Beyond the Game 2: the Weight of Love

Chapter 1 - Prologue & Chapter 1: Pro

This story is a continuation of Beyond the Game

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Prologue:

The stadium was electric, the roar of the crowd cresting like waves in a storm. Dani stood amidst the throng of fans, her heart pounding in rhythm with the drumbeats echoing through the bleachers. The championship game had come down to the final seconds.

Jessie, her Jessie, was sprinting down the field, the ball at her feet, determination etched into every line of her face. Dani glanced up at the scoreboard, the time read 90:00. They were essentially playing through ‘additional injury time’. But, how many true seconds were left, only the head referee knew.

Dani’s nails dug into her palms as she watched Jessie maneuver past two defenders with a deft touch. The goal was in sight. The tension was unbearable. “Come on, Jess, you’ve got this.” She said through clinched teeth. She prayed Jessie had enough time to take the shot, else the game would head into overtime.

Jessie feinted left, outwitting the goalie, and launched the ball. The net rippled as the ball struck its mark, and the stadium went quiet for a millisecond before exploding in cheers. The scoreboard flashed the final score—2-1. Champions.

Dani leapt to her feet, screaming herself hoarse as tears sprang to her eyes. Jessie, who had slid to her knees on the grass of the field, pounding her chest and screaming into the air was immediately mobbed by her teammates, who helped her back to her feet; her name echoing in chants that filled the air: "MVP! MVP!" Dani clutched her own chest, pride swelling so big she thought her heart might burst.

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Chapter 1: Pro

The locker room was a cacophony of celebration—cheers, laughter, and the spray of non-alcoholic champagne filling the air. Jessie sat on a bench, drenched but beaming, as her coach approached.

“Jessie, that final play,” Coach said, shaking her head in disbelief. “That wasn’t just skill—that was genius. You carried this team today.”

Jessie flushed, shaking her head modestly. “It was a team effort, Coach. Everyone played their hearts out.”

“And who do you think inspired them to do that?” Coach countered, her voice firm. “You’ve got something special, Jessie. You’re not just a great player—you’re a leader.”

Jessie met her eyes, her heart racing for an entirely different reason now. “Thanks, Coach. That means a lot.” Jessie thought back to the beginning of the season that almost didn’t happen.

The previous year, she had been a late full-time addition, owing to her girlfriend, Dani’s, unexpected injury. It had led to her dominant play the previous season, where their team had won the championship. Their coach had been so impressed that she’d asked Jessie, who was in her graduating year, if she’d thought about considering coming back for a fifth year to do a masters.

‘I hadn’t really given it much thought, Coach.’ She had said back then.

‘You might want to. I can talk to the Dean and see if a scholarship could be arranged, a free tuition attached to a one-year masters. And besides, I’d love to have you come back next season.’ she’d added.

‘I’ll need to mull it over, talk it out. But I will give you an answer soon.’ she had said.

What Jessie really needed was to talk it over with Dani, her fellow teammate, current roommate and girlfriend. The two had formed a blossoming relationship that strengthened over that season in their senior year. They hadn’t really discussed what their lives would look like after graduation. Each of them had a degree that would allow them the flexibility to work or travel anywhere. But, with the sudden news of a possible extension of her education, coupled with a sport that she absolutely loved – it was a once in a lifetime opportunity. ‘Wow, I’d really love to play a full season with the team. We are so good this year, that we could make a serious push to the top of the standings again next year.’ She’d thought.

But that would also mean another year back at school for her. But what might that look like for Dani? Did she have the energy to do a one-year masters’ degree also? Jessie loved Dani, but didn’t see her extending her academic degree. Then, she considered how her coming back to play for another year might impact Dani. For, it was all due to Dani’s injury that allowed Jessie to fill her place on the team and thus get discovered as the high-impact player she never knew she was capable of being. Not only had she raised the bar amongst her teammates, but for herself as well. Deep down, she knew what she wanted to do. But she still wanted to pick Dani’s brain.

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“Did you hear what I said?” asked the coach with a laugh.

“Huh? Sorry coach,” said Jessie, shaking her head. She’d been reminiscing.

The coach laughed again and repeated herself, “I said, ‘And who do you think inspired them to do that? You’ve got something special, Jessie. You’re not just a great player—you’re a leader.’”

Her coach placed a hand on Jessie’s tired, sweaty shoulder. “I say that to you because I’ve been in the soccer world for a long time. And even though our college is Division 3, You’ve got the talent to play on any D-1 school.”

Jessie looked up, mollified, “thanks coach.”

“It’s not just lip-service. I know this is your graduating year. No more academic years of eligibility left. You might not be able to play under me anymore. But you might with another coach.”

“What do you mean?”

Her coached leaned in a little closer, her voice just a little above a whisper, “You’ve got what it takes to go pro. If you want to.”

Jessie blinked, her mind spinning. “Pro? I mean, I’ve thought about it, but…”

Coach held up a hand. “No buts. You’ve got the skill. Sure, it’ll take a few tryouts, but I’ve got contacts who’d kill to have a player like you.”

Jessie nodded slowly, gratitude blooming in her chest. “Thanks, Coach. Really. For everything.”

“Don’t thank me,” she said, clapping her on the shoulder. “Thank yourself. You earned this.”

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Outside the locker room, Dani paced nervously, her excitement barely contained. Part of her wanted to just burst through the doors and join her old team. After all, she’d been on the roster only last year. Surely they wouldn’t mind seeing an old face? Then she remembered that wasn’t exactly as they would have remembered her from her playing days. She’d left things the final season on the injured list as well as overweight. She looked down at her body, a hand touching the side of her hoodie. Although it was a large, it fit snug around her middle and strained around her navel. Mentally, she shook her head and continued to pace, despite the noises of jubilation coming from within. The sound of the team’s celebration, which seemed to magnify, seemed to spill into the corridor, but Dani was focused on one thing: Jessie. When the door finally opened, Jessie stepped out, her hair still damp and her face glowing with triumph.

Dani didn’t hesitate. She ran straight into Jessie’s arms, throwing her hands around her neck and kissing her fiercely. Jessie staggered slightly but laughed against Dani’s lips, wrapping her arms around her wider waist and holding her softer body tight.

“You did it!” Dani exclaimed breathlessly, pulling back just enough to look into Jessie’s eyes. “You were amazing out there. Absolutely unstoppable!”

Jessie grinned, her cheeks still flushed from the adrenaline. “I couldn’t have done it without you cheering me on.” Mentally, she drifted back to the game she’d just played. From the field, she knew exactly where Dani had sat in the bleachers. And anytime she needed to draw strength, she looked beyond the crowd for her singular source of inspiration.

Dani rolled her eyes affectionately. “Yeah, because I’m the one who scored the winning goal.” She paused, her smile softening. “Seriously, though. I’m so proud of you. And you know who else will be?”

“Who?” asked Jessie, suddenly thinking. Were her parents in the crowd?

“Red will be thrilled.”

Jessie scoffed, “Oh please—him? He only gives me attention when I rub his tummy—you’re the one he truly loves.”

Dani smirked a sideways smirk and gave Jessie some affectionate side-eye. “I do spoil him, don’t I?” Their adopted cat Red, who Jessie had named after the ‘red card’ reserved for soccer players being ejected from a game had fit their cats’ disposition to a tee. They had gotten him the previous year after the team had won the championship.

Jessie’s gaze flickered, her expression shifting slightly. “Coach told me something…after the game.”

“What?” Dani asked, her brow furrowing.
“She said…I could go pro,” Jessie admitted, her voice tinged with uncertainty.

Dani’s breath hitched, her hands tightening on Jessie’s shoulders. “Jess, that’s… that’s incredible! You deserve this.”

“I don’t know,” Jessie said, biting her lip. “It’s a lot to think about. Tryouts, moving around, the pressure…”

Dani cupped Jessie’s face, her thumbs brushing her cheeks. “Hey. You’re Jessie. You can handle anything. And whatever you decide, I’ll be right there with you.” Dani, who had opted not to do a one-year masters, had decided instead to try her hand at freelance writing for food blogs. It had been quite an unexpected career path and one where Dani had taken to with gusto. For, she was very gifted with words and found the freelance market very financially viable.

Jessie’s smile returned, more genuine this time, and she leaned her forehead against Dani’s. “What did I do to deserve you?”

Dani chuckled, her arms slipping around Jessie’s lean, muscular waist. “I ask myself the same thing about you every day.”

The two stood there, wrapped in each other’s warmth, as the sounds of the celebrating team faded into the background. For Dani, nothing else mattered at that moment—just Jessie, her champion, her everything.

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