The Captain's Armband

36. Leah's POV

I walk back to my room. I can't believe it hurts so much to look at her. I open the door.
"Mate, where have you been?" Keira asks concerned.
"Sorry, I had to get out for a bit."
"Let me know next time, ok?"
"I will. I just..." I sigh. "Is Georgia in the shower?" I say to change the subject.
"Yes, she is." Keira says while looking me into my eyes, it feels like she is trying to read my mind.
"Did you went to see Dani?"
"I tried. I hoovered around her door for half an hour but I couldn't get myself to knock on her door, the moment I decided to leave, her door opened and she got out."
"Did she see you?"
"Yes. She called my name and asked if she could talk to me, I looked at her and I felt so betrayed and hurt, I couldn't do it, I couldn't get myself to listen to her so I turned around and went straight back here."
Keira gets up and gives me a hug. "Give yourself and Dani some time to think things through."
I nod while tears start falling down my face.
"My emotions are all over the place, they are all mixed up."
"It's gonna be okay mate." Keira whispers.
"I can't believe she kissed Russo." I say with a cracked voice.
"Me neither, it doesn't sound like Dani at all."
"I was so wrong about her."
I can tell that Keira wants to say something but she doesn't, she keeps her mouth shut, and she is trying to be a good friend.
"I will talk to her tonight and see what is going on. If that's okay with you, of course."
I nod and try to give her a smile.
Georgia walks out of the shower.
"Mate, how did you sleep last night?"
"I don't even know if I did, to be honest."
"Will you be able to train today?"
"I have to be. This can't affect my career."
"I know mate. God, I still can't believe everything you've told me last night. It was so obvious that you two were into each other but all of this, no, I wasn't expecting that." Georgia says.
I look at Georgia and nod. I should have told her sooner.
"Don't forget it's okay not to be okay." Keira says while squeezing my hand.
I look at her, without these girls I would be nowhere, god I love them so much.
"Thank you both for always being here for me." I say while holding back the tears.
Georgia walks up to us. "Group hug!" She shouts while she puts her arms around us.
They never fail to put a smile on my face. I hold them both tight and take a deep breath.
"This is what friends are for." Georgia says while she tightens her grip.
We let go and Keira gives me a kiss on the side of my head.
"I'll go take a quick shower." I say to them.
"Yes, I'll get us breakfast." Georgia says.
"I'll come with you." Keira says and they both leave the room.

I take a deep breath and drag myself into the shower. Dani looked rough, I hope she is okay. No, no, no. Stop it Leah, I tell myself. She is a big girl and she can take care of herself, I shouldn't feel for her right now, she is the one who hurt me, she is the one who betrayed me. I inhale deeply as I let the hot water wash away my thoughts. I get out of the shower and the girls enter the room with breakfast and some tea.
"Thank you for getting breakfast." I say while I smile at them.
"Not a problem mate." Georgia says.
"Did you see her?" I whisper.
Keira looks into my eyes and shakes her head softly.
"How are you gonna act around Dani? During training and the match on Tuesday?" Georgia asks.
I shrug my shoulders.
"You sure you up for it?" She asks.
"It's only four days. She is a professional, she can handle it." Keira says.
I'm not sure what to say so I keep quiet.
"You just say the word and I'll make sure she doesn't come near you." Georgia says.
"I know mate." I give her a smile, she is so protective.
Keira shakes her head.
"You don't agree?" Georgia asks her.
"This is not the time to talk about it G."
"I think it is." Georgia says determent.
Keira looks annoyed at Georgia. "I think that we should hear Dani out before we all judge her."
"It was quite obvious wasn't it?" Georgia defends herself.
"Was it? None of us has talked to her about it, don't get me wrong, I will ALWAYS pick Leah's side, no matter what but I do think we should hear her out."
"Her lips were pressed on Russo's, can't be more clear than that."
"Still, I think Dani has the right to explain herself."
"She lost that right the moment she decided to kiss someone else."
"Can we not talk about this, please?" I say with a soft voice.
"Sorry mate." They both say at the same time.
"Let's finish breakfast and head out to the gym." Keira says.
We don't say much anymore and eat our breakfast. We get ready and just before we leave the room Keira grabs my arm.
"Are you ready?"
I nod. "I have to be."
"Tell me when it's getting to you, okay? We will find a way to deal with this together."
I give her a kiss on her cheek. "Thanks mate."
She smiles at me and she holds my hand as we leave the room.

We are almost at the gym. I take a deep breath, my guess is that Dani is already here since she is always early. Georgia opens the door and immediately scans the room. I enter right behind her and look around carefully.
"I don't see her, do you?" Keira asks.
"No." Georgia says.
"Maybe she is at physio." I say while looking at Keira.
"You're right, she probably is. Want to start at the bikes?"
"Yes." I say as I walk with her towards the bikes and take a seat, Georgia joins us.
I keep scanning the room with just my eyes, so the others don't notice. My eyes meet with Russo. She quickly looks down. Shit. I have to deal with her too. I keep looking at her, what is it that Dani was drawn to?
"It's not her fault." Keira whispers.
I look at her. "What do you mean?"
"Russo."
I softly nod my head. There isn't anything I can hide from Keira.
"She clearly didn't know you and Dani were a thing, she got hurt too."
"I know."
I keep looking at Russo, she is scanning the room too, my guess is it's for the same reason as I am.
Arjan (Veurink) walks in and gives us some instructions for our recovery session.
"Where is Sarina?" I ask Keira.
"I don't know."
"Do you think this got something to do with Dani?" I ask concerned.
"Maybe."
I scan the room one more time but I still don't see Dani anywhere.
"Maybe she can't train because of her ankle?" Keira says.
"It seemed fine this morning but maybe you are right."
I can feel myself getting restless. I can't let this situation get to me too much. I exhale loudly.
"You know what, I'll go to my room and have a look, maybe she's there." Keira says.
I give her a soft smile and nod.
Keira hops off her bike and leaves the gym.
"What did she say she was going to do?" Georgia asks me.
"Check her room."
"For Dani?" Georgia says a bit too loud.
Russo looks in our direction when she hears her name, ugh, it annoys me so much.
"Yes." I say. Georgia is being very hard on Dani and I can't blame her, she hasn't seen us together and only heard the complete story yesterday. I bet she is annoyed that Keira is looking for Dani, they don't seem to agree on how to handle this situation and they do their best to hide it from me, they are both trying their best to be a good friend.
Before Georgia can answer me the door opens. It's Sarina.
"Good morning girls, I have an announcement to make, can I please have your attention?"
Within seconds the gym is filled with silence. Something feels wrong.
"Dani Lewis just left camp."
"WHAT!" I shout.
Everyone looks in my direction. Fuck.
"YEAH! I would have thought she would say goodbye to us!" Georgia shouts to get the attention on her instead of me.
"Dani asked me if she could go back to Ajax so they can treat her ankle injury, she wouldn't be able to train or play with the squad with this injury so I let her go. She asked me to tell the group. If you have any questions, come see me."
Fuck. This can't be happening. I should have given her the opportunity to talk to me this morning. Maybe she is still packing or waiting for her aunt in the parking lot. She can't leave like this, she can't leave without talking to me. I jump off my bike and try to walk as slowly as possible so I don't draw the attention of the others. I leave the gym and I rush through the hallway, I see Keira in a distance.
"KEIRA!" I shout as I run towards her.
She turns around and looks at me. "Mate, she isn't here. All her stuff is gone."
"FUCK!" I shout. Would she actually leave without talking to any of us?
I keep on running and exit the building. I look around the parking lot but I don't see her.
"DANI!" I scream at the top of my lungs.
The only thing I hear are birds chirping. She is gone. She left without saying goodbye to anyone.
Keira is walking up to me and I look into her eyes.
"Keira..." I say as I feel the tears reaching the surface again.
"I know mate. I'll try and call her." She says as she grabs her phone.
These seconds feel like hours. Why do I feel like my heart is been torn apart?
Keira is looking at me and she softly shakes her head. "She isn't answering."
"Fuck!" I say as I kick an empty cup.
"Ok mate. I know you're hurting but you have to set your feelings aside for now." Keira says.
"I know. I'm the captain, I have to be a good example, I can't let my emotions take the best of me."
Keira nods softly. "I know it sucks but you really have to be strong right now. Let's go back to the gym and we can talk about it later tonight."
I lean with my hands on my knees and take a deep breath.
"We got this mate." Keira says as she rubs my back.
I put my shoulders back and stand up straight. "Let's go." I say, with Dani still in the back of my mind.