(The games going to go a little different then it did in the World Cup)
-Alex-
Today was game day. Sweden vs. USA.
Today was also Emily's sisters birthday. She was already here with her aunt, ready to cheer her big sister on. I got to help Ems family settle in, and her sister was adorable. She had dark brown hair just like Emily, and tan skin. The only different was their eyes, Ems were a sharp green but her sisters were a piercing blue. Their faces were so similar, and Kathleen look just like a mini Emily.
We got her a Rush jersey that she wore with pride, and a little extra birthday present. Kat was a big fan of soccer just like Emily, so we got her a ball that we all signed. We're planning on having Emily sign it later.
Today in the locker room everyone was excited, and also nervous. Emily sat against the wall once again, listening to some type of music. She had her beats on, and her eyes closed. I asked Kelley what kind of music they listened to together, and Kelley said she usually picked it. We all decided that Em would be captain today, and we planned on having her sister walk the game ball out with the referees.
Finally when we were out on the field, Emily walked to the sub spot. The Sweden captain faced her, as the referees walked out. They shook hands with Emily and the Sweden captain, and then Kat slipped out from behind them. Emily looked down, and saw her sister. She immediately took two big steps to get to her, and wrapped her in her arms. Everyone one in the stadium clapped and cheered, and Emily lifted Kat into her arms. Kat wrapped her arms around Emily, as we all clapped. Emily and Kat pulled back to look at each other, as Emily whipped tears from her sisters face.
She was finally reunited with her family.
-Emily-
As I held Kat in my arms, I cried tears of joy. She's gotten so much prettier, and she was so mature. I haven't seen her in five years, and I've missed her so much. I finally got her back, and I was the happiest person in the world.
I was sad to let her go, but I knew I'd see her soon. She gave me the game ball, and ran off to see my aunt. I smiled at the both of them, and then got ready for the game. Taking the coin toss, we got kickoff. I shook hands with the Sweden captain, and the. Headed back to my team. I walked up to Kelley, Alex and Tobin, pulling them into a hug.
"I love you guys." I said, and they all laughed.
"We love you too." They all said.
We all got lined up, and got ready for kickoff. Once the whistle blew, I rolled the ball up to Alex. She passed it back to Tobin, who carried it up field. I ran up with her, and she went to try and send it in to me. I jumped up, and flicked the ball to Alex. She went to take a shot, but was taken down hard. The ref didn't blow his whistle, and said play on. I ran over, helping Alex to her feet. She sighed, and ran up field with me.
The game was going by slow, and not much was happening. It was a lot of back and forth play, but not many opportunities. The first half ended with no goals, and the second half soon started. Around the 48th minute, Sweden got a shot off. It was powerful and dead on to goal. Hope was trying to make the dive, but wouldn't get there in time. Out of nowhere, Kling jumped up, ramming her head into the ball. It bounced off the crossbar, and out of goal scoring territory. Once the ball was out of play, we all ran and hugged Kling. We were still tied because of her.
As the game dragged on, it was rounding the end of the game. Three extra minutes were added on, and we've currently used two of them. Pinoe was making a great run up the side, but was cut off short. She sent the ball in to me, and I got the ball just above the eighteen. I was all alone, and had three defenders in front of me. I dribbled forward, and shifted my weight. The first defender fell to the left, as I went right. Quickly faking out one other defender, I rolled the ball into the middle of the box. I planted my hips right, and saw the goalie shift her weight right. Taking a hard shot, the ball soared towards the top left corner. The last Sweden defender collided with me after I shot, and I was sent to the ground. Slamming into the turf, I groaned out. Quickly looking up, I saw the goalie trying to make her way back left. Everything seemed quiet to me, and everything seemed slow. The ball spun and slammed into the back of the net, making the net roll back. The stadium erupted in cheers and cries of joy. I rolled over onto my back, thrusting my fists into the air. Bodies started to pile onto me, as my teammates joined me in celebrating.
I made my way out of the dog pile, and ran towards the side line. Running, I jumped into the air. I tapped my feet together and threw my fist into the air.
After thirty more seconds, the ref blew his whistle and the game was over. I scored the game winning goal in the ninety second minute, and we beat Sweden because of it. After the game ended, the whole team ran out onto the field. I immediately ran to Kelley, as she jumped into my arms. I picked her up, spinning her around. I laughed with her, as she wrapped her arms around my neck.
"You did it Em!" She yelled, as I leaned into her ear.
"I love you so much." I said, as she laughed.
"I love you too, so much." She said, as I dropped her back to her feet. We all headed back into the locker room, where more celebration happened.
"Way to go Emily!" Carli yelled, wrapping me into a hug. I smiled, as I hugged her back. I then felt something drop down the side of my face, and I grew confused. Placing my hand on my forehead, I pulled away to see blood. My stitches opened. I quickly placed a bandage over my stitches, and then went to change. I pulled on my joggers and a USA sweatshirt. I packed up my bag and slipped my slides on.
"Kel, can you come here?" I asked, and she nodded.
"What's up?" She asked.
"Can you cover my stitches?" I asked, and she nodded.
"Yah, come here." She said, making me sit down. Kelley removed the small bandage from my stitches, and grabbed a rag. She cleaned up the blood, and then placed some gauze over it. She then used medical tape to cover up the gauze, and I smiled at her.
"Thanks." I said, as I pulled her down into my lap.
"You're welcome." She mumbled, pulling me into a kiss. I smiled into her lips, slipping my arms around her waist. She wrapped her arms around my neck, deepening our kiss. Letting my fingers slide under her shirt, I roamed her body. She clawed at my back, as I tugged at her bottom lip. We slowly pulled away from each other, taking deep breaths.
"I want to be able to do that all the time." I said, resting our foreheads together.
"So, I'm not just your best friend?" She asked, and I playfully hit her arm.
"No of course not. You are my best friend, but you're also my girlfriend, and my family. I love you Kelley, and I don't ever want to lose you." I said, and she smiled.
"You never have to worry about loosing me, because I'm never going to leave your side. We'll always be together, to the very end." She said.
"I hate to say it, but I think we should get going. We've got a bus to catch." I told her, and she smiled.
"Yah, fine." She mumbled, as I picked her up in my arms. Letting her slowly slide it her feet, I quickly pecked her lips. Picking my bag up, I headed back out into the locker room. Kelley fallowed, carrying her own bag.
"Finally you two are ready. What where you doing, making out in there?" Pinoe yelled.
"No, I just covered her stitches." Kelley said.
"And then they made out." Alex said, as I hit her arm. "Ouch." She mumbled.
"Come on guys, let's go celebrate a win!" Carli yelled. We all nodded, heading out to the bus. Alex pulled me aside.
"You've got a fan waiting." Alex said, motioning to the side line. I saw my sister and my aunt, and smiled.
"Yah, I'll catch up with you guys later." I said, then ran off.
---
I walked over to my sister and aunt, and then began to run. Kat jumped into my arms, as I spun her around. She laughed, as I smiled. My aunt was smiling at me too, and everything seemed perfect in this one moment.
"Hey chica." I said, as she laughed.
"Hey." She said, as I propped her on my hip.
"Emily, that was amazing." My aunt Gwen told me. "I'm so proud of you." She told me.
"Thanks." I said, smiling at her.
"You scored." Kat said, and I nodded.
"I did, just for you." I told her. "Happy birthday chica." I said, and she smiled.
"Thanks EJ." She said, and I smiled. I missed her calling my EJ. She called me EJ because it was short for Emily Jane. Yes technically my name was Emily Jane, but we just used Jane as my middle name.
"So, how'd you like your first big soccer game?" I asked, setting her down on her feet.
"It was great, everything was so big and important." She said, and I nodded.
"Yah it is, but someday you can play out here." I told her.
"Just like you?" She asked, and I nodded.
"Yah, just like me. Or like Alex, or Tobin." I told her, and she nodded. Alex and Tobin were some of her favorite players.
I walked her out onto the field, taking a ball with me. Passing her the ball, she easily trapped it.
"Alright Kat, show me what yah got." I said, and she nodded. With one easy tap, she did a quick scissor kick. I smiled, and trapped the ball. Rolling it up on my toe, I started to juggle. "How are your juggling skills?" I asked, as I moved closer in to her.
"Pretty good." She said, as I passed her the ball in the air. She bounced it off her knee, then caught it on her toe. She balanced it for a moment, then began to juggle. I smiled at her. She balanced the ball again, and then did a around the world.
"Wow Kat, you've gotten better since we've last played together." I told her, and she smiled.
"Thanks." She said. Kat was a good offensive player, but she was an even better defensive player. The girl still liked to score though. Standing in front of the goal, I waited for Kat to take a shot. Once she did, I headed it out of the box.
"Lower Kat, it's harder for a goalie to stop." I said, and she nodded. She took another shot, and this one was just off the ground, but was coming in fast. It flew right past me, and into the bottom right corner. "Nice shot chica." I said, and she smiled.
"Thanks." Kat went to do another move, but tripped over the ball and fell on her butt. I laughed, as she rolled over.
"Post up chica." I said, and she sighed. Standing up, I passed her the ball. Post up is what I would say to her if I wanted her to stand up. "Alright, again." I said, as she went for the shot. This was going to be a long night of us just being us.
Of us being a family.