dreams to reality

1.

"Bella smith, a 18 year old right winger for arsenal woman, whose worked her way through the academy since she was 8, gets her debut in the quarter final of the champions league against currant champions Barcelona woman after suffering a knee injury last year she finally gets her chance, what do you make of that?" The commentary says.

"I think it unbelievable. I mean what were you doing at 18? It's crazy, at such a young age she's in the arsenal woman's team, it's not like this team is average, they are one of the best in the league and possibly top 10 in the world. I'm so happy for Bella specially after an injury like she had, this is something that doesn't come around often but she's here making history and making a name for herself." Alex replied.

My nerves are really kicking in, I can't believe I'm starting against the currant champions league winners Barcelona. I haven't even had my debut in the league. "Hey let's go kid" Vivianne miedema says to me which snaps me out of my thoughts. Here goes nothing I thought to myself.

As I walk out of the tunnel I look around the stadium with is filled with Barcelona fans, it somehow settled my nerves. I mean there was a few arsenal fans in the corner but it's a Wednesday night and it's in Spain so I didn't expect to see loads. I think if we were playing at home I would be more nervous, I feel like there would have been more pressure but because I'm away from everyone I think that's best.

Standing alongside my teammates as the champions league anthem is played, my dreams have became reality. These people were who I looked up to in the academy and now I get to play with them. I wish my dad was here to see this.

The whistle eventually goes and the game is kicked off. For the first 30 minutes Barcelona controlled possession, we couldn't get a grip of the game. Barcelona we're so dominant and created many chances, we were lucky to only be down one. It was a strike from Alexia putellas that went bottom right, hitting the side netting.

It was the 41st minute before we got our first chance that was deflected wide. The ball started with Leah and played straight through the Barcelona back line in my path, I cut the ball back to nobbs who takes the touch and has a shot that defects wide for a corner, it was the first time we rattled Barcelona, I didn't expect it to get through their defence so easy to be honest and I don't think they did either. The corner came to nothing as the whistle goes for half time.

"Keep going kiddo, your playing well" Kim little says to me as we walk into the tunnel, "thanks" i reply while picking up a water bottle.

The half time talk was something i never expected to be honest. Jonas said, 'defend like your life depends on it, we have to still play them at home and that's when it'll be a different game, they won't be used to the conditions so for now stay in the game and if we get the chance to go forward then we have to take it'. It was time for the second half to start and as always I kissed my left rist with the white tape on it that says dad.

Kick off.

We have been defending the majority of the second half, we had a few half chances but it was really hard to get a clear chance. That was until the 91st minute, Leah Williamson intercepts the Barcelona through ball and bursts forward with the ball. She plays the ball straight through the Barcelona defence, similar to the first half chance, I take the touch in my stride and see the goal keeper hesitate to come out, I gain confidence and run one on one with the goalie. I take a touch onto my stronger left foot, I take a deep breath and have a shot, I watch it anxiously as it bends into the top left corner over the keeper, hitting the back of the net. It all happened so fast but left like forever. I run off into the corner where the few arsenal fans were and slide on my knees I turn around and get piled on from all of my teammates.

"Your unreal" I hear Leah shout along with a few others, I was too overwhelmed to say anything. I eventually get pulled up to my feet from Leah she picks me up and gives me the tightest hug I've ever had, I didn't want this moment to end. "Your gonna be one heck of a player" she says making me blush, I'm glad that a bunch of players were piled on me because I was really hot and you couldn't tell I was blushing.

Seconds after the whistle goes to resume the game the final whistle went. I hear a bunch of cheers from my team, a few rushing over to me and giving me high fives. I go around shaking everyone's hands and last was Alexia Putellas, she's one of my biggest idols and I got so nervous when I went over to her, "can I get your uh- shirt?" I ask stuttering, she must think I'm so stupid. "Sure" she says and my eyes widen, I'm getting Alexia putellas shirt! I go to take off my shirt without thinking. "No you keep it's your debut shirt?" she says giggling at my stupidity. "Oh yeah, umm thank you so much" I said before walking off with the biggest smile on my face.

"Your happy" Leah says to me putting her arm around my shoulder. "I just got alexia putellas shirt, of course I'm happy" I said showing her the shirt. "And your not happy about your goal?" She says raising an eyebrow, "oh yeah that also" I said and we both start laughing. We walked towards the rest of the girls who are over at the fans taking pictures.

"Oh and thanks for the through ball, it was perfect" i said looking at Leah, I could get lost in those eyes forever. "I was waiting for that" she says laughing. We both go our separate ways towards different fans and sign shirts. I take a few pictures before we all head inside the changing room.

Before I knew it we were boarding the plane, i sat next to Lisa and viv for a little while until leah came over and saved me from third wheeling them the whole journey.

We were talking a little bit before Leah picks up my left arm looking at the white tape on my wrist that says dad. She looks over at me and raised an eyebrow, I prepare myself and sit up, "You don't have to tell me" leah says rubbing my hand. "It's okay I want to, so umm where do I start. Me and my dad were really close, he was my best friend. We spent nearly everyday together, we are both big arsenal fans and if we didn't talk about arsenal it would be about football anyway. It was a year ago, he fell unwell... really unwell. It was a few days after I had that really bad knee injury, they didn't tell me that a month before he got diagnosed with cancer, they were going to tell me on the weekend but thats when my knee you know..." I say and take a deep breath.

"I was all gutted over it because I was meant to be making my debut for arsenal 2 days later so they didn't tell me but I received a message from my mum the day of the arsenal game to come to the hospital quickly, because it was urgent. I had absolutely no idea that it was about my dad, when I got there I saw my cousin and mum crying, they told me he had died and-" I start crying, I couldn't finish what I was saying, leah pulled me in close to her, I just cried into her chest. We sat for a while before I could calm down.

"Your so strong, you should have told somebody, does anyone know?" She asks me as I shook my head. "I'll always be here for you okay? Don't ever be scared to talk to me about anything." Leah says wiping away a few of my tears. I lay on her chest in silence, I felt my eyes get heavier and before I knew I was asleep.

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