Chapter Text
Alex Morgan is the most popular girl in her high school. She is smart, athletic and drop dead gorgeous. Every guy has a crush on her, heck even the gay ones say they would drunkenly hook up with the girl.
The junior seems to have everyone wrapped around her finger, but she is still the humblest person one would ever meet, well maybe second. Alex’s life is filling out just perfectly. She is the starting forward on her high school’s prestigious soccer team, she is signing her commitment letter for Berkeley, and everyone adores her.
Written down, no one could argue Alex’s life isn’t perfect, so why does she feel this way?
Tobin Heath. That’s why. Alex Morgan hates Tobin Heath.
Alex knew who Tobin was in middle school because the 7th and 8th grade soccer teams often rode the bus together to away games, and had their practice fields right next to each other. The two teams rarely interacted and Alex never batted an eye about it.
It wasn’t until high school when Alex realized she disliked the girl. She had no rationale for it, she just simply did not like Tobin Heath and to make matters worse, the Heath’s moved across the street from the Morgan’s because they wanted to downsize their house, now that Tobin’s two older sisters moved out and lived with their fiancés.
When Alex heard Tobin would not be playing on the team this year, because she wanted to train with boys before heading to UNC, she was relieved. Alex couldn’t understand why everyone was going to miss Tobin so much. She also didn’t understand why everyone loved her so much. Every time Alex saw Tobin, fire was building up in her chest. Everyone knew of Alex’s hatred of Tobin, but whenever they asked Alex why, she never could give a legitimate answer.
“There’s no way someone is that chill.”
“She seems fake.”
“She’s alright at soccer.”
Okay, even that last one Alex knew was a stretch because Tobin was really good at soccer, and she heard Tobin got better while playing with boys over the summer.
Alex headed to her driveway to hop in her car for school. Her hand reached for the car door handle when she heard the voice that makes her blood boil. She looked over and saw Tobin closing her front door, hopping on her long board, and riding down the driveway onto the street. Alex just stared at the girl and Tobin briefly made eye contact with Alex, but turned her head and started skating away.
Alex just scoffed, ‘Who does Tobin think she is? I’m Tobin, I’m so cool. I long board to school. Vomit.”
Alex got into her car and made the quick drive to school. When she pulled into the student parking lot, she saw her teammates gathered around the usual spot. She parked her car and was just about to walk over to her group of friends, when she felt a gust of wind on her back and a skating Tobin pass by her. Tobin stopped her board right in front of her former teammates and engaged in conversation.
Alex was not in the mood to hear Tobin joke and laugh, so she bypassed her teammates and headed inside to school.
She just wanted to get the day over with already and it wasn’t even first period.
‘Ugh, this is going to be a long day.’
The seniors at her high school had off-campus lunch, so she knew she wasn’t going to be seeing Tobin sitting at the lunch table with the rest of the team like last year. At least, once a period Alex would complain about Tobin in her head and then she would complain again that Tobin is taking up space in her mind when she can be focusing on her studies.
The bell, signaling lunch, went off and Alex started making her way to the cafeteria. She looked in her book bag for her lunch money, but had no luck. She knew she had an emergency twenty in her car and her stomach growling, was definitely an emergency.
She was leaning over her seat reaching into the center consul finding the twenty.
‘A ha!” She grabbed the bill and closed the door.
She walked towards the front of her car, not paying attention when a hard object knocked into her.
“Ouch.” Alex was on the ground clutching her knee closing her eyes just breathing. She knew it was nothing serious, but skin was certainly broken.
“Oh my god, Alex. I- I am so sorry.” That voice was enough to shoot open Alex’s eyes and she glared up at Tobin.
Alex did not say anything to Tobin. In fact, unless she was calling for the ball on the field, her and Tobin have maybe only spoken a few words together.
“Alex, please say something. Is your knee okay?” Tobin sounded desperate, but Alex couldn’t formulate words.
Tobin extended her hand in attempts to help Alex stand up, but the stubbornness in Alex took over as she refused Tobin’s hand, choosing to stand up alone.
“I’m fine.” It was cold and uninviting for Tobin to continue conversation. Tobin went to open her mouth but closed it realizing there was no point. She never understood why Alex hated her so much. They had great on-field chemistry, but their off-field chemistry was painful.
Tobin went over to her board that got away from her when she hit Alex and directed it towards the soccer field. Alex just watched Tobin skate towards the field with a puzzled look on her face.
The rest of the day went smoothly, but practice is when things turned for the worst. Alex hated to admit this, but she needed Tobin on the team. No one could give her the passes that she could. What is a forward without a midfielder? This just made her angrier at Tobin. ‘How can she be so selfish?’
Two months went by and the team learned how to play without the midfielder. They had a rocky start going 0 for 2 in their first two games, but turned their season around and ended up winning the next 9 games.
They had their toughest opponent tonight, their crosstown rivals.
“If we win tonight, Dom’s said the men’s soccer team will throw us a party!” Sydney yelled throughout the locker room.
“Oh yea! I love their parties! I call the beer pong table first, right Kling?” Moe threw her arm around Meghan’s shoulders.
“You can have it first Moe, because that’ll be the only time you play when I beat you,” Ashlyn smirked and then fist bumped her beer pong partner, Ali.
“No, Ash, I won’t let you do this to me again. I didn’t get the table for the rest of the party last time. I forbid you from playing the first game against me.” Ashlyn just laughed at the girl and decided to be nice and let her have the first game.
Alex just shook her head and laughed at her teammates as they continued to banter about the after party.
“Guys, how about we win first, then talk about who has to do a naked lap later at the party, sound good?’’ Alex said as she threw on her headphones and began to do mental visualizations. Alex wasn’t that superstitious, she had her quirks for sure, but she didn’t like to have a special routine, in case it couldn’t be completed. But, a new superstition she acquired was subconsciously, and she never understood why. But, she always looked at the locker Tobin used to sit at. This locker was now taken over by Lindsey Horan. Lindsey often caught Alex looking over at her locker, but Alex would diverge her eyes.
The game was 0 to 0 at half, and Alex’s game was off. She was struggling with her one touch and she wasn’t leaning over the ball. All of her shots soared well above the crossbar. As they were heading onto the field for the second half, Alex heard Lauren say, “Look! There’s Tobin! Ah…She said she wasn’t going to be able to come to the game.”
Alex looked at Tobin sitting on the bench talking to their coach. ‘Great.’
Alex went to her position and when the referee blew his whistle she took off. Lindsey sent a long ball towards Carli, who headed to ball to Alex, who one touched it right into the back of the net. Just like that, they were up 1-0. Alex couldn’t explain the sudden drive she felt in her body in the second half, but she was unstoppable. She wasn’t sure what made her do it, but she would look over on the bench to see if Tobin noticed a good pass she did or a nice shot she had, but every time she looked at the bench, Tobin wasn’t looking.
The game ended up being 4-0 and Alex scored two of the goals. After they shook hands with the other team, they did their routine of high fiving themselves. Tobin went up to Alex and congratulated her. “Uh, great game out there, Alex. You had some great passes and your shots were killer. If that goalie didn’t make that incredible save you would have had a hat trick.”
“Oh, thanks,” Alex mumbled out as she rejoined her team heading towards the locker room.
“PARTY!! Dom already texted me that the party is starting as soon as possible because all the fans and students were on a high from the game!” Sydney shouted as she started to undress and head to the showers.
The team showered and left the school going home to their respective houses to get ready for the epic celebration of tonight’s game. Alex was throwing clothes all over her room.
“Ugh, I cant find anything I like to wear right now! I’m having one of those days.”
“Alex, whatever you wear, everyone is going to do a double…no…triple take no matter what,” Kelley reassured the girl. “Here,” she picked out a white romper, with old fashioned black and white converse, “this will look adorable on you, and it has pockets!”
Alex tried on the outfit her friend picked out and Kelley was right, she did look adorable. She put her hands in the pockets and twirled around. When they were ready to go, they made the walk to the next neighborhood over where the party was being thrown.
All of the sports teams, and fans were scattered all throughout the house playing drinking games and conversing with one another. Alex saw Moe cheering so hard as she beat Ashlyn in beer pong. “Everyone! SHUT UP! I have an important announcement to make!” Moe screamed over the party. Someone turned off the music for the young girl, “thank you, kind stranger, “she slurred out. “I just want everyone to know that I BEAT ASHLYN AT BEER PONG!” The entire party erupted in cheers and the kind stranger blasted the music.
Alex was having a great time. She had a great buzz on and she was in the kitchen talking to a bunch of guys on the soccer team with Kelley.
The guys were getting a little too touchy for Alex’s liking, so she always kept a good distance between her and them. Kelley, on the other hand, enjoyed the attention and flirting. Alex took the last sip of her drink and went to go refill her cup. She sauntered to the other side of the kitchen where the keg was.
“Oh, shit!” Alex felt wetness all over the side of her romper. She looked down to see it was now beer stained. She looked at the culprit to see the none other, Tobin Heath. Tobin began to grab napkins near by and blot at the girl’s romper. “Alex, I am so sorry. Shit. Fuck. I –“
“I got it.” It was harsh, but Alex was pissed. She grabbed the napkins from Tobin.
“Here, you can take my flannel. It will cover the stain.” Tobin began to take off her flannel, but Alex stopped her.
“Tobin, just get out of my face.” Tobin’s face deflated. She stood there with her flannel in her hands not knowing what to do, but she figured she might as well get out of Alex’s face.
Alex had not seen Tobin for the rest of the party. She drank to forget the stain on her romper and she drank to forget Tobin was even there.
“C’mon, Alex, one dance.” Some drunken guy on the baseball team put his hands on Alex’s waist and began to pull her towards him. Alex could feel the hot breath on her face and it made her want to throw up. She put her hands on his chest to push him off of her. He wasn’t budging though. He refused to let the girl go. “Do not yell, do not make a scene. Dance with me now,” he whispered in her ear. Alex was frightened. She tried to push him off of her again, but quietly.
“Stop fightin –“
“I suggest you get your hands off of her if you want to be able to play baseball this season,” Tobin said as she stood behind Alex. Tobin’s voice sent chills down Alex’s body and she had that warm fuzzy feeling.
Something in Tobin’s eyes made the guy immediately let go of Alex. Once she felt the guy let go, she went to turn around, but she was standing in front of no one, with no Tobin in sight.
Alex had this uneasy feeling for the rest of the night. She decided the party was too much for her and she wanted to head home. She made her way outside the house and began her trek home. She got to the end of the driveway when she saw Tobin on the phone.
“Yea. No, you’re right. I just thought I would try. Yea, I’ll stop. Uh- I gotta go.” Tobin hung up the phone and stuck it in her back pocket. Alex wondered what the older girl was talking about, but she wasn’t about to ask.
Tobin went to say something to Alex, but she just walked in the direction of her house.
“Tobin, wait.” Alex’s eyes grew wide at her own voice. Tobin stopped, and slowly turned to face Alex.
She didn’t say anything, after all why should she? Alex called her name.
“I just. I just want to say thanks,” Alex admitted shuffling her feet.
“No problem.” Tobin’s answer was short. She turned back around to continue walking home.
Alex sped up next to the girl. “Tobin…”
“Alex, I said no problem. What else do you want from me?” This wasn’t the Tobin Alex knew. This Tobin’s voice was cold and sad.
“I want you to walk me home.” ‘What?’ Alex thought to herself.
“You want me to walk you home?” Tobin felt like she was asking herself the question.
“Yes. You saved me back there and I am scared that guy is going to be nearby.”
“Okay.” Tobin sounded unsure, but they lived across the street, so it made no sense to not walk home together.
The walk was silent, but in Alex’s drunken state, the voice in her head wouldn’t shut up.
“Alright, we are here. I’ll see ya, Alex.” Alex was too focused on her thoughts that she didn’t realize they ended up in front of their houses.
“Oh…by-” But Tobin was already at her front door.
Alex was happy she had enough alcohol in her system where she would pass out as soon as she hit her bed.