The Captain's Armband

28. Back at camp

It's been two weeks since the perfect date with Leah. We have been texting and calling a lot. I'm very excited I get to see her again at camp today. I arrive at St. Georges Park, it feels like I haven't been here in ages. I'm early, haven't seen any of the squad yet. I see Alice standing at the counter.
"Dani, right?" She says with a smile.
I smile back at her. "Yes, Hi Alice."
"You can wait in the lobby for the others, you're the first one to arrive."
"Thank you, I will."
I take a seat on a big chair in the lobby, facing the door. I want to see when Leah gets in. I've missed her and I can't wait to see her again.
Time passes by so slowly. Hemp walks in and gives me her biggest smile.
"Dani, mate! How have you been?"
She walks up to me and gives me a hug.
"Good mate, you? Good to see you again."
She takes a seat next to me so we can catch up. The room starts to fill with the others, everyone is excited to be back. The room is filled with chatter and laughter when suddenly I hear a familiar laugh, a laugh that I've missed. I look at the entrance and there she is, walking with her suitcase through the door, scanning the room until she sees me. Our eyes meet and we both smile.
"Wow. Who are you looking at?" Hemp says while trying to see who I'm looking at by putting her head in front of mine, making me laugh.
"Easy mate, no one."
She rises an eyebrow. "Your face lighted up this entire room."
Oh damn, is it this obvious already? What do I say? Act normal Dani, don't panic.
"I'm just happy to be here with all of you." I give her a smile.
Beth comes walking towards me. "MIJN MEISJE!" She screams while pointing in my direction, I start to laugh and stand up to walk towards her so I can give her a hug. She holds me tight, of course this moment is captured by the cameras of the staff. I can see Leah looking at me from the other side of the room, by the look on her face she doesn't like what's going on. Beth and I pose for a photo before going our own way again. I walk towards Leah. She is looking at me as I make my way towards her, I can feel my cheeks blushing the closer I get to her.
"Hi there Rookie." She says with a smile on her face.
"Hi there Captain." I reply while I spread my arms, she comes in for a hug and squeezes me tight.
"So good to see you." She whispers in my ear. Before I can answer she has taken a step back already.
I stand there, looking at her and not knowing what to say. I feel awkward and it shows.
"Ok. So, I'll go and sit over there." I say with some hesitation in my voice.
Leah starts to giggle. "Yes, you do that. I'll come for you later."
I nod and smile before walking back to Hemp, my seat has been taken by someone else so I take a seat on Hemp's armrest. Alessia Russo comes in and waves enthusiastic when she sees us. She walks towards us and spreads her arm for a hug. We both get up and hug her at the same time.
"It's good to be together again, isn't it?" She says with a big smile on her face.
"It sure is." I reply. I look around the room and this calmness surrounds me, I really feel like I belong here, with this squad. I can't mess this up, maybe I should talk to Keira about this, she got the experience after all. The group is complete when Sarina walks in, everybody claps and cheers, making Sarina a bit shy. She puts her hands up, telling us it's enough, making us laugh.
"It's nice to see all of you again, get yourself settled in and we will meet outside for a short training in two hours."
We all grab our bags and walk to the desk to get the key. As far as I know nothing has changed so everyone will be in the same room as before. Keira and I walk to our room together, I open the door and leave my suitcase at the end of my bed. "I'm guessing that you will be roomies with Lucy when she gets back from her injury, right?"
"I think so, although they don't always put us together and we don't complain if they don't, sometimes we swap with others, without the staff knowing. So, there are options for you to be together with Leah, if that's what you're asking." She gives me a wink.
"I was sincerely interested in you and Lucy but yeah, good to know." I say with an awkward smile.
"I heard you two meet up for a date."
I look at her and I can feel my face turning red. "Yes we did, it was amazing."
"I heard. She is really in love with you, you know."
I get a smile on my face. "I'm really in love with her too."
"I can tell."
"Since we are talking about this already, how did you cope with it when it all started between you and Lucy? Like the time it was still a secret, how did you do it? I am already struggling to act normal around her and it already shows. How do I keep it under control?"
"Your face is an open book, it's not going to be easy. It's important that you keep talking with Leah, make sure that you are both on the same page, make sure you understand each other in the decisions that are made. Lucy and I prioritised a lot, talked about it a lot, so that would be my best advice."
"Good one, I'll keep that in mind."
"I think that the whole hype around Beth and yourself is a good distraction, people are so focussed on that rumour that they don't even think about Leah and you being a thing."
"I guess you're right." This got me thinking, is that why Beth keeps lighting up that fire? Is she involved with someone here? I already knew she liked someone, maybe it's someone from the squad as well. I should keep my eye out for her.