Ingrid's Weekend Part 1

It’s a crisp day in Uppsala.

The coffee shop is full of university students. Watching them with their bags, tablets, and laptops makes Ingrid feel a little nostalgic. She idly stirs her coffee, savoring the comforting murmur of conversation.

“What are you thinking about?” Kristina asks.

Ingrid focuses on her older sister, who sits across the table from her. They look almost nothing alike; Kristina is slim and wears her dark hair short like their mother, although there’s little resemblance. Probably because, unlike their mother, Kristina occasionally smiles.

Kristina’s police inspector badge is just visible under her scarf.

“Afraid of moving to America?” Kristina presses when Ingrid doesn’t answer right away.

“Afraid isn’t the right word,” Ingrid replies with a smile.

“Mother hates her. She must not be all bad.”

Ingrid sighs. Kristina’s right. Their mother loathes Riley.

“We can handle her,” Ingrid says firmly.

Kristina nods. “Are you sad because Freja’s working? And Elsa can’t come?”

“A little,” Ingrid admits. She’s not especially hung up on the details for this weekend, but it’s a little strange for Freja not to be a part of it. And Elsa, Ingrid’s best friend, is in Shanghai.

“You aren’t going to ask me about the plans I made for your weekend?”

“Aren’t you working?” Ingrid asks, pointing at Kristina’s badge.

“What? No. I’m wearing it because I’m parked illegally.”

Ingrid laughs and picks up her muffin, which she promptly drops when she sees the woman entering the shop. Beth looks much the same as she did in their FUTA days; she hasn’t even changed her hair. She plays for Liverpool now. Ingrid hasn’t been following her closely; she’s not a star, but she’s doing well for herself.

Beth grins and hurries to their table. Ingrid quickly gets up as Beth grabs her hands.

“Congratulations,” Beth says brightly.

“Thank you,” Ingrid replies in English, looking worriedly at her sister. “Who else did you call?”

“That glad to see me? Hmph.” Beth grabs Ingrid’s muffin and takes a bite. “Where’s everyone else?”

“They should be along,” Kristina replies casually. Her English is a little better than Ingrid’s, although Ingrid’s has come a long way since she met Riley.

Ingrid feels a spark of anxiety. How many of her old friends did Kristina call? Ingrid has been in a group chat with half of Blue Team since FUTA began.

“Oh! There she is,” Beth says excitedly, waving at Riona.

Riona has changed considerably, at least at a glance. She left FUTA after the pilot season and went back to school. Riona is dressed sensibly in jeans and a coat, and it’s the first time that Ingrid has seen her in glasses. Seeing Riona’s savagely irreverent posts in the group chat and seeing her in person are two different things. She comes over with a smile, giving Ingrid an affectionate hug and flicking Beth’s forehead with her finger.

Riona puts her hands on her hips with a scowl. “Where is she?”

“Who?” Ingrid asks.

Before anyone can reply, the coffee shop abruptly gets loud. Everyone’s looking at the car that just pulled up outside, or rather the tall woman getting out of it.

Beth and Riona are dressed discreetly. Adella is not.

She proudly wears her FUTA Blue Team T-shirt under a somewhat gaudy pantsuit. But if anyone in the women’s football world can strut around like a Formula One driver, it’s her. She’s still playing for FUTA, and still the top scorer and primary heartthrob.

She’s immediately mobbed by college girls as she tries to enter the shop.

“Unbelievable,” Riona mutters.

“What?” Ingrid asks. Riona looks pissed. That’s a little odd; back during FUTA, Riona would’ve done anything for Adella. They’d been together constantly. Those two hadn’t been able to keep their hands off each other.

“She doesn’t return my texts,” Riona says with a sigh. “But she’ll drop everything and fly to Sweden for you,” she adds, nudging Ingrid with an elbow.

Puzzled, Ingrid isn’t sure how to reply, but she doesn’t have to. Adella has broken free of the fans and come to the table. Kristina gets to her feet, blushing.

“Thanks for coming,” she says.

“How could I refuse anything for my best teammate?” Adella asks, leaning in to performatively kiss Ingrid on either cheek.

Riona rolls her eyes. Beth tries not to laugh.