the inner workings of alex morgan's mind.

They know it’s only the beginning of at least a month long bender but it doesn’t stop a single one of them from pacing themselves. This is their fucking night and they’re sure as hell going to live it up because how many times do you get to win a World Cup in your life? For a lucky few it’s been two and those would tell you it only gets better each time and feels even more surreal. 

Alex won it as a Captain this go around and couldn’t be more thrilled. Everybody knows how much Alex Morgan hates losing and then there’s Ashlyn Harris, who is right there next to her when it comes to being on the sorest of losers list on the team which is perhaps why they’re the two going what feels like the hardest of everyone around them. 

Ashlyn has been sticking particularly close to Alex all night and while she’s noticed it, she doesn’t mind it. Who knows if the same can be said for her fiancee, Ali but that was their own thing and everyone was too busy having a good time for it to be that noticeable anyway, she was sure. Right? Either way, not Alex’s problem. If Ash wanted to celebrate with her she’d be right there to welcome her with open arms. Quite literally. The drunker each gets the more they start hanging all over one another. It’s friendly; they’re just having fun. It’s that special and close bond they have since they see each other so often being on the same club team and all along with being on the National Team together. They’re bound to have a close relationship, right? 

That’s putting all their past behind them because they’d done that years ago. It was nothing but a distant memory that was barely even significant to be called that anymore. At least that’s what they told themselves. They had to. Work came first. Ashlyn’s new relationship and now engagement came first. Alex is nothing more than just “that time when we were crazy stupid kids.” Nothing more than Alex wanting to explore her sexuality more and Ashlyn being willing to teach her everything she needed to know. It was strictly for educational purposes. Neither one of them ever thought about each other after that. No way. Not a chance. 

“I need some fresh air,” Alex spoke as she hopped off the bar with a few of the other girls still leaving a good number of them up there dancing. The champagne was really starting to hit Alex and she felt a bit too unsteady on her feet to risk falling off the bar and injuring herself. Not that it would matter too much, they’d won the final game. Still, she had the Pride to worry about. 

“You good, Al? Let me come with you.” Ashlyn noticed the change in Alex’s demeanor and immediately grabbed onto her arm, leading her towards the door. She didn’t know if she was feeling sick or what but either way she wasn’t just going to let the brunette wander off alone while being that intoxicated. She was pretty damn buzzed herself but hey, two drunk brains had to equal at least one sober one, right? 

Alex just nodded and let Ashlyn lead her through the crowd and out the door where she was finally able to take a deep breath. Alex walked around to the corner of the building and then leaned back against it trying to give her feet a rest from the heels that didn’t exactly feel the greatest. 

“Hey--” Ash stepped closer and reached out to tuck some wind blown hair behind Alex’s ear being careful not to get her finger caught in the hoop earrings she was wearing. “You okay?” It was the second time she asked but since she didn’t get much of an answer the first time she couldn’t help but ask again. 

“Yeah, yeah -- I’m fine. I was just starting to spin a little.” Alex let out a weak laugh and smiled at Ashlyn. “Thanks for the spot, though. I appreciate it.” 

“Of course,” the blonde’s voice was soft, something only a very few select people ever got to hear from Ashlyn. “Besides, you’re not the only one completely intoxicated. I think I needed the fresh air, too.” 

“Okay, you weren’t the one double-fisting in there!” Alex laughs, her competitive spirit coming out even when she’s not trying. As if who was more drunk was some kind of competition. 

“I didn’t necessarily mean by the booze but yeah; that’s got me feeling some type of way, too.” 

Alex’s brows furrow. She looks at Ashlyn like she had completely misheard everything she just said. “What?” 

“You’re driving me crazy, Alex. Can’t you see that? Those jeans, those dance moves, the way you smell. I can’t fucking help myself, you’re so fucking sexy.” As the words slur out of Ashlyn’s mouth she moves in closer, each hand on either side of Alex’s head. Her palms lie flat against the brick wall behind them as her eyes shift from Alex’s icy blues to her perfect glossy lips and then back up. 

“Ashlyn...” Even drunk Alex knows this can’t happen. But she’s breathless. Her heart has sped up to a completely erratic pace and when she swallows it’s hard. The forward struggles for a breath and without thinking lets a hand slide up to Ashlyn’s hip. She grabs tightly, digging her short pained nails into the smooth flesh. 

“Yes, Alex?” 

There’s something in the way she says it that makes Alex want her more than she ever has. She feels a wetness between her thighs and an aching at her core but that’s exactly the kind of wake up call she needs to realize they’re about to make a huge mistake. Her hand quickly lets go of Ashlyn’s hip and pushes her away firmly enough to cause space between them but not nearly hard enough to knock her over. 

“Stop,” she insists. “We can’t.” She looks down to the ring on Ashlyn’s finger. “You can’t.” 

“Shit.” What a wake up call. How had she not even once thought of Ali? It’s like something about this night brought her back to the old days, when sneaking off drunk with Alex was just something they did. How had she let herself become so fixated on the forward when her fiancee was right there in the same room? Better yet, what the fuck did it mean for them if Alex was so easily able to distract her like that? 

“Alex I---” she doesn’t even know what to say but before she can find the words they both hear heels clacking against the pavement as Ali rounds the corner. 

“There you are; what are you guys doing out here?” 

“Sorry, Ali. I was feeling kind of sick, Ash just came out with me to make sure I’m okay.” 

“Oh,” Ali looks at her concerned putting her hand on her back, Alex has to try not to flinch at the contact after what had just happened. The betrayal that almost just happened, that was definitely happening in her head, right now. “Are you? Do you need anything?” 

Alex tries her best to force a little smile at Ali, doing everything in her power not to look in Ashlyn’s direction. She know’s she’ll regret it if she does. There will be a look that will definitely tell Ali they’re hiding something and she’s not about to risk it. 

“I feel better. Sorry for stealing your girl. She’s all yours now.” The words stung both Alex and Ashlyn as she said them. To Ali they probably seemed as light as a feather but for the other two they did nothing but place a ginormous weight on their shoulders.