is going on with anyone else."

Our get-together is interrupted by Jack's phone going off, a teammate telling her that her curfew is almost up and she needs to get back to their hotel. We all walk out together, saying our goodbyes when we get outside. The humid Houston air hitting us as we leave the cafe.

"It was great seeing you again, Jack." Jordyn states, as she hugs the Utah player.

"You too, always nice to see a weird Canadian loose in America." Jack jokes, only to get playfully shoved by Jordyn.

The Canadian steps away, giving me a moment with Jack, who seems to read my mind.

"I'm okay, Maxi. I swear."

She pulls me in for a hug which lasts a lot longer than her hug with Jordyn. "I've missed this so much," Jack mumbles in my hair.

Her phone goes off for a second time, illiciting certain cuss words from my childhood friend as she assumes it's her teammate again, but when she sees it's Ellie she smiles, and waves us goodbye as she walks back to her hotel.*

Game day!

Getting to our seats in the stadium was harder than expected. Both of us were recognized and stopped for autographs and pictures almost every step we took, but we got there eventually and were left alone for the most part.

"I'm surprised." Jordyn sighs as she stares at me.

"About what?" I narrow my eyes, not enjoying the way I'm being looked at, when Jordyn points at me.

"You're wearing a Royals jersey with 'Carter' on the back."

"And what?"

"I just thought you'd be wearing that orange and repping Mewis, that's all." Jordyn laughs as I push her, but it doesn't stop her teasing as both teams warm up on the field and a certain Dash player waves at me, and I wave back. "Aww, look at'chu, you're blushing."

"I will punch you." I threaten, but Jordyn continues to laugh at my expense.

"Where's Jack?" The Canadian asks once she finally calms down enough to form coherent sentences, and it's then that I scan the field but don't find my best friend.

During the game it became clear that Jack wouldn't be participating, only nobody knew why. The game itself was dominated by Houston. The swarm of Orange clad players was too much for the Utah side to cope with. Especially Daly, who seemed to be on fire, almost literally.

At the end of the game Jordyn and I jogged down to the field to yell for Jack, who we found sitting on the bench, but we were ignored. Finding to other option, as Press was busy with some fans, we called on Kelley, who was happy enough to talk to us.

"Why was Jack benched all game?" I ask, not tearing my eyes away from my best friend.

"I'm not sure, that's the coach's decision..."
I narrow my eyes at her, not breaking my stare until she finally exhales. "Okay, fine. Look I don't know why, but it might have something to do with last night."

"Last night? What happened last night?" Jordyn asks, beating me to my own question.

"You were both with her so you tell me." She places a hand on her hip.

"Okay, don't act like her mother, we both know you don't wanna be." I start, continuing on my tirade before she can interrupt me, "And she was happy when she left us."

"Well when she got back to the hotel she was a mess. Crying, shaking. I heard her throw up when she barricaded herself in the bathroom."

"The hell..." I hear Jordyn whisper, her own concern shining through.

"Look I know you're on her side, being her best friend and all, but we have to go. I'll try and get her to call you but I doubt that she'll listen to me."

Jordyn and I watch Kelley jog away as we stand in a stunned, and confused, silence.


A few hours later I sit on my hotel bed, Zeus sleeping on the bed once occupied by Jordyn before she had to leave for the airport, and I still can't get through to Jack.

I've left so many texts and calls that I'm starting to feel like a stalker.

"We gotta go, buddy." I wake Zeus, and he happily walks alongside me as we exit the hotel after paying our bill and catch a ride to the aiport.

While waiting on the flight, Jack calls.

"Hey Max, what's up?" Jack greets, sounding happy.

"Oh." I halt, her tone throwing me off,."I just wanted to check in. I was told you were crying-"

"I'm fine, don't worry about that. How are you and Jordyn?"

"She's gone home, and I'm at the airport. You know I don't believe you, right?"

"I know. That's why you're my best friend. Listen, I gotta go, I'll call you later?"

"Bye..."


After the flight I leave the airport as Zeus pulls me along. He happily barks when he sees Tobin standing next to my car.

"Um...hi?" I question, confused as to why I'm seeing Tobin and not Ellie, who was supposed to be picking me up.

"Hey, kid. Change of plans. Ready to go home?" Tobin asks as she takes my bag and puts it in the trunk.

"You have no idea."

A/N - Sorry for the wait!
* - Contents of Jack's phone call will be published in her own book.

Also, when you're so gay this takes on a whole new definition...