Life can be Crazy

19

POV: LEAH

"Tobin, can I ask you a question?", I asked her, I'm finally building up the courage to ask her to help me in Portland

"Sure kid", she answered

"Well, you know we are going to be teammates, but I don't have a place in Portland yet. Would you mind if I stay with you until I find my own place?", I asked her carefully

"Mind? Would I mind? I would love to! You don't need to find your own spot, you can stay with me permanently!", she shouted out, then she left the room

"Lindsey! I win, you owe me twenty bucks!", she yelled in the hallway

I was very confused.

"Damn it Leah, why would you want to stay with her? I've got plenty of room in my place, please reconsider", Lindsey pleaded, now I knew what was going on

"Sorry, Lindsey, I guess you need to pay up", I told her mischievously

"That's my girl!", Tobin shouted again and she gave me a high five

"We're going to have so much fun!", she added

POV: ALEX

I got out of the cafeteria and went to go see Leah. I finally need to tell her.

"We're going to have so much fun!", I heard Tobin say. Like hell you are. That's my niece you almost tried to kill right there.

That's right. I'm her aunt. I didn't want to tell her because I don't want to jump that information on Leah right now, but Astrid is my sister. As much as I don't want to say that, biologically she is.

So, I was walking in the hallway where Leah's room was, but Carli stopped me.

"Alex, there you are, are you good?", she asked me

"I'm fine, please let me go, I want to go see her", I answered her fidgety

"You sure?", she kept pushing

"Carli, I'm fine, okay?", I told her with a smile and a little calmer so she would let me go

"Sure", she said, still not convinced but I didn't care. She wasn't my priority right now.

I walked in the room and Leah's eyes lit up right away. I love that kid. My niece.

"Alex! You're here!", she yelled excited

"Of course I am, you know how I get, I needed some food", I told her with a grin and right away she gave me one back

"How are you feeling?", I asked out of concern

"I'm fine, I just want to get out of this place", she told me sadly

"I know babygirl, it's only for one night", I settled with her

"Can you lay here with me?"

"Leah, I have to tell you something", I blurted out

"Uhm, okay?", she said confused

"Look, I'm going to tell you the whole story so promise me you won't interrupt me until I'm done, okay?", I said

"Alex, what is this about? What is happening?", she was still confused and I didn't blame her

Okay, here we go.

"Leah, I'm your aunt. Your real aunt. I'm your mother's sister. Our father used to beat us. I got out of there as soon as I could. I was seventeen, just like you were. I changed my last name to Morgan and here we are. I wanted to tell you ever since Ashlyn brought you back but I didn't know how. Remember that night when I stood by your door? That was me trying to tell you, one of the few times actually. I know this is a lot to take in and I understand but I want you to know I'm here, whatever you need, okay?", I explained

She kept quiet and I was starting to think she wasn't happy, so I tried to convince her with the next thing I needed to tell her.

"Orlando traded me to Portland. I'm going to be your teammate also. Mark arranged it because he knew we were related, that way you have someone who's also family"

She stood up and raised her hand to me.

"Did you know?", she asked

"What?", I asked back

"Did you know about the murders? The abuse and shouting? I'm asking if you knew what my mom, apparently your sister, did to me?"

"Leah, I'm so-", I didn't want to tell her that part but I couldn't lie in her face. Her mother called me a while after she had done what she'd done. I knew.

"Don't you tell me you're sorry! You knew! You knew and you didn't do anything! You weren't there for me! I can't believe this I think I'm going to be sick", she yelled

"Leah please listen to-", I tried

"Leave"

"Leah...", my eyes started to form tears

"You don't get to do this! Any of this! You were never there, for me for my whole life you weren't there. I didn't even know I had an aunt, and now you want to be there? You know what? Go fuck yourself Alex! I don't want to see you anymore, but unfortunately we now play together for club and country. So, I don't want to speak to you unless it's soccer related. Otherwise you can go fuck yourself", she told me

I was heartbroken. She was my niece who felt like my daughter. And she doesn't want to have anything to do with me. I really messed this up.

"Leah please, just give me a chance", I tried one more time

"If it is not clear by now, Alex, you need to leave. Don't come near me, don't talk to me. We're done. You're done"

I started crying while I left the room. The rest of the girls saw me and out of concern they approached me. I started to walk faster because I didn't want to speak to any of them right now.

"Alex, hey, are you okay?", Carli asked because she was the first to reach me. Damn her and her long legs.

"I'm fine", I brushed her arm off of mine and ran back to my car. The girls who catched a ride with me will find a way back to the hotel. I put my foot on the gas and drove back to the hotel.

POV: LEAH

I can't believe this. Why do I always have to have things like this happening to me? I have an aunt. Her name is Alex Morgan and I play soccer with her. What the hell is happening. I really needed to sit down for a second.

I sat on the chair in my room when Carli walked in, looking a little bit mad.

"Why did Alex just storm out of the hospital?", she asked me in an interrogative way

"Hey, no need to attack the patient here!", I went in defensive mode and very annoyed

"Look, I'm sorry, what happened?", she calmed down a little

"Carli, did any of you guys know that she is my aunt? Be honest", I asked, scared of her answer

"Oh Leah, she told you?", she asked

This can't be true. I don't want to believe this.

"Who knew?", I asked with tears in my eyes but determined to find out the answer. She kept quiet so I pushed harder

"Who knew Carli?!", I semi-yelled while balling my fists

"We all did"