Chapter Text
Jackie couldn't feel her legs anymore. The Wiskayok Yellowjackets were currently fighting for their lives in regionals. Summer in New Jersey was not a pleasant experience especially when your favorite activity to distract yourself was soccer. The sun had decided that today would be the day to embrace the July season by beaming eighty degree heat on everything in its way. This sadly included Jackie. She could feel her shirt clinging to the sweat on her back as she ran for the ball. She knew this pitch well enough to know when to dribble left or veer right to avoid any tufts of dirt that would rebound the ball.
Jackie loved this feeling, the feeling of control as she threaded the ball through an opponent's legs and caught it again. Back between her feet. Messy strands of hair had flown out of her ponytail but she couldn't adjust it now, not when the goal was so close. However there was a slight issue in why she couldn't just shoot straight for the top right corner, four players were in her way that she definitely couldn't get past. She could see Natalie to her right; Nat was always to her right. Shauna was way back holding the line by Van. It was a no brainer. She tilted her head to nat. It might be vague but Nat would understand. Like a sleeper agent being activated Nat shot forward ready to receive. Jackie nodded once to herself before passing the ball to Nat causing the other team to scatter. Jackie smiled to herself, she already knew what was coming Nat would smash the ball into the back of the net like she always did. The goalie had no chance.
*-*-*-*
There was nothing that could compare to the feeling of euphoria after winning a game. The atmosphere was alive, in constant motion. Jackie turned her head away from the roaring crowd. Her eyes found Natalie. Nat looked awestruck like she couldn't believe she’d scored, like she couldn't believe she’d be the reason they'd go to states. Finally Nat’s eyes met hers for a split second. Something unwritten passed between them, ‘you did good’ ‘you did too’. Jackie glanced away only to see Shauna sprinting towards her.
“Holy shit Jax!”
Jackie met her halfway laughing as they celebrated holding each other.
“Surpised we won Shipman?”
“No, I had a feeling we’d win.”
Jackie raised an eyebrow at that, a small grin dancing on her face. Ever since her and Shauna had kissed - properly not just a practice, Jackie couldn't help but feel like it had only made her and Shauna stronger. They hadn't had a single argument in the couple weeks it had been which is practically a record for them.
By the time they were all meandering off the pitch and back into the locker room Shauna had already wrapped an arm around Jackie, her thumb caressing a mark she’d left on Jackie's shoulder the night before. It was hiding in her shirt, angry and red. Usually Jackie didn't let her leave marks in fear of someone in their team spotting or god forbid her mother seeing it but Shauna had looked like she needed too. Her eyes dark and eyebrows drawn and-
“What's got you blushing like that cap?”
Van teased looking back at Jackie and Shauna from where she was walking with Tai.
“Nothing”
Jackie blurted out. She could see Shauna gazing at her curiously just like-
“Can you guys walk any fucking slower.”
Natalie interrupted barging past them.
“Jeez what crawled up your ass?”
Jackie thought Nat was in a good mood today you know since she’d won them states but apparently not. Nat rolled her eyes as she stomped off forwards. Jackie scoffed, Jesus, why did she have to be so moody today. Jackie knew Nat didn't like her but she hadn't provoked her at all, they'd even looked at each other after the win which was becoming more common than not. Jackie shrugged it off, she shouldn't be getting annoyed. It's supposed to be a good day, with that she pasted on a smile and entered the locker room.
*-*-*-*
“Look Scully should not be lowering her standards just for Mulder, she deserves someone way better than him!”
The locker room was chaos, everyone was giddy from the post-win high. Tai and Van were talking about some nerd show that Jackie could not be bothered to understand.
Unlike the others the haze of euphoria was slowly starting to wear off on Jackie. Once she returned home her mother would be expecting her to try on her prom dress. Janet had decided that the prom dress would fit better if it was three sizes small to what Jackie actually wore. She could hear her voice already belittling her, ‘Jacqueline we created a new meal plan just so you could finally fit in this dress’. Jackie sighed, shakily folding up her soccer uniform and placing it in her bag.
“Jax? You okay?”
She exhaled Shauna was staring at her with those chocolate brown doe eyes. Jackie smiled tightly. She knew Shauna could tell she wasn't okay, Shauna could read her like an open book.
“Can I stay over? Your mom has the late shift right?”
“Yeah of course you can.”
Something flashed in Shauna’s eyes as she leaned closer slightly, her voice dropping. Her gaze flitted to the mark hidden under Jackie's polo shirt.
“We can celebrate.”
Jackie nodded her expression stiff. Even though Shauna could read her well she knew that when shauna got like this she was only searching for one thing.
A locker slammed on the other side of the room. Jackie turned her head and caught a mop of bleach blonde hair storming out and slamming the door - then she was gone. Jackie swallowed and turned to face Shauna again. She smiled hoping it looked soft enough.