NWSL | Off Season

4

KAYLYN

I enter Sarah's room. 

She is still lying on the bed, opened windows and flying curtains. I close it, and then sit down next to her. She immediately looks at me, and then frowns. I hand her the tea I made for her - it's like an anti-headache my grandma taught me to do - and she gratefully smiles to me. She then drinks a few sips, as I am watching her doing so. 

Mine and Sarah's friendship really began last year, when we first met with Alex for the Orlando Pride roster announcement. We immediately became friends, already sharing important informations about us to each other. Those are friendships you dream about : when I was named an alternate to the Canadian National Team for the Olympics, and that I decided not to go to Brazil, Sarah was the only one backing me up. She helped me writing a text for my Instagram and Twitter so people would be able to understand my choice. She then took me out during darkest days. 

Her drinking problems have been here for a while, but it is the first time she actually comes to my apartment. She usually ends up in her cousin's, or just doesn't sleep at all. But this time, I know it's different. Something happened. 

After a few minutes, I look down at her and softly say : 

"Apple, you know I'm here, right ?" I ask, and when her crystal eyes look at me with surprise, I add : "I mean, if you need to talk or something. Or... even if you don't want to. That's why friends are for, right ?"

"K, I'm not okay" Sarah whispers. 

I can feel she's about to cry. 

"You got me worried" I say, trying to make her feel confident. 

She starts to tear up, as I am holding her close. After a few minutes, she just looks up at me and starts : 

"I went to the doctor for a check-up." 

Her tone is expressing fear and concern. I hold her hand tight, squeezing it from time to time. Since she has had Ovarian cancer in the age of 15 (A/N : true event. That's part of why I love and respect Sarah Hagen so much) and beat it, she still needs to do yearly check-ups to make sure nothing has resurfaced. 

My throat turns sore. I start praying. 

"What did he say ?" I carefully ask, trying to hold my own tears. 

Her eyes are dark and full of fear. She looks down. 

"I have a tumor." she says, and I stop breathing. "Near my ovary." 

I don't even know what to say. Her tears have disappeared, and now only anger is filling her facial expressions. I look at her in the eyes. 

"Does that mean..." I start, not willing to say what I want to say. 

She sighs. "My cancer might be back." 

I look at her. I just look at her. 

That's why she broke every contact she had with Allie. That's why she's been drinking again ; to forget the pain. My heart shatters, as I am trying to tell myself that it only is a might. But the thing is that cancer might kill you as well as it might let you live. And that Sarah might not survive this one. I try to keep a straight face, but the tears are running down my cheeks. Damn, why does God always punish good people ? I look up at the sky, avoiding her gaze. But this time, she is the one squeezing my hand. 

I articulate : 

"M-might ?" 

"Yeah" she thoughtfully says, looking at the floor. "I need to go back and do more medical tests involving all sorts of machines or shit." 

"When ?" I ask. 

"Next week." 

"I'll be there, Apple. You won't have to face it on your own. I promise." I immediately say, looking at her in the eyes. "I'm here." 

She has a nostalgic smile. "I know." she lets out, quite relieved. "But nobody must know. If the Pride's organization hear about that... I mean, nobody wants a player that has cancer and might die in less than a year". 

"Don't say that" I harshly say. "You will be just fine. And I'll shut my mouth."

"I don't want Allie to know. Please, I don't want to hurt her. If I die, I don't want her to believe I will make it out alive. I love her too much for that. Please, promise me you won't tell her anything. Or Alex."

"I promise" 

"Thanks, K" she whispers. 

She hugs me, and I hold my tears back. 

Once I exit the room she's in so that she can dress up and get ready for our little hike today, I immediately text Alex. 

We need to talk about Sarah. 

**

ALEX

This apartment smells the Thorns from miles away. 

When I get out of my room, the first person I see is Michelle Betos. She is carrying some boxes of bananas and other things, but I can't see what. I've always liked her : honest, modest, a very good person to talk to... She basically is the perfect friend. Right behind her is Kat and Dagny, who both are laughing. I know Kat Williamson has retired, but she still is a Thorn because once you enter this family, you can't really go away. I mean, I still feel as a Thorn even though I've been away for a year. 

I try to make myself useful and help Michelle carry a few things. When we get to the kitchen, there is music and laughs filling the atmosphere. Tobin appears in my field of view, holding a fork and a plate. 

"Pancakes, bitches !" she yells across the room.

"Harry, no yelling !" Allie says from the other side of the room. 

I giggle and put whatever is in my hands on the table.  

"Why are you guys so loud ?" a sleepy voice asks behind me. I turn around and see Amandine Henry, her eyes half-closed. "I was sleeping."

"Wait, you also slept here ?" I ask, raising my eyebrows. I don't remember having seen her here anyway. She smirks, and I add : "How did I not see you ?" 

She smiles. "You're not very... uhh, what's the word ?" Amandine starts, thoughtful. She immediately looks at Tobin. "Observatrice ?" she asks in French. 

"Observant" Tobin translates. 

"Voilà" Amandine says, rolling her eyes at how proud Tobin is to know a word in French. ("Right")

I roll my eyes, while the blonde is joining her teammates. I collapse on the couch next to the other Kat (Reynolds) and Michelle, and observe the situation. When Tobin comes near me, she basically sits down on me just to piss me off, and when I push her, she ends up on the floor. Her phone has ended up on the couch, so I quickly grab it and unlock it. 

She has got a message. 

"Hey !" she complains. 

I read the message, and smirk. 

"So, you two have been talking a lot lately...." I tease her. 

Allie and I are the only one suspecting her to have a secret 'crush' (I mean, it is one, but she doesn't want to admit it). She blushes a but - that rarely happens - and grab her phone, punching me in the legs. 

"Mostly about games" she says, before heading the other way. 

I exchange a look with Allie, who is smiling widely. 

Oh yeah, definitely a crush.