Nikki Stanton sits on the sidelines trying a get a knot out of the lace of her cleat. She isn't sure, but she figures it was another one of Kelley O'Hara's pranks that led to her being in her current predicament.
"Stanton, we're waiting on you!"
"Yes, Coach, Sorry, Coach."
She hears a voice with an accent, "Can I help? I'm pretty good at getting knots out." She doesn't need to look up to know that it's the Australian import, Sam Kerr speaking to her.
"I've got it, I don't need your help," Nikki responds rather harshly towards the player.
"Fine." Kerr walks towards the field to join the rest of the players.
Nikki finally gets the knot out, gets her cleat on and joins the team, "Stanton, front and centre."
Nikki steps up to the firing squad, "You owe me five laps after practice."
"But ..." Nikki starts
"No buts, this is the second time you've been late. If it happens again, don't bother even showing up, you will no longer be a part of Sky Blue FC. Understood?"
"Yes, Coach."
The practice goes ahead and the team takes a water break before scrimmaging. Nikki is in a horrible mood and it isn't helped by the fact that all the players are smiling and laughing with the Aussie. The Aussie, who is here to take her place on the roster.
"You look like you're firing lazers at Sam's head right now, Nikki."
"Shouldn't I be, KO? She's here to take my job." Kelley O'Hara bear hugs her friend and teammate, "You need to cool it, there are spots for you both on the team and from what I've heard Sam can score; which is something that we've been seriously lacking."
"I'll try, to give her the benefit, but she's just so fucking cocky, it rubs me the wrong way."
"Or it rubs you the right way," Kelley adds under her breath.
"What did you say?"
"Just that we need to get back to work, the season starts in a few weeks."
"Yeah."
The players are broken up into two teams and Nikki pulls the yellow pinney overtop of her shirt. She notices that Sam and Kelley are both playing on the other team.
The whistle blows and they start playing, Nikki tries to seize the opportunity to show off what she brings to the team and pushes hard. She sees Sam making a play for the ball and charges towards her, trying to knock it away but in the process sends both herself and Sam flying from her overzealous tackle. She gets up and notices that Sam is holding her ankle and the trainers are checking her out.
"What the hell was that? You don't want her on the team, so you decide to take her out?" Nikki looks at the disapproving O'Hara.
"KO, Honestly, I didn't mean to hurt her, I was only trying to show what I can do."
"You need to get over there and apologize to our roommate."
"Roommate?"
"Yes, remember we have three bedrooms in our apartment."
"Crap." Nikki leaves Kelley and walks over to check on Sam. Sam is up and about, but the trainers are removing her from any further training on the day.
"I'm sorry about that, are you okay?"
"I've taken harder knocks than that, I'll be fine."
"Do you need any help getting off the field?"

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A Different Time and Place - A Collection of WoSo one shots.
FanfictionA Different Time and Place will be a collection of one-shots I have written pertaining to Women's Soccer and some of the more famous players. I will include traditional and non-traditional pairings in settings of my own creation; some on the pitch...