Chapter Text
As Kelley stepped onto the field of the empty stadium for the first time, a calmness came over her. It was almost as if she was home. Her teammates giggled and cheered around her, marveling at the cathedral-like nature of the stadium. This was real. They were here. This was Rio.
“Does this feel familiar?” Hope asked, coming up from behind her, brushing against her shoulder lightly.
“Yes,” she breathed, her eyes taking in the bright sun, the green grass, the feel of Hope beside her.
“Good,” Hope answered. “Make it your home.”
Kelley turned to Hope, a reply on the tip of her tongue, but it was lost as Hope turned slowly and walked away. Kelley watched her go, fully aware of the difference four years made. This time Kelley was ready, confident, and determined. No longer was she the scared, attacker turned defender. Now she was a veteran and she knew she belonged.
***
Hope breathed in deeply as she lined up next to her teammates, proud to stand once again on sacred ground. Had someone told her many years ago that she’d be starting in her third Olympic games, she secretly would have laughed them off. Back then 35 seemed so old. She would have guessed her body would have given out by now. Thankfully, she was still here. Still hungry. Still ready to leave everything on the field for her teammates.
She snuck a quick look down the line. Her eyes rested on the determined looking starting right back. Kelley’s eyes focused on the flag in front of her, her hand firmly on her chest, her twitching ankles giving away her nervousness. Hope smiled in spite of herself. The kid had come a long way, but she still had a lot left to prove.
***
“Fuck,” Kelley muttered to herself as the ball sailed past her. She hit the gas and slid toward the ball, nearly taking out her former teammate in the process. She was rewarded with some spikes to the gut. Her protests were heard as the ref pulled the yellow card from her pocket. Kelley nodded to herself as she walked back to position.
“Kell!” Hope yelled from her line. “Kell, you gotta fall back on those! Don’t let her get behind you!”
“Got it boss!” Kelley yelled back with a wave. She took off after the ball, allowing Hope’s reminder to settle within her. That was the thing about the keeper, Kelley never took her reminders as criticism, but as wisdom. She’d do just about anything that woman told her to. She trusted her endlessly.
A short time later the ball quickly returned to the box and Kelley sprinted toward it. She narrowly squeezed between two attackers, effectively clearing the ball, but providing New Zealand with a corner.
“Thanks Kell,” Hope called to her as she walked backwards toward the goal. “I had it though.”
“You should have a called me off then,” Kelley replied with a smirk, sticking her hand out in the keeper’s direction for a high five, while continuing to walk backwards toward the box. She turned and smiled as Hope’s chuckle came closer.
“Ok fair enough. Thanks kid,” Hope said, striking the tips of Kelley’s fingers with her own gloved hand.
“Don’t worry Solo, I gotchu,” Kelley told her, positioning herself near the back corner of the box.
As she watched the New Zealand player set the ball down on the corner she could have sworn she hear Hope mutter, “I know.”
***
The boos were gaining steam. The new chant of “Zika” after she punted the ball was getting old quickly, but Hope actively tried to shut it out. There was so little time left and New Zealand was desperate for a goal. She could see their determination. Their desperation was palpable. She just had to maintain her focus. For a few more minutes.
New Zealand’s attacking players were closing in, threading the defense, getting behind the back line. Hope unconsciously glanced at the clock, knowing it would continue to say 90:00 until the whistle blew. She quickly diverted her attention back to the movement toward her. Suddenly the ball was arching her direction. She followed its trajectory, falling to her knees, effectively plucking it from harm’s way.
“Yeah!” a familiar voice yelled encouragingly. A friendly voice amid the boos. Hope rose to her knees and turned to see Kelley approaching her with a smile. She matched Kelley’s smile, meeting her eyes briefly. Kelley’s hands settled on her arms reassuringly, slowly trailing up to her shoulders and ending with an encouraging squeeze. “Fucking show em boss!”
Hope tapped Kelley’s leg thankfully before standing. She let the boos wash over her. They were playing her song after all.
***
“Hey you cool?” Kelley asked quietly through the crack between the two seats on the bus. Hope has just taken her seat behind her. Kelley had watched her come down the aisle, her eyes down, no longer interacting with her teammates.
“Yeah, I’m good. Just moving on. I’m ready for the next one,” Hope said simply while rummaging through her bag. Her eyes actively avoided Kelley’s.
“Dude for real,” Kelley prompted, swinging around her seat and swiftly landing in the seat beside Hope. Hope looked at her incredulously, as if she’s committed a cardinal sin. Kelley smirked at her for a second before asking, “No I’m being serious. Are you really ok? I never could have handled that.”
“Don’t worry Kell, I’m fine. This isn’t the first time I’ve been booed and it’s certainly not the last. It’s my theme song, didn’t you know?” Hope said, her attempt at levity falling flat.
“Come on Hope. I’m being serious,” Kelley prodded again, her hand resting reassuringly on Hope’s arm.
Hope swallowed thickly at the touch. “Kelley. I’m fine. I promise you. Do you need me to pinky swear?” she asked.
“Yes,” Kelley replied, deadpanned.
“Oh my god,” Hope muttered before putting up her pinky finger. “I swear to you that I’m fine. It’s not my favorite thing in the world, but I had a feeling this could happen. I’m ok, I swear to you. Don’t worry about me.”
Kelley nodded and hooked her pinky around Hope’s. Hope attempted to take her pinky back, but Kelley firmly held it hostage. “Do you promise to tell me if you’re not ok?” Kelley asked seriously.
Hope searched the younger player’s eyes. Finding them filled with kindness and genuine concern she sighed and nodded. “Yes,” she squeezed the defender’s pinky with her own. “I promise Kell. I will tell you if I’m not ok.”
“Ok,” Kelley whispered and nodded, but did not break eye contact with Hope.
Hope felt herself pulled into Kelley’s orbit and suddenly pulled her hand back. “Ok,” she agreed a little louder and then forced a smirk. “Now get the hell out of my seat.”
Kelley snorted a laugh and shook her head. “Ok boss,” she agreed, getting up from her seat as the bus started to move. Hope watch her plop herself back in her own seat and look toward the night sky out of the bus window.
Hope took a deep breath and muttered, “Thanks kid,” just loud enough for Kelley to possibly hear.
After a second Kelley’s hand flew over the back of the seat, a thumbs up displayed in front of Hope’s face. “I gotchu dude,” Kelley’s reply floated faintly between the seats.
Hope laughed to herself and popped Kelley’s fist back over the top of the seat. The ensuing chuckle made her smile. This finally felt familiar. This finally felt like home.