The Captain's Armband

9. Sleepover

I'm waking up to the sound of.. wait.. my own voice? What's going on? I open my eyes and look towards Keira. She is sitting straight up on her bed, laughing at her phone, which she is holding in her hand. She looks at me and starts to laugh even harder.
"What is going on?"
"Sorry mate, I didn't mean to laugh at you. Your video is online on TikTok."
"Video? TikTok?"
"The video they took of you yesterday where you had to make choices."
"Oh they posted that already? My god. How bad is it?"
Keira is laughing again. "It's not bad mate, you did good."
"Then why are you laughing?"
She starts to repeat the answers I gave in the clip, mocking my voice.
I throw my pillow towards her.
"No mate, seriously, you did good. I just like mocking everyone who is on TikTok, even myself."
I give her a smile as I get up to brush my teeth. I look into the mirror, things are getting real, I'm a part of the lionesses and I'm on their TikTok for the world to see, still feels weird. I hear a knock on the door, I walk towards the door and open it. It's Georgia.
"Morning Dani. Great TikTok."
I take my toothbrush out of my mouth. "Has everybody seen it?"
"Yes." Georgia gives me a smile as she walks towards Keira.
"Morning mate, I really need your help."
"Sure. What's wrong?"
Georgia takes a deep breath.
"Leah is driving me crazy, I can't sleep. Would you please, please, please trade with me tonight? I really need some sleep before matchday. I already asked the staff if there is a spare room available but there isn't. I can't have a sleepless night before the game."
"I would trade with you if it would help, Dani is just as bad as Leah to be honest. She talks in her sleep, whole stories that don't make sense." Keira points towards me. "I think she will keep you up as well."
Georgia is looking at me. "Would you trade with me tonight? Pretty please? I really need my sleep."
I feel bad for Georgia, it can be really frustrating if you can't sleep.
"You sure that's such a good idea? Have you talked with Leah about it?" Keira interrupts.
"Yes, Leah was fine with you sleeping over, don't think she would mind if it's Dani sleeping over instead of you."
Keira agrees with Georgia. All of a sudden it hits me. Sleepover. Oh my god. I can't do that. I can't sleep in the same room as her.
"Dani?" Georgia is looking at me with puppy eyes.
Shit. What do I do. I can't say no without a valid reason.
"Just for one night?"
"Yes, it's just for one night, before the match. I need to be fit."
"No problem mate, I got you."
Georgia is giving me a hug. "Thank you."
Keira is looking at me with some doubt in her eyes.
"Let's go to breakfast." Georgia really sounds relieved.
We walk towards the door, Georgia leading the way. I feel Keira getting closer.
"You sure this is a good idea mate?" She whispers in my ear.
"Why wouldn't it be a good idea?" I try to act like nothing is going on.
Keira looks at me with one eyebrow up. Clearly she doesn't buy my innocent act.
"Just keep in mind she has a big day tomorrow as well, first time being captain is a big deal for her, even if she acts like it's not."
I give her a smile. "I know. Don't worry, I'll behave.
"You better." Keira punches me in the arm.

We enter the dining room, not many people are eating yet. I get my breakfast and join Lauren.
"So, I'm your biggest competition AND your friend?" She gives me a big smile.
"That clip isn'tonline yet, right?"
She starts laughing. "No, I was justteasing you, overheard you answers yesterday. Thanks for the compliment though."
"Which of the two do you consider a compliment?"
"Both, of course."
"My pleasure. I only told the truth."
I search the room for Leah, I haven't seen her yet. Beth sees me looking and waves from across the room. I wave back at her, making her come over to our table.
"You know Dani, we should really do it together." Beth says while focussing on the word it.
"Excuse me?"
Beth can't hold her laughter. "A TikTok dance, what did you think?"
"God Beth, you and your flirtatious ways."
"You are the one with the dirty mind here Dani."
I look at Lauren. "Can you believe her?"
"Don't worry Dani, I like girls with a dirty mind." She gives me a wink as she walks back to her table.
I take a deep breath. "Is she always like this?"
"She is just Beth being Beth, you ready for training?"
"Yeah, let's go." I take one more look around the room, no Leah.