The Captain's Armband

29. Hanging around at camp

We enter the room when Keira starts talking.
"I haven't seen her like this in a long time."
"I assume you are talking about Leah?"
Keira nods. "I don't know what it is that you're doing but keep on doing it."
"I don't do much to be honest. I'm just being me."
"Well, never change then Dani. The group loves you too, I only heard good things about you."
"Really? This means so much to me, I always feel like I'm being awkward in a group but I really feel at home with you guys."
"You are home." She gives me a smile. "Just be sure you keep performing, keep working for it."
"I will." I smile at her.
Keira is going to take a shower while I unpack the rest of my things.
I hear a knock on the door. I open the door and see Leah standing there, with her hair all wet, in her sweatpants and a sweater.
"Hi there." I say as I look at her. "Is there anything that doesn't suit you?"
She gets a shy smile on her face. "Can I come in?"
"Of course." I take a step back so she can enter the room. She touches my belly with her hand while she walks past me.
"Keira still in the shower?"
I nod.
"Yes, I am!" Keira shouts from the other side of the door.
"Good." She whispers to me.
She grabs my hand and pulls me in for a kiss. God, her lips are so soft. The moment our lips touch I feel an electric shock going through my body, it's insane what her kisses do to me. I push her gently against the wall without breaking our kiss. I can hear a soft moan coming from her.
"Awfully quiet out there!" We hear Keira shouting from the bathroom.
We both start to laugh. Her eyes light up when she smiles, making me fall more and more in love with her. She stares back at me without saying anything, just her eyes staring into mine, a slight smile on her face, her cheeks still blushing from our intense kiss.
"You know, we should talk about this, about us." I say while I break the eye contact, I can't be serious while looking into her eyes like this, I can't concentrate.
"What do you want to talk to me about?" She says while she reaches for my hand.
"How to handle this, how to handle my feelings when I see you, all I can think about is kissing you, holding you......" I stop talking and look straight into her eyes again. I shouldn't say what I am thinking right now.
"Fucking me?" She whispers without breaking eye contact.
"Hmhm." I say as I bite my lip.
"What are you guys talking about?" Keira says as she opens the bathroom door. Leah makes a little jump, as if she just got busted, making me giggle.
"Time for me to take that shower." I say as I smile at both of them.
I close the bathroom door behind me and get undressed. I get my phone out of my pocket and see a notification coming in, it's a text from Leah.
'God, knowing that you're naked just behind that door... imagining the hot water falling down your sexy body... it's driving me insane.'
Oh my god. She gets to me every time. Shall I answer her? Why wouldn't I, she is teasing me so I can tease her back a little.
'Just a few steps away from you, waiting to be touched by your magical hands. Wish you could feel what your text did to me...'
That will do it. I smile at my phone and put it on the sink as I enter the shower. I can hear Keira and Leah talking but I can't hear what they are saying, sounds like they are whispering, which is obviously making me curious. I get out of the shower and get dressed. I get out of the bathroom and I see Keira and Leah sitting on the bed, looks like they are in a deep conversation. Leah does look up at me and gives me a smile before focussing on Keira again. I don't want to interrupt whatever is going on so I decide to leave the room, giving them some space.

I decide to go to the relaxation room, maybe someone is up for a game of FIFA. I see Georgia and Beth rehearsing for some TikTok dance, it's quite entertaining to see.
"Care to join us Dani?" Georgia asks.
"I'm good, thanks."
"Come on Dani! Don't be shy." Beth says.
Maybe Keira was right, I should take advantage of the fact that people assume Beth and I are into each other. "Ok. Fuck it. I'm in. What do I do?"
Georgia explains to me what she has planned, it doesn't look too difficult. We practice a few times before we press record. We need one take only and Georgia immediately uploads the video.
Russo and Toone where watching us from a distance and laugh when they see the video.
"Quite some moves you girls got." Toone shouts from across the room.
We walk over to them and take a seat on the couch.
"Next time you girls should join us." I tell them.
Russo looks at me. "Maybe we will."
I nod and smile. "Is there anything planned for tonight?" I ask the group.
"Not really, I figured we would hang out here with some music, maybe play some card game or something." Georgia answers.
"I'm staying in tonight, still have some studying to do." Toone replies.
"I'm coming here tonight, how about you?" Russo says.
"Think I'll be here tonight. I'm in for some small get together with some good music. How about you Beth?"
"You know me." She says with a smirk on her face. "But.." She continues. "I do want a dance with you tonight Dani."
"A dance? Why?"
"Don't think I forgot how you danced with Toone on the cocktail party last time at camp. You should really teach me how to dance like that."
"I volunteer as well, would love to learn how to dance the bachata." Russo says.
"My god. Toone can teach you guys too, right?"
"All I want is you." Beth says with a smirk on her face.
"My god Beth. You are the worst." I say, making everyone laugh.
"You love me." She says while walking away.
"See you tonight." I reply.
"She will never change." Georgia says while laughing at the sight of Beth leaving the room.
"And she shouldn't." I say while smiling.
"I agree." Georgia looks at me with one eyebrow raised. "Are you two ACTUALLY a thing? I thought it was all a big joke?"
I start to laugh. "This is how rumours get started. No, we aren't a thing!"
"Good, because I always thought you had the hots for Leah." She says.
Oh my god. What do I say? I just look at her, not knowing what to say. Shit.
"You got the hots for Leah?" Russo asks.
"What?" Is all I can say.
"Is Georgia right? You into Leah?"
"Ha." Is all that comes from my mouth. Fuck. Dani! Think! Come on! "Well, I do have to admit I have a thing for blondes." I say while giving Russo a wink.
"But the answer is no."
Russo gives me a shy smile.
"Shit. So I'm out of the picture then?" Toone says with a loud voice.
We all start to laugh. Without her knowing, she saves the day. I can take a deep breath.
"Being into someone is more than just a hair colour." I reply to Toone.
"I still got a shot." Toone says to Russo while giving her a fist bump. Russo starts to laugh.
"You are the straightest person I know." Georgia says.
"Everyone is straight until they are not." Toone says while laughing, she is clearly joking around.
"Actually, I do agree on that statement." Russo says. Toone looks at her with some confusion. "The statement is technically correct, yes."
Russo nods at her best friend.
"I agree too." Georgia says and turns her head towards me. "Did you ever turn a girl?"
"Turn a girl? I don't like to use that reference. If you are asking if a straight girl ever fell in love with me, then the answer is yes."
"I could understand, woman have a whole other level of connection."
"Doesn't mean you want to kiss them or sleep with them though, I call that friends." Toone replies.
"You guys ever kissed with another girl? And I don't mean the kiss you do in the club to get a guys attention, I mean an actual kiss with another girl?"
"No, I haven't, I don't think I could either, yeah for fun obviously but not the way you are talking about right now." Toone replies.
"I have kissed a girl, a long time ago. It wasn't bad but it didn't sparkle anything inside me either." Georgia says.
"Russo?" I ask, she looks like she is thinking about my question.
"No, I haven't yet."
"YET?" Toone shouts.
"Why do you always have to be so loud? Yeez." Russo replies while putting her hand on her ear.
Toone starts to laugh out loud. "Yeah, didn't thought you would want to kiss a girl?"
Russo's cheeks start to blush. I think there is something more going on here that she doesn't want to talk about. I should change the conversation.
"Ok guys, enough goofing around. Let's go to dinner."
"Yeah, we are already a bit late." Georgia says as she gets up from the couch.

After dinner I go for a walk, I could use some fresh air.
"Where you going?" I look up and see Leah looking me into my eyes.
"You checking up on me?"
She starts to stumble. "No of course not, I was just..."
I can't hold back my laughter anymore and give up. She pushes me softly. "Dani!!"
"Sorry, I couldn't resist. I'm going for a walk outside, want to join me?"
"Sounds like a great idea."
We walk outside, it's a bit cold but nothing we can't handle.
"I have to admit, I find this way harder than I would imagine."
"What do you mean babe?"
"Being around you at camp."
"Didn't you have this before? With Vic at Ajax?"
"You can't compare and you know it. Vic was just friends with benefits."
"And this?" She looks me into my eyes.
"This is so much more." I bet this isn't the answer she was hoping for but I'm not sure how to express my feelings.
She isn't responding, she looks straight forward, it looks like she is thinking about my answer. Maybe she expected more. She takes a deep breath.
"This was a good idea, the weather is perfect for a walk." She says.
"We can't stay out too long, it's going to be dark soon."
"I agree by the way, I find it harder than expected too."
"How do you deal with it? How did you do that with Jordan?"
"It was different with Jordan, I saw her at home and at Arsenal.. I only see you at camp or when we find time to meet up in person. When I see you I realise how much I've missed you." She takes a deep breath.
"Maybe we should try and get a room together for next camp?"
She gives me a smile. "I know. But how do we do that without drawing attention?"
"Yeah, Georgia told me this afternoon that she always thought I have the hots for you..."
She starts to laugh. "Of course she did. She is just guessing, don't worry about it."
"Did Keira talk to you about the rumours between Beth and me?"
"Yes. How did you know?"
"I didn't, I just figured since she is your best friend and she knows the whole situation, she mentioned to me how it comes in convenient for us at this point."
"She is right about that. Beth is a smart girl, she has her own reasons to go on about it."
"I know. I haven't figured out who she is though.. maybe someone from camp?"
"I don't think it's someone from camp." She is hiding her smile.
"So, you know who she is but you promised not to tell anyone?"
She nods.
"Ok. I won't ask anymore, don't want to put you in a awkward position. Next camp Lucy will be back at the squad, and IF I get selected again, I need a new roommate so maybe we could use that to change things around?"
"That's not even a bad idea. Let's think about it, we can come up with a plan before next camp starts."
I nod. "You coming to the relaxation room with me tonight?"
"With you? How can I say no to that.." She gives me a wink.
"Maybe we could play a game or just hang out for a bit. Maybe you can walk me back to my room again..."
She smiles at me. "I'm in. Pick you up at 8?"
"It's a date."
"A date at camp? Sounds interesting."
I punch her on her arm. "Stop it, you know what I mean."
She is laughing out loud. "You punch like a girl."
"I am a girl."
"Oh, I know." She says with a smirk on her face. I can feel my face turning red and I begin to laugh. "You and your naughty thoughts.."
Leah smiles and nods.
We walk back to camp and when we enter we see a few of the girls hanging around in the lobby. "See you at 8." She whispers and walks towards the others. I'm walking back to my room. Can't wait to spend some time with her tonight, even though the others are around, it feels good to be near her.