NWSL | Off Season

75

KRISTIE

I am nervously squeezing her hand. 

What if they don't like me ? What if they're freaking homophobic people ? Or maybe they support Trump and I will not be able to keep my shit together ? What if I say something stupid, like, someone died recently and I ask about them ? Maybe even Megan won't be able to look at me after that ! What if they really don't like me and just don't allow her to be with me at all, or come visit me in Boston ? What if-

"Kristie, you need to breathe" Megan softly says, squeezing my hand in return. 

We are standing in front of a big wooden door, in the city of Naperville, Illinois, where the blonde grew up. Of course I said I'd come with her at the moment, because I wanted more time with her before preseason. But now, I am not so sure about that. 

As I am trying to come up with something to say, a voice elevates behind us : 

"You guys really are going to stay here all day ?"

Both of us jump and turn around, and then Megan's face lighten. 

She runs toward the brunette, literally jumping into her arms. The brunette has got the exact same eyes than Megan does, and that's when I know : it's her older sister, Emily, a girl she has looked up to her entire life. The bag the brunette was carrying is now on the ground, as I am trying not to shake so much. 

When the two finally caught up a little, Emily's eyes fall on me. Megan suddenly becomes nervous, and so am I for God's sake. 

"Uhm, Emily" Megan starts, her voice shaking like hell. Her older sister is looking in between me and her, trying to figure something out. Wait, hasn't she told her I was coming ? I start freaking out, totally loosing it. Megan comes and stands next to me. "This is Kristie"

That's it. 

"Hi" Emily says, hugging me in a friendly way. 

I awkwardly tap her back, my eyes wide at Megan, who only shrugs and look away. When I take a step backwards, I feel the need to be polite and say : 

"Megan has told me so much about you. It's nice to finally meet you !"

"Yeah, and it's nice meeting the girl fucking my little sister !" Emily exclaims. 

I almost chuckle in my saliva, as Megan is throwing a look at her sister. The brunette burst into laughter, before taping on my shoulder and walking toward the door. When she opens it, she yells a big 'I'm home mom !' and disappear further on. I immediately look at Megan, who is beyond embarrassed. 

This is going to be a rough day. 

"Sorry, she is-" Megan starts, embarrassed. 

"Direct" I complete her sentence, nodding. "Is there something I absolutely need to know before crossing that door and meet you parents ?"

Her eyes become darker, and she sets her jaw. 

"Uhm, yeah, well... you see..." she starts, her voice shaking. "My dad's dead." she then blurts out, and before I can say anything, she grabs my hand and says : "Let's go in !"

How has she never mentioned this before ? I ask myself, in shock. When she closes the door behind us, her mother comes into the room, and her face is lightened by the scene of her daughter holding another girl's hand. She energetically walks toward us and hug us both, so hard that I almost lost my balance. 

I guess we can say Cindy Oyster is very outgoing and surprising. When she pulls away, she kisses her daughter's forehead, before looking at me. 

"Kristen Mewis, what a pleasure to finally meet you !" she says in a very comfortable and confident voice. I smile at her, and she continues : "Megan couldn't stop talking about you ! She's always saying how perfect you are, and-"