Lauren Hemp short fanfic :)

part 6

I woke up the next morning fairly early, but still not early enough apparently as Lauren was already in the shower. I quickly got changed into my tracksuit and then sat on the floor infront of the mirror to sort out the mess that was my hair. I began brushing through it slowly, combing out all the knots. The shower switched off and Lauren came out of the bathroom in a towel. Her hair, which was somehow darker when wet fell perfectly over her shoulders, and her arms. Oh my god her arms were incredible.
"Morning." She smiled down to me,
"Hey." I replied, looking up at the girl,
"I realised when I woke up this morning that I was in your bed. Sorry about that." She chuckled,
"It's all good." I laughed, "I didn't have the guts to move you."
The blonde chuckled and brought her arms above her head in a stretch. Her towel was very tight across her body and I had to refrain myself from staring. She sat down on the edge of one of the beds and rung her hair out with a towel she had draped over her shoulders. I decided to carry on with my hair, but the blonde was still reflected in the mirror and I caught her eye every so often. I plaited two  Dutch braids into my hair and tied them off with elastic bands.

"Woah. That's really neat." Lauren remarks, coming out of the bathroom wearing only a sports bra and shorts,
"It's not usually." I laugh, "I can do it better on other people than myself."
"Would you mind doing mine?" She asked,
"Sure. I've got time. Come sit down." I patted the space on the floor,
The blonde made her way over and sat down cross-legged infront of the mirror. I knelt down behind her,
"Do you want one to two?"
"Uh. Two please."
"French or Dutch?"
"What's the difference?" Lauren chuckles,
"Mines dutch, French is closer to your head."
"Uh- go for French then."
I chuckled at the girl, parting her hair and starting a French braid on one side. I didn't need much concentration as I'd always found French easier to do than Dutch, so I found my eyes drifting to Lauren's stomach. Even sitting down she had a perfectly toned six-pack, I tore my eyes away quickly when I noticed her eyeline in the reflection. I quickly finished the other one without my eyes wandering anywhere else. I tied off the end then knocked the plaits over her shoulders, allowing her to looks at her hair.
"Woah. I found my hair dresser," She starts, standing up, "thank you."
"No problem." I reply, picking up the hair bobbles that had been disregarded on the floor.

I packed my bag for the game, folding up my extra training kits and boots as well as towels and toiletries. Lauren made sure we were downstairs in the lobby early. Just to make sure that the team couldn't say anything. We sat down on one of the sofas and scrolled through social media. Posting certain things on stories. I also made sure to snap a few photos of the hotel, as well as my teammates coming down into the lobby.

"Have we got everyone?" Gareth asks, standing up in the middle of the lobby.
A chorus of nods and yeses comes from the team,
"Your hair looks amazing Hemp." Jill spoke up, "you did that?"
"Nah." Lauren smiled, "I can't do that. It was Alina."
"Did you now?" Lucy smirks at me,
I shrugged at her comically,
"I literally plaited her hair. It's nothing exciting."
"Whatever you say." Lucy nodded, knocking Keira in the ribs.
"Okay, ladies. Coach is outside, let's go!"

We arrived at Arsenal's stadium two hours before kick off, giving us time to scout out the stadium as well as prepare for the game. I sat in the dressing room, picking the skin around my fingers. I wasn't starting, so I don't know why I was so nervous. Lauren sat down next to me, obviously noticing my anxious tell and grabbing my hands.
"Stop. You'll be fine."
"I dont even know why I'm stressing." I chuckle, trying to keep my composure.
"You're stressing because you're human. It'll your first game over here, it's bound to happen. Okay? Now stop with this-" She gestured down to her hands encasing mine, "and breathe."
The blonde unhooked her hands slowly, as if to leave me as untouched as possible. The noise coming from the stadium got louder and Gareth held us all in the dressing room,

"Go out there. Do your team proud. Subs, I want you with me."
Lauren turned to face me, prepping herself for the run onto the pitch.
"You got this." I smiled, mainly to Lauren, but it also stood as a quote to myself. She leant forwards and wrapped her arms around me, I copied her gesture looping my arms round her back. I watched Lucy smirk from the corner of my eye. I turned my head slightly to look at her and rolled my eyes at the brunette. The team began their seemingly long walk through the tunnel, Lucy passed on my left.
"Just friends my ass."

The first 20 minutes of the game was a fast paced mess. Multiple fouls and even a yellow card, from Arsenal of course. Clearly neither side remembered the England Scouts who were present at the game. Gareth was shouting instructions from the sidelines, but the team were too focused on keeping Arsenal's best off the ball. A few of the opposition's players had already gone down in an apparent attempt to gain a penalty or free kick, but the ref was having none of it, and instead booked the Arsenal midfielder for time wasting. I watched and worried as Hayley; one of our midfielder's went down in a collision. Hayley wasn't one to roll about on the floor, but there she was. Clutching her knee, and biting her lip in pain. We were only 24 minutes in, there was no way a serious injury had come this quickly in the game. Demi and Jill quickly made there ways over to Hayley, calming her down as much as possible. First Aiders were sent onto the pitch to assess her injuries. Gareth turned to face us subs,
"if she comes off one of you needs to go on." Gareth sighs, he knew Arsenal would take advantage of any swaps he made. So when he pointed at me, I was petrified, but didn't say no to the challenge.

I watched as the sign was held up that confirmed my switch, the numbers showed 13 out; 17 in. I stood waiting for Hayley to come hobbling off before running full pelt into her position. I caught Lauren's eyes as I entered the pitch and she nodded carefully. The clock started again, and from there. The goals just kept on coming.

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