The Captain's Armband

18. Matchday part 1

I open my eyes, I see Leah is looking at me. She gets a soft smile on her face when she sees I'm waking up. She puts a string of hair behind my ear.
"Good morning."
"Good morning, Did you know you were looking at me with a certain look in your eyes?"
Her smile gets bigger. "I was?"
"HmHm." God. I'm so in love with her.
She comes closer and holds me.
"I wish we could stay like this all day."
"Me too. I want to stay in this bubble we have created."
"I'm really gonna miss you..." She whispers.
"I'm gonna miss you too, luckily it's only for 4 weeks."
"That's 4 weeks too long." She takes a deep breath.
"You know, I am a little scared for what will happen."
"Why?"
"When were here, in this bubble, everything feels so good and intense. How are you going to feel when were apart? When life takes over?"
"I don't know. I know that what I'm feeling is real, if that's what your questioning."
"No I'm not questioning anything. I just.." I sigh.
"Yes?"
"I don't want you to forget about me."
"Dani, that's impossible."
I smile at her. "When reality hits you, how are you going to feel?"
"I don't know baby. I'm not going to give you false promises, I'm just being honest with you."
I nod. I feel so insecure right now. "I know. I want you to be honest."
She grabs my hand and puts it on her chest so I can feel her breathing. She looks me into my eyes. She puts pressure on my hand, making me feel her heartbeat.
"This is real Dani. Remember that."
Tears appearing in my eyes. I smile at her. "You are turning me into a big softie."
She starts to laugh. "Turning?"
"You calling me a big softie?" I ask her while I sit on top of her, pinning her down on the bed.
She starts to laugh out loud. She has this twinkle in her eyes.
"Hm, I'm gonna be calling you a softie more often."
I look at her, I want to remember these moments, her laugh and the way she makes me feel.
My phone is buzzing. I reach over to get it. I see a message from one of my Ajax teammates, I haven't responded to her in ages, I sigh.
"Everything okay?" Leah is looking at me with one raised eyebrow.
I turn my phone and show her the message.

"I don't want to see your text." She says while looking away.
"Don't worry, you wouldn't understand half of them anyway since it's in Dutch."
Her jaw drops and she pretends to be shocked. I start to laugh.
"Ok. Give me that." She grabs my phone and starts to read out the messages out loud, trying her best in Dutch, making me laugh.
"Yeah, we should really practice your Dutch."
She smiles at me.
"So, are you ghosting your teammate? I can understand that part."
"A little, yes, it's a long story though."
"You guys sleeping together?"
"Not anymore."
"But you did sleep together?"
I feel like I'm getting investigated.
"Yes."
"I thought you weren't the type to, how did you say that again, sleep around?"
"I'm not but I do have my needs. We had some kind of understanding, like Friends With Benefits."
"I see." She has this firm look on her face.
"Are you jealous?"
"I don't get jealous."
"Hmhm." I say to let her know I don't believe her.
"When was the last time you two slept together?"
"Few weeks ago, it didn't happen frequently though."
"Were you planning on hooking up with her after camp?"
"Well, we talked about it before I left but now I have to find a way to tell her it's not going to happen."
"You can do whatever you want."
I look at her. "What I want? Are you being serious?"
She shrugs her shoulders.
"You are so jealous right now." I start to laugh. A slight smile appears on her face.
Again, she shrugs her shoulders.
"To be clear: I don't want to hook up with her anymore but I can't exactly tell her why now can I?"
"Because of me?"
Is she testing me or is she being insecure? Should we make this exclusive? I don't want to rush this. I don't want to push her into anything so I think it's best to leave it up to her.
"Obviously. I really like you Leah."
"I like you too." She gives me a smile.
"Good, your smiling again."
She sticks out her tongue playfully. I put my phone away and lie on top of her. My body pressing against hers.
"You know, It kinda turns me on when your being jealous." I whisper in her ear.
I can hear her gasp. "My god Dani."
I give her a kiss on her lips.
"Hmm, your lips feel so soft. Give me another one." She says.
I give her another kiss on her lips.
"Another one."
I give her a kiss again. I look into her eyes and smile.
Suddenly we hear someone banging on the door. I get a jump scare and jump away from her.
"You guys are running late!" Keira shouts from the other side of the door.
"Fuck. Why does this keep happening? How do we keep losing track of time?" Leah looks at me with a confused look on her face.
"I don't know baby."
"YOU GUYS!!?" Keira shouts.
"Yeah were up!" Leah says as she gets up to unlock the door.
I rush into the bathroom to brush my teeth and freshen up a bit.
"Let me guess, you two were playing 'Sudoku'?"
"Not that it's any of your concern but we were just talking."
"Well, the fact that I have to come and get you is making it my concern."
I walk out of the bathroom. "Hi Keira, you're right. Sorry, we were talking and lost track of time."
Keira is looking confused towards Leah. "Oh my god, what is that?"
"What's what?" Leah asks.
"In your neck." Keira walks up to Leah to have a better look. "Is that a bitemark?!"
Oh my god. You have got to be kidding me. I left a bite mark? Leah's face turns red instantly.
"Bite mark? What?" She runs to the mirror to have a look. "DANI!" She shouts.
Fuck. I walk towards her and take a look. "Shit. I'm sorry, I don't even remember doing it."
"Yeah, me neither. I haven't felt you doing it. Fuck. What are we going to do now?"
"So.... You two had sex?" Keira asks while joining us in front of the mirror.
I can't hold my smile. "I'll leave you two to deal with this, I'll see you after breakfast."
"Yeah you better walk away." Leah is giving me a wink.