Serendipity

9

Ash's POV

"There's a group of seats over there." Ali says as the entire US Women's National Team walk around the Pauley Pavilion.

"Finally." Alex says as we walk to the seats. "I thought we'd never find seats."

When we get to the group of seats I sit down in-between Ali and Christen then I read the program to find my cousin's name in the graduation pamphlet.

Yesterday was our second send off game against New Zealand and at 9 am this morning we all got on a plane and flew out to LA to surprise Emma at her graduation.

"She's valedictorian?" Alex asks.

"I guess so." I say as I look at the program thingy. "That's not really surprising though

"Damn." Moe says as the graduation starts.

All of us sit in relative silence until the end of the graduation when my cousin's name is read out.

"Graduating Summa Cum Laude, Earning a Bachelor's of Science degree in Atmospheric and Oceanic Sciences, a Bachelor's of Science degree in Marine Biology, and achieving minors in Gender Studies and Lesbian, Gay, Bisexual, Transgender and Queer Studies." The announcer dude says as Emma walks across the stage. "The 2019 UCLA valedictorian, Emma Harris."

Once Emma's name is announced all of us cheer for her as she gets handed her degrees.

Once Emma gets handed her two degree's she walks off stage then she looks towards us causing everyone to wave.

"How did she have time to do all that school work, be an athlete, and do photoshoot for her friends?" Lindsey asks.

"She promised her Mom that she'd graduate college." I say. "And with how much she loved her Mom there was no way she wasn't graduating with the best possible grades."

"Wasn't Emma 5 when her mom died?" Moe asks.

"Yep." I say. "But if you saw how close they were in those five years then you'd understand why she pushed herself."

"She also didn't have many friends at UCLA so she'd go to training, go to class, then she'd go home and work on class work." Alex says.

"Her model friends were also very good at helping her stay focused and using the least amount of time for their photoshoots that Emma photographed." Christen says.

"Emma also did a lot of summer classes." I say.

"Now that I think about it, Emma never really did go out with us during camp." Allie says.

"I don't think she's had a vacation since after the 2015 World Cup." Ali says.

"Ash?" Rose says.

"Yeah Rose?"

"Do you think Emma will actually switch national teams?"

"I don't know." I honestly say.

"After the way Jill treated her I wouldn't blame her." Hope says.

"What'd Jill do?" Christen asks.

"After the Rio Olympics Jill told Emma that she had a great chance at being the new number one keeper, but she never gave Emma game time to prove she could be the new number one."

"I can't wait for Jill to be gone." I mumble.

"Ash?" Mal asks.

"Yeah?"

"Is the reason Emma's strong as fuck because of her not having many friends here?"

"No." I say. "I think that's her dad's fault."