Two weeks later

Everybody succeeded in their exams.

"WE'RE GOING TO CELEBRATE BITCHES, AND NOBODY WILL BE STANDING AFTER THAT ONE BECAUSE WE'RE ON HOLIDAYS!"

Right after Sonnett finishes her sentence, the whole locker room erupts in cheers.

Their last training of the mid-season is over, and they are ready to resume the games after Christmas. Good thing about Ash still being free is that she has to hide and doesn't have allies anymore, so she can't act on her own. Which also means that she has zero chance to enter campus, or get close to any of the players.

Of course some people are missing : Julie and Zach flew to Phoenix to see the girl's parents in order to introduce their granddaughter to them, as Kop went with them so that she'll finally know Julie's parents. The Thorns - aka Allie and Tobin - are back to the Rose City for some conferences or something, while Becky and Shelina are off to some sort of holiday, getting ready for their wedding in the end of the school year.

And let's not forget about Kassey, who has fought her way back to normal life : she and Kristie have been inseparable, mostly because the middy knows when to be silent or not. Furthermore, the blonde can't seem to restrain herself from wanting to protect her. Obviously, Kassey is not going to party because of all the medication she's under at the moment, and Kristie decided to stay with her in order to watch a movie.

So here they are, sitting on the couch, Kristie slowly slipping under Kassey's arms, cuddling by her side.

They never talked about their feelings, at least not yet : either of them wanted to real confrontation, because they both know what their feelings for each other are. But they're not ready to admit it out loud, so here they are, just supporting each other and stuff. And Kristie feels very good in Kassey's arms.

Too good.

"Are you sure you don't wanna go out with the girls ?" Kassey questions, softly caressing Kristie's shoulder. "You don't have to stay here, I can survive on my own."

"I'm not too sure about that."

Kristie's answer makes the defender smirk.

"I'm serious, Kris. I think you should go and enjoy..."

"I'd rather stay here, but thank you" Kristie interrupts her.

You're more important. Kassey is frowning, not sure how to understand that whole situation. She is highly confused at the moment, but doesn't argue. Instead, she only says :

"Can you do me a favor ?"

"Sure, anything" Kristie says, before yawning.

That makes Kassey smirk, but she remains silent. And that silence worries Kristie a little bit, so she straightens a little bit, lifting her eyes to see Kassey staring at the TV with no emotion on her face.

The defender finally says :

"Kristie, I..."

But the middy already has straightened a little bit more, enough to crash her lips on Kassey's, who immediately stops talking. When Kristie changes position to find herself sitting on top of her, the defender moans : the middy has her hands slowly caressing and grabbing her hair, while her lips are softly moving on hers.

Kassey responds by putting her hands on Kristie's legs, before slowly pulling away, an huge smirk on her face.

"What ?" Kristie asks, frowning.

"Nothing, it's just..." Kassey starts, setting her jaw a little bit, before putting a lock of blonde hair behind Kristie's ear, blushing and biting her lips. The defender then finishes her sentence : "You're beautiful."

Kristie's heart misses a few beats.

The blonde, who isn't good at receiving compliments, blushes - what, like, never happens - and caresses Kassey's jaw softly.

"I think I have feelings for you, Kass." she then whispers, connecting their foreheads together.

Kassey's eyes immediately soften.

"You 'think' ?" she repeats, septic.

Kristie sigh.

"Look, I'm bad at expressing my feelings, so let me hid behind something."

"You can say it" Kassey insists.

"Fine" Kristie lets out, looking away. "I have feelings for you."

"Good" Kassey breathes out, before her hand finds its way to Kristie's bra, quickly unsnaping it with a serious mug on her face. As Kristie's heart is on the verge of making her hyperventilating, the defender adds : "Because I have feelings for you too."

Useless to say their night is not about watching a movie anymore.

*

During the party, everybody is laughing their asses off : Stanford has joined the party, and everybody is taking advantage of the pool party that is now taking place in UCLA in honor of the semester to be done.

Around two in the morning, many things are happening. Mal and Jessie are making out on a little wall, as they only stop kissing when they need air, while the rest of the girls are dancing wildly to the trap music. Most of them are drunk, but we can say that Sam, Moe, Lindsey and Sonnett are by far the drunkest. The four friends are dancing in the middle of the dance floor, while most of their teammates are following. Only Megan and Steph are sitting at the bar, in a deep discussion, probably about Abby.

When Moe and Sonnett jump into the pool, a lot of people are following, including Sam and Lindsey, totally wasted. After a few minutes of dancing, Sam spots Lucy not far from her, talking with some guy.

She doesn't hesitate long - mostly because she is drunk as fuck and also pretty much jealous - before walking/swimming toward them, grabbing Lucy's cheeks in order to make her look at her, before crashing her lips on hers.

Sam immediately wraps her arms around the brunette's neck in order to restrain her from pulling away. As people around them - especially their teammates - are cheering loudly, splashing them with the pool's water to play and have a few more laughs, Sam deepens the kiss. The Brit, who also had a lot to drink, and has been freezing those last thirty seconds, finally kisses her back, her hands landing on Sam's abs.

They keep on kissing each other for a while, dancing to the sound of the music. But they both know parties don't last forever, and that they'll have to talk at some point... But for now, they're just enjoying each other's presence, and end up going home together.

Lucy took Sam's virginity that night, but also her heart.

*

Steph finally reaches her apartment after walking her drunk friends back home. Pretty drunk on her own, she lost herself on her way back, which costed her a few hours more. Instead of going home at 4, she finally reaches the building two hours later.

Saying that she is surprised when she sees Abby sitting down just in front of the porch would be an understatement : she is in shock.

"Y-you came b-back..." Steph breathes out, her whole body suddenly woken up by the sight she has right now.

She then realizes Abby is on the verge of crying when she says in a weak voice :

"I'm sorry..."

Steph immediately runs toward her, letting her bag fall on the ground, before hugging the blonde in a way she has never done before. Abby bursts into tears, as Steph surround her with her strong arms, kissing her neck, before hugging her tighter.

They remain in that position for about ten minutes, but enjoying each other's presence. Steph doesn't ask her about what she has been doing this past month : she only puts her to bed, cuddling by her side until her crying stops.

The love of my life is back and needs me. And hell yeah I'm gonna be here for her. On those thoughts, Steph finally falls asleep and spends a quiet night for the first time in a month. She even has a smile on her face when Abby wakes up first the next morning.

Abby softly caresses the brunette's hair, as Steph has her face burying in between Abby's chest and neck, heavily breathing.

"I missed you so much, my love" she whispers, kissing her forehead protectively, wiping her tears away. "I'm sorry I put you through so much pain. I will never leave your side again, you have my word."

She then sighs.

"You are my world."