Secrets

Chapter 13

Before leaving Tacoma, I left a note for Sara to let her know where I was going, but I honestly wouldn't be shocked if she didn't even notice I was gone. Some might hate not getting any attention, but I enjoyed the freedom and lack of bruises on my body.

After half an hour of driving to Portland, I start to get bombarded with calls from Sonnett. I ignored the calls, causing Sonnett to start flooding my phone with text messages.

Saucy Sonnett:I made the World Cup roster!What about you?Hello?I know you're driving, but can you at least pull over and answer me!This is important!

I continue to ignore the texts and calls, wanting to congratulate her and celebrate together in person. So instead of going directly to her apartment, I grab a couple of balloons and a small ice cream cake—just don't tell Dawn. Like I told Sonnett, I arrived at her apartment at 5:03, making the journey in just under 2 hours.

After knocking only once, the door flings open to reveal a hyper Sonnett. "Did you make it?!" Sonnett asks almost looking scared for my answer.

I give a 'really' look, before pointing to the balloons, "Do you think I would bring these if I didn't?"

"She made it guys!" Sonnett yells behind her into her apartment.

My eyebrows scrunch together, "Who else is here?"

Before I can even get an answer from Sonnett, I see Kelley run from inside of Sonnett's apartment and into view. "I knew you'd make it, CJ!" I quickly put the puzzle pieces of why Kelley is in Portland, knowing Kelley's she has a game here this weekend.

A smile breaks out on my face, as Kelley pulls me into a bone crushing hug. As I pull away from the hug, I also see Lindsey, Tobin, and Christen all also wearing smiles on their faces. "So, I'm guessing everyone else made it as well?" I question with a smile, as I see three nodding heads. "Well, I think we may need a bigger cake," I say holding the small package in my hands. "Sonnett didn't tell me you all were here," I say shooting the sarcastic passive-aggressive comment at the blonde defender.

Sonnett replies, also matching my sarcasm, "Well, someone wasn't answering her phone."

"Well, that someone was driving," I playfully shoot back.

Before Sonnett can say something, Christen cuts her off laughing, "Alright you two, knock it off."

I smug smile forms on my face, as Sonnett shoots be a glare, "Chris, aren't you excited, your going to have two months of that," I question. Both Sonnett and I make eye contact with one another, but this time we both have smirks on our faces.

"Oh, I can't wait," Christen sarcastically replies rolling her eyes.

"So, about that cake?" Lindsey questions with a smile, interrupting our conversation.

As we sit down, Tobin says with a smile, "So, I heard from Alex other congratulations are in order, Ryn."

My face grows confused, as Kelley questions, "Wait, what?"

"Alex told me you graduated a year early," Tobin says with a smile.

"Really?!" Christen says excitedly.

"I can confirm that statement," I say, immediately blushing from the attention of the girls shower me in congratulations.

Of course, Kelley asks, "So, where are you going to next?"

I reply with a deadpan expression, "Syria" All of their faces grow either shocked or worried, as I let them sweat it out for a couple of silent moments. I can't help the smile that quickly turns into laughter before I say barely able to breathe, "You should've seen all your faces."

As I continue to laugh, Kelley asks confused, "So, you're not going to Syria?"

"Of course not!" I laugh, "Jesus, I'm not psychotic."

"Thank god," I hear Christen say, letting out a sigh of relief.

I chuckle, as Lindsey asks, "So what are you doing?"

"Like I told Alex, I have a plan, and you all will know eventually," I say with a smirk, knowing the lack of information will eat at Kelley.

An hour later, I find myself in between Sonnett and Kelley watching a movie. My phone buzzes, before I grab to see it's Alex calling to FaceTime.

I quickly answer the FaceTime call, still staying in my seat on the coach. No one really cares because everyone kind of gave up on the movie half an hour ago. "Hey, Alex. What's up?" I question.

Alex hesitant for a moment before asking, "Did you get a call today?"

Blanking out for a moment, a look of confusion goes over my face. My expression causes a look of sadness to cross Alex's face. I then suddenly realize she means Jill's call from earlier in the afternoon, and I quickly reply, "Shit, yes! I got the call, I made roster!"

I hear Kelley say sounding dumbfounded, "Did you just fucking forget you made the World Cup roster?!"

A guilty smile forms on my face, before I reply, "Maybe..."

"Wait, is that Kelley?" Alex questions sounding completely confused. 

"Janice!" Kelley yells, practically falling on top of me to get in the frame of the camera.

"What are you doing in Utah, Ryn?!" Alex yells shocked.

"I'm actually in Portland because I came to congratulate my bus buddy on make roster. Utah is playing Portland in a couple of days," I remind Alex.

"And your foster mother just let you drive to Portland by yourself?!" Alex yells baffled.

I let out a scoff, "I haven't seen her in..." I pretend to check an invisible watch on my wrist, "in two days."

"Two days?!" Alex and Christen yell worried.

"Stop stressing, I was at Mia's for most of it under her mother's watchful eye," I reply. Ok, that was a white lie, but I don't think Alex could take the fact that I had spent one of those nights at a frat house.

"Did you just call to ask about the World Cup roster?" I question.

"I was just calling to make sure everything went ok at the hospital yesterday," Alex says.

My eyes widen, as Sonnett asks sounding worried, "You were at the hospital?"

Alex quickly realizes her slip up, and her facial expression screams sorry's through the phone. I quickly turn to see all the girls' looks of concern, as I quickly think of a white lie, "Yah, I went to the hospital yesterday afternoon just for my doctor to check up on a previous injury." I turn back to my phone, as to tell Alex how the actual appointment went, "It went fine, nothing's wrong, it has actually gotten a lot better."

"That's good," Tobin says, as her worried expression returns to its normal chill.

I quickly get up from my seat on the couch, and walk into the bedroom I'm staying in at Sonnet's place. "Are you sure everything's ok?" Alex questions still sounding concerned.

"Yeah, the doctor says everything's healing as it should, and I should be back with plenty of time to spare before the May friendlies," I reply with a smile on my face.

Alex seems to hesitate before saying, "Hey, I'm just warning you, I have something important to ask you during the next camp."

I shoot her an apprehensive look, before questioning, "Ok?"

"It's a good thing," Alex says with a smile before quickly adding, "I think."

Still having no idea what she wants to talk about, I again repeat my questioning look, "Ok?"

"I'll let you celebrate with the other girls, I'll call you later," Alex says with a smile.

"Yeah, talk to you later, bye," I say, still slightly confused about what she could possibly want to talk to me about.

"Bye, Ryn," Alex says with a smile, before ending the call. 

i decided to do a double update bc both these chapters are rlly small, and y'all definitely deserved more today. hope you enjoyed it!

- Care :)