The next morning Gabrielle awoke in her shared hotel room with Tara and felt much more rested than she had expected to with how late she was out with her teammates. She rolled over and reached for her phone on the bedside table. 7:30 a.m. She scoffed. Not as early as she had hoped but still a good amount of time, since the bus was not leaving for Atlanta until 10:30.
She headed down to the thankfully empty fitness room and ran five miles on the treadmill. Less than an hour later, she was walking through the lobby and restaurant area on the first floor of the hotel. She was heading to the elevators, when she spotted an absurdly gorgeous Chinese woman and an agitated boy eating breakfast.
"But why isn't Mom coming with us?" Ming Tien questioned his mother grumpily from the table that was just across from the elevators.
Gabrielle was desperately trying not to listen to them, but the table was right there, and it was early enough for the lobby and restaurant area to be deadly quiet. They were speaking Chinese and now Gabrielle felt almost guilty for studying it. When she was starting college and wanted to pick a new language to study, it had been common for younger American players to go to China for a few years. So unfortunately, she picked up on most of what they were saying.
"She has to take the team bus with everyone else, darling," Lao Ma told him with an even tone.
He grunted in frustration. "Every time you say that she doesn't come back," Ming Tien accused his mother. "You fought her," he called angrily. "I know you did! You always do and you make her leave."
Gabrielle was equally glad that the elevator doors dinged open and that Lao Ma switched to such an angry and fast tone that she could no longer translated.
When it came time to board the buses, Gabrielle was not sure if it was a boost of confidence from her teammates the night before, a ping of petty excitement that Lao Ma was angry, or a genuine concern for Xena's emotional wellbeing – or some combination of the three – but Gabrielle went directly to Xena.
"This seat taken?" Gabrielle asked as she motioned to the aisle seat beside where Xena was sitting and peering out the window.
Xena slowly looked away from the window as she turned to Gabrielle. The younger player could tell her expression had been sad, but she instantly tried to cover it.
"You aren't afraid of buses, are you?" Xena asked deadpan, but then shot her a smirk.
"Wouldn't have gotten very far out of Texas if I was afraid of motor vehicles," Gabrielle joked as she sat down beside her.
Xena nodded, seemingly impressed by the joke.
They were silent for a moment as others slowly trickled onto the bus.
"So, how was drinks with the team?" Xena questioned her to break the silence.
Gabrielle peered over at her. She shook her head and smiled. "I don't think the fans realize how close you and Eve actually are."
Xena smiled and shrugged. "Actually, Ephiny told me. And you know what Minya's Instagram is like."
Gabrielle shook her head embarrassed. "They were good, fine…uh great. Uh, they were good."
"Articulate for an English major."
Gabrielle sighed. "They think I'm going to be the number one draft pick and can basically pick whatever club team I want."
Xena smirked and then her features softened as she assessed the look on Gabrielle's face. "Damn, kid," Xena uttered. "You hadn't realized that."
Gabrielle shrugged uncertainly.
"I got news for you, Gabrielle," Xena told her sincerely. "You are much better than you think you are."
Gabrielle did not know what to say to Xena's declaration. She peered at her and her crystal blue eyes peered at her with a look of admiration and caring. They were quiet for long enough that the bus was overran with the rest of the team and staff. It suddenly became hard to have a private, even seemingly serious conversation.
Especially not after Amarice began blasting music and started leading a singalong. Aphrodite popped up from her seat at the front of the bus and began recording with the camera slung across her chest. She kept it running but looked up from the viewfinder and meet eyes with Xena. She raised her eyebrows after a quick glance to her row companion. Xena glared at her and when the singalong ended Aphrodite dropped back into her seat. Only a few seconds later, Xena felt her phone buzz in her pocket.
She pulled it out and saw the message was from Aphrodite. She glanced over at Gabrielle before she dared to open it. What? In front of this college kid? Xena chastised herself, while also realizing that was not how she truly felt about Gabrielle. Regardless, she was leaning back with her eyes closed probably listening to the women's sports podcast Xena had asked her about when she saw the logo on her phone.
Aphrodite: Quick turnaround, sweetie?
Xena: Fuck off, Dite
A: Sorry, sweetie. I should stop being such a bitch. Something happen with the two of you last night?
Xena began typing something and then deleted it. She sighed down at her phone.
A: I should fuss up, I ran into her this morning.
X: And?
A: She seemed rather uncomfortable to see me. And Ming Tien asked if I knew when you'd be coming back…
X: Damn. Everything was fine last night. But this morning before we left the room, we had some heated words about what would happen after we left Orlando.
A: So, I shouldn't be hoping to see you both back in Chi-town?
X: Truth? I don't really even know. Maybe for a time, but probably not long term.
A: You sound disheartened, Xena.
Xena stretched to look over the seats. Aphrodite did not turn around to look at her.
A: And I think I know someone who makes you sound less so.
The bus shrieked to a stop outside of the hotel in Orlando. Gabrielle jerked awake from her podcast induced daze and Xena quickly shoved her phone back into her pocket.
"We're here already?" Gabrielle questioned as she peered over Xena through the window at the pastel-colored hotel.
"I think you fell asleep," Xena grumbled, smiling at how cute her sleepiness was making her look.
Athena and the rest of the staff began ushering the team off the bus into the hotel as Aphrodite dropped back with her camera.
Xena did not get any real alone time with Gabrielle before the team's last group stage game against Canada two days later. Xena had walked over from the hotel to the stadium five hours before the game started because the hotel was close enough to do that. She expected to be the first one in the locker room as she had so many times before.
She laughed as she stepped into their locker room and found the lights to already be on. "I'm the captain of the team," Xena stated as she walked to where her uniform was hanging. "What is your excuse, Gabrielle?"
Gabrielle shrugged as she finished pulling on her shirt and turned to sit on the bench in front of her locker. "Minya called me studious."
Xena nodded approvingly as she tossed her bag into the bottom of her locker. "You here to watch film then?"
Gabrielle rolled her shoulders awkwardly and shook her head with a brief glance up at Xena before she felt too nervous and looked down at the purple carpet. "I mean, yeah. I've watched Canada play a lot and of course sometimes I've thought about how I would defend them but that was like a childish daydream. I mean, me against Diana? That felt insane."
"But now," Xena asked jokingly.
Gabrielle peered over at the striker and lost her ability to speak for a moment. She was standing before her wearing only a white sports bra. Gabrielle knew she was staring but could not managed to take her eyes off her. Xena silently shook her head as she pulled her white jersey over her head.
"S-sorry," Gabrielle called awkwardly as she pulled her eyes away as she covered her face in embarrassment.
Xena shrugged. "Be thankful you did that with only me here, kid. It's way worse if everyone is here," she added as she dramatically inhaled as she switched into her uniform shorts.
Gabrielle waited until she heard her sit down. "Are you speaking from experience?" She asked as she slowly looked up at her.
Xena shook her head. "If you ever get a chance to talk to Melosa one-on-one."
Gabrielle gave a small, warm laugh.
"Or if you really, really want to embarrass me," Xena added, revealing her vulnerability. "Ask Aphrodite about my first season on the team."
"What?!" Gabrielle called at her amused.
Xena grinned, seemingly assuming she would get that reaction.
"Think if you had been thrown in here at 15," Xena stated as she stood and pointed at her. "Come on," she told her. "Film room is this way."
Gabrielle got up and followed her.
Hours later and feeling like she had much more knowledge after her time in the film room with Xena, Gabrielle jumped multiple times and ran a few quick sprints off and back to the sidelines just before the game against Canada started. She joined the rest of the starters in the huddle.
Amairce had jumped into the center. "Alright, bitches," the goalie called. "We are fucking ready for this. You all know what we don't do? Lose! Especially not to these moose-riding, maple-syrup drinking—"
Ephiny loudly cleared her throat.
"Friends of ours," Amarice finished as she melted back into the huddle beside Varia.
"Xena," Ephiny called at her.
The captain reluctantly took a step into the center of the circle. "We all know that this is our only challenge. We know these players. But since we are friends with them and club teammates with them, they know the same about us too. So, don't forget that. Those identical centerbacks are going to be giving us shit all game, we go to find a weakness in their backline and exploit it."
Xena paused for a moment and peered at Gabrielle. She had talk to her about it early so she hoped she wouldn't be offended. "Diana will be looking for the same against us. They are going to assume it is Gabrielle, so expect them to be pushing hard down the right side."
"But we are going to be shutting them the fuck down?" Amarice questioned.
Xena nodded. "Yes. I want you all to make Amarice's boasting pointless. I don't want her to do a fucking thing this game. She shouldn't have to. The ball better never reach her. Ya'll can promise me that?"
The team called excitedly.
"Yeah?"
They called again.
"Okay! Let's fucking go!"
They excitedly ran to their spots on the field and the referee blow the whistle to begin the game.
"And that is kickoff here at Exploria Stadium in Orlando for the Americans and the Canadians. I am Ialous, joined as always by two-time World Cup champion Melosa. Melosa, what do you think the team is feeling going into the match-up?"
"Confident but probably a bit nervous," Melosa replied to fellow commentator. "But save for Gabrielle at right back, this team is all veteran players. They have faced this level of competition before. I'm confident they can handle it."
The Americans started strong. Gabrielle stole the ball from one of the Canadian wingers and perfectly passed it up to Ephiny, who got control of it, took off and lobed it into the box for Xena. She got it to her foot and chipped it to Varia but her defender got to it before her. It would have seemed like a desperate and frantic clearance at the foot of nearly any other player, but Meg, the most animated of the Canadian triplets, passed it perfectly up to a midfielder, who made quick work of Chipala.
The Canadian continued down the field as Gabrielle and Minya chased after her. As the Canadian took the shot, Minya slide to block the low path and Gabrielle jumped to block the higher path, but the ball curved and headed to goal. Amarice blocked the shot but didn't get control of the ball, she lunged toward the ball that bounced to Diana as she forced it past her and into the goal.
"Fuck," Gabrielle heard Amarice call as she forced herself off the ground and quickly to her feet.
Minya coolly got to her feet and held a handout to Gabrielle. "Good effort. Don't get disheartened," she told the young right back as she pulled her to her feet.
"I know," Gabrielle stated with a nod. "First real test."
Minya nodded at her pleased. "Aye," she called pointing at Amarice to get her attention and motioned for her to calm down. The goalkeeper grumbled in frustration but nodded in agreement.
Canada was dominating the game and leading in procession. The Americans were getting frustrated and Xena could feel it. She was worried it would cause an error at some point. Cyane was desperately chasing Diana through the midfield and got too aggressive and pulled her to the ground just before the 18-yard line. The referee blew the whistle and Cyane was shown a yellow card. Xena and Ephiny had to jump in and pull her back from mouthing off to the ref despite it being such an obvious foul.
"Mark your player and make up for that," Ephiny commanded her.
Though Cyane followed Ephiny's instruction to the letter and veteran defensive midfielder tried her best, Diana threaded the ball perfectly to the head of one of her sisters. It was only after the subdued celebration that Ephiny realized it was Leah.
Xena jogged up the field and back toward her position at midfield.
"This is turning disastrous," Eve stated as her cousin passed her.
Xena sighed. "Only a few more minutes, Evie."
Thankfully, the rest of the half was uneventful.
"Oof well, 0-2 at the half, Melosa," Ialous stated. "Not the result we were expecting?"
"Certainly not," she replied. "I would say the U.S. is the better team, but they did loss to Canada in a friendly last year. And that isn't even saying anything about the amazing development Diana has gone through in the last few months."
"Hopefully, Athena and captain Xena give a rousing speech in the locker room and they take the field in the second half with a renewed energy," Ialous stated. "We will be back in a moment."
When the whistle blew starting the second half, Gabrielle was only thinking about Xena. Sure, she was racing up the field, trying to weave through the center backs as Varia crossed the ball back to Gabrielle. She grounded it assessed her options and passed it up to Eve, who sent it flying to the box for Xena, who got tangled up with her defender and hit the ground, unable to jump for it.
But Gabrielle's mind was more focused on what Xena had said in the locker room. Well, not what she had said, but how she had said it. She sounded so sad and so disappointed. Gabrielle had seen her face on the bus and assumed it had not gone well with Lao Ma the night before. That and losing in a qualifying game to a lesser team would be devasting for her, or at least that was what Gabrielle thought.
She wasn't going to let it that happen. Not to the player she had admired for so many years. Not to the captain who had made her feel welcome on the team. Not to the beautiful jokester with the piercing eyes who teased her about her fear of flying and tendency to get to practice and games way too early.
They were winning this game. Gabrielle was going to make sure of that.
"Whoa!" Melosa exclaimed.
"Another skillful tackle and steal facilitated by Gabrielle," Ialous called. "Deflection lands at Ephiny's feet and she is off."
"With space," Melosa added. "She isn't the fasted on the team but give her that much space."
"Long shot by Ephiny," Ialous called excitedly. "But the power is always there! An absolute banger by Ephiny and we are 2-1."
The players closest to Ephiny jumped on her and celebrated. Varia ran into the goal and grabbed the ball to give the U.S. a quick restart.
"Americans are wasting no time," Ialous stated. "15 minutes plus stoppage left, Melosa. You think that is enough for an equalizer or possibly a comeback win?"
"They keep us this intensity, I don't know if I can make predictions," Melosa added.
With some help from Yakut, Gabrielle was able to steal another ball away from the same Canadian player, who seemed to be realizing the right side was not as weak as it had been. Yakut got her foot on the ball and spun around the Canadian. She passed the ball up the Gabrielle. She turned to see open field in front of her and pushed forward. She looked up field but did not see any open passing lanes, so she kept pushing forward as hard as she could. It paid off for when the Canadian left back charged at her she had already begun to spin away from her and got spiked in the ankle. She went to ground hard and drew a foul.
Xena smiled as she ran past her to stand over the ball. "Excellent field position," she winked at her. Gabrielle smiled back, a bit pleased with herself as she ran toward the edge of the box to her position. She was too short to have any real impact on set pieces like the one Xena was gearing up for but she was certainly going to keep the defender marking her out of the way.
Xena floated the ball perfectly into the box and above Varia. She only had to flick her head to the left to get it past the Canadian keeper. She awkwardly hit the ground and stumbled onto her back. She screamed excitedly as her teammates piled atop her.
Paulina was the closest to the goal and ran to get the ball.
"Up idiots," Minya called at the dog pile. "Go, go! Get back so we can win this!"
"Want to update your predictions, Melosa?" Ialaous asked with an amused tone.
"I don't want to be too optimistic," Melosa replied. "But, maybe," she added with a laugh.
Diana and the Canadians pushed forward quickly but Ephiny dropped back and helped the backline wrestle the ball away. After a few passes and a long ball by Amarice, they managed to get the ball up the field to Chipala. She connected a perfect cross to Eve. Yakut darted into the center of the field, so Gabrielle ran up to Eve as she got cornered by defenders near the touchline. She managed to nutmeg one of them and push the ball to Gabrielle before she was tangled up and fell to the ground.
Gabrielle directed her eyes to the box. When she saw Xena was in a perfect position to split the identical center backs, she chipped the ball in without another thought. The ball entered Xena's path higher than Gabrielle had intended but Xena managed to jump and knock it in just beyond the goalkeeper's reach.
"Oh my! Ialous called. "The United States has taken the lead with less than three minutes of stoppage time remaining. Xena scores the possible game winner from a first professional career assist from newcomer Gabrielle."
Eve and Varia simultaneously sandwiched Xena into a hug. She embraced them in excitement for a moment and then almost pushed them off so she could run at Gabrielle. Gabrielle did not think about the celebration being any different than what she would do a player so much taller than her in college, her various club teams, and her few stints with the youth national teams.
So, when Xena got close enough to her she jumped and Xena wrapped her arms around her, holding her up for a moment. Xena spun around before setting her down.
"That was perfect," Xena told her excitedly. "You best say around so you can do that forever."
Gabrielle smiled, suddenly feeling a bit nervous about the level of physical closeness they had just had. The younger player shook her head and ran back to her position so play could restart.
The final whistle blew, and the Americans let out a sigh of relief. Gabrielle was talking to a Canadian bench player, who she had been teammates with a Stanford, when she felt eyes on her. She peered away from her former teammates for a moment and meet eyes with Xena, who was smiling at her over the Canadian captain's shoulder.
