Quick note: Here's a Thanksgiving treat for you guys (yes it's a little after). It also comes with a little road map for the "families" so far. You can thank Soccerstar2015 for the awesome graphic and this chapter. If you like this book you'll definitely love her newest story!

"So . . . you really have been-you know?" I trail off as I glance around nervously.

Morgan sits in the seat in front of me and rolls her eyes. "Yes, you've asked that question like five times already." The topic of conversation doesn't seem to faze her in the least bit.

Suddenly, Mallory slides into my seat and pushes me against the bus window. "What are we talking about?" I don't miss the way she eyes Morgan.

Morgan pats Mal's head and gives her a sweet smile. "Wouldn't you like to know."

Mal glares. "Um, yeah. That's why I asked." She turns her body to block Morgan. "Why haven't you gotten rid of her yet?"

"I can still hear you, Mal."

I try to explain, "We're just talking—"

"I can talk. You can just talk to me instead," she insists.

Morgan smirks and flicks the forward on the forehead. "Aww, are you jealous?"

"No!"

"It was pretty easy to replace you."

Mal looks at me incredulously.

"Mallory, seriously?" I fight the urge to facepalm. "I didn't replace you."

She crosses her arms and turns her body, so she is facing forward. "Then what are you talking about that you can't tell me?"

I blush and sink into my bus seat. I try to find the words to explain, but I don't find them quick enough. Mal resorts to shaking my arm and repeating my name over and over. I look at Morgan desperately.

The older girl rolls her eyes and leans over to grab Mal's ear. Pulling the younger girl in, she whispers into her ear

Mal pauses and then bursts into laughter. "Is that-" she gasps for air. "Is that what you've been freaking out about all morning?"

I glare at her, my face feeling even hotter, and push her shoulder hard enough to send her halfway into the seat across the aisle. She gets stuck between Rose's legs and the seat still giggling uncontrollably. Rose untangles her legs, letting Mal drop to the bus floor.

Mal swats at her as she scrambles to her feet. "Rose!"

"You're in my personal space." Rose pushes the forward back into my seat.

"Hey, what's all that pushing and yelling?" Julie calls out from further up on the bus.

Morgan doesn't hesitate to yell, "Your kids!"

"Hey! Snitch!" Mal pokes her tongue at the laughing midfielder.

"Behave, please. Just ten minutes and then you can all run off your pent up energy," Christen says as she boards the bus, coming just in time to hear the tail end of the chaos.

The back of the bus seems to hold its breath as we watch the front resume their own things. As soon as Julie sits back down, and Christen is sliding into her seat, Mal pouts. "You could have talked to me."

"I wasn't sure who I could talk to," I admit. "Everything's a little new to me."

"It's not new to me." She raises her voice. "My mama beats me all the time." Morgan snorts at that. "And Morgan still—"

"Shut up."

"Point is . . ." Mal smiles gently. "It will always be a little embarrassing, but you don't have to be too embarrassed about it. Especially with me. We're best buddies." She offers her fist.

I bump it sheepishly.

The team settles into their seats. A quick check is made for any missing players or equipment, and then we are on our way.

I'm scrolling through Tik Tok when Mal randomly adds, "We're buddies. You and Morgan are not buddies." I look over and her eyes are shut, and her headphones are in. "She's a bully."

•••

"You're going down," Mal glares at Kelley, Christen, Ashlyn, and I as she walks to her side of the condensed field.

Kelley tilts her head with a smirk. "Awww, little Mally." She puts her hands on my shoulders and squeezes them. "What about your poor friend? Do you really want to do that to her?"

Mal spins on her heels and strides back to us.

Kelley moves me right in front of her. I can't tell if she's using me as bait or a shield. I'm sure she is fine with either.

Mal stops, her face inches from my face. I hold my breath. Her eyes narrow and her voice lowers, "There are no friends here."

Julie laughs from the sidelines. "That's my girl. You show up your cheater Mama."

"I didn't cheat, Jules."

"Yes you did!"

To start off practice, we did tactical training that doubled as conditioning—which sucked by the way—and were now about to start the final game of our very competitive, loosely-ruled, 4 v 4 tournament—which is way more fun.

I gently nudge Mal back. "I can smell your pre-practice Doritos."

She smacks her lips. "Yeah, I keep tasting them."

Ashlyn blinks. "Okay, that's disgusting. Let's just get this game started."

Coach passes a ball onto the field, and it lands right at my feet. "Play!" Jill shouts.

Mal throws her hands up. "Why do they get the ball first?"

Abby sprints past her and cuts my angle off to Christen, forcing me back. "Shut up and play," she snaps at Mal. I drop the ball back to Kelley, and the game takes off.

Mal scores the first goal, picking off Kelley's attempt to split the other team. She places the ball into the corner, giving Ashlyn no chance. She cheers and runs past me, throwing a wink my way. "Are you taking notes? Cause I just showed you how it's done."

I must have because the next goal is mine with a volley off Christen's chip that ironically goes right over Mal's head. The girls on the sideline whistle and holler, and Mal scowls.

I smile at her on the way back to my half. "Like that?"

She narrows her eyes, but I can see the smile she's fighting to hide. "Shut up and play."

By the time Coach calls "next goal wins," the score is 5-5. The intensity rises with each pass and tackle. I keep trying to take shots, but they either miss frame or Alyssa manages to redirect them away from goal. She hasn't been able to make a clean save and has gotten lucky on a few occasions.

The game pauses momentarily for someone to get a ball for Ashlyn after Mal shoots a field goal. Christen tugs on my sleeve, and I move in closer to her. She says quietly, "Mix it up a little."

She must see my lost expression because she explains, "You're becoming predictable. You always take one or two touches and release. I know you can drive with the ball. Take your space. Force them to react to you."

I hesitate but nod. She gives me a reassuring smile and squeezes my shoulder. I take a deep breath and peel off to fill the space wide. Christen checks to the ball and calls for it. She receives and I make a diagonal run central. She slips me a ball that I control in stride. I fake a pass to Kelley making a run down the flank. Stepping over the ball, I cut in the opposite direction with the outside of my foot and drive to goal.

"Don't, don't, don't." I can hear Mal somewhere behind me.

One, two, three . . . I look down at the ball and strike through the center of it.

"Yes!" Kelley shouts before the ball even makes it past Alyssa. "Losers!" She runs past Abby with her hand in a backwards "L" on her forehead.

The ball hits the back of the net and falls to the ground.

"Noooooooo." I turn as Mal melts into the grass. She looks up at me with a hurt look, her eyes gloss with betrayal. "I told you not to!"

I close the space between us and give her a guilty look. She continues to glare at me. I sheepishly smile and offer my hand. She eyes it and grumbles, reaching out to take it.

I pull it back. "Sorry, Mal Pal," I say with a proud smirk. "There are no friends here."

She bitterly stands up and pauses. Words seem to fight to loosen her clenched jaw, but she says nothing. Instead, she bumps her shoulder into mine as she walks past. I one-handedly push her off before I can even think.

Her eyebrows furrow, and she comes back with a two-handed retaliation.

"Mallory!"

I stumble back, shocked at the force.

Players off to the side call out, "Guys, come on! Really?"

"It's just a game!"

Mal and I stand across from each other with chests heaving. "Is that all you got?" I grit my teeth and push her harder.

"Eleanor!"

She dives and tackles me. I cough as I hit the ground with a thud.

"Ow!" I gasp out. "That freaking hurt."

"Shut up. You're fine," she dismisses and starts to get off me.

I grit my teeth. I hook my arm around her neck and twist, forcing her to the ground. She tries to squirm out of my hold, but I manage to swing my leg over and get on top of her. She pulls her arm free and hits me just as a hand grabs my bicep and yanks me off.

"Hey!" I desperately try to get one last jab at the forward, but only manage to toe her with my cleat.

I'm dragged a few feet away despite my pulling and protesting. "Knock it off." My view of Mal gets blocked, and I'm forced to look at Tobin's pissed expression. "Listen to me very carefully—"

"I didn't even do anything," I defend with a scowl, tugging my arm pitifully. "She started it."

Tobin's grip gets firmer. "What did I just say?"

I deflect my heated glare to the ground. I can feel her eyes on me and the expecting look on her face. I grumble, "Listen."

She tilts my chin up firmly and forces me to meet her eyes. "Are you ready to listen? Or do you need a second?"

I avoid eye contact but take a couple seconds to breathe. My heart slows enough that it isn't pounding in my ears, and my breathing evens out. "M'ready to listen," I murmur.

"Good. You will get your stuff off and get on the bus with no more nonsense. I need to talk to Alex quick, so do not move once you're good to go."

"Fine." I turn and take two steps, but she doesn't let go.

"Uh uh, try that again without the attitude."

I glare at her.

"Yes ma'am," she prompts.

"Yes ma'am," I repeat.

I can see in her eyes that she's trying to pick her battles. Eventually, she let's go of my arm and points me towards my bag.

•••

"Tobs . . . Tobin, really? Do we really need to?"

"No, Alex, it's fine. I'll do it."

"I don't think it's necessary."

I swallow at the pause. I'm dressed in the sweatpants and t-shirt Tobin grabbed for me. My wet hair drips onto my t-shirt as I listen through the bathroom door.

"You don't think it's necessary or you don't want it to be?"

"Things happen and they were just fooling around. It really was more Mallory—"

"They were wrestling on the field. Like legitimately fighting. Would you have gotten away with that? Because I know I wouldn't be getting anything less than a spanking."

My stomach flips at the word. There is more pausing. I pick at the loose thread in my pants.

"If you really don't think—" Tobin starts again when Alex doesn't say anything.

Defeated, she relents, "No, no. You're right."

"She's fine, Lex. I've got this so why don't you go hang out with Kelley or something?"

I finish drying my hair with the towel and hang it on the door. I carry my clothes out in a bundle in my arms. Alex has her phone and room key in her hand. She comes over and kisses my head gently. "I'll be back in a little bit, okay? Be good for Tobin, please."

I nod, hoping she can't see how nervous I am now. She leaves Tobin and I alone. I look over at her from across the room.

She clears her throat. "You can put your clothes down over there." She points to the desk space. I nod and do just that. I rub my arm awkwardly and just shift my eyes around the room, unsure where to look or what to do.

She sits on the bed and motions me to come to her. I swallow and close the space between us. She grabs my hands in hers and holds them as I stand in front of her.

"Are you going to spank me?" I ask, even though I know the answer.

She exhales and let's go of one of my hands to rub the back of her neck.

She opens her mouth, but I continue, "I know I shouldn't have pushed her. And all the stuff after it. She was just—"

"It doesn't matter what Mal did." She thinks over her own statement. "Well obviously it does. Don't think I'm okay with her saying mean things or attacking you the way she did, but it doesn't excuse your actions."

I bite my tongue.

"You had opportunities to walk away from the situation or let Mal walk away. Don't you agree?"

I begrudgingly nod. After a pointed look, I murmur, "Yes ma'am."

"You or Mal could have gotten hurt. It was disrespectful to the team and our coaches to disrupt practice like that and put on that kind of display. It wasn't a good representation of the sweet, kind girl I know you are."

I shift on my feet, my face feeling hot and flushed as she continues to lecture.

"We constantly have media companies around. Cameras, mics. You have to be especially careful about how you act. Young kids, even younger than you are, look up to you and this team."

I nod blinking away the stinging in my eyes. "I'm sorry."

She sighs, "I know, sweet girl. I need you to be thinking a little bit extra about your actions, okay? I'm not asking you to be perfect, but I am asking that you be extra conscious of your actions and your safety. And I do think a spanking would serve as a good reminder." She squeezes my hand. "Does that make sense?"

"I think so," I say, wondering if only I can hear the shaking in my voice.

"Are you okay? I won't do anything you're not comfortable with."

I unclasp our hands and lean into her, playing with her fingers. "I'm okay."

"You know I'm punishing you because I love you and I care?"

I believe her. "Yes ma'am."

"Okay," she says like it's settled. "Pull your pants down for me."

"I just put them on," I say with a pout.

She chuckles. "The sooner you get them down, the sooner you can get them back on again."

I wrinkle my nose and eye her. She just keeps waiting. I pout again and push them down, letting them fall around my ankles. I bury my face in her shoulder. She laughs and wraps her arms around me. "We can have all the cuddles you want after, but right now . . ." She guides me over her lap. "I need you to stay just like that."

"This is embarrassing." The words are muffled by the comforter of the bed.

"All the more reason to avoid being in this position."

She lands the first one, and I jump a little–more out of surprise. She's being serious though. She serves swat after swat until I'm squirming and sniffling–just a little. I try to focus on anything, but the position I'm in. I think at some point, I kick off my pants. Which isn't cool. I try to grip the cream comforter, so I don't reach back. I try my best to stay still but can't help wiggling a little. It doesn't make a difference because she simply readjusts me and doesn't miss a beat.

Then, it's over. I immediately slide off her lap and jump onto it, wrapping my arms around her neck and hiding my face in her shoulder. She rubs my back and hums gentle encouragements into my ear.

I don't hear the door open or Alex enter but one second Tobin is holding me and the next, we're being tackled into the bed by a big hug. I giggle through my sniffles and turn to hug her.

She covers my face in kisses. "Ellie bear! Tell me your okay."

"She's okay," Tobin says. I can hear the eye roll.

Alex glares at the midfielder. "Are you Ellie bear? No you're Toby."

Tobin glares back.

I laugh. "I'm okay."

She squeezes me. "Good, good." She smiles. "You know that Tobin and I made the decision together, and it wasn't just her right?"

"Yes, I'm fine. With all of it," I whine. "Promise."

Tobin and Alex resign and just cuddle me until I'm nearly asleep. They talk, their chests vibrating against me and lulling me deeper and deeper into dreamland. A thought comes to mind, and I resist closing my eyes to ask, "Do you think Mal knows I still want to be buddies?"

"I'm sure she knows. But you can tell her tomorrow just to make sure."

And with that, I close my eyes.