Flirting with success

Chapter 14

Because using the real fixture list and results won't really fit with the story I'm going to make it up but attempt to still keep it realistic. Also thanks for reading and voting I really appreciate it :)

The next week or so after saying goodbye was awful.  We have a responsibility to maintain our fitness levels even though we don't have any upcoming games. During the break I pushed myself to the max because I didn't want to be left behind the next time England had a camp. Unlike the majority of other players I never went through the youth system at England so I have to work even harder to make a name for myself.

I was so focused on football I left myself with hardly anytime to talk to Jill. She understood this completely. She comes from a national team that worked to achieve a home victory in the Euros and in the recent World Cup win a silver medal. When we did get a chance to talk properly we took full opportunity. 

The Saturday night just before the end of the international break England were playing Spain. Jill and I decided that we would watch it together virtually over FaceTime. She took the opportunity to mock me on how England bombed out the World Cup; soon realising the pain in my eyes she frantically apologised insisting she was messing. As the game went on it became evident England weren't playing very well. The opportunity arose for us to talk at length about my ambition to get into the national team. Jill was super supportive but offered a further joke "then I'd be able to beat you for club and country" i quickly reminded her who won the last game we played against each other. The game ended with Spain taking the bragging rights. I was bitterly disappointed but talking to Jill made me feel a million times better.

The match between Arsenal and Manchester United was getting closer. This meant that Jill was able fo tell me over the phone the clubs plans so that we could try and arrange to see each other. Luckily for me, Man City had a home game against Chelsea the day after so I would also be in Manchester. Jill told me that Arsenal would be travelling down the day before their game on Saturday and staying in a hotel just 5 minutes away from my flat. This meant that the we could see each other that evening. Whilst it's against the rules for the players to have unauthorised visits to hotels Jill figured that she could still sneak me in with the help of Viv and Lisa.

A couple of days went by and now I have my teammates back around me. However, I did have the awkward situation of explaining everything to my roommates once Janine and Lauren returned.

Janine got home just a few hours before Lauren was due. In the interest of fairness I told her that I would have to wait for Lauren to get home to explain everything fully. When Lauren got back she was devastated. The atmosphere in the England camp didn't sound enjoyable following the loss. This made me nervous for what it would be like at city considering the majority of our players are England internationals. However the task in hand was slightly more frightening.

All four of us sat around the kitchen table. I filled them all in on what I've been up to whilst they were away. This included telling them all about Jill and the situation we are in now. They were mostly happy for me but I could tell Lauren was sitting on the fence.

Once Janine went to unpack with the assistance of Aoife, I sat down with Lauren and probed her for her honest opinion.

"Don't you think it's a bit soon to be rushing into anything" she said

"I'm not rushing into it-" I tried to get out before being interrupted

"You've not even known her a month! I know you think this is the best thing that's ever happened to you I just don't think you've really thought about it. What about the distance eh? You're hardly going to see her how's that going to work?"

"Other people make it work, you know Amy Turner from Man U she's with Haz James who plays for Reading, they make it work so we can't we" i argued

"I just don't want to see you hurt Sophie. If this is what you really want then I will support you. You know I will."

The conversation ended on a high which allowed us to go to bed feeling resolved and get a good nights rest for an important week ahead focusing on the upcoming fixture against our biggest rivals Chelsea.