remember the name | Andy

[Alona Andrews]

It was a big day not only for Alona, but for the whole female soccer team from the University of Chicago. For the first time in more than twenty years, a team from Chicago was playing the semifinal of the National University Championships, the biggest competition they could engage in. The simple fact that they had got into such an advanced phase was an incredible accomplishment, but each player was hungry for more. Their coach had been kind to them and had made them understand that whatever happened that day, he was fine with it; but even though his lips spoke such words, it could be seen in his eyes and the slight frown on his forehead that he was secretely wishing for the final as well. Even though they were the outsiders in the game, the pressure was almost tangible.

They were leading by 1 - 0. The clock was ticking, announcing how close they were to the end of the game. It seemed like they couldn't lose anymore, but the seconds were passing way too slowly, unlike the players' hearts, that were racing faster and faster as they were approaching to the final of the championship. It seemed like there was no way they could lose the match, yet... only seconds away from the ending, the referee called a penalty for the rival team. That was the last thing they needed and, more than that, it was the last thing that Alona needed. The pressure that had been put on the team had now all transferred on her shoulders. Her heart was pounding so hard that it seemed to almost break through her chest. Her hands started shaking nervously and she swallowed hard as she took the position, waiting for the captain of the other team to shoot, hoping that, through some kind of miracle, she was going to be able to stop the ball from getting into the net.

[Andy O'Hara]

As he stood on the sidelines, decked out in the university colours and yelling his lungs out with encouragement for the home team, Andy couldn't stop the giant grin that had attached itself onto his features. Not that he wanted to stop the grin anyway. He was so proud of the girl's football team, like a mama bird that was watching her chicks take flight for the first time.

Not that he was in any way maternal, nor did he think of the team as his baby birds (because although he cared deeply each and every one of them, such a comparison might be odd) but it felt good to see all the hard work and training finally pay off. He couldn't take all the credit, however, because all he'd done was coach the team. But it still felt good to see them get as far as they had. It had taken a lot of pain, sweat, and tears, but they'd made it.

The referree had called a penalty, and though Andy wanted to boo and shout a few choice words to him that he should get his eyes checked (Andy got very competitive watching sports, whether it was on tv or live), he refrained and bit his lip hard. He was, after all, a professor, and should behave in such a way. It would be shameful to behave like a teenage athlete when he'd long gone out of that stage.

His gaze came to rest on Alona Andrews. Even from this distance, he could tell that she was nervous. Everything now rested on her slim shoulders. The blonde male gave her an encouraging grin, followed by a wink. He wanted to call out some words of reassurance, but he feared that that would throw her off. She didn't need any more pressure from him, and so he just gave her a thumbs up and continued watching with a smile. She could do it; he knew she could.

[Alona Andrews]

Alona's hands started trembling as the rival team's captain set the ball down and eyed her dangerously. She was usually calm and collected, but at the moment, everything had happened so fast that she couldn't even believe it. Seconds before, they had been so close to winning the semifinal, and now they were only a shot away from destroying everything they had managed to build during the 90 minutes of play. The whole weight of the match was now pressing on her shoulders, and she was so nervous and scared that she felt like she could cry. It hadn't been the best match she had ever played, but it had been a decent one and she had managed not to be defended, seeing that the other team hadn't scored, and now... everything could shatter in only one moment.

She took a deep breath and swallowed hard. She decided not to look at anyone and only focus on the ball. She heard a few people from the stands shouting her name - they were only making it worse. A rival player came running towards the ball. It was getting closer and closer. Gathering all of her strength, she closed her eyes and dived, only to hear an impressive round of cheers and applause, accompanied by the whistle that announced the end of the game.

As she opened her eyes, she realized that she was on the ground, and the ball was in her hands. Only then did she manage to breath again, as she stood up and pumped her fist, a large smile pulling on her face. Her teammates came running towards her, pulling her into a group hug, chanting the victory. From the corner of her eye, she also saw their coach, teachers from the university and some of the players' closest friends running on the field and cheerfully congratulating their dear ones for the historical victory they had worked so much for.

[Andy O'Hara]

Slowly the grin disappeared from the male's features, as he watched the opponent put the ball down. He could tell that she gave Alona quite the look, all show to intimidate her. Andy knew all their tricks, after all, he's been a trainer for a soccer team for quite a while and he's played on quite a few different sports teams, too. It was the mind as well as their skill that good players worked with. And sometimes these intimidating looks worked perfectly. And yet... he believed in his team, in Alona. She could do this, she would not let herself be intimidated by the other team's captain. She was a great keeper.

Still, Andy could feel his heart beat fast in his chest, as he watched the scene, seconds going by so slowly they seemed like minutes. It seemed like the whole place suddenly became quiet. He didn't know if it really was this quiet around him, or if his mind simply blended out the background noise to help him concentrate on watching. For a moment, he was just a nervous as Alona must be. Then finally he heard the sound of the whistle. He watched the opponent's captain collect herself, concentrating on her task at hand and then, like in slow motion, she took her shot. His eyes followed the ball to the goal and right into Alona's arms. She had made the right decision, seen exactly where the ball would go.

“YEEEEEEEESSSSSSS!” Now all his self-control was gone. He couldn't hold back the scream of glory, Andy actually fell in with the rest of the University's fans. But unlike them, he remained on the sidelines. He was so proud of his team right now, of Alona... and of their victory. That big grin had returned to his face and he was overcome by a wave of pure happiness mixed with pride and satisfaction. “Well done, ladies.” he mumbled to himself, watching as his team was surrounded by their fans, being congratulated and celebrated as the winners. He would do that later on, when the mass of people had cleared the field and given his team some space.



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Note :: sorry it took so long! I'll probably play him different from Caly... since he wasn't mine from the beginning, but hope I do him justice. He might become a shared character for me and her at some point. Just wanted to let you know.

[Alona Andrews]

It had been a moment of maximum intensity for the whole team, but especially for Alona, who had managed to magically save the game in the last second and not let the whole team go down after such a good match. She had managed to bring them into the final, and that was something that made her extremely happy and proud of herself, as well as her team mates. If she hadn't been out there with all of those people, she would have probably started to cry tears of joy, because that was how much emotion she had felt inside her soul, heart and guts.

She hugged all of her team mates, occasionally looking at O'Hara from the corner of her eye. She had seen his reaction and that had made her heart beat a little bit faster. Rumours and jokes about the two of them were already travelling around the University hallways, but she always laughed them off. But in such moments of emotion and stress, she started wondering if she should have laughed them off in the first place. Maybe she did have a small crush on her teacher after all. Too bad he would have probably never looked at her the way she looked at him.

However, that was not the time for her to think of such things. Once all of their friends, classmates and fans left the field, their coach, as well as a couple of their teachers came to congratulate them, in a much more discreet atmosphere. She shook hands with her coach, before spotting Andy not far away from her. A huge pearly-white smile pulled on her lips as she happily rushed towards him, her heart still pounding like crazy, ready to jump out of her chest. "Hey," she greeted him, not knowing what more she could say for the moment.

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