Media day.

Fun.

"Astrid do you think you should be the starting keeper?"

"It's not up to me to decide. I just have to do my best whenever I get the opportunity to play and if I get the starting job great. If I don't and either Ash or Alyssa do then I'll be their biggest supporter...well maybe not Ash's biggest supporter since Ali will be the biggest supporter for her, but either way I will do whatever coach thinks is right." I answer.

"Astrid do you think any of you three goalies can replace Hope Solo?"

"Obviously not."

"Why not?"

"Because if you haven't noticed none of us are named Hope Solo."

"Can you replace that presence?"

"No because we aren't Hope Solo. We're Alyssa Naeher, Ashlyn Harris, and Astrid O'Hara. Our job isn't to be like Hope Solo. Our job is to keep the ball out of the net...Personally for me I don't care if you know my name when I'm in goal. I'm there to keep my team in the game. Don't get me wrong I love Hope and she is one of the best keepers of all time, but we are the three keepers on the team and it's our job to make sure nobody scores."

"Astrid what is your response to some people thinking you're arrogant?"

"I'm not arrogant. I'm just good at what I do."

"That's arrogant."

"No that's called being confident in myself and my abilities. If you want to see the difference go put some gloves on then we'll put you between the sticks and let Alexandra Popp, Amandine Henry, Eugénie Le Sommer, Jordan Nobbs, Ramona Bachmann, Anja Mittag, Ada Hegerberg, Célia Šašić, Kosovare Asllani, Dzsenifer Marozsán, Pernille Harder, and all these talented ladies around me shoot at you and we'll see how you do." I say then Tobin discreetly reaches for my hand and squeezes it.

"Astrid are you okay with your twin being engaged to Hope?"

Kelley posted on IG about their engagement a couple days ago.

"Why wouldn't I be?"

"Maybe because of Hope's domestic violence history."

"Oh shove it up your..." Kelley says, but I cut her off.

"Kels." I say and she looks at me. "I got it."

Kelley smirks then nods.

"Okay first off, whatever your name is, until you know all the facts of what happened don't run your mouth. Second Hope Solo is the perfect woman for my sister in every way imaginable. She treats my twin like a queen, she respects my twin, and most importantly she loves Kelley more than anything in the world...if I'm honest I was as naive as you at one point. When Kelley told me she was with Hope I was a little scared because of what I read in the media, but once I met Hope, the real Hope, I learned exactly why Kelley fell in love with her. From that point on I knew Kelley would be loved and happy forever."

"What was your reaction when they got engaged?"

"I already knew Hope was going to propose."

"Wait what?" Kelley says.

"Yeah." I say and look at my twin. "Hope flew to Germany and asked me in person for my blessing to marry you."

Kelley smiles and plays with her ring.

"But anyway that'll be the last question about any of our personal lives...So next question please and make it about soccer."

"Astrid are you excited at the prospect of facing off against your teammates on the German national team."

"I am. I've told them we'll see them in the final."

After that I stop paying attention and get out my phone.

Me: Sorry if that was a bit harsh.

Hope: What you said is true and they do need to stop asking the question.

Me: Are you coming to the game?

Hope: Sadly no, but Kelley is spending some time with me after the last game.

Me: Damn I wanted to see you.

Hope: You can come with her.

Me: No Kelley needs some Hope time.

Me: She's getting a bit irritable...and I think she wants to reward you for coming to Germany to ask my permission.

Hope: 😂

Hope: I'll see what I can do.

Me: As long as I don't have to hear about it do what you want.

Hope: Let's be honest Kelley will you the next morning.

Me:🤦‍♀️ Just this once don't let her tell me. I still can't get the image of what you two did on her birthday out of my mind.

Hope: I'll try.

Kelley literally tells me every time her and Hope try something new in the bedroom and I have no clue why she does it...probably because it grosses me out and she thinks that it's funny.

"Alright ladies all of you have separate media responsibilities to handle, but you'll be with each other." The team press officer says.

I HATE MEDIA DAYS.

"Stanford quartet." Aaron says. "You four will be doing a livestream Q&A on youtube"

Kelley, Tierna, Christen, and I nod then head to where we are told to meet. Once in the room we get mic'd up then sit in front of a computer so we can see the questions. As the media team are setting up the camera Kelley grabs my hand and starts playing with my fingers.

"You alright?" I whisper.

"Fine." Kelly says still focused on my fingers.

"Fuck what those people say. Who you decide to marry is nobody's decision, but yours."

"I know." Kelley mumbles. "It just annoys me."

"I know it does, but you know what makes it all worth it."

"What?" Kelley asks and looks up at me.

"Hope loves you" I say making Kelley smile.

"Alright ladies." One of the youtube people says. "You're on in 3...2...1.."

"Hey guys." Kelley says.

I don't really pay attention after that. Only nodding or replying when someone talks to me. I start paying attention when I'm directly asked a question.

"Astrid is having tattoo's a goalie thing?" Kelley reads.

"Um it might be, but I have tattoo's for personal reasons." I say.

The four of us then search for questions until the media team point a question out.

"Is it a myth that twins feel each other's pains and worries?" I read out.

"Let's test it." Christen says then smacks Kelley's arm.

"Nope." I say. "I felt nothing."

"Astrid are you always that protective of Kelley?" Tierna reads.

"I assume you saw the press conference...yes I am always going to be protective of my twin. People need to learn to keep their mouth shut unless they know the whole story."

"Is twin telepathy real?" Christen asks.

"Definitely." Kelley and I say in unison.

"That's so weird." Tierna mumbles.

"Tierna..." Kelley reads off the computer. "How's your girlfriend?"

"She's great." Tierna says with a blush. "She's in Chicago looking after Harley and playing for the red stars."

"Well that's just rude." Christen says.

"What is?" I ask.

"That." Christen says and points at a rude comment that the four of us look at.

the comment says 'what kind of name is Tierna?'

"I find Tierna's name very beautiful." Kelley say.

"Thanks." Tierna says.

"Tierna do you have Irish heritage?" I ask.

"Yeah?"

"Thought so. Your name is the feminine version of the Irish name Tierney, which means lord."

"How do you know that?" Kelley asks

"I took a couple classes on the study of names."

"What about mine?" Christen asks.

"Christen means a follower of Christ."

"And mine." Kelley says.

"Yours is very fitting." I say and chuckle. "Kelley is a Gaelic or Irish name meaning lively or aggressive."

"Astrid's the smarter twin." Tierna deadpans making me and Christen laugh and Kelley pout.

"What does yours mean." Kelley grumbles.

"Astrid is an Old Norse name that means beautiful as a goddess." I say.

"So it's true." Christen says.

"Aww." I say and hug Christen.

I then look at the computer.

"Tierna and Christen." I read. "Who's the more annoying twin?"

"Kelley." Tierna and Christen say without hesitation.

"How rude." Kelley says and pouts.

"It's okay Kels." I say and kiss my twin's head. "I still love you."

"You better." Kelley mumbles.

"Well that's all the time we have." Christen says. "Hopefully we see all of you at the game on Sunday."

"Bye." The four of us say and wave at the camera.

"Alright you 4 are good to go."

"Sweet." I say then the four of us leave the room

"Baby." Kelley squeals into her phone after it rings and leaves.

"I guess we're all going to talk to our girlfriends." Christen says.

"Yep." Tierna and I say then everyone splits up.

I walk up to my room and find my favorite brunette.

"Hello." I say and wrap my arms around her from behind.

"Hey."

"I don't know if I told you this today, but you are absolutely beautiful."

"You tell me everyday." Tobin says then turns around in my arms. "But you did forget one thing."

"What's that?" I whisper.

"This." Tobin whispers then softly kisses me.

"That's better."

"When's dinner?" Tobin asks.

"Couple hours." I say and pick up my girlfriend.

"Cool." Tobin says as I lay her on the bed. "Less talking more kissing."