What The Heart Wants

Separating Fact From Fiction

Saturday at the College Cup was really relaxing for everyone. The two finalists held brief press conferences before their final training sessions of the season. With little action at the stadium, those people in town for the event used the time to partake of Orlando's many offerings. Back at Ali's condo, she and Steph were finishing up the last bits of packing aside from whatever furniture she would want to bring up to Philly. Ali seemed to be distracted as she moved a couple of boxes nearer to the front door, bumping one of them into the wall and causing a slight rip in the cardboard.

Steph: What's on your mind, Ali? You seem a bit lost.

Ali: Just that for some reason, I'm not getting overly sentimental about leaving. Granted, I've only lived here about a year, but you'd think the memories of Ash and I would come flooding over me as I pack them away. Maybe when you get down to it, once you strip the "home" aspect of this place away, it's just four walls that don't hold any specific memories for me.

Steph opened her arms and Ali nestled into them. "I got really sentimental when I moved back to Canada after last season, because living in that place in DC with Diana and Shelina, we had a lot of good times and went through the before, during, and after of the Olympics together. This year, coming back and it just being Shelina and I, something was different. The house felt more like a couple's starter home and less like the bachelorette pad we had the previous year. It got to be a bit stifling, because I knew that I wasn't willing to open up my heart to her and that I saw no long-term relationship coming from it."

The pair got the rest of the stuff situated by the door and then sat down on the couch. Ali checked her phone and saw three messages had arrived since going to bed last night.

KO: Any plans for tonight? Moe and I want to hit the town and could use a little bit of muscle in case we run into papos.

Carmapop: I need some Kriegy-dancing-like-a-white-chick in my life tonight. Hit me up and tell Steph that I owe the two of you for the last two nights.

SavvyJ: With the season over, I need to get my Sarah lit for the first time since she turned 21. Care to join us?

Ali told Steph about the messages and asked if she was up for hitting the town that evening.

Steph: You know if we go out, you might have to answer questions about Ash and Alex and maybe even about us.

Ali: I'm not TOO worried. If we run into local people, they know me well enough to know not to go there since I won't give them an answer. It would be the out-of-towners who might stir up stuff. If we have a big enough crew with enough "random" people in it, I think we should be safe.

Steph: So it sounds like the two of us, Carm and Emily, Moe and Kelley, and Savannah and Sarah. Anyone else you want to invite?

Ali: Can't hurt to have a little more muscle to go with you and Carm. MoJo?

Steph: MoJo?! Kind of like Krashlyn or McMewis?

Ali: Yes. I like Morgan a ton and you know that goalkeepers are creatures that stick to their own a lot of the time.

Steph: True about that. I'll drop Sammy a text and see if they want to be part of tonight's fun. Can we hit a mall this afternoon? I didn't pack any "going out" clothes for this trip, and I'm sure none of your stuff would fit me or look good on me.

Ali: Of course. You were stunning for Hearts United with my help, and this is one area of our relationship that we already sort of have figured out. You trust me enough to make you look good, and I love doing it because it lets me feature the parts of you that I find most attractive. Wanna go out there, grab lunch, and then shop a bit?