Only Friends

Chapter 34 - Talks

As the season progressed, we felt the title on the tip of our fingers. We won the big matches against Manchester City and Manchester United, and held on for a draw against Chelsea. We were entering the later part of the season, in the best position possible. 

When Kristie's birthday rolled around in late february, she and Sam had been together for a little less than a year. It was crazy how time had seemed to go so quickly. I rang Kristie a couple days before her birthday.

"Are you excited for the big day?" I asked her, as I sat on the couch next to Jill. We had both calmed down since our previous discussion, but it was still tense. I felt uneasy, like I was holding her back despite her saying constantly that I wasn't.
"I don't know, I feel so old!" She replied.
"31 isn't old. Look at Carli, she is still playing even at 40!"
"Can't believe I'm going to join the 40 club in nine years, but you aren't gonna be there for 18!"
"19 years," I said back to her. Although Kristie and I do have a ten year age gap, we didn't mind. At first, our relationship felt like a sister bond, but that soon passed when we realised how compatible we were as best friends.

"Don't say that! Why do I have such young friends?" She said, funnily.
"Because you are young at heart!" I said, jokingly. "Are you going to come over before your season starts?" The NWSL season normally starts around April and goes until November, whereas the Super League season starts in September and goes until March. They are on alternating schedules, but because the Super League teams also compete in other shields, the competition doesn't normally end until around May.

"Yeah, I'm going to try. Just got to work around the national team schedule," she replied, "but I'll let you know when I have it all sorted. Also, I want you to come over after your season has ended, and we can go to Newport, possibly with Jill and Sam, and Steph obviously."
"Yeah, yeah, that sounds great. What do you think?" I said, turning to Jill. She gave me a thumbs up while she had a mouth full of popcorn. "Jill gives us a thumbs up!" Kristie laughed and we continued to talk until it got late, and Jill and I had to go to sleep before our upcoming week of training.

As Jill and I were getting ready for bed, I decided to bite the bullet and try to talk to her once more.
"Jill, we need to talk properly." I was sitting on our bed when I said this, as she was in the bathroom brushing her teeth. She looked at me, with a frustrated look on her face, although it was apparent she knew we had to talk.
"Do we though?" She asked, still standing in the bathroom.
"Yes we do. I can feel it, Jill. I can feel it and it doesn't help."
"Feel what?"
"You're stuck."
"Everyone gets stuck once in a while." She came out of the bathroom, and changed into a sleep shirt. I didn't reply to her. She knew I was right, and I could tell.
"Ok," she said, taking a deep breath, "Ok. I think I am going to leave Arsenal." My heart stopped for a second, although I wasn't surprised. I could feel this coming, and sensed it, with how Jill had changed.
"Ok," I said, quietly.
"Indi," she replied, grabbing my hand. I pulled it away slightly. I shouldn't be surprised though. It was expected.
"Ok, so what's the plan? Do you have any offers?" I asked.
"Last year, when Wolfsburg offered me a contract and I declined, they said they would always want me. I think I want them." Wolfsburg, Germany. Over 900km away from London. A lifetime in my books. "I'm sorry Indi really."
"If we had never met, and weren't together or whatever, would you have left last season?" She stared blankly at me, before nodding her head. It was as expected. Sometimes I hate my instinct. It's normally right. But I knew she had to do this. For her. If I was a good girlfriend, I wouldn't hold her back, so I didn't.

"Ok," I said to her, "Ok." I kissed her forehead and put my arms around her. I knew she was upset for thinking I was upset, but I wasn't. I was proud of her for knowing what she wanted and for understanding that she needed new challenges. I was only sad that that meant she was going to be leaving London.