You can't Outrun the Truth

Tomorrow

Do you know the saying time flies when you're having fun? Well turns out time flies when you're dreading something as well. The match was tomorrow. I would see them tomorrow. My life was in my ex-teammates' hands tomorrow. 

"Through!" Alex called. I played her the ball and she ran it to the end line before crossing it to Press in the center. We were at the last training before the game tomorrow. We were playing 5v5's and my team was currently winning. We had Alex and Press playing up top, me in the midfield, Sonnett and Ali in the back. The keepers were off doing their training rather than doing the scrimmage.  

I watched as Press slotted it into the net and Kelley retrieved it to start again. Carli kicked off passing to Tobin who got past Press -who, in my opinion, let her- then try and play it to Rose. I intercepted the pass and made my way down the field. I found Press on the wing and I went to the center. Kelley was trying to get the ball from Christen and Alex had drawn Julie. Rose noticed too late that I was open in the box and Christen sent in a cross, and I managed to head it into the goal.

"We're still going to win," Rose tells me as I'm going back to our side.

"No way," I laugh.

As the game progressed Rose's side managed to get another goal, making it even. Which meant all ten of us highly competitive players were desperate to get the winning goal. 

"It's a practice match, feel free to let us win," Kelley teases.

"Then let us win!"

"No way," She scoffs. I chuckle and glance around to view the match. I see Sonnett up the field from an attack a couple minutes ago and Ali with the ball.

"ALI GO LONG!" I shout. She looks up the field and sees an onside, wide-open Sonnett. She sends the ball across the pitch and right to Sonnett's feet. She one touches it into the goal and just like that our team is winning.

Jill called practice a few minutes later. We went over plans for tomorrow's game and watched film. We analyzed Portugal's style of play, who they were likely to pass to, how to exploit their backline. 

"So London, first game with the National team tomorrow! How you feeling?" Alex asks throwing an arm around my shoulder.

"Yeah, I'm excited. Tomorrow will be fun," I say smiling. Just as long as no one finds out.

"No nerves?"

"Not yet."

"Sorry, we have a team dinner tomorrow," She says.

"It's fine, I'll be able to get to know you guys better," I assure her trying to avoid this topic.

"Yeah, true. But you can't spend the time with your family."

"Maybe another time," I sigh, more out of relief than anything else.

"Alright, well rest up for the game tomorrow!" We got on the bus. I sat down next to Andi and closed my eyes.

"It'll be fine," She whispers.

"I was thinking about how the hell I'm going to explain this to Danielle."

I had still not spoken to any of my Arsenal teammates and to say they were mad was an understatement. I guess Danielle told Jackie I didn't tell them because she was texting me to convince me to call Daan. 

"London, it's just going to be worse the more you wait."

"I know, maybe tomorrow, after the game," I say opening my eyes.

"Just get it over with, there's a lot going on tomorrow," She tells me.

"Maybe, it would get them to stop texting me all the time."

"Then it seems like you should."

"I probably won't. I don't want any distractions before the match tomorrow."

"London-"

"Nope. I can't have any more distractions. In fact," I pulled my phone from my jacket pocket. "I am turning my phone completely off!"

"They're going to kill you," Andi sighs.

"At least I wouldn't have to deal with any of my 'problems' as you guys like to call them," I shrug.

"No!" She says.

Back in the room with Mal, I lay on the bed with my eyes closed.

"If I die tomorrow, tell my teammates that I was in Portugal."

"London, why would you die?"

"My parents are going to be very mad and by avoiding it, it will be inevitably worse so you never know."

"Don't your teammates already know you're in Portugal?"

"Yup, figure some humor won't hurt. Let's go down to the beach! It's absolutely gorgeous!"

"If you're dying at least you'll have met me, I mean, I'm pretty amazing!" Mal says grabbing a bag.

"Don't be too humble now," I open my eyes to throw a pillow at her.

"So, who gets to tell the team what happened cause I'm not going to tell Alex her kid died."

"Stop talking about the whole death thing. You are going to be there to make sure they don't say or do anything!" I smile.

"Wonderful."

We walk out of the hotel down to the coastline.

"It is gorgeous."

"Yup, nothing beats a sunset on the beach."

There's a song: Tomorrow, from Annie. I've heard it before, and I hate it. The false hope that all your problems will disappear because it's a new day. It's naive, I learned that the hard way. I stare at the setting sun, wishing it would take all my problems with it so I wouldn't have to deal with them.

"What are you thinking about?" Mal's clear voice breaks the silence.

"How I have about ninety-nine problems and I don't want to deal with any of them." 

"Then don't!" She laughs.

"Well, thanks to Kelley being Kelley, and the fact that I live with the Arsenal girls kinda prevents that."

"We have the situation with your parents under control," Mal reminds me.

"Don't say that. Who knows what kind of bullshit they'll come up with," I mumble.

"It's tomorrow's problem so, let's enjoy your last evening," This causes me to smile as I playfully hit her arm.

"It's only funny when I joke about it."

Hey everyone! Sorry, this took a while, I was kinda lacking motivation. Anyway, the Arsenal game today was heartbreaking, especially cause they played well in the first half. Hope you guys enjoyed this chapter. Feel free to leave any suggestions or comments. Also, do you think London should end up dating someone? If so who?