"We are going to fight, do you hear me ?" Kelley asks in a fierce voice. When she sees all her teammates facing her, nodding their heads with conviction, she smiles. "But not the Stanford kind of fight. Now that they have their hands tied after the police is investigating their players, they can't do anything against us for now. We need to be smarter, that's why I arranged a new training schedule." the brunette proudly says. She then turns the screen on, and a detailed plan with the days of the weeks and hours in between which several sorts of training are going to take place. "Since Jill can't legally make us train, I went to see the headmaster, and she told me I could become 'coach' while the season is on suspension. So if nobody is against it, I suggest we continue training, because we gotta make the Final Four, and we still have points to win and earn in order to move forward."

The words seem to strike the players, because they all seem to agree with the brunette, some of them even clapping their hands (Kelsey and Tobin, of course.). Since Becky is not back yet because she wanted to take care of Shelina, Kelley is the one that legitimately is captain under such circumstances.

If there is someone quite happy with this nomination, it's Allie Long. The blonde starts raising her hand, in order to everyone listening to her :

"I know this is a troubled period of the year, especially with all the departures and problems this team has gone through." she says, thoughtfully thinking every word she is saying. When she makes sure everybody is listening to her, she continues : "Even with all that, I believe in this team. Our main aim has been to be united against adversity, and fighters during troubled times, and that's exactly what we are being now. When I look at this group of girls in front of me, I tell myself : 'Damn Allie, this a good shit. You better not mess anything up.' And I know you guys feel it too ; at least I hope you do."

There are a few laughs in the assembly, before the blonde sits down under the applauses of her teammates. Tobin gives her their usual 'Harry high-five', before they both giggle and look at Kelley, who is up again.

Her eyes are now locked on Megan :

"Well, since everybody now know about your secret relationship, I only wanted to say a word..." Kelley starts.

But the youngster interrupts her, saying to everybody :

"Look, I know this is messed up. I don't need you guys to say anything good just to make yourself feel better. But I love that girl, and she's suffered enough."

Kelley smiles.

"This is why Kailen, as well as Shelina, are now part of our little family" the brunette says, as some eyebrows are now raised. "Our girl's girlfriends are also our girls. Megan and Becky both deserve happiness, and if you think otherwise, then you should stand up now and join Ashlyn and freaking Stanford. Anyone ?"

The room falls into silence, as nobody is getting up.

*

When Julie goes on the hospital's roof, she finds Maro, cigarette in hand, lost in her thoughts. So obviously hasn't noticed the defender, who is frowning : with her hair down and t-shirt showing all her tattoos, the German indeed looks attractive, Julie knows it. She is even more attractive when you know each and every tattoo has a special meaning regarding her life that isn't so common.

The blonde silently joins her side, relying on the wall like Maro is. Speaking of which, the German doesn't even need to look at Julie to know it's her.

"Why are you here so late ?" the brunette innocently asks in a calm voice.

Julie smirks.

"You're here too, aren't you ? I could ask you the same exact question." she points out, proud of herself.

"I am not afraid of the dark."

"Does that mean you're staying on the team, even with all that drama going on ?" the blonde asks, trying to hide the fact that she couldn't handle her going away from her again any time soon.

Maro has a soft smile on her lips.

"I like this team" she then lets out, looking straight into Julie's eyes. "And not just because you're here. The girls here are like a family, and I feel good around people for that one time in my life. I think I'll stay here for my Senior year."

"I'm glad to hear that" Julie says in a low voice.

"You are ?"

"Mmh." In order to hide the fact that she obviously is on a slippy path right now, the defender immediately asks : "What about Ada ?"

"She's afraid of the dark, but not that kind of dark" Maro says, but something in Julie tells her this is not about Ada anymore. Or, at least, not only about her. Maro's eyes are darkening, serious as hell. "You know, some people might fear death, pain and treason, but still do what they don't like doing. And some other are afraid of themselves, or somebody in particular, but they still manage to man up and do what's right." Maro explains, slowly getting closer to the smaller girl, who doesn't move a bit. "That's who people like Ada are."

"People like me" Julie whispers, as her eyes fall on Maro's lips.

The German starts smiling, before looking elsewhere. She can read in Julie's eyes that she is terrified by her, by what she could be feeling.

"People like you remain in darkness because they fear the light".

Julie frowns.

"Is it what you think of me ?" she asks, slightly offended.

"It's what you think of yourself, at least" Maro settles, confident.

That somehow annoys the younger girl, who starts doing that face Maro knows too well : her kind of bitch face.

"You know what you are ?" she suddenly asks, rage filling her voice. The German is ready to listen and take whatever the girl could tell her. She only nods, before Julie says : "You're some kind of ghost that wanders around people's lives, haunting them. Even when you're not here, the memory of you is taking over people's thoughts. And people are fed up with that. They don't want that. All they want is peace, calm, they're fed up with beautiful, bright ghosts. So people stay in darkness because they don't want light to invade their lives. People are smart."

"By people, you mean you, right ?" Maro asks.

"Yes."

"You've become good at this".

Maro's eyes are locked on Julie's lips, as she is very slowly leaning away, leaving Julie all the time she needs to push her away, or even just slap her or yell at her, or ask her what she's doing. But the blonde remains still and silent. And silence is carrying all the words the two girls are exchanging with they eyes.

Her hand gently reaches out for Julie's jaw, caressing it slowly and softly, as her eyes are once again looking down at the blonde's lips.

"I had a great teacher" Julie whispers, knowing very well what is about to happen.

Maro smirks.

When she sees Julie straightening a little bit in order to reach her lips with her own, Maro bends her head slightly backwards, just to make the blonde long for her touch. As Julie's hands are still behind the wall - and so are Maro's except for the one still caressing Julie's jaw until the final second.

Their lips meet, not moving or anything, but everything around them is moving, making them lose balance and give their all to each other. That kiss is not really a kiss, but the only taste of Maro's lips against her own show Julie what feelings really mean. She thought she was in love with Zach, but what she has with Maro is unique et unchangeable, even with all the time that has gone by.

Julie is the one pulling away, staring at the ground.

"What happened with Zach ?" Maro asks, smirking.

"Nothing."

The German frowns.

"So why did you kiss me if you're still with that guy ?"

"Because you're haunting me, and I wanted to haunt you too."

As Julie is walking away, she doesn't expect Maro to grab her forearm and pull her toward her, before firmly grabbing her waist and kissing her with fierce this time. Julie immediately reacts by wrapping her arms around the brunette's neck, before pushing her away aggressively. She knows Zach doesn't deserve that, and that if she continues kissing Maro, Julie will lose control and go further.

She shakes her head, as Maro says :

"You've been haunting me for two years, Jules."

With that said, and knowing very well that Zach is still in Julie's life, Maro leans in to kiss Julie's cheek with softness and desire, before walking away. Once she's gone, Julie only looks at the starts, completely lost.

*

Kelsey throws a box at Kristie, who groans.

"What the hell, dude ?" the blonde complains, rolling her eyes at the goalie already.

But that only makes the other girls - as in Julie and Ada - laugh, and Kelsey only smirking, as usual.

"There's you freaking make up in that box, so you better be nice because I saved your ass from losing it all" the goalie lets out, raising her eyebrows. "Like, that dude thought it was an old box and almost threw it away."

"Damn, he's so stupid" Kristie says, astonished. She grabs the box and firmly hugs it or whatever, before looking at Ada. "Why are you laughing ?"

Ada smirks.

"I'm not. I'm 'smirking', is that how you say it ?" the forward innocently lets out, a bright smile on her face.

"She is" Julie lets out, laughing her ass off. "Duh, Kratchet" she adds, making the other girls laugh.

"Ah. Ah. Ah."

But Kristie's sarcasm is not enough to make them stop, as one of them - Julie - has now a picture in between her hands. Kristie then remembers : that's the picture Gibby and her took at one of their games they played under the rain, where they are laughing because Kling took the photo and made them.

The blonde already is rolling her eyes, even before Julie says :

"You guys look cute together"

"I know" Kristie lets out, sarcastic as she always is. "We should totally get married and have twenty grand kids and shit." she continues, already annoyed by the coming comments from her teammates.

"I'd have said only 'date' for now, but sure, why not all those other ideas" Julie lets out, smirking.

"She doesn't want us to."

"Are you bitter or something ?" Ada asks, raising her eyebrows.

Here we go again. But before anyone can add anything, Kelsey takes the lead and turns into a freaking psychologist, saying :

"Nah, it's just that she wants to date Gibby, but Gibby isn't granting herself to her the way other people usually do because Kristie thinks she's cute and hot and that everybody should get on their knees for her"

Everybody is looking at Kelsey, but Julie says :

"Damn dude, that was deep. And probably true."

"Guys, stop !" Kristie says. Of course she's annoyed that the brunette isn't returning her attraction for her, or at least isn't admitting it so far. "Of course I wouldn't mind banging her, but that's it !"

"Oh, that's not it, big girl" Kelsey interrupts her, smiling.

"At all" Julie adds in a confident tone, before posting at Kristie and say : "You, my friend, would like to go on a date with her, and be a romantic person for once, because you actually care about her, or at least, feel something."

"Yah" Ada lets out, frowning. "Not just sex. You want the whole package."

Kristie raises her hands in the air.

"It doesn't even matter, because she obviously doesn't want the freaking whole package, and we don't fucking have time for this because the team is like the Titanic right now, and the iceberg is coming soon, and there is no Jack and Rose this time. Only shit and more shit coming our way, so we don't have time for that shit. Okay ?"

"Yup" Kelsey lets out, as the others are silently laughing. "But you still like her."

"Shut up."

With that said, Kristie leaves the room, pissed. It's not that freaking iceberg that is going to make you drown, but this fucking truth coming at your face like a freaking erection, Kristie thinks to herself, desperate.

And the fucking truth is that she does want Gibby to go on a date with her, and it freaking terrifies her.