You can't Outrun the Truth

Caught in the Act

"What am I supposed to do?"

"Lie."

"I'm pretty good at that," I say bitterly. I was tired of having to lie but I truly had no choice.

"I'm sorry, it's really up to you if you tell her or not, either way, you have me okay? No matter what."

"No matter what."

"JACKIE! JACKIE WHERE ARE YOU!" I heard one of her teammates shout.

"HERE!" she replies. I hear a door open and slam shut then a period of silence. "London, who are you with right now?" Jackie asks in a calm voice.

"No one. Christen isn't here now."

"So you're in your hotel room?"

"Yes, why? What's wrong Jack?"

"Anika, stay calm okay? Put me on speaker then open your phone." I did what she said and immediately saw the news.

LONDON ADAIR: PAST AND PRESENT

"Jackie, please tell me that's not what I think it is," I say my voice breaking. "L. It's Jill, I've already messaged them to take the article down and no one here is going to read it, same with the Arsenal girls. Don't read it."

"I need to see what they said Jill! How did they find out?"

"There are some pictures Anika."

"No, no, I didn't think that would happen."

"Deep breaths Anika. Deep breaths." There was a pounding on my door and I looked through the little hole and saw Rose.

"No one is going to read it. I've got you, you're okay." She wraps me into a hug and I feel tears slip down my face. "I knew, I knew about the pictures and I ignored it," I whisper.

"None of this is your fault. Okay? I've got you."

"Who is that Anika?" Jackie asks through the phone.

"Hi! I'm Rose."

"Was it you?" Jill asks.

"What?" Rose says confused.

"I mean, you've told people before, what's to stop you from telling people again?" Jill clarifies. I quickly unwrap myself from Rose's arms and hang up the phone.

"Don't listen to her Rose. She's just stressed and-"

"I get it L. I don't have a good track record with this. But I would never, and I mean never, tell the public," Rose now has tears in her eyes and I'm the one to pull her into a hug.

"I know Rosie. You would never do that. You were helping me. Remember? That's what you said, and you know what? You were right Rosie. I wasn't doing anything to stop it, now I have. You have helped me more than you will ever know and I've never told you that. So thank you."

"Thank you, London. I'm just glad you stood up for yourself. Now, let's do it again. Let's get this bitch arrested!"

LONDON ADAIR: PAST AND PRESENT

Arsenal and USWNT forward London Adair has always had a reserved personality off the pitch leaving many fans to wonder about her past and personal life. Adair was born in the Netherlands before her parents relocated to Delaware, in the U.S. when Adair was 8 years old. Adair grew up there and made a name for herself when she signed with the Washington Spirit at 16, becoming the youngest player in the league. But what happened before we knew Adair as a soccer player? Adair was raised in an abusive household and continued to experience the abuse while playing for the Spirit. After Adair's move to London to play for Arsenal, the forward was met once again with abuse from her parents in the first few weeks across the sea.

Adair got the call up to the USWNT last year where she reunited with Spirit teammates Rose Lavelle, Andi Sullivan, and Mallory Pugh. The four were very popular in D.C. and that popularity followed them to the National level where many fans noticed animosity in the group during the first game Adair was involved in. There are many speculations that something had occurred between Adair and her Spirit teammates before the initial move which only grew after the match against Portugal. An inside resource revealed that one of Adair's teammates (who we don't have the name of) discovered the abuse that was occurring and told the rest of the team without Adair's consent. It is unclear as to whether Adair's current teammates with Arsenal or the U.S. know of her family's past but it is assumed they do not.

Adair also shares relations with the Dutch National Team. Cousin Jackie Groenen plays as a midfielder for the Dutch Lionesses and Manchester United. But aside from her family relationships, Adair has several Arsenal teammates with the Dutch Lionesses such as Vivianne Miedema, Danielle van de Donk, and Jill Roord.

"London has a good relationship with all of her teammates, she does however have a special relationship with Roord. We met Roord before she was teammates with London of course, she has been teammates with Jackie for a while. So it came as a surprise when we discovered that London and Jill were pursuing a romantic relationship," Adair's uncle speaks out. Mr. Adair also provided photos of both the couple and London Adair alone or with teammates. "She's always been one to look out for, she makes rash decisions on occasion and can be a poor influence on those around her," Mr. Adair continued. Adair is a big contender to make the World Cup squad, leading to the question: Is she really someone we want representing us?

I shut my phone off and resisted the urge to throw it across the room.

"So, it's slightly worse than we thought, we can still debunk all the rumors," Rose says. She had kicked Christen out, she probably didn't mind though because it gave her more of an excuse to hang out with Tobin.

"How?" I ask falling back onto my bed.

"We make a video telling everyone the truth."

"No, absolutely not. It's none of anyone's business really."

"I know London. But they've made it public and most of the information isn't true," Rose pushes. I pause to consider it and sigh.

"You'll film it?" I ask. She nods and I hand her my phone and we go out onto the balcony. She starts recording and nods.

"Hey everyone! I'm sure some, if not all of you, have read the article the Washington Post posted about me earlier. I just want to clear a few things up so that my actions and intentions are presented clearly, leaving no room for speculation. There is some truth to the article, starting at the age of 8 I was abused both physically and mentally. It did not stop until last year when I had my parents arrested. Rose, Mal, Andi, and I are all on good terms and there was no animosity between us on my first cap. I was dealing with the stress of performing under the gaze of my parents and dread of seeing them afterward, something that the Spirit girls were aware of." Rose nods at me in encouragement and I take a breath before continuing. "My cousin Jackie does in fact play for the Dutch Lionesses, as well as Danielle, Jill, and Viv. I am not currently in a relationship. All the pictures that are included in the article are taken from outside my hotel rooms, house, and from the streets. I was never aware that I was being photographed and have not had contact with my uncle in two years. My actions, viewed from someone unaware of my situation, may appear as rash. But I can confidently say that I am an overthinker and have never made a big decision without thinking it over and talking to several friends. So, um, thank you for listening to my side of the story. I guess that's it." Rose sets down the phone and latches onto me.

"You are the bravest person I know."

hope y'all are ready because drama is coming!!! hope you liked this chapter that was posted in honor of Leah extending her contract and Stina Blackstenius signing with Arsenal!

-rose x