Venus Vs Mars

Chapter 16

The Sports Center theme song filled the silence of Odell's hotel room.

"A Beckham and Bryant matchup, but what we're all really watching is if Odell will deliver another historical play against the Cowboys once again."  The sports commentator's voice was dramatic as he leaned into his comments, putting emphasis on certain words.

Odell squinted his eyes at the tv, once again the catch he made last season was being brought up. This was even more proof to Odell that he needed to have a record-breaking season this year. Banging at his door snapped him back into his reality. Odell opened the door to a smiling Massy.

"Brought you breakfast." She said pulling a brown paper bag from her behind her back with Dunkin' Donuts. Logo across it.

"Ugh, you're like the greatest person ever, on the planet." He said taking the bag, he stepped to the side to let her in.

Massy plopped down on the large messy bed immediately turning her attention to the tv listening to the commentators. Odell fell backward on the bed also turning his attention back to ESPN. They continued to go back and forth for another five minutes before they took their commercial break. Massy kicked her shoes off and pulled her legs up in the bed.

"You ready?"

"I stay ready."

Massy looked Odell up and down. "You going to the stadium like that?" She raised her eyebrows as she questioned him.

Odell looked down at his body, still in the clothing he slept in, basketball shorts and a pair of black ankle socks. Before he could answer Sports Center theme song came blasting through the tv again.

"Massy Arias being able to Bend it like Beckham isn't even a question." Massy quickly turned to the tv, she fell back on the bed and covered her face with a pillow. "Team USA gets ready for their youngest star to help them regain the World Cup."

Massy screamed through the pillow in frustration. "Turn it ooooffffff!"

Odell laughed grabbing the remote to turn the tv up louder.

"At just 22 Massy Arias coming right out of UCLA sighed her deal in late July to seal her place as the youngest soccer player on Team USA. Three months away from training camp, Massy took to her Twitter to let off a series of tweets to let a doubtful Skip Bayless know she was ready to take home a World Cup."

Massy shook her head under the pillow as she listened. Odell laughing as he grabbed the pillow from off her face.

"Uughhh I'm so over them talking about me! Just shut up!" She said covering her face with her hands in replace to the pillow.

Odell pulled her closer to him. "You're a pro now, they're going to talk about you all day!" He growled playfully shoving his face in her neck, his body halfway on hers.

"Oooowww!! Ugh! You're heavyyyyy!" She screamed through her laughing, trying to push him off. "Get ooofffff!"

Odell relaxed his body allowing his full weight on her. "Nah, Ima take a quick nap, right here." His beard tickling her neck, she pushed against his shoulder.

"Come on! Get up! You got a game to win!" She said laughing.

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Fans slowly began to fill the stadium, coming hours early to watch the players warm-up. Massy stood on the sideline juggling a football between both her hands as she watched the players as well. All of Odell's family had flown into Dallas for the first game, as well as Massy getting her father and mother tickets to enjoy preseason.

Heather waved at Massy as she began to walk closer to her, Massy had never met Odell's mom personally, but she knew who Heather was, due to Odell being a momma's boy and constantly talking about her influences on him, and also seeing some of her footage when she ran track at LSU, she was excited to finally meet her face to face.

"Hello gorgeous! It's so good to meet you!" Heather said pulling her into a tight hug. "Congratulations on your deal." She flashed Massy that same thousand-watt smile that Odell often flashed at her.

Massy smiled as she hugged Heather. "It's good to meet you too, thank you so much!"

"How are feeling? Are you nervous?" Heather asked with wide eyes. Odell turned his attention looking around the stadium seeing his mother and Massy engulfed in a conversation.

"Uuhhhh, I'm more so anxious." Massy began tossing the ball in between her hands again, she scrunched up her face looking towards the field trying to find the right words. "I've had a little anxiety here and there, but I'm more so just ready to get out there, like training isn't enough, I need to play a game."

Heather nodded her head understanding exactly what Massy meant. "You're not going to be able to finish the whole season though, right?" Heather asked frowning her face.

"No, my last game will be either Miami or Carolina depending on how it works, my training camp starts in December."

Heather smiled again and grabbed Massy's free hand. Odell occasionally taking looks at them as they carried on their conversation until it was time for Heather to leave the field.

As more and more fans poured into the stadium. Players lined up and got ready for the first kickoff of the season. Odell dominated, setting the mood for the Giants. By the time second half came there was no Beckham and Bryant matchup, due to Bryant breaking his right foot. The Cowboys continued to struggle against the Giants, slowly keeping their pace with them. Starting off the fourth quarter the Giants found themselves up by 3, but with 1:45 left in the clock bad timing on Manning's part would eventually put them at their first loss.

Odell sat at his locker, reports circled around him, once again he found himself answering more questions, this time on the pros and cons of the game. Odell's mood matched his passion for winning, however, this mood was not a good one. Massy kept her distance from him unaware of how his personality was whenever he lost a game, even though they didn't do terrible and Dallas won by one point and some luck, she didn't want to risk annoying him.

She could understand whatever funk he was in, she hated to lose herself, and whenever she did it was just best to stay fifty feet from her. She eyed Odell as he sat on the bus his head leaning back on the headrest, his headphones over his ears, his eyes closed, Massy began reflecting on the conversation she had with his mother, Heather dropping small hints that Odell had been telling Heather about Massy. She smiled to herself at the thought of possibly being with Odell, but that thought quickly disappeared.