Forbidden Love

Knowing

We're going to pretend that that game went a little differently than it really did and that there was a week between said game and the USWNT game vs Korea and also that there was only one game, not two for the story's purpose. Okay that is all for now. 

Emily's POV 

I thought Tobin knowing would be bad. 

But Caitlin and Ellie knowing is so much worse. 

I know that I can take the taunting and the teasing. But I don't know if Lindsey can. 

When we showed up to practice together yesterday, Caitlin asked really loudly in the locker room "Sonny why is it that you only give Lindsey a ride to practice? She lives two minutes away."

I roll my eyes but before I can respond, I see Hayley walk over and flick her ear. "Stop being a little shit," she says as Cait whines.

When Lindsey and I are walking from the locker room to the pitch together like we normally do, Ellie runs to catch up with us, shoving herself in between us and throwing her arms around our shoulders. "Hey there you two, you look awfully cozy," a smirk evident on her face. 

I glance over Ellie to see that Lindsey is clearly uncomfortable from our friend's current game of calling us out.  

I shrink from under her grip, trying to get free. When I do, she turns to look at me, giving Lindsey the perfect opportunity to escape as well. 

She looks back at Lindsey and then at me, her mouth shaped like an 'o'. "You two are no fun," as she pretends to pout. 

Now that they know, every time we're near each other, they make kissy faces at us.  I look back at Lindsey who is purposely avoiding eye contact with the two, her hands clenched by her side. 

"Hey," I say softly, reaching for her hand. "Ignore them, okay? They're just being stupid." 

I loosen her hand and can see the nail imprints she left, obviously bothered by their antics. She finally looks up from the ground and when she sees me worried about her, her gaze softens and her hands unclench completely. 

She nods her head, I let her hand go. We're still at practice.

The taunting and the teasing only gets worse. I know they mean well but it's starting to get really annoying. 

Lindsey and I are talking about our new drill, how I'm going to try and force the ball to stay outside of the midfield and send it up to her, when I hear Caitlin yell from yards away, "Oui! Love birds, pay attention!" 

I turn and hold my hands up, confused. "What the fuck Cait?"

Turning back to Lindsey, I see her eyes cast down to the ground, and she's shuffling from one foot to the other. "I'm uh, going to go over there," she points her thumb in the other direction before leaving.

I sigh as she walks away before heading in the direction of a smirking Aussie.

She skitters away when she sees my scowl, hiding behind Hayley. 

The rest of practice, we try to stay a large distance away from each other unless we absolutely have to. 

When we do have to be near each other or are paired for a drill, we're professional, focused on the task. 

But maybe I do catch her eyes lingering or feel her fingertips graze my arm as she walks by.