a/n: 
Me: "Pick a song."
My friend: "Down With The Sickness by Disturbed."
Me: *looks into the camera like I'm on The Office*

"I can't believe you got your appointment for an hour before practice starts," Rosalie said, shaking her head. She leant over her knees in the waiting room as Joanna dropped her duffle on the ground. She kicked it so it rested between her legs where she held it down with her feet and unzipped it. She pulled out a case and started taking out her piercings—the ones she could take care of on her own, anyway.

"You didn't have to come," Joanna said, both hands on her earlobe. She cursed as she snapped the back off of one. She held it out and rubbed the pad of her thumb over the spike attached to the silver piercing. "You've been avoiding me since Tuesday anyway. Not like I expected you to come."

"I haven't been... avoiding you," Rosalie said, quietly. She looked around the waiting room, but it was relatively empty. There was a woman nearby inked up to her neck, and the guy behind the reception counter had about as many piercings as Joanna did, if not more.

Another piece of metal clinked into the case on Joanna's lap. "We don't have to talk about it. I just don't want you ghosting me, Rosie-girl."

"I won't ghost you," she said, and at this, Joanna looked at her. Rosalie brought her thumb to her teeth and said, looking at the wall ahead of them. "I've just been thinking. A lot."

"Don't hurt yourself," Joanna laughed.

At that moment, Joanna's name was called to the back room. Joanna stood up, kicking her duffle against the side of Rosalie's leg. She shook her case of piercings at Rosalie before leaving and said, "Tell me all about what you've been thinking some day. Every damn detail."

Rosalie swallowed hard as she watched Joanna step around the corner after the attendant. Joanna glanced back at her before leaving Rosalie to wait with their duffles at her feet.

Rosalie's phone buzzed in her pocket. She lifted it up to see a notification from none other than Drew Mendoza. Her brow furrowed at the name and she thought to herself, Since when did Mendoza and I become texting buddies?

____

DREW: Cute photo of you on Insta 😘

ROSALIE: Since when do you follow me on Instagram

DREW: Since August

____

Rosalie didn't doubt Drew, but it still felt bizarre. It made her want to put her account on private. If Drew was following her without her knowing, who else was? The real question remained: How many of Joanna's thugs from Germany followed her?

She went to change her settings immediately before answering Drew.

____

DREW: That freaked you out didn't it.
Damn, so sensitive.

ROSALIE: I'm not sensitive.

DREW: Something a sensitive person would say
When are you visiting USW we should collaborate on this

ROSALIE: More like conspire.

DREW: Now is it so wrong for us to vacation together in our new home city?
What hotel are you staying at?

ROSALIE: I haven't decided.

DREW: The clock is ticking, dear Rosie
How is Spencer

ROSALIE: She's fine.
Getting her piercings taken out for Regionals now

DREW: They will be missed

ROSALIE: Ha, yeah

DREW: How's the sexual tension

ROSALIE: Oh my God

DREW: Honest question
It was palpable last we met
It was visible. It was all over your neck

ROSALIE: Please don't mention it :T

DREW: I'm a curious gal

ROSALIE: Yeah, sure, whatever
I'm not talking to you about this

DREW: Ah, so it's still there

ROSALIE: :T

DREW: I hope you two bang it out soon
Literally and figuratively

ROSALIE: I'm going to practice now
Let's never discuss this again

DREW: Agree to disagree.

____

Joanna followed after Rosalie through the arena doors, still cursing from the appointment, a patch of gauze held to her cheek. As Rosalie held the door open for her, Joanna stepped forward, checking the gauze for blood. There was a dark patch on it, but the wound itself had stopped bleeding. She pressed it back to her inflamed cheekbone, shaking her head at Rosalie, who grinned back.

"Stop looking at me like you told me so."

"I didn't tell you anything," Rosalie said. Joanna flicked the gauze in a nearby trash can as they passed the empty concession stand. A row of tables lined the platform overlooking the arena fields. There were three fields, and between them were corridors that divided up the stands and were topped by netted dividers. The concessions platform was shielded with the same netting, and through it, Rosalie could see a few girls from their team already out on the bench. The light on their field was on, and across the arena, a kids Club practice was going on.

"Are you and Drew still talking?" Joanna asked.

Rosalie stuttered to an abrupt stop, eyes wide and centered on Joanna. Joanna was pulling a new sheet of gauze out of her pocket, and she looked up to find Rosalie staring at her. She shrugged. "You text furiously sometimes and I figured it's someone who pisses you off."

"Uh, yeah, that was Drew," she admitted, sourly. She scoffed and looked off towards the field. "I figured, ya know... since we might all be going to USW, it makes sense to have them as a friend instead of an enemy."

"You'll tear each other limb from limb," Joanna said, laughing.

Rosalie shook her head as she descended the stairs down to the level of the field stands. "Yeah right. Drew and I are on professional terms." If professional includes asking about my sex life... she thought, scowling bitterly at the image of Drew's many texts revolving around it. She dispelled the visual with a shake of her head. "Never mind, it's not so professional. I'm sure Drew will one day work in a corporate atmosphere and speak directly to the CEO about how his penis faired over the weekend."

Joanna surprised Rosalie by cackling, out loud, loud enough for the girls to hear from across the arena. Rosalie laughed and waved when she saw Brynn waving frantically at them. Meanwhile, Joanna recovered to shake her head at Rosalie.

She jabbed a finger in Rosalie's direction and said, "You know, I'd kiss you right now but I don't know if you want the team to know."

"I feel like I have to reserve some dignity after that hickey incident," Rosalie confessed through a dejected mutter. She pouted at Joanna, who shoved her hand in Rosalie's face. "Hey! Watch it!"

"If ya don't want me to kiss you, Killer, then stop making that face at me," she said. Rosalie giggled despite herself, chasing after Joanna through the field gate with a bounce in her step. Joanna glanced suspiciously at Rosalie, like Rosalie had something to hide. Rosalie didn't even bother hiding her chagrin as they arrived at the team bench underneath the wide, florescent light strips overhead.

The turf grass was coarse under Rosalie's sneakers as she carried her duffle across the field where the team had their gear stashed behind the plexiglass border. The bleachers were cast in shadows along with the team bench where she could see Jade through the glass. Rosalie's duffle bag dropped onto the metal bench, echoing down the line next to Juliana's and Jade's things. Juliana's duffle was embroidered with the word LANE in blue thread, and Rosalie recognized the water bottle accompanying it. On top of that, Juliana was lacing up her cleats, her foot propped up on the metal.

Jade was off on the bleachers, one foot propped on the seat in front of her, and the other hooked under her knee. She waved when Rosalie smiled at her.

"That was fun yesterday," Rosalie commented to Juliana, tipping her head to the side as Juliana groaned, smiling despite herself.

"It was pretty fun, yeah," she confessed. "Scored a nine, though, so that's pretty cool."

"Good to know your ego got stroked," Joanna said. Rosalie gave her a dull look, and Joanna shrugged and said, "What, I'm sure that image got a few other strokes last night."

"Jesus Christ," Juliana groaned.

"You shoulda seen the look on Lancaster's face. Oh, and Mark? One-upped by a girl? Pissed as Hell," Joanna said, hands on her hips.

A song started playing, muffled and distant, but unmistakably someone's ringtone. Behind her, Lu hesitated at the threshold of the bench room, an eyebrow raising at the song. Joanna startled, realizing it was her phone, and when she pulled it out of her pocket, Cher was singing, "—If I could turn back time..."

"Oh, it's just Dylan," she said.

"Is that your designated ringtone for him?" Rosalie asked, amusement tugging at her lips.

"Yeah, and if you ever called me, we'd hear Love On Top by Beyoncé."

Rosalie's face turned bright red in an instant as Joanna answered the phone, and Lu's jaw dropped. Beside her, Juliana leant over so Rosalie could see the look of absolute shock on her face. Rosalie shoved her away and forcefully unzipped her duffle so she could concentrate on something other than Beyoncé.

"—We're on Field A. Yeah, far left," Joanna was saying, and Rosalie realized that Dylan was here and on his way over. She twisted around to look at the concession platform where, beyond the field lights, she could see a beefy figure marching down the railing and hurrying down the steps.

Rosalie tightened her laces and knotted them swiftly before getting to her feet. Dylan circled the field and across the bleachers to the Knights bench where Joanna hung up on him and threw her arms up.

"You made it!" Joanna said.

"What's a football player doing on my field?" Coach Maguire's voice sounded, following the echo of the back entryway shutting. Rosalie turned to watch Coach wave her hand in Dylan's direction.

Joanna groaned. "He's not even on the turf!" she said, throwing her arms out at the plexiglass. Coach Maguire's scowl was clearly visible through it, though.

Dylan waved amicably and said, "Hey Miss Maguire! We haven't talked since Health class!"

"There's a reason for that," Coach said, and the girls giggled.

Joanna slapped a hand on Dylan's back and gave him a firm pat. "I've scored you an assistant," she said.

"That's what captains are for," Rosalie said, pointing to herself, a dull look on her face.

Joanna waved her hand. "I'm talking, like, hauling equipment and shit. Cox is your guy."

Coach Maguire sighed, pinching the bridge of her nose. Juliana slapped a hand over her face. At last, Coach said, "Fine. But I'm not buying tickets for him to come to Regionals with us."

"No worries, Miss Maguire, that's already taken care of," Dylan said, and Rosalie gawked. Coach stared at him, wide-eyed, but Dylan seemed unfazed. He turned to Joanna and said, "This'll be a blast."

"Oh, it surely will, my friend," she said, tipping her head against his muscly shoulder with a sweet smile directed at Coach. Coach scowled at her before deciding the argument wasn't worth it.

At that moment, Ray jumped the field gate and, close behind her, Lennie followed—though, he took to actually gate opening. Coach was less annoyed by Lennie's surprise appearance, and Rosalie didn't wonder why. Lennie Pittmen was both an experienced captain on top of being an experienced player and known soccer enthusiast. His presence would be less of a nuisance, though it would be an absolute distraction to the underclassmen.

Joanna whistled suggestively and pumped her fist in the air. Dylan shouted, "Look at those two lovebirds!"

"Shut your trap, Cox," Ray threatened. As she swung into the bench pit, she slammed her fist into his waist, and he doubled over. She pointed her thumb in his direction and said, "What's he doin' here?"

"I could ask the same about Lennie," Rosalie said.

Ray merely smirked and dropped down onto the bench next to Juliana. Lennie was a ways away, swarmed by the underclassmen that made it early to the field. The scene was reminiscent of paparazzi shots of celebrities encountering fans on the sidewalk asking for an autograph.

"Are you two dating now?" Rosalie whispered, eyes wide.

"Uh, yeah, kinda?" Ray said. She leant over to glance at Juliana, who shrugged and turned away to her duffle. "I don't really know, honestly, and I don't think it matters so much. I've deleted Tinder but I mean—"

"It's official then," Joanna said.

"Oh yeah," Dylan agreed.

"I can't believe you kissed me," Ray told Joanna. 

Rosalie looked at Juliana, whose eyes widened. Juliana bit her lip to keep from laughing when Ray pointed at Joanna and said, "I'll kick your ass some day for it."

"You still owe me a kick to the shin for defiling the captain," Joanna said.

Rosalie put a hand to her throat.

"It'll happen before you know it," Ray promised, a threatening sneer on her lips.

"You liked it, though, didn't you?" Joanna said, grinning as Rosalie caught the pink on Juliana's cheeks.

"I'm not gonna lie and say it was shit. It was second best," Ray said.

"Second best? Oh really?" Joanna said. "What was it missing?"

"Being manhandled," Ray said, and Joanna laughed. Juliana covered her eyes, and Rosalie figured she was praying to God and vowing to go to communion every Sunday to repent what she had just heard.

Rosalie watched with the others as Lennie at last escaped the underclassmen, who gathered around to whisper about him as he shook Coach's hand and said, "I'm here to help out if you need it. Ray mentioned you were bringing in another team."

"Yes, they should be here in half an hour," she said, and Rosalie didn't miss how Coach eyed Ray, who shrugged innocently and leant back on her hands. Coach raised her eyebrows back at Lennie and shook her head. "But take a number, kid, sounds like Cox got here before you."

"Suck it, Pittmen," Dylan said.

"Watch it," Coach snarled.

Coach checked her phone as the remainder of their team gathered on the field. She clapped Lennie on the shoulder and told them all, "I have to take this call and confirm a few things with their coach. We'll start scrimmages in thirty minutes—in the meantime, Mason, start warmups."

"Sure," Rosalie said.

They all took a moment, though, to watch Coach walk off the turf with her phone to her ear. Rosalie edged towards the bench pit threshold, her leaning against the plexiglass frame and listening to the sound of a kids club team practicing on Field C. The echoes flooded the arena beside the eager chatter from the Knights gathering at centerfield.

With the fluorescent lights over the field, it was difficult to make out the concession stands, but the moving figures up there were too obvious to ignore in an otherwise empty arena.

Rosalie put her fingers to her lips and whistled loud enough for the entire team to hear. She circled her hand over her head, saying, "Alright, everyone, let's circle up!"

As they gathered around midfield, they were distracted by a short girl entering the field bleachers. From this far away, Rosalie could tell she didn't recognize her and that everyone on their team was accounted for. Coach was gone, though, and the rival scrimmage team had yet to arrive. It seemed Rosalie wasn't the only one distracted by their newest spectator, though.

It was at this moment that their lone spectator shrieked like a banshee.

Rosalie startled at the sound, and next to her Juliana put a hand to her heart and whispered, "Shit, that scared me."

Everyone turned to stare as the spectator jumped the plexiglass wall via vaulting off of the bleachers. She was wearing a pastel pink skirt that twirled as she came flying onto the field. She sprinted towards centerfield in a streak of white and pink. It was impossible to get a good look at her until she was breaking through their circle. Rosalie staggered out of the way, startled by the squeal that trailed after the girl on her way to—

Joanna.

The girl lunged and slammed into Joanna with enough force to knock them both over. Joanna cursed, falling onto her ass at the other side of the circle. She held herself up by one hand, eyes wide past the girl's head of blonde curls.

"Joey! I missed you!" the girl cried.

Joanna dropped her raised hand onto the grass, shoulders slumping as she gasped out, breath gone from the impact, "D-Darling?"

Rosalie's blood ran cold, turning her veins to ice. Unable to move, she tried to put Arden's name to this girl, but she didn't fit the description. But that doesn't mean she isn't involved with Arden, she thought, and the want to pry the girl off of Joanna surged tenfold.

Before Rosalie could even take a step, Dylan Cox was breaking through their ranks and yanking the girl off of Joanna by the back of her puffy white sweatshirt. The girl squeaked like a startled cat, kicking her legs.

Joanna was on the ground, and when she tried to stand, she slipped and fell back down. When Dylan dropped the stranger, the girl sprung up and spun around, taking in the whole lot of Knights. She wasn't... dressed for soccer, by any means. In fact, she was wearing a pink skirt and stockings, and to top it off, her makeup was completely flawless for a Saturday morning.

The girl flung her arms out with a bright, toothy smile. "Wow! This is your new team! They're all so cute! Oh, what are all of your names? I'll go first—"

"Darling, what are you doing here?" Joanna said, her voice barely back. Rosalie expected it to be cutting, the same edge she used when talking about Arden and Kaiserslautern. Instead, Joanna just sounded... shocked.

Dylan helped Joanna up as Rosalie went back to the word darling and put a hand to her head. It didn't sound like a Joanna Pet Name, but then again, Joey didn't sound like Joanna, either.

Joanna looked around, back to the concessions, before stepping towards Darling and grabbing her by the shoulders. "Who else is with you?" she demanded. "Did you bring—"

Her eyes were wild, and if it weren't for Dylan, Rosalie figured Joanna would have shaken the girl until her head popped off her shoulders. The girl staggered, head clearly swimming. She pouted, putting a hand to her perfect blonde hair as all of the Knights stared back at her as if she was some sort of anomaly.

Rosalie felt something brush against her shoulder. She jolted, turning to where her eye level put her at someone's shoulder. She looked up past a tightly-bound braid to the image of a girl who could easily take Dylan Cox in an armwrestling match. Every muscle in Rosalie's body seized up as she watched Dylan swallow at the sight of a woman as beefy as him walking straight towards him.

"She brought me," the mountain said, fists resting on her hips. She came to meet the blonde girl, resting a hand on top of her pretty blonde head as Joanna stood in the girl's shadow, the color draining from her face. "Nice to see you again, Joey."