Leah Williamson: The Bond.

Number 7: Rooming with Mead and Leah's activities

It was move in week to England camp. I was scared, very fucking scared but I couldn't do it with anyone else by my side. Ella and Alessia.

"This is our dream. Take it all in Abs."

I looked around reception. This is where I was meant to be. This is what the pain and struggle had been for. We heard a couple of screams from behind. Millie and Rach had walked through the door. They came straight up to the three of us.

"Rach! I've missed you!"
I said, with a big smile on my face.

"Finally playing for the same team. I'm so excited Abby!"
Rach embraced me in a big hug.

We looked over to see Alessia and Millie exchanging a quick kiss.

"Are yous two together yet?"
I said smiling.

Alessia looked at Millie and spoke,

"No not yet. We're taking things slow."

As she said this, another handful of girls entered. It was Leah, Jordan, Beth and Mary. I made direct eye contact with Leah as I turned my back. Mary came to me and gave me a hug from behind. She covered my eyes with her hands.

"Guess who!"

"My favourite goal keeper that's who!"

We hugged for a while. We've been friends since we joined Man United. Mary gave the best advice, hands down. She is a mother figure to me, and Ella.

"Yous all need to go into the meeting room. Sarina is in there with some other girls."
The receptionist spoke.

We took our bags and walked into a large room, filled with rows of chairs on one side, tables on the other.

"Hi girls! Hi Abby, it's great to have you here."

"Thanks Sarina. I can't wait to get started."

We walked and sat ourselves down. I was at the end of the row and felt a hand meet my shoulder. It was Leah. She leant down and whispered something into my ear.

"I'm sorry Abs. We do need to talk though."

She walked off before I could answer. Talk about what? How she is happy with Jordan? I couldn't do that. The doors opened and the rest of the girls arrived. The chairs were filled up and Sarina started to talk.

"Now this girls, this is the squad for the Euros 2022. I believe every one of you has something to bring to the table. Starting positions are not guaranteed so it will be a tough fight this year. The rooming list is on the board behind me. Get your keys, get settled in before dinner. Training is at 9am tomorrow, with an on pitch session then gym. Get yourselves ready for it."

We all slowly started to filter around the board holding the rooms.

Rooming List - Euro's 2022

Room 101: Mary and Lauren
Room 102: Ella and Alessia
Room 103: Rachel and Millie
Room 104: Leah and Jordan
Room 105: Beth M and Abby
Room 106: Beth E and Fran
Room 107: Ellie and Sandy
Room 108: Keira and Lucy
Room 109: Jill and Ellen

I looked over at Beth and smiled. I didn't mind rooming with her. We went, collected the keys and headed to the rooms. They were really spacious and modern. I could feel this being my year.

Ella and Alessia came in to visit me and Beth.

"How you settling in?"
Said Alessia, jumping on my bed.

"Good actually. I'm just excited now."

"You not going to see Millie?"
I said curiously.

"Nah, only yous two and Rach know anything is even going on. It's just weird not rooming with her now."

They both left after a while to go unpack properly. Ella was one of the most untidy people I know. She just leaves a mess wherever she goes. It's like a trail. Alessia would keep her right though, she hates mess. That would be a funny one to see.

We went down for dinner at 8pm and sat down to eat. The table consisted of Ella, Alessia, Beth, Mary Keira and Jill. It was the loudest table by far. Beth and Jill were trying to see who could tell the best jokes. I left to go to the toliet and instantly broke down. I was just happy. I knew Dad would be proud of me. I sat in the bathroom for ages. I heard a knock at the cubicle door.

"Abby? You in there?"

I opened it to find someone I didn't expect.