Only Friends

Chapter 19 - Unravelling

As we were eating in the dining room, after training, I noticed Jill wouldn't sit still. I was perfectly content eating my lunch, with my legs on Jill's lap, but before I knew it, she was up again going to get more food, then being distracted by Viv and Lisa's conversation. It was getting very annoying.
I walked over to where Jill was standing, which was over with Viv and Lisa.
"Jill, stop bugging them and let them finish eating," I said, as I grabbed her hand and made her sit back in her chair.
"You can't sit still?" I said, wanting her to explain her weird quirk.
"I just get bored," she replied.
"I know," I said, while touching her face, tucking a piece of hair behind her ears. "Can you tie my hair for me?" I asked her, trying to find a way I could distract her so I could finish my food before heading to the gym. It was also helpful for me as I struggle tying my hair up. When I was twelve, I had a really bad wrist injury that actually stopped me from playing competitive Netball, making me pursue soccer. I find anything using my wrist really hard to do, such as writing an essay, tying my hair or signing my name. It mostly affects my grip and ability to tightly hold things in my hands, making my fine motor skills really bad.
"I love doing your hair," Jill said, as I was finishing my food.
"Well good cause you're going to have to do it for many years," I said to her, laughing.
"Not a fan having to memorise your signature though," she replied.
"Yeah, and you're bad at it too." She laughed at this, and continued to do my hair. She ended up braiding it into two even sides. It was very good. Jill always does my hair to perfection.
"Ok, I am done," I said, placing my fork in my bowl and taking it up to the kitchen, "Time for weights session?" She nodded and we left the dining room. Similarly, Jordan and Leah left the dining room at the same time and we all headed to the gym.
"Indi, your hair is so pretty," Leah said to me as we walked of the dining room and down the stairs to the gym.
"Thanks," I replied, smiling, "Jill knows how to tame my thick hair!" My hair has always been very thick and because of that, I've always had to keep it very long. Lisa and I often have competitions to see who has the longer hair as we both have hair that falls to our lower back.

Jill is quite lanky but very tall, whereas I am shorter (not short) and quite strong. Being a defender, you have to be able to hold your own. So, although I love the gym, Jill hates it. She always fluffs around, trying to avoid having to actually do any weights. Normally, I have to babysit her.
"I just want to do what you do," Jill said, as we walked into the gym.
"Yes, we can swap but you have to do stuff. It'll help you!" I said, pulling her along. I set up the racks so we can do heavy lifting - squats, deadlifts and possibly hip thrusts. Jill looked at me, longing to go home.
"Come on Jilly," I started to say, "it won't be bad. I know you love leg day!" Jill, although reluctant, did all the exercises I prepared, and almost got to the same maximum lift as me.
"I'm so proud of you, Jilly," I said, going up to her and hugging her from behind, as she sat on the bench. "I reckon you can do one more. Get your personal best!" Although not into lifting at first, no one can deny trying to get a personal best. I called Katie over to help me spot Jill as she squatted 80kg. Lisa came over, with her vlogging camera, before Jill started and recorded her squat.
Jill, although nearly failing the PB, came up from the squat and did it.
"You did it! So proud of you!" I said, leaning into her, "give it up for Jill Roord!" Lisa and Katie both cheered!

As we went outside to go home, it was suddenly very hot. I felt the sun bouncing on my legs and my brown hair started to go very hot.
"Why is it so hot?" Jill asked me, taking off her jumper.
"Try an Australian summer, that's worse."
"I don't know how you wear long sleeves under your shirt, don't you get hot on the pitch?"
"No," I said, defensively, "I never do."
"Did you wear the long sleeves in houston? In the dead heat of the summer?" she asked, to which I nodded. "That's weird."
"I just have always covered them, since I was a kid. Probably because in Australia we played in the middle of the Australian summer and my parents didn't want me to get burnt." That was a lie. I only started wearing long sleeves when I turned 15. The sleeves are a security blanket to the things I don't want to remember. Things I want to forget.

Note:
- hey guys, just wanted to say that there will be mentions of mental health issues in the coming chapters as I sort of use writing as an escape. if u are struggling, make sure you reach out to a trusted person. it is so important to know you are loved and you are worth so much more than you think
- also indi is a made up character, but I draw from a lot of my own experiences <3