right where you left me

Chapter 28 - Natural Interactions

The season was soon set to commence. This year, coming up, would be of utmost importance, to everyone. It was a World Cup year. We had so much to play for; so much to work towards. I knew that this season, with my team, was going to be so vital.

It was also a completely fresh start; no worrying about Lyon or Ellie, or anything in that vicinity. All I had to think about was here: Arsenal, Leah, and London. Nothing more; nothing less.

However, before that could happen, we were set to play two friendlies against Canada: one in Sydney and the other in Brisbane.

Although I was upset for our team, and for Ellie, that she wouldn't be able to play for at least until next year, some separation was probably best, for both of us. Even thinking about what happened made me feel icky. I hoped, more than anything, that she had slid whatever it was under the rug, never to speak of again. I needed that; she did too.

"So I get Tipps all by myself, do I?" Sam laughed, as we boarded our flight from London. Caitlin and Steph were on the later flight, after Caitlin lost her passport, and Steph stayed around to help her find it (but they both ended up being late.)

"Yep, lucky you!" I exclaimed, putting my suitcase in the overhead compartment. I jumped into my cocoon, laying out my legs before I was supposed to, and trying to fall asleep. I hadn't slept the night earlier, stressed about what I was meant to be doing (you know, all those very normal questions any 23-year-old thinks about.)

"What's wrong?" Leah said, the night earlier, turning the light on at 3 am.

"Nothing," I said, rolling over.

"We have to be up in two hours," Leah then exclaimed. "What's wrong?" I didn't say anything, and instead just leaned into her, my arm wrapping around her stomach.

"Just not feeling 100%," I soon answered, once her body had molded to fit mine. Her head rested on mine, and her arms were wrapped around my torso.

"Mentally or physically?" she asked.

"Just the brain. Feeling anxious." She kissed my head, holding me tight. I fell asleep in her arms, and everything about it felt peaceful. My heart settled when I had Leah Williamson there holding my hand.

But on the plane, I didn't, and I woke up to the plane dropping due to turbulence.

"Jesus Christ," I said, holding my seat. The seatbelt sign whipped on, but before it had, Sam had jumped out of her seat and came into my little area. "What are you doing?" I asked her, as she sat on my footrest.

"I don't like flying," she responded.

"Really?" I said to her, shaking my head.

"Distract me," she asked.

"With?"

"Anything," she asked.

"Um..." the plane dropped again.

"You always talk and the one time I want you to, you don't?" Sam said, frantically.

"Sorry, sorry, um- well- I've seen Ellie recently," I said to her.

"Really?" she asked.

"Yeah..."

"And?" Sam questioned.

"Well, it was interesting." Sam and I had always been friends, good friends, I would think. I was never as close to her as she was to Emily, and she was never as close to me as I was to Caitlin or Steph, but I could always find something to talk to my captain about. We had an understanding off the pitch which translated onto it. Since I had debuted, I had assisted Sam more than anything, with 13 goals of hers coming from an assist from me (normally via a corner that turned into a header, or a free kick that landed on her foot.)