Mini Ertz///USWNT/NWSL

LA Living

The next dew days went on the same way, soccer practice, catch/games/swimming, eat dinner, watch TV, go to bed. 

None of us brought up the whole custody thing even though we should have. 

I also got really close with Tatumn and Mallory, and we would go out for coffee or light lunch/dinner after practice. 

They both treated me like a little sister, which Mal found fun because she is the youngest, and Tatumn because she missed her sister. 

Julie told me I was allowed to travel with the team because I was a training player, so I did on Friday for the Sunday game. 

We went to LA, which was literally so much fun. 

After we got there and settled in our hotels, we were free to roam the city. 

"Let's go, kid." Tatumn threw me a pair of sunglasses. 

"Where are we going?" I asked, putting them on. 

"It's LA, baby! We need to go try and find the celebrities!" 

"Okay!" I followed her out the door, stopping in the room I was sharing with Julie to let her know where I was going. Well, not really where I was going, just THAT I was going. 

"Brittney, listen to me." Said Tatumn in the elevator. "Do not lose sight of me. And I won't lose sight of you. This is a big city. It's scary." 

"I won't." I said, making sure to memorize what she was wearing. 

After 10 minutes, we almost got separated 3 times, so I ended up grabbing her arm and holding on tight. 

We shopped a little bit, stopped to eat, and then we saw a big huge shopping center. 

Tatumn squealed like a little girl, and dragged me into it. 

I forgot about staying near Tate, and I ended up wandering away, looking around. 

And then I went upstairs, and that's when I realized. 

I looked around frantically, trying to look down and find her, but there were so many girls with brown hair pulled back into a ponytail sopping. 

I panicked and ran downstairs to where she was before, but she was nowhere to be found. 

I ran out of the store, stressed out by the amount of people inside. 

I pulled out my phone and tried calling her, but I got no service. 

I sat down at a bench just outside the store and started crying out of pure fear and not knowing what to do next. 

I kept trying to get cell service, but nothing worked. 

Then this weird guy came up to me, and started trying to talk to me. I got up and walked away, because he freaked me out. 

He chased me, and I took off at a run. He had no idea that I'm a professional soccer player that can run 2 miles in under 10 minutes. I kept checking my shoulder, not only out of habit but because it was necessary. I was looking behind me and ran right into someone, and we both fell over. 

"I'm so sorry. I'm so...there's a guy...." I said. 

"Do you need help?" Asked a voice I somehow recognized, but when I helped up the lady, I was shocked at who it was. 

"Jennifer Aniston?" I asked. "Oh my gosh....I'm so sorry....I didn't mean to hit you-" 

"It's no big deal!" She said. "Why were you running? Do you need help?" 

The guy came into sight, and I got scared again. 

"Oh no. I-" 

"Stay here. I can help you." 

"But you're-" 

"I don't care!" Said Jennifer Aniston. "This guy won't come near you if he sees me." 

When he came closer, she threatened to call the police, and he saw who it was and almost sprinted away. 

"Why didn't you call the police?" She asked. 

"My phone got no service." I was still in awe that she was talking to me, trying to help me. 

"What's your name?" She asked. 

"Brittney Johnston." I replied. 

"You look so familiar to me." 

"Do I?" 

"You look like someone. Were you ever in a movie or something? Are you a singer? Your face is so familiar." 

"I mean, I'm related to a famous soccer player-" 

"Julie Ertz. If that who it is? Is she your sister?" 

"Cousin." 

"You look really alike." 

"Our dads are identical twins." 

"Wow. That's insane." She smiled. "So what are you doing in LA?" 

"Her team is playing here tomorrow. I was going around the city with a friend. She's a friend. We were shopping at the big store a few blocks the way I came. O don't remember what it was called." 

"Let's go find it. Is your friend alone too?" 

"I guess. She's an adult. She's probably okay." I said, and we headed to the store. 

We talked the whole way there, about how I went to move in with Julie and everything. I told her about Tatumn and Mal, and a lot about Mace. She listened, and talked when she found it necessary. It was literally perfect. 

I can't believe I just spilled my whole life story to JENNIFER ANISTON. Maybe I said too much, but who knows. 

We went into the store, and she told me to call to Tatumn so she didn't draw attention to herself. 

"Tatumn? Tate. Tatumn Milazzo?" I called. 

"Brittney?" 

"Tatumn?" 

I couldn't tell where her voice was coming from, but she said my name again, and I turned to see her running to me. 

She pulled me so close into her, squeezing me so tight. 

"Don't run away like that again." She said. 

I started crying, and telling her how I got chased by the guy, and then I bumped into Jennifer, which was literally insane. 

When she finally let go of my head from her tight hug, Jennifer was gone. 

"You met Jennifer Aniston? Like actually? That was the lady with you?" Tatumn asked. 

"Yes. She was wearing a hat and sunglasses. The only reason I found out it was her was because I literally ran right into her, and knocked her hat and glasses off. Then she helped me find you." I replied. 

"That's insane." 

"I know." 

"Lets get going back to the hotel before I lose you again." She laughed, and I held onto her tight as we headed back in the direction of our hotel. 

But as she said that, I saw that look again. The one that is so similar to the one Mace gives me sometimes. The sad smile. In his case I know what it's for, but in her case I have no idea.