Venus Vs Mars Pt.II

Chapter 53

For the first time in several months the women's national team would play on grass, not a single piece of turf insight. Surrounded by three quarters of thick heavy sss the Mineirão Stadium was filled to capacity, fans, families, other competitors who decided to enjoy their free day by watching other athletes. To America soccer is a foreign sport that was growing in fans by the day, but around the world it was the most popular sport. England, Mexico, Dominican Republic, every county in Africa, it was the go to sport and Brazil's nonstop coverage of both men and women's games showed just how much it was praised there.

It wasn't their most spectacular, but it didn't need to be. The US women didn't even need to leave second or third gear as they kicked off their 2016 Olympic tournament with a 2-0 defeat of New Zealand, paced by an early goal from team captain Carli Lloyd and a clincher from Alex Morgan with a assist from Massy Arias just after halftime. The women left no time for New Zealand to even try possessing the ball.

As hard and as tuff as Odell was every time Massy hit the ground, every time she slid across the grass, every time she collided with another player he cringed, specks of dried blood and dirt stuck to her knees and thighs, but she easily brushed it off, almost not noticing her small cuts. Her and Odell were becoming more and more of a reflection to one another. Both were the last thing you seen before getting scored on, both were short for their positions therefore causing them to rely less on their strength and body but more on their speed to get ahead of things, their vertical leap had proven to be a lot more dangerous than people expected.

Large plastic bags filled with ice covered her legs, Massy stretched out comfortably, she looked down at her meaty part of her thigh to a visible cleat imprint beginning to form on her skin. It wasn't the first time nor would it be last time she would wonder how she got whatever injury or bruise after a game. She shrugged it off and laid back down placing her arms over her her arms.

"I'm missing Odell." Massy said breaking the silence between her and Kristie who laid in the same position as Massy, bags filled with half melted ice cubes laid over her legs.

"Eh, you're just missing the sex." Kristie said without looking at Massy.

"No, like I'm actually missing HIM... Like him as the person. Massy said her voice remained calm, unbothered by the soreness of her body.

Kristie sat up matching Massy's calmness. "Oh my god, you really are in love." She sounded dramatic.

Massy went silent for a moment. "I mean I miss the sex... I really... Really  miss the s*x, but I actually miss him, he's my best friend." She poked out her bottom lip.

"Eww you're being gross right now, spare me. I'm pissed, I thought I was your best friend." Kristie sounded the least bit phased that Massy would call Odell her best friend and not her.

"Awww you are, my sista from anotha mista." Massy smiled as she tapped Kristie's shoulder.

"Awww, the love... I like Odell, well so far I do. I could be bias because I was there throughout Devin and your relationship in college, I don't know how Odell was in college... He could of been a saint? No, he's too attractive to be a saint..." She shook her head thinking to herself. "Men that attractive running free on campus... There's no way he wasn't f*****g everything with a vagina." Massy frowned as Kristie tried to break down Odell's college days, as if she wasn't all the way in California while he was all the way down in Louisiana. "But yea, Odell is definitely better."



Odell had plenty of things to distract him from the absence of Massy. Practice, team photo shoots, filming commercials, starting a clothing line, he had a plat full to keep him busy. New York and LA had quickly became a breeding ground for Pro Footballers, preseason was less than a week away, the NFL was wrapping up shooting endorsements for commercial breaks during games. It had become hectic, summer was ending, partying was over, it was time to get back to the logistics.

"You look like a 12 year old... Bruh, if you would of had acne right now, I would of thought you was going through puberty. What you need them things for anyway." Odell turned up his lip as he focused in on Brad's new braces.

Brad shook his head and shoved his index finger in his mouth running it over the wet metal. "This s**t hurts man, f*****g tight as f**k. I got a overbite."

Odell stepped back scrunching up his face, the sun beat down on him causing his skin to look gold. "I thought them things had a age limit, you 26 bruh, ain't it a lil to late to fix a overbite?" He said as he watched Brad use his black phone screen as a mirror taking another look at the dental work, both men fixated on something so simple as braces. Brad's mouth had turned into a science experiment and both men were standing there waiting for visible results to happen right at that moment.

"It looks like it hurts." Odell mumbled as he stared at the silver wiring that tightly snaked across Brad's white teeth. A black 2015 BMW pulled up to the curb pulling them from their current observation. Odell smiled and held his arms out watching the car door open. "K.O. Claus came baring gift!?"

K.O. popped his car trunk to review multiple bright orange shoe boxes with white nike checks on the sides. "And it ain't even Christmas yet." He said with a grin felling pleased with himself. K.O. had been designing custom cleats for Odell since his rookie start in the NFL, right along with his infamous catch the popularity of his cleats had also caught everyone's eye, every game there was some kind of talk about what kind of themed cleats he would showcase. In a matter of months K.O. was designing cleats for half the NFL.

"How you holding up man? I know it's rough!" K.O. lightly placed his hand on Odell's shoulder his softened as he poked fun of the affect Massy's absence was having on him. "If you need anything, a hug? rock you to sleep? I'm here for you! We're going to get through this together!" He continued his dramatic vow to his and Odell's friendship. A chuckle from Brad hit Odell's ear as he stared blankly at K.O.

"Man shut up! She'll be back in two weeks." Odell sad sounding a bit annoyed, he was trying to do everything to avoid having to think about how much longer he had to go before seeing Massy, but his dramatic behavior was only causing his friends to pick and poke at him for their amusement. "You shut up too... Brace face!" Odell said turning to Brad and frowning.

He immediately stopped and shot Odell a matching frown. "Aye! That was real hurtful Odell, it's too soon!"

"You got braces?" K.O. asked squinting and turning his attention to Brad. He rolled his eyes and nodded his head, not wanting to open his mouth, K.O. went silent for a moment staring back at Brad. "Ain't you like 26?" He questioned Brad with a serious look on his face.

Brad's hand went in the air in defeat. "See!? Yup! That's exactly what I said! Them joints got like a age limit!" Odell said tossing a thumb over at Brad.

"Man get the cleats!" Brad said deflecting the attention from himself.