Chapter Text
Seattle-Tacoma Airport, USA
The terminal exit greeted Carina DeLuca with cool, damp air that smelled of the ocean and distant rains. Under the heavy, leaden skies so characteristic of the Pacific Northwest, she spotted a tall, fit man in an immaculate black suit. In his hands was a sign with her name flashing—the only bright spot in the gray landscape.
- Good evening! Carina DeLuca? - His voice was deep and measured, like an echo from a cinematic scene.
- Yes, that's me, - she replied, feeling the fatigue of the long flight momentarily recede before the thrill of a new beginning.
His handshake was firm and confident.
- Welcome to Seattle, Miss DeLuca. I hope the flight wasn't too exhausting.
He deftly handled her luggage, and soon they were speeding along the wet highway, where the city lights flickered like scattered diamonds. Carina cracked the window open, letting in the fresh, salty wind, and pulled out her laptop. The screen cast a cold blue light on her face as she once again immersed herself in the virtual dossiers of the football club "Seattle Reign."
Claudia Dickey
Position: Goalkeeper
Age: 25
Lightning-fast reflexes, but her positioning is weak. Too often leaves the goal line, like a frightened bird fleeing its nest. 75% pass accuracy. 18 matches, 3 clean sheets.
- A raw diamond, - Carina thought. - But polishing her will take time.
Lauren Barnes
Position: Defender, Team Captain
Age: 36
The heart and soul of the team. Played the most minutes on the field last season. Has the resilience of an old oak that doesn't bend in a hurricane. 150 regular-season matches.
- Magnificent, but you can't cheat the years. Need fresh blood.
Andrea Herrera
Position: Central Midfielder
Age: 26
The brain of the team. Sees the field like a clairvoyant—reads the game before it even unfolds. Ice in her veins. The queen of assists.
- What a find! - Carina barely held back a smile. - You could move mountains with a player like that.
For nearly half an hour, she studied the files until her gaze settled on a photograph of a blue-eyed blonde with a determined stare.
- First time in the States? - The driver's rough voice suddenly snapped her out of her analytical trance.
- No, - Carina lifted her eyes smoothly. - I've been here before with the Italian national team. But I didn't get to truly experience the country back then. I hope it's different this time.
Her voice sounded even, but inside, everything fluttered like a cage full of birds. A year in Seattle… A whole year.
- I'm sure you'll like it. Just don't expect sunshine—our city is more like an aquarium with eternal rain. Though, of course, we're proud of our teams… even if the Reign didn't perform their best last season.
- I'm not here for a vacation, - Karina replied coldly. - Thirteenth place out of fourteen isn't just a failure; it's a collapse. But I'm here to change that.
She leaned back in her seat and closed her laptop. Outside, the rain intensified, turning the city lights into blurred watercolor stains. Heavy raindrops drummed against the window, as if trying to say something, to warn or remind her. Her heart tightened with doubt: Had she made the right choice? A foreign country, a foreign language, a foreign culture…
- We're here, Miss DeLuca, - the driver's voice brought her back to reality.
A modest house in a typical American style looked like a sanctuary of calm amidst the storm. The man helped unload her luggage, handed her the keys, and left, wishing her luck.
Carina stepped inside. A spacious living room, a tidy kitchen, two bedrooms—everything was furnished modestly but tastefully. She walked into the main bedroom, dropped her suitcase on the floor, and collapsed onto the bed without undressing. Summoning her strength, she got up and headed for the shower.
The hot water washed over her, rinsing away the tension of the flight like a wave washing away footprints in the sand. Wrapped in a towel, she picked up her laptop again.
Maya Bishop
Position: Forward
Age: 24
Talented as a gemstone, but unmanageable. The top scorer for the Portland Thorns. Bold, willful, plays alone like a lone wolf that doesn't acknowledge the pack.
- Phew… This one's going to be tough, - Carina whispered with a slight smirk.
She closed the laptop and sank into the pillows. Closing her eyes, she drifted into a world of dreams, where the shadows of players were already forming tactical patterns, and ahead awaited a day—a day of introductions, challenges, and new beginnings.