The Quiet Girl (An International Story)

Play Cupid

September 2019

Nahikari's POV:

Our season started with a 2-2 draw against Valencia. Getting on the score sheet was huge. 

Knowing Virginia was back in Spain added some unwanted nerves about the season. 

I saw my light up. 

Great.

"Hey." I answered. 

"Nahi. How's it going?"

"It's good." I rubbed my forehead. "Back in Spain huh?"

"Yeah." Virginia said. "France was nice but it was time to come back to Spain. Something was pulling me back, you know?"

"Nothing like being home." She laughed. "Something wrong?"

"I was just calling about my goal that wasn't a goal in the world cup. I haven't stopped thinking about it."

"You haven't?" I sat up. "What about it?" 

"How off I was. I've watched the replay hundreds of times. I was so close to being onside." She sighed. "Guess we all don't have your vision." 

I closed my eyes. "Guess not." 

"Everything ok?"

"What?"

"Your voice. It just sounded sad." 

"Oh um. I'm fine. Just sad we couldn't get the win today, that's all."

"Oh. Well, don't be too hard on yourself. It's only one game. Besides you got on the scoresheet pretty early. You'll have to teach me your ways next time I see you." 

"I'll do that." I felt my phone buzz and looked. 

Alex

"I gotta go. I'll talk to you later, Vir."

"See you later, Nahi." She hung up. 

I answered Alex's call. "Hey." I sighed.

"What's going on? Was it Vir?"

"How'd you know!" She laughed. "I was talking to her before you called."

"Did I ruin it?"

"No. You saved me actually, it was kind of awkward. She's so confusing!" I told her everything that happened. "Out of all the teammates, it had to be Vir." 

"We'll get this figured out." She said. 

"What about you? If you're my wing woman, I have to return the favor."

She laughed. "Let's focus on your first." 

"When are you going to tell me what you need a friend for? Last time I had the flight, I have time right now."

"I don't tell a lot of people this."

"You can tell me."

She sighed. "In 2013, my sister and I were at a friend's house after school. We were 16 years old. It started to get late, we knew our parents were supposed to pick us up but they hadn't been there. Hadn't even called or anything. We waited, and waited. We were getting prepared to spend the night when our friend's mom came in." She looked down. "Our uncle was outside, he's only a few years older. He told us to get our things and get in the car. We had to go to the hospital. Our parents were on the way to pick us up. My mom was working late, my dad picked her up and then was going to get us. During the drive, they were hit head-on by another driver. The guy wasn't paying attention, he was on his phone. My father died on impact, my mom survived. She was awake and told them to get her brother in law to get her children. We got to the hospital, and 30 minutes later our mother died."

"Alex. I'm so sorry."

"Before she died she told our uncle, Jayson to take care of us until she was better. After she died, he took us in. He was 20 years old, raising his two 16-year-old nieces." She said.

"What do you need a friends help with?" I asked. I thought about it. "You blame yourself, don't you?"

"I do." She sighed. "Zariah, my sister, she didn't want to go to the friend's house. She wanted to go home right after school. I convinced her to go. If we went home after, our parents wouldn't have gone the way they did. I can't talk with Zariah about this because she's my sister. I don't want her to have to relive that day."

"You have a new friend now." I said. "We met for a reason, remember? We're going to get through a lot of things together. I'm going to start right now by saying it's not your fault." 

"And I'm going to tell you that you and Virginia will end up together." She said. "I just feel like I've heard of this story many times and now we're finally gonna get to see how it plays out from start to finish."

"Is that so?"

"Yes." She laughed. "Before I forget, great goal today."

"Thanks. When do you start?" 

"We start camp next week, have a preseason game towards the end of the month." She said. "Season isn't till next month."

We talked for a little while later and then she hung up. 

Alex's POV:

"So. That girl from the game." Mallory smirked. "How's that going?"

"We're friends." I smiled. "I'm actually helping her with this girl she likes."

"Due." Cailey said.

"What?" I laughed. "Yeah I thought she was cute but she's hung up on this teammate of hers. And I am not an asshole. I'm a romantic. They will be together I guarantee it."

"Ok. And what about you?" Mallory crossed her arms. "When will you care about your own relationships?"

"When someone who's finally worth my time comes along." I said. "For now, I'll play cupid and watch all my friends be happy." I looked down.

Because I don't think I deserve happiness right now.