Kumiko had been glancing at the door looking for Tyler, but noticed a different familiar face walk in.<br/><br/><strong>"Rirah!"</strong><br/><br/>Starting to feel the alcohol more intensely, Kumiko half-walked and half-stumbled toward Lilah, finally wrapping her arms around Lilah while using her to support her off-balance body.<br/><br/>Despite feeling more giddy and less coordinated than usual, Kumiko picked up on Lilah's emotional state.<br/><br/><strong>"Aww, something bother Rirah?  Something wrong?  No worry about problems now, okay?  Rirah come join team have fun, yes?  Everything be okay.</strong><br/><br/>Meanwhile, Val's heart was pounding.  She was enjoying every moment of the chemistry she was feeling with Alicia.<br/><br/><div class="quoteheader"><div class="topslice_quote">Quote</div></div><blockquote class="bbc_standard_quote">"Curves like mine? Val you have a nice body yourself! You could overdress too!" </blockquote><div class="quotefooter"><div class="botslice_quote"></div></div><br/><strong>"Thank you,"</strong>said Val, almost in a whisper.  Val took great pride in her body and it was actually pretty rare that someone not in the industry complimented it.  "Maybe you could pick out something you'd like to see me in, sometime.  Of course, if you did that, I would have to do the same for you."<br/><br/>Kumiko stood behind Lilah and put her hands on her teammate's shoulders to guide her to somewhere to sit.<br/><br/><strong>"Rook, everybody, Rirah here!  Yaay!"</strong><br/><br/>Val had been returning Alicia's grin when Kumiko started clapping excitedly.<br/><br/>Val looked at Lilah's eyes, smiled and waved at her.<em>Hmm, something's off with Lilah.  Something about Izzy, perhaps?</em>Val also got a waitress of the bar to take Lilah's drink order.<br/><br/>Val turned to Allison, letting her join in on the conversation.  She was enjoying the one-on-one with Alicia, but tonight was about getting to know the team.  She would have to find a way to get Alicia alone later.<br/><br/><div class="quoteheader"><div class="topslice_quote">Quote</div></div><blockquote class="bbc_standard_quote">"I used to play volleyball," [Allison] finally added, trying to ease into the conversation, "But I gave it up for soccer after high school. I go to the University of Michigan, just down the way."</blockquote><div class="quotefooter"><div class="botslice_quote"></div></div><br/><div class="quoteheader"><div class="topslice_quote">Quote</div></div><blockquote class="bbc_standard_quote">"I really enjoy both but I love playing beach volleyball. Just seems like more of a challenge when you're in the sand."  [Alicia] said with a nod. "We should definitely play after practice sometime." </blockquote><div class="quotefooter"><div class="botslice_quote"></div></div><br/><em>You got that right, honey.  Would love to play in the sand with you.  Even without a volleyball.</em><br/><br/><div class="quoteheader"><div class="topslice_quote">Quote</div></div><blockquote class="bbc_standard_quote">"Maybe you can play with me and Val sometime, it'll be fun!" She said turning slightly toward the rest of the girls.</blockquote><div class="quotefooter"><div class="botslice_quote"></div></div><br/><em>Oh, yes, it would be fun to 'play' with the whole team, but I'm not getting a sense that Allison likes girls.</em><br/><br/><div class="quoteheader"><div class="topslice_quote">Quote</div></div><blockquote class="bbc_standard_quote">[Allison] motioned vaguely with her head, “How long have you two been in the city?  You three.”</blockquote><div class="quotefooter"><div class="botslice_quote"></div></div><br/>Val responded first.<strong>"I'm actually from Windsor, which is just across the border into a piece of Canada that is south of Detroit.  I used to go back and forth between Detroit and Windsor.  My family owned a bunch of property on both sides.  For the past few months, I've been living in a loft in a warehouse in Detroit where I also run my business."</strong><br/><br/>Kumiko pouted a bit.<strong>"Kumiko not here very long.  Kumiko come just before tryouts start.  Stay in hotel few days, but need to find place for sleep and baths."</strong><br/><br/>Val's eyes went wide for a momentat Kumiko's statements.  After a bit of silence, Val finally spoke.<br/><br/><strong>"You know, Kumiko, staying at a hotel is expensive and finding a place will take some time.  You want to just crash at my place?  I actually have plenty of room.  I could probably house the whole team at some point while we're at it.  I've been through hard times myself, but I've always gotten help from friends and even people I barely knew, including my teammates from the Baltimore Charm last year.  Really, it's no trouble, and I want to.  It would just be me paying back favors, but to others who need it."</strong><br/><br/>Val looked at the team after she made the offer, studying the reactions of Allison, Alicia and Lilah.<br/><br/>Kumiko squealed in delight then leaned over to hug Val.  Alicia was between them and got caught in the embrace.  Even Alicia's face was sandwiched between the faces of Kumiko and Val.<strong>"Thank you so much, Val!"</strong>Kumiko finally withdrew, fixing Alicia's hair in the process.<strong>"Kumiko no have car.  Val give Kumiko ride after practice tomorrow?"</strong><br/><br/><strong>"Yes, of course.  I'll bring my truck instead of my bike.  It will be no problem."</strong>Even though Kumiko pulled back, Val was still pretty close to Alicia, and she lingered there for a moment, enjoying the proximity and Alicia's scent.<br/><br/><div class="quoteheader"><div class="topslice_quote">Quote</div></div><blockquote class="bbc_standard_quote">"So um- if you know anyone looking for a roommate... Let me know?   I've kind of lost my place to stay.. and have to move out by noon tomorrow."</blockquote><div class="quotefooter"><div class="botslice_quote"></div></div><br/><em>So that's what was troubling Lilah.  Or is it something else, too?</em><br/><br/><strong>"Well, in that case, Lilah, we'll have you moved into my place before practice at 3:00 tomorrow.  Just to warn you, though, I have some construction going on.  Only a couple of rooms are finished and I still need furniture.  At least the bedroom is done, but right now I only have one bed."</strong><br/><br/>She looked over at Alicia and added with a wink,<strong>"A California King sized bed."</strong><br/><br/>Jessica and Izzy arrived soon after.<br/><br/>Jessica was another young one, like Allison and Alicia, still at the age to be going to college.  Val's initial impression of Jessica was not very positive.  She didn't play defense and was a terrible blocker.  Jessica also seemed like the type who was there solely for the publicity.  But once the girl had a football in her hand, she was very tough to bring down, using her agility to either evade tackles or slip out of them, even out of Val's grip during tryouts.  At some point, she would comment to her,<strong>"Great tryout, Jessica.  For someone who's never played football, you really know how to avoid getting taken down.  During practice tomorrow, I have some drills in mind that will make you even better and some plays to really show off your ability."</strong><br/><br/>From her tryout, Val considered Izzy a kindred spirit, someone who loved to take down quarterbacks as much as Val did.<strong>"Hey, Izzy.  I had no doubt and high hopes you would make the team.  I can't wait to crush some quarterbacks with you.  I already have some film on our opponent that would help us.  Also, would you happen to be available tomorrow before practice to help move Lilah out of her apartment?"</strong><br/><br/>Eventually, Kumiko would try to get everyone to the dance floor.  She had gotten friendly with the DJ and persuaded him to play a bunch of songs she liked.<strong>"Everyone, come dance with Kumiko!"</strong>She reached out for hands to take them with her.<br/>