The Captain's Armband

44. Media day

Sarina has been explaining some do's and don'ts for today. I have been focused on Sarina and I haven't looked Leah's way or anyone else for that matter. I do still feel a little nervous and I want to try and keep my focus on this media day since I haven't done much of these in my career.
"I have a little surprise for you." Sarina says with a smile on her face. We all ask what it is and look around the room.
"Since you all are doing this event for the Euros, you need to wear something from the new kit. The actual new home or away kit isn't decided yet but we do have the new training kit which you all have to wear."
Everyone gets excited and starts talking.
"Let me finish girls." Sarina says with a louder voice, gaining our full attention again.
"Everyone is expected to go to the kit room and get their training outfit, walk by me first so I can give you your schedule for today."
I get up from my seat and walk past Leah, who is still sitting in her seat, discussing something with Georgia and I can't help myself so I look at her, straight into her eyes, throwing her off, she gives me this sexy side eye while she stops talking, she is totally distracted by me passing by. Georgia hits her on the knee. "Seriously Leah?" She says annoyed.
I keep walking and get my schedule from Sarina.
Everyone starts walking towards the kit room, discussing what the colors might be.
I'm last in line, watching the others interact and see the excitement they have for seeing the new training kit. Leah stayed behind to talk to Sarina. We are all walking through the hallway, Georgia and Russo start to walk faster and faster to be the first to see the new training kit, which is making Bronze and Bright laugh.
"Kids." I hear Bright say.
"Kids? Amateurs you mean." Bronze says as she starts sprinting and passes them both.
Everyone starts laughing, Bronze is the one who enters the kit room first. She is very pleased with herself. All of a sudden I feel a warm hand on my shoulder. I look to the side and I see Leah smiling at me.
"Hi.." She says softly.
"Hi..." I say while I stare into her eyes.
"Oh, don't." She whispers.
"I'm not doing anything." I whisper.
She shakes her head slowly and presses her lips together. Her eyes locked with mine.
"But you do." Leah says.
We get interrupted by Georgia who is screaming. "IT'S ALL BLACK!"
We enter the kit room and see she is right. The training kit is all black, it looks awesome.
We all change into the new outfit. I search for Leah, she looks so good in this kit.
"Where are you going to first?" Bright asks while trying to compare her schedule with mine.
"Stand 4. You?"
"Stand 1."
"You start at stand 4?" Bronze asks me.
"Yes."
"Me too." She smiles at me. "Come on, let's start walking." She pulls my arm. I laugh and leave the room with her. The others are still comparing their schedules and admiring the new outfit. Leah is looking at me as I walk away, I can feel her eyes burning so I look over my shoulder and I look straight into her eyes. She smiles and looks down, almost like she is shy. I sigh softly.
"Just so you know, Keira told me everything." Bronze says.
"Oh. Yeah. God." I start to stutter.
I assumed Keira would tell her everything since they are partners, I just didn't think about it.
"Don't worry. I'm not here to judge. I just wanted to let you know."
"Thanks." I smile at her. That's kind of her to say.

We walk over to stand 4 and the reporter is greeting us.
"Hi, please take a seat." We do as he says and we take a seat on the couch together.
"Ready for some questions?" The reporter asks.
"Yes. Shoot." Bronze says.
"Do you have any rituals before a match?"
"Not really but I definitely can't sit still. I'm constantly messing with my hair, pulling my socks up, walking about, trying all the drinks and edibles." Bronze says.
"How about you Dani?"
"I don't think I have any."
"Yet." Bronze says with a smirk. I start to laugh.
"What did you want to be when you were younger?"
"Footballer! It always has been football. But back in my time football wasn't a career for girls, I never thought I would be able to make money by playing football. My plan was to work part-time as an accountant so I could still play football." Bronze says.
The reporter is looking at me, waiting for my answer.
"When I was really little, I wanted to be a school crossing-guard."
Bronze looks at me and starts laughing out loud. "Those people who help the kids get a cross the street?"
"Yes." I say while laughing with her.
"You know that isn't actually a job, right? Those were just parents who helped out."
"Obviously, I know that now but I didn't when I was just a little girl."
Lucy is still laughing. "Well, I know what you are gonna wear next time we have Halloween."
After we are both done laughing I continue with my answer.
"When the crossing-guard phase was over, I wanted to be a police officer."
"No way, my aunt has been a police officer for years." Bronze says.
"Really? That's so cool!"
We really hit it off and we totally forget that there is a camera in front of us.
The reporter scraps his throat. "So, your goal wasn't to become a footballer?"
I smile. "I always wanted to but I never knew you could actually become a female footballer as a job, that's one of the things we would like to change, let every girl know that there is a future in football."
And we're back on track. We answer some more questions about the future of football.
"Time is up ladies." The reporter says. "Thank you so much for your time."
"My pleasure." Bronze says as she smiles at him.
We get up from the couch and check our schedule.
"Where you off to next?" Bronze asks me.
"Stand 5. You?"
"I have to go to stand 2 but I'll see you again at lunch."
"See you." I smile at her as she finds her way to the right stand.