Imperfection

t e n

all we wanted
was a place to feel like home

______________________

The next morning came quickly. Waking up in my new bed, the sun shining through the curtains, I remembered last night. Georgia and I had spent it in Syd and Klara's apartment, Guilia soon joining, before after an hour or so, a dark haired girl came into the flat without knocking. It was Mala, their goalkeeper. ,,Klara! Syd! I need your help!", she had yelled, before noticing the other people. Mala was barely older than me, with Franzi, being the baby of the team. She quickly introduced herself cutely and after Klara helped her with her studying, she joined our game night. I was surprised how welcoming they all were. I had expected them to be worried about their starting position or to be sceptical at first, but they were open and seemed to be happy to have me as addition to their team. The evening had been great, though I still felt a little uncertain when thinking about playing for this club. I'd for sure be starting. Not to sound egoistic, but I was the star player here, having won more trophies than all of them together probably. I loved the girls already, feeling myself relax in the actually way calmer surroundings, but I somehow didn't want to get onto a pitch. At least not for a game. I knew bayern was glad to have me out on loan, well aware about how lucky they were. There barely was a game at Chelsea where I hadn't scored these past months, and I was afraid they expected me to do the same now. That they expect me to score and bring them on top of the table. It was an unreassuring feeling, a negative contrast to my excitement over the great people.

I got out of bed at some point, throwing on some clothes before walking into the bathroom. I probably woke Georgia up, her head soon appearing in the door that I had left open. ,,There our little star is!", she smiled, making me snicker and once again feel a little used. Even though I knew she'd never think about it that way. It didn't need much time till we both were ready to leave, grabbing our sportsbags we soon left the apartment and then the house, Syd, Klara and Guilia already waiting at a car. We got in, Syd, Georgia and I squeezing ourselves into the backseats as Klara drove off. We had light conversion, Guilia explaining she'd grab breakfast with us and the walk back home since she didn't have to go to the campus yet, thanks to her ACL. Georgia was teasing her about not being able to play, making me wonder if it'd hurt the blonde's feelings for a second. Injuries could be really bad for your mental health, I knew getting teased about it could hurt, but to my surprise Guilia just stuck her tongue out to the English girl, turning to me in the process. ,,By the way, if you ever need a lift somewhere, then just ask. I'm free pretty much, thanks to...", she motioned to her knee smiling. I grinned at her thankfully, nodding.

We soon came to a stop in front of a small, very Bavarian looking bakery, a sign with Ursel's Bäckerei just over the entrance. Georgia impatiently ushered me out the car and inside the little shop, the others following right behind us.

,,Oh, meine liebsten Fußballerinnen!", an older woman greeted us with a bright smile. Ursel, I assumed. ,,Ich sehe ihr habt wen neues mitgebracht.", she continued, now looking right at me. What did she say?

,,Ursel!", Georgia grinned, enthusiastically bringing the woman into a hug. ,,Ehh...sie ist Aurie. Mein beste Freundin!", she said, her accent being so thick even I could tell the difference. Ursel wasn't able to speak English, so Georgia had spent extra lessons in learning German. Ursel snickered at the young girl.

,,Natürlich! Nur jemand aus England schaut so verwirrt wenn ich sie auf deutsch anspreche.", the woman smiled, her sentence way too hard for Georgia to understand, Ursel definitely being aware of that. Georgia quickly gave up tho, leaving the topic behind.

,,Soo, eine Bretzel fo- für Aurie.", Georgia said, something I finally was able to understand, probably because I already knew what she was ordering for me.