A/N: I'm sad the World Cup is over! I watched or listened to almost every game. While I work through the fact that I can't get a coherent chapter 7 of Vanished done, I've been writing one-shots. Then yesterday I thought how about I put Emmett, Jasper and Edward on the US team with Coach Carlisle and let them play soccer. It seemed like an ok idea at the time. But there's just too much in my brain to make it a one-shot. It looks like it will run about 7 chapters lunch long. If you all are interested, if it's crap I'll totally stop!
CH 1 – The Press Junket
I stepped into the circus that was a press junket. I'd been to countless ones of these. I used to be stopped at the door. Since I'm a woman and the athletes' were male, I must be a rabid fangirl. The first time I flashed my ESPN press badge I earned looks of shock but as time progressed so did the sports world. Other women were now becoming anchors on sports programs and writers for athletic magazines and newspapers.
This was my first World Cup though. And I was really excited, of all sports, soccer was my favorite. As a clumsy child, I overcame my balance problems by playing soccer. Since starting work at ESPN, all I wanted to do was cover the World Cup, but I started in 2007 and spent the last three years paying my dues covering other things. I'd just finished successfully covering the NBA Finals. It was a challenge covering a sport I didn't know as much about, but my boss wanted to see how I'd perform under pressure. He promised if I delivered well for the NBA games I'd get to go to South Africa and cover the entire Cup from the group stage to the finals. My first stop on the World Cup press tour was the US team press conference. There was a lot of buzz surrounding these men. It was the first time anyone thought the US had a chance at getting near the finals. Because let's be honest, the US is not known for winning these things.
But in 2008 Major League Soccer saw the emergence of three up and coming players. With the addition of a fantastic new coach, it was the US time to win. Security nodded at me as I strode into the room confidently. I took my seat and waited for the men to file in. I listened in to other writers discussing the men.
"Have you seen Emmett McCarty? That man fills the goal. He can fill my goal anytime." She winked mischievously at the reporter next to her and they giggled like drunken college girls.
I took that moment to glance at her badge. Gossip magazine, I should have known. They aren't here for the athletic prowess. They're here to ask if he's still with his girlfriend and how big his feet are. I snorted loudly and turned my head to my questions.
"What's your problem?" The fangirl sneered.
"Oh nothing. I just heard that Emmett McCarty's girlfriend, you know that actress Rosalie Hale, loves smacking down the sluts that stalk him," I told her in a serious tone.
Truth be told, I had no idea if Rosalie Hale would do that but it sounded good. And the groupies quieted down. I considered it a win. A hush fell over the room ever so briefly when the doors opened and the team filed in. I prepared myself for the onslaught of noise.
"Emmett, Emmett is it true you are engaged to Rosalie Hale?"
"Edward, what do you think your teams chances are in South Africa?"
Carlisle, what do you think about the comments made by the English coach that your team hasn't got a chance?"
The moderator stood up and motioned for calm. He indicated that questions would be handled in an orderly manner. We all raised our hands waiting to be called. The ESPN camera man nodded at me from the sides indicating he was in place. Jacob was a good friend of mine since joining the ranks at ESPN. He was always with me.
The gossip whores next to me shook their hands frantically attempting to get attention. The longer it took the lower their neckline went. When it bordered on obscenity they were called on.
"I'm Tanya from Gossip Magazine. So, Edward. Do you have a girlfriend yet? How could you possibly be single?" She leered.
I watched as a look of annoyance flashed across his face briefly. He composed himself and smiled at her, the patented Edward crooked smile. I imagine it got him whatever he wanted.
"I'm very focused on the weeks before us and the chance to bring home the World Cup. I haven't met that special someone yet. But when I do, I want to be focused on her completely and I can't, in good faith, do that when I have to play," he said.
The girlie-committee around me sighed lustfully at him. He squirmed uncomfortably under their gaze and motioned for a new question. The moderator called on me and I stood up.
"Hi, Bella Swan from ESPN," I watched as Emmett's eyebrows rose, "Carlisle, how do you feel about the chances of your team this year? Historically speaking, the United States has never made it any further than the quarterfinals."
"Well, I think we have two things on our side here. We have an excellent mix of veterans and new players. In our practices they've worked together well and there's a great fluidity to what they do. I think we stand a great chance to go further than any US team has before," he said with conviction.
"Great, thanks." I jotted down notes and waited to see if I could ask another.
"Did you have any other questions?" I glanced up at the tables to see Edward looking at me.
"Um, yes Edward I do. Given your history, do you think you can get through this Cup without a red card?" Edward looked surprised at my frankness.
Edward Masen was an enigma. Socially he was the consummate gentlemen, never tied to any scandal. On the field his temper flared as often as he scored goals. He played with such passion that it was often mistaken for aggression and he found himself sidelined. I knew it was one of Coach Carlisle Cullen's biggest challenges.
Edward had been booted from a qualifying game for getting into a heated debate with the ref. He'd been called offsides on an amazing breakaway that surely would have led to a goal. Our coverage on ESPN showed that he was clearly onsides and he knew it too. His choice of words for the ref apparently earned him a seat on the bench for the rest of that game and the next one.
"I believe that Edward will do what he does best; put the ball in the back of the net. I believe that his passion for the game gets the best of him at times. It gets us all. Everyone wants to hoist that trophy above their head. I just want us to get there playing a good clean game." Carlisle answered for him.
With that I was excused from asking anymore questions. The junket continued around me and I stared up at the bench. Occasionally, Jasper Whitlock would lean over and say something to Edward or Emmett and the three of them would eye me warily.
Jasper was a strong mid-fielder who often assisted the striker Edward in his goals. The two of them with Emmett had come into the US National team in 2008 and had changed the game for the United States forever after that.
People began watching Major League Soccer and the sport was on the edge of becoming mainstream here. A victory at the World Cup would most assuredly seal that. The team filed out and I wandered over to Jacob, who was packing up his equipment.
"Nice questions Bells. Did you see Masen's face? Priceless. I can't wait to go to South Africa." He grinned.
"It's not like I can ask him if he prefers boxers or briefs. It would make me like those skanks. No thanks. I gotta run and prepare my piece for Sportscenter. Flight tomorrow, 5am see you there." I gave a wave and hurried back to the studio.
xVx
After shooting my bit for broadcast until I reached South Africa, I rushed home to make sure I wasn't forgetting anything. I double checked my list and found everything in order. I sunk into my couch to relax and called my dad to tell him I was leaving in the morning.
He wished me luck and said they'd be watching. As if I'd had a doubt about that; as an avid sports fan, my father Charlie was overflowing with pride that his daughter worked for ESPN. He taped as many of my segments as he could and showed them to all his friends.
He wasn't so much into soccer as he didn't consider it to be a man's sport like American football, but I hoped to change his opinion someday. We hung up and I quickly showered and changed into some boxers and worn t-shirt.
I climbed into bed and fell asleep quickly, despite the excitement. The next day I was headed to South Africa to cover something I'd been waiting for.
End Note: *looks around* Is it worth continuing? Do you think they'll go all the way? Or, like most US efforts at this great game, will they get stopped early? Next, we're headed to South Africa.
I will use aspects of the real games in this story. Some of the things that happened are just too great (or horrible) not to! Will Edward score a goal that isn't allowed? Will Emmett totally pretend like that didn't go in? Will Jasper pretend to get hit so hard an innocent player is ejected? Oh the drama. Don't forget your Vuvuzela.