Chapter Text
February 25th, 2015, 7:45pm
“There’s only 15 minutes left and most of the team still isn’t here,” Abby said to the six other national team members in the room. “Not even Pinoe, and this her room!” Abby threw her hands in the air as she scanned the room looking for the blonde midfielder.
“Calm down, Abby” Christie’s ever calming voice told the striker from her spot on the bed. “The other’s say they were running late, and Pinoe is trying to sneak some snacks past Dawn. At least Alyssa, Boxxy, Lori, Becky, Ali, and I were all on time.”
“I know, but… Hope said that the interview is really important and would answer some questions,” Abby sighed. “This past year has been pretty tough on her and it sounds like the interview helped a lot.”
The others in the room smiled ruefully. This past year had been tough on the starting goalkeeper who had looked more worn out as the time progressed following her arrest. She was even more withdrawn than usual, choosing to stay in her room rather than hang out with the team. Then when the news about the suspension came out, they all thought that the keeper was done, but they were proven wrong earlier the week when Hope arrived at training camp. She stood up front with Jill as the coach went over some changes and basics in terms of the practices, games, and Hope’s arrival, an important one being that Hope was not allowed to be given or be around alcohol. After finishing her speech, Jill motioned for Hope to speak.
Flashback
An uneasy smile on her face, Hope started speaking. “Hey guys… umm, I guess first off I should apologize for my behavior the past year not for just the situation I put myself in a month ago. This past year,” she paused for a couple seconds. “Well the past couple years, have been rough to say the least and I have been bringing that with me to the field, and for that I apologize.
I…” Hope paused again, and her teammates could only watch as someone they thought as a leader struggled with words. “I would like to say that I’ve received all the help I need, that’d be a lie. I…I’m better than I was a month ago, a lot better, but not close enough to where I need to be. To feel well,” she shrugged, “complete. There’s still somethings missing in my life, one of them obviously being a world cup trophy,” that earned a couple chuckles, “but there are other things as well, that I need to figure out on my own.”
“Some of you guys may have some questions,” Hope looked around a bit before locking eyes with someone in the group. The person gave a slight nod, before Hope continued, “But I think you guys should wait because some of them maybe answered on the 25th.” Noticing the confused looks, the goalie continued. “I did an interview maybe a week ago, and it’s going to show at 8 that night. I think it will explain a lot and maybe help you guys understand some of what I was dealing with the past couple years. It could also lead to more questions, so maybe answering question can happen after the interview for simplicity sake.”
Seeing many head nods, the keeper took one more breathe. “I just want to let you guys know, that I am 100% focused on winning a World Cup. I’ve already dealt with heartbreak twice when it comes to a World Cup, I’m damn sure not dealing with it again. I’m going to work harder, practice harder, study harder and…well try to not be as introverted.” She said with a smile. “I think…” she hesitated a second before a larger smile appeared, “a lot of you guys are going to meet a different Hope.” With a nod, Hope stepped back before hearing some applause and Jill starting practice.
End Flashback
Since that speech, they gals had seen a different Hope. The goalkeeper seemed to be sprinting faster during warm ups, lifting more, her reactions sharper, her decision making better, even her goal kicks seemed more accurate. Ali had heard enough muttering and complaining from Ashlyn after keeper training, often saying that Hope was making her have to run faster. But it wasn’t just on the field, off the field Hope was taking more meticulous notes than before not just for herself, but for her fellow keepers and the defenders as well. Which was another change Hope had followed through on. It wasn’t a surprise to see Julie, being still new, going up to Hope for advice to improve her defending. This was just a couple days into her being back and many couldn’t wait to see what else could happen in the coming weeks.
But there was still a small cloud about what was said during the interview. Many still had questions that they talked about frequently when Hope was not around. Kelley had gone up to Hope one day and asked her if her relationship with Jerramy had changed. All Hope did was smile at the forward turned defender and say wait for the 25th and turned back to her food. So they did, anxiously wait for 8pm on February 25th. Finally it arrives and everyone is late.
Christie spoke after a minute of silence, “They’ll be here, a lot of them are too anxious to miss the interview. Just sit Mary, they have 8 more minutes.” Abby huffed before flopping on the bed. The seven members in the room waited quietly for a couple more minutes before Ali’s phone went off. Looking down, she rolled her eyes before sending a quick reply and put her phone away.
“Was that Ash?” Becky questioned from her spot on the floor.
“Yeah, she was asking for the room number,” Ali murmured, “She wonders why I didn’t go with them, they’re always late.” Which was met with murmurs of agreement. A minute later there were knocks on the door. Alyssa opened the door to the room to let a large of fellow national teamers in including Ashlyn.
“Sorry, sorry, pizza took longer than expected,” Ashlyn apologized before lying next to Ali on the bed. “The staff would not stop until we signed basically in the restaurant. I have a hand cramp,” Ashlyn whined holding out her hand and waving it in Ali’s face/
“Oh stop you big baby,” the warrior said swatting the hand away. “We know you loved the attention.”
“Well that was a big group. Now were missing the new new kids and the two people in this damn room, Kling and Pinoe,” Abby announced after looking around the room.
“They went to help Pinoe sneak in some snacks or something,” Tobin answered as Abby threw her hands and groaned before flopping on the second bed. “Also, aren’t we missing Carlos?”
“Nah, Carli said she was going to stay with Hope for moral support or some crap like that,” Megan announced as she kicked open the hotel room door, arm full of snacks. She was followed closely by Meghan and the new new kids also with their arms full of snacks. “But I grabbed snacks,” she said and unceremoniously dropped the candy onto the bed that contained Ali, Ashlyn, Alex, Tobin and Kelley. “Did we miss anything?”
“No you guys are,” the beginning sounds of the show emanate from the TV, “right on time,” Abby muttered before turning her attention to the TV. Everyone quickly turned to the television, not before grabbing some snacks, ready to finally get their questions answered.