Only Friends

Chapter 6 - Bus Rides

I facetimed Sam that night to tell her what happened with Jill. She was so happy for me, but I could tell she was jealous. Obviously breaking up with Nikki took a toll on her, but I think she felt like she wanted something now, that she needed that company.
"Did you message Kristie?" I asked her, seeing if she did what I suggested.
"No," she replied, "I chickened out."
"Hm," I started, "hold on." I pulled out my computer, and texted Kristie.

Indi: Kris!

Kristie: Yes

She replied so quickly, I was caught off guard.

Indi: I know the break up was hard, Do you want to have fun?

Kristie: Babe, I'm too old for u

Indi: Not me! Lol! Sam Kerr

Kristie: Um...

Indi: I'll send her your number

"She is keen," I said to Sam, while sending Kristie her number. I heard the ping on the other end of the call.
"What do I even say?" She asked. I thought about it for a second, trying to think of a good ice breaker.
"Ok say 'Inds is really trying to do something here'. I don't mind if you make fun of me to get the conversation rolling." I said this solemnly, as otherwise, I could feel the awkwardness that could brew.
I could hear Sam texting through the line.
"Ok, I said what you said." We waited all of 10 seconds before she got a reply. "Oh my god, she replied."
"What did she say?" I asked, keen to want to know.
"'Inds always tries new things, i think she should stick to what she knows.'"
"Perfect, this conversation is fucking rolling!" I screamed into the phone. I got a message from Kristie, while calling Sam.

Kristie: She messaged me.

Indi: Hehehhe

Over the next couple of weeks, both Sam and Kristie told me about their respective texting. It was constant, and consistent, with Sam staying up late to message Kristie, as the time difference obviously is in Kristie's favour. I felt that something was going to happen there. I saw the potential, and boy was I right.

However, after the phone call with Sam, I went straight to bed, with a smile printed on my face, as all I could think of was Jill. My Jill. I picked her up the next morning and we both went to training. We decided in the car that we would keep everything on the down low as we didn't want to draw attention to ourselves, and, in a way, keep things private.

At the dining room, after our first training, Jill and I sat on a table with each other, eating our food. We were on our phones, just scrolling socials when we heard Lisa call out to us.

"Hi sociable friends," She started, pointing the vlog camera towards us, "had a wee fall out? You aren't talking?" We both laughed, so, for the vlog, I went and sat on Jill's lap and gave her a hug, only to show that we hadn't had the fall out Lisa joked about.
"That's better," Lisa said into the camera. Jill looked at me, after the camera was turned off, with her big green eyes. I pushed her head away and tried getting off her lap, but she pulled me in, nuzzling her head on my shoulders, while I leaned back into her. But we both knew if we didn't want to draw attention to ourselves, the best thing to do would be for me to get off. So I hopped off her lap, and sat back in front of my food.

We had our first game against Manchester on the weekend, so we all got to the training ground early so we would head to Manchester. I picked Jill up at 7am, and drove us both. She held my hand in the car, like she did earlier.
"Did you remember all your stuff?" I asked her, knowing that she normally forgets at least one item.
"Well, I used a list. So hopefully not."
"A list? Impressive." I said, sarcastically. She gave me only a slight nudge as I was driving, but she laughed as well.
We were one of the first to arrive, so we headed inside as it was too cold to wait out. We sat in the common room area on the couch, listening to our favourite music. We were the only ones there, so we could cuddle and be in close proximity, without anyone seeing or questioning it. We had both our heads leant back against the cushion, looking into each other's eyes. She tucked some hair behind my head and played with my neck, longing to kiss again. However, Leah and Jordan walked in as we were thinking about it.
"Hey girls," Jordan said, as she sat on the couch next to Leah.
"How long till we go?" I asked.
"Should be soon, if Viv and Lisa ever decide to turn up," Leah replied. We all laugh, as we know that Viv and Lisa are never on time.

After 30 minutes of waiting, Beth came in to get Leah, Jordan, Jill and me, as the rest of the girls were waiting outside. We hopped onto the bus, with me and Jill sitting across from Viv and Lisa, at a table. I sat on the window, as Jill likes to be sociable on the aisle seat. I didn't really mind. Jill grabbed my legs and placed them on her lap, holding them tight with her arms. Viv and Lisa looked at us, but didn't question it. I think they believe Jill and I to be very close, possibly too close for our own good.
We played games on the bus, and were subject to Lisa and her filming. She interviewed me and Jill, asking us about all types of random questions.
"Who is funnier?" Lisa asked first. I pointed to JIll and she pointed towards herself. It was expected.
"Only because we laugh at Jill mostly. She does some weird stuff." I said defensively, while laughing.
"Who is better in their respective position?" We each pointed at each other.
"No no no," Jill started to say, "Inds is just being modest. SHe is a beast of a defender."
Lisa pointed the camera back around to herself and said, "I will have to say, India Harrison is probably the best defender I have ever had to play against."
"Guys, stop!" I said, blushing, leaning my head into Jill's shoulder.
"Ok next question," Lisa started to say, "Name each other's best friend." We looked at eachother, knowing the answer.
"We got this. I'll go first?" I said. Jill nodded. "Ok, well it's obvious. It's Viv." The camera turned to Viv and she smiled at Jill.
"Ok, Jill, who is Indi's?" Jill thought about it for a minute.
"Ok, well, I know Kristie is your closest friend from Houston. So I'd say to her, but you're also really close with Sam," She kept thinking about it, "and I don't know which one between them. Ok, I'm going to say both." I nodded, high fiving her.
"Yep, both. They are separately my best friends."
"Wow, you girls are good at this!" Lisa said. She continued to ask a couple more questions, while we both continued to answer correctly. It was so interesting to see that both Jill and I could answer all the questions correctly, while only knowing each other for a couple of months.

The game against United went very well. We won 3-1, and I got my first Arsenal goal. Katie sent an amazing corner ball right to the box and all I had to do was direct the ball using my head. I ran up to Jill and jumped on her, while the other girls all came around to huddle. I got off Jill and fistbumped Katie, commending her for her assist. Viv scored the other two goals, both of which were fantastic. The goal scored against us was in the 87th minute, after Leah and myself were both rested, after it was a secured win. It was a lucky goal, which is always devastating.

After the game, we headed back to the hotel to sleep it off, and be ready to head back to London in the morning. I roomed with Caitlin that night, and we lay in bed watching Australian classics such as H20 and a couple episodes of Offspring. It is always fun rooming with an Aussie girl - it feels like I am back home.