Title: When Schedules Align
Fandom: Women's Soccer RPF
Pairings: Hope Solo/Kelley O'Hara
Characters: Hope Solo, Kelley O'Hara
Rating: G
Length: 500 words
Author's Notes: Written for Challenge 434: Precious at fan_flashworks. It also fills the "Peony - Shame" square of my 2023 Valentine's Bingo Card and the "Loss" square of my 2023 Story Sparks + Drabble Fest Bingo Card. Also inspired by femslashficlets's florence + the machine lyrics prompt table challenge: 2. This is a gift, it comes with a price.
Summary: The Seattle Reign loses to Sky Blue. Hope finds that with Kelley around, she doesn't mind as much.


Hope is disappointed in herself. She had been playing a great game, making several acrobatic saves to prevent Sky Blue from scoring. But it wasn't enough. In the last several minutes, an opposing player broke through the Reign's defense and managed to slot the ball in behind Hope, scoring the only goal of the game. The winning goal.

Hope takes her time coming off the field. She lingers behind the goalpost, where she keeps her gear, and slowly packs up. Her mind is focused on the play, on what she did wrong. She is the last line of defense, but she failed. She must do better.

Hope is one of the last players in the locker room. The storm on her face tells her teammates to give her a wide berth. But as she steps into the hallway, a squealing mass comes streaking towards her, chasing the clouds away.

"Hope!"

Kelley's loud cry in her ear summons a grin, and she instantly wraps her arms around her and twirls them around.

"Hey, Kell. Ready to go?"

"Mm-hmm." Kelley nods into Hope's shoulder before pulling away. "Y'know, I could really go for some mac and cheese right now."

Hope chuckles at Kelley's child-like nature, "Of course you could. Why don't we make a healthier pasta instead? One that's not just noodles and cheese."

Kelley deflates at the counter, "Fine."

Kelley pauses, causing Hope to turn around to look at her. Kelley holds her gaze, suddenly serious. "You played well today, Hope. Don't beat yourself up over one goal."

Kelley remains serious a beat longer before a cheeky grin takes over her face. "Besides, you can't always defeat the great KO."

"Oh please, you weren't the one who scored."

"Yeah, no thanks to you."

"Thanks, Kell. Come on. I have chocolate milk in the car."

Kelley perks back up at that.

As Hope and Kelley walk hand in hand out of the stadium, Hope pushes her previous thoughts out of her mind. Kelley's right. She played really well today. No one else could have made those saves. So her team lost. It happens. They will go over their mistakes at their next practice. Right now, Hope is going to focus on Kelley.

They don't get to spend a lot of time together because they live on opposites sides of the country and are always traveling with their teams. This is the only time they get to themselves without having to work around each other's schedule. And their club teams don't play against each other often. Their time together is further reduced when they are in the same city because they don't meet up before games. The couple would end up too distracted to play well. But after the game, before Kelley has to leave in the morning? This time is special, and Hope is going to make the most of it.

Hope laughs at Kelley's delight with her chocolate milk. With her girlfriend next to her, she is most definitely a winner.