Friends for life?

26. Back to Camp

"I can't believe your leaving me" Leah squeezed my hand as we drove to the airport "what am I meant to do without you?"

"Hmm probably starve to death" I said sarcastically

"I can cook" Leah sulks

"In 10 months you've been living with me, you've never cooked once. You set the fire alarm off that time in your mum's when you cremated chicken nuggets"

Luckily she only has to fend for herself for one night before she's off to her own international camp. I had planned to leave her something she could microwave. That was before she surprised me with a night away.

Pulling into the airport Leah drove us into the car park instead of drop off. "Le, you've took the wrong turn" I laughed as she's driving further and further away from the drop off area "are you seriously gonna make me walk all that way?"

"Are you telling me Miss ' I can outrun the entire team' is having a strop about not being dropped off right at the door? Look it's right there, it'll only take you like 2 minutes to walk that. Maybe 5 actually with your knees" she smirked.

"Are you serious..." before I could finish my sentence my face was being turned towards her. She must've seen the scowl on my face.

"Just kidding baby, do you think I'd let you go without a proper goodbye kiss." She said softly leaning in
"You took the wrong turn for a kiss?"
"Away from prying eyes, that drop off area is always really busy. Now are you going to keep talking or kiss me?"
"Honestly I don't think you deserve one for what you said about my knees"

After hiding at the other side of the carpark for longer than we should, we pulled up at the drop off area. As I walked towards the entrance of the airport with my suitcase, Leah took the opportunity for one final goodbye. Pulling up beside me in the car and opening the window.
"Go absolutely smash it, I'm not going to Australia without you"

It's a short flight from Luton, one I've done more times than I can even count. Today I'm flying to Glasgow to help coach at one of the Scottish FA Youth Performance Schools that'll involve lots of photos and interviews that I'm not looking forward to. Everyone thinks it comes naturally after a while but for me it doesn't, I over analyse ever single thing I say or do in front of a camera. I'd happily never do any media related activities if I could get away with it.

After a few hours on the pitch with the teams, I had the usual interviews luckily I knew the interviewer pretty well, Eilidh Barber, so it wasn't as bad as I expected. Finally once that's done I can meet some friends for food and maybe a drink or two before meeting the Scotland team the following day.

The first day of camp was very quiet, the girls were arriving throughout the day and I'd had a catch-up with Pedro, our head coach, since I've been out for a while with injuries. The rest of the day the team spent chilling, playing games like table tennis and pool, and going for coffees. I stuck to iced drinks since it's still too warm for hot chocolate yet. After we'd eaten together, we watched a film as a team before splitting up to head to our own rooms. Although we have individual rooms since the pandemic, Lisa, Caroline and I spent most of the night in my room. It's been so long since the trio were together that we had a lot to catch up on. It wasn't long till the topic of conversation was my love life or 'lack of' as they saw it. I'd told them about the summer with Emile but didn't mention Leah and I. I didn't really know what to say about us so I chose not to mention it. As far as they know I'm into guys or to quote Lisa during an awkward 'getting to know your team' session "she's the straightest person I know"
Anyway I don't think Leah's planning to scream from the rooftop of St George's Park that we're "taking things slow" so no harm done in saying nothing.