Venus Vs Mars Pt.II

Chapter 14

Rain had threatened to pour down on FirstEnergy Stadium in Cleveland, Ohio. Either teams had yet to appear due to weather conditions, a thirty minute delay was scheduled to see if thunder or lighting would appear, but the weather didn't stop a record 23,535 fans from enjoying the second Friendly match between USA and Japan, even though teams played to a 3-3 draw in the first match last week, Japan would fall short 2-0 for the third time to USA since January. Finally after the 58th minute the rain took hold and turned the turf to a slip and slide, the weather conditions had proved to be difficulty for both teams but Japan showed their weakness just a bit more, resulting in their down fall, yet again.

"This is a celebration for us, but I've moved on from the World Cup, it's over and done with. My focus is on Olympic preparation. Our goal was to enjoy the first couple of games and we did. It's now June and there's a new goal on the board. It's time to take it a bit more serious now." Massy said standing under a large tint that shielded the media and equipment from getting wet. Her heavy breathing showed just how serious and hard she played during the rematch.

The similarities in Massy and Odell had been reflected to one another. Uncanny. The way they stood during an interview, the way they spoke after a loss or a win, facial expressions all the way down to the attitude when their temper was being tested, or the slight mood of wanting to be in the locker room and not talking to the media.

The women's team walked across the JFK landing strip. The players who endured injuries limped their way to the USA charter bus, taking whatever empty seat they came across. Ice packs had been secured to soar body parts with ace bandages or clear plastic wrap, bright blue or neon pink training tape clung to the skin of ankles, wrists, fingers and shoulders. The women had clearly been to battle but came out in triumph.

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"It literally took 40 minutes and a prayer for me to get the ace bandage off my leg!" Massy said pulling the bags full of ice from her legs. It was bad enough the turf was rough on the body but adding rain only made it that much worse. It forced the women to exude extra energy pushing their bodies over time to keep from slipping and falling or loosing the ball. Odell turned around from the plate of food he was tending to and frowned at her. He walked around the counter and placed the large plate of food on the coffee table. Massy looked down at the plate which displayed food that her nor Odell should of been eating, especially with their diet and training. Game two of the NBA finals displayed on the large flat screen tv. "Not thinking, my dumbass wrapped the ace bandage around it because I was ready to go and put ice on it. Like four hours later we get to the OT Center and I go to take the bandage off and the s**t fused with my open wound! Alex was peeling the s**t off inch by inch."

Odell laughed along with Massy's pain, but even he could see the affects of the her body. He knew what it was like to play in rain, but he didn't have to deal with playing on turf in the rain. This was why the women fought so hard to play on grass. He squatted down in front of her and looked down at her legs.

"Sexy! Huh!?" She winking and raising her eyebrows up and down, giving him a grin.

"Very! I can't keep my hands off of you." He teased back joining in on her jokes.

Massy looked up at the tv as the game began to start. "Yea, I know you can't!" Her attention had already been given to the tv.

Odell could tell which turf burns were new and which ones were old, he careful rubbed Vaseline on the fresh one then wrapped it in plastic, placing each leg into the NormaTec leg attachments and zipped the front of it up. A rapid recovery system that reduced muscle soreness and improved  circulation, she was introduced to it by her mentor Kobe Bryant after he noticed the strain Massy's body went through after seeing her first game. Massy's full attention focused on the tv, allowing Odell to tend to her as if he was a physical therapists.

He stood up then positioned himself sitting on the couch, the back of Massy's head rested on his thigh. She did her best to stay up and watch the game with him but it was no use, in a matter of ten minutes she had fallen into a deep sleep and even Odell's random outbursts at the tv couldn't wake her.

The National Women's Soccer League had been playing games in between Team USA's continued takeover. The women on the National team had been putting in double the work with playing on their League teams. Massy and Alex alone had pushed The Flash into the number two spot behind Chicago Red Stars and ahead of Portland Thorns. 

Sophie's skills had did a complete turn around, finally displaying her abilities and being an asset to the team. Alex let her know she had no choice but to get her act together, she was days away from either being traded, that was IF another team would take her, or simply being dropped from the League altogether. But she had yet to be a threat for Massy or even Alex, she still remained a red-shirt player. A filler, until her second year at least. 

"Ima just do no shave November... In June." Massy said lifting up her right leg, that was full of new and old turf burns. 

"That's so gross!" Alex said laughing and looking down at Massy sprawled out on her back laying in the floor, both her legs still extended up in the air. "Just continue shaving your left leg, but let the right one grow out." 

"I'm just gonna shave the back of my leg, clearly I can't shave the front." Multiple players laughed in understanding as they all continued listening to Massy make fun of her battered legs some of them where going through the same thing at that very moment, comparing one another's turf burns, who's was bigger and missing more skin, who's was healing faster. 

Massy's engagement ring was back on her finger, and had once again become the center of Sophie's silent attention. She leaned back against her open locker and stared down at the large ring. Massy continued her joking in a pair of ankle socks and her black soccer shorts, she removed her shirt and remained comfortable in a black sports bra, just as many of the other women did as they went about their business.

"Beautiful ring, congratulations." Sophie finally said. Alex rolled her eyes and stood up making her way to the showers. Massy frowned and looked up at her. 

"Thanks." She said dryly before grabbing her phone and looking through missed messages. 

"Looks like you accomplished something we've all been trying too." 

Massy rolled her eyes to herself. "You mean what YOU was trying to do?" 

Sophie lightly laughed, but stopped once she saw Massy scrawling at her with not a hint of humor on her face."I sure wasn't the only woman that wanted Odell and I'm sure you're not the only one that wants him now." Sophie shrugged her shoulders trying to make her conversation less insulting. "But... I guess what I'm saying is good luck... Maybe you have a more grown up Odell."

Massy kept her frown, she was quiet for a moment. Sophie smiled assuming she had no final words for her. "I'm very aware of how wanted Odell is. You tried to keep a man that didn't want to be kept, and you did it out of fear of being alone. Maybe if you spent less time using manipulation as a way of making him feel bad for him not wanting to be with you at the moment and just had been patient with his progress... Then YOU just might of been the one wearing this ring and not me!" Massy smiled and took a step back, she leaned over pushing her things off of her stool and sat down, placing each one of her shoes on and neatly tying them. "I'm really only a b***h like this when I'm on the field, but you... You have carved out a special place on the bottom of my cleat. How annoying is it knowing that Odell is extremely happy in a relationship with me... So happy that he wants to marry me?!" Sophie took a deep breath and held it, she stood up and began gathering her own things, she finally let the deep breath out and clenched her jaw in frustration that her conversation with Massy didn't go as planned. "I'll make sure you get an invite to the wedding." Massy said winking at Sophie and leaning back in her locker. She smiled and propped her feet up in the stool and watched Sophie walk out the locker room.