Alex POV - 8 years later
"Alex, come on! Keep up!" I hear Kel.
I roll my eyes, "I'm just getting another drink and then I'll meet you at our seats."
"We're the champs, they're going to honor us!"
I smile, "I know."
I peel away and head to the bar.
"Hi, Ms. Morgan, what can I get going for you?"
I smile, "Hey, uh, yeah, two champagnes."
"Coming right up."
I nod and start taking a look around.
I notice a woman sitting on the other side of the bar.
'She looks familiar.'
"Here you are!"
I look back at the bartender.
"Thanks."
She smiles and walks away toward the mystery woman.
"Yo, Bailey! Time to snag our seats!" I hear a guy say.
The woman's head pops up and she walks over to him.
'Bailey.'
Flashback - August 2007
I blink and watch as Bailey takes off.
'She likes me? I like you too, but I don't understand it.'
I shake my head and take off running in the direction that she went.
"Bailey!" I yell.
I don't see her anywhere.
'Shit.'
"Alex!"
I turn and see Serv.
"Where are you going?"
"Bailey, she-"
"She what? She occupies a lot of your time." He says with a frown.
I frown, "What does that mean? She's my best friend, she's sensitive, she-"
"Let her girlfriend deal with her." He says and grabs my hand.
I take a step back from him, "They broke up. I need to find her."
He glares at me, "No you don't. It's not your job, Alex."
"She's my best friend! We're leaving tomorrow for Berkeley and I just-"
He sighs, "Let her cool off, please stay with me. Please."
I stare at him and turn back, realizing that I'd never catch up to her.
He reaches his hand out, "She'll be okay. You can stop by her place before we head out tomorrow."
I nod and grab his hand, "Okay."
I let him pull me inside and he heads to grab a drink.
I sigh.
Present
I never did get to see her the next morning because she was gone before I got there.
Her dad opened the door sadly and said that she asked him to move her flight earlier to help get settled in.
I walk into the theatre and quickly find Kel, sitting down.
"What the hell, Alex? That took forever."
I nod, "Sorry, Kel. Got distracted."
"With a lady?" She nudges me.
I push her arm, "You're annoying, but no. And shh, you're the only one that knows that."
"Ah yes, America's sweetheart can't openly be gay." She whispers.
I internally cringe and sigh.
The lights dim and I zone out thinking about why Bailey is even here, at the ESPYs.
After our last encounter, I got sucked into soccer both at Cal and the USWNT plus school, and we ended up never connecting again.
Servando and I dated for several more years and even got engaged.
I broke it off when I realized that I wasn't as into him as I thought.
Since then, it's been quiet.
"And the award for Best Female Action Sports Athlete goes to....Bailey Hamilton!"
My head snaps up.
I watch as Bailey high fives and hugs a ton of people and walks on stage.
She grabs her award and I can see that she's overwhelmed.
'Never did like being the center of attention.'
"Uh- hi." She says and I smile.
"So I am not great at public speaking. But this is truly such an honor."
I watch as she sways nervously and I smile.
She takes a deep breath, "I've been through a lot in the past few years."
She pauses.
"I lost my mom, who was not perfect by any means, but she always believed in me. This is for her. And for the rest of my support system. Thank you."
She steps back and her eyes lock with mine.
I watch as her eyes widen and she turns, walking off of the stage.
"Yo! Have you seen her before?" Kel asks.
I nod and her eyes widen.
I gulp, "I didn't even know that she was a professional skier."
"She's like awesome. How do you know her?"
I glance at Kel, "We went to high school together."
"Can you introduce me? She's hot and-"
I shake my head, "I don't know, Kel. We haven't talked a long while."
"Please! She must know who you are, it'll be like a reunion."
'I LIKE YOU.' I think and start to flashback to all of Bailey and I's memories.
I sigh, "I can't."
She looks at me, about to say something when I get up and quickly exit towards the bar.
I squeeze my eyes shut.
I feel a hand grab mine and feel myself being pushed into seat.
I feel my hand pressed against something and slowly feel someone's heartbeat.
'How-'
"Alex? You're okay."
I hear and open my eyes, seeing Bailey looking at me.
I pull my hand back and wipe my face.
"Shit."
"Guess I still know how to calm you down." She murmurs and looks down.
I smile slightly, "I guess you do."
She leans back on her heels, "Well, uh, I guess I should be-"
I grab her hand, "Can we get a drink?"
She stops and her mouth opens and then closes a few times.
I sigh and let go of her hand, "It's alright if you don't want to-"
"I uh do. Just I'm processing even seeing you." She says.
I soften, "I have a lot of apologizing to do."
She looks down and then back up.
I grab her hand again, "I'm so sorry about the night before we all left."
I can feel her hand getting sweaty, "I was so embarrassed."
I squeeze her hand, "You didn't need to be."
She pulls her hand away and stands up, walking towards the bar and my eyes widen.
She stops and looks at me, "Well? Are we getting a drink?"
I smile, "Definitely."
She orders herself a beer and looks at me, "I don't know what you drink."
My eyes widen, "Oh. Uh, a margarita on the rocks."
She nods and orders our drinks.
I take her in and start feeling butterflies.
'She hasn't changed a bit.'
She hands me my drink and nods her head to follow her to somewhere more private.
We walk out on a balcony and find a table, sitting down.
She takes a sip of her beer, "So, what's it like being a World Cup champion."
My eyes widen, "You know about that?"
She nods, "You're pretty famous. I always followed what you were doing."
I smile and bob my head, "Living my dreams, there's nothing better."
She nods, "I get that."
She looks around and I know that she's unsettled.
"Bails?"
She focuses back on me.
"I really screwed up that night."
She bobs her head, "Yeah, you did."
I bite my lip.
"I was really upset. Upset with myself, upset with you, I had to just get out of Diamond Bar." She sighs.
"I tried to find you. I went to your house the next day, but you were already gone." I whisper.
She takes another drink of her beer.
"And then what happened?"
My eyes widen.
"I-I don't know. I got sucked into soccer, school, Serv-"
"Ah, yes. How is Servando?"
"You followed my career so you must know that we're not together. We haven't been for a while."
She softens and nods, "I know."
I decide to change gears, "Where are you living these days?"
She stares at me, "I uh-I have a place here, my dad, he's still here. My actual house is in Frisco though."
I nod, "I didn't even know that you were skiing still."
She sighs and nods, "I was sponsored-"
"I remember that."
She nods, "So I skied and went to school. I was competing, shooting films, traveling...and turns out that I'm pretty good."
I smile, "Of course you are, I always believed in you."
I watch her cheeks turn pink.
"So when's your next competition?"
"Nothing major happening until January. I'm shooting stuff starting in October, depends on Mother Nature. Need snow, you know?" She says.
I smile and nod, "Well. Can I come see you ski?"
Her eyes widen and she nods, "Sure."
We continue catching up when it hits me, "Hey. I'm going to be going back to Portland, uh. That's where I'm playing now. I'd like you to come to a game?"
She quirks an eyebrow, "Is that a question?"
My eyes widen and I feel my cheeks heat up, "Uh yes? Yes."
She chuckles, "Yeah, just send me a schedule. Should I get a hotel? Or-"
"No!" I cover my mouth.
"No. You can stay with me. My house is huge. And I have a dog, he's cool, you'll like him, and I have a pool, and-"
"Okay, cool. Just send me the info."
"Cool."
"Alex! They're about to give us our award!" I hear Rose.
"Sounds like you have to go."
I sigh and hold my hand out, "Give me your phone."
She slides it to me and I put my number in, "Text me."
She nods.
"Hey. I'm glad we ran into each other. I missed you."
I see a look cross her face, "I missed you too."
I smile and stand up, walking towards Rose but glance back to see Bailey staring at me.
I smile and watch her blush.
'Second chance.'