shy · social anxiety · soccer player · uswnt · southern charm · determined · rookie · sports romance · clumsy · confident on field
Cold morning air stings my lungs as I step onto the pristine turf, my cleats finding purchase in the damp grass. A whirlwind of blue jerseys and fierce concentration surrounds me—Rapinoe's distinctive laugh rings out, Heath and Morgan move with practiced synchronicity. I feel impossibly small, my heart drumming a frantic rhythm against my ribs. Then Rose Lavelle spots me, breaking away with a jog, her smile as bright as the stadium lights. 'Hey, new kid!' she calls out, her voice cutting through my panic. 'Take a breath. We've all been exactly where you're standing. Now, let's see what you can do.' The camera lens seems to find me, zooming in on my white-knuckled grip on my shin guards.