Jonas POV The teenager turned to face me and her eyes looked like they were about to burst out of her head. "Holy shit." Was all she said. I chuckled at her reaction. "Hey, I'm Jonas Eidevall. Arsenal Women's head coach." "Yeah I know who you are, sorry I'm just a bit shocked. I'm Ella Carter how can I help you." "If you don't mind me asking how old are you?" "No I don't mind, I'm 16" she replies "Wow, I knew you'd be young but 16 and playing with the women, congrats" I said She laughed slightly before saying "thank you" "Anyway I'm gonna cut to the chase, I think your very talented and with the correct training you could be a great player where ever you go but I want you to come down to the Arsenal training ground for a week and do some training with us and we'll go from there. How's that sound?" Her face went back to the shocked one she had when she first saw me. "Oh wow, I'm speechless. Yes of course, I'd love to. What do I need to do?" She said "Great. Arsenal can either set you up in a hotel or you can stay with one of the girls in the team for a week."
Ella POV I had never been so surprised. First he complements me, then offers me to train with THE Arsenal women's and that I can stay with them. I'm definitely dreaming. "I'll stay with one of the girls if that's okay" I ask unsure "Yep no worries. All we need is a parental signature since you under 16. I'll have someone you email you all the details." "Thanks a lot sir." "Please call me Jonas. I'm sure we'll be getting to know each other."
I turned to my current coach and he brought me into a big hug. I couldn't stop the tears from coming down my face as he spoke about how proud he is and how I've always been to good for this club. My walk home was the best walk I've ever had. I'd played a major part in helping my team win the league, Arsenal women's manager want me to train with them and I'm only 16. If Josie was here she'd be so proud of me. She was always my number one supporter. I check my phone 7:34pm. Shit I have work at 8. After playing a whole game I was surprised I had the energy to run back home and to work in under 25 minutes. I got to the door at 7:58 and clocked in just in time. I had been working since i was 14, it started of just to get some money so I could buy things I wanted but then I had to get a better paying job when my parents stopped parenting. Fuck I had to get one of them to sign my form so I could to train with Arsenal. My shift was going quite quickly as I was to busy in my own head. I looked at the clock 10:21 pm. I wasn't allowed to work past midnight so my shift would end then which I was relieved about. I worked in a 24/7 Nisa Local which I thought was a decent job considering my busy schedule. Before my offer I wasn't planning on leaving because my boss always tried to work around my school and football time table which is why I was typically on the night shift. It was normally fairly quiet as well apart from a few shift workers needing to get a few bits which gave me time to study for my up coming GCSEs. People think I'm not very smart because I don't really do much in school but my fear of failure really kicks me in the ass near exams, so whether I like school or not I'm revising for these.
A ping on my phone came through. Arsenal women's FC - 1 week training details. Holy shit. He actually did it. I skimmed over the email reading where it said a car would drive me to the training facility, until I got to where it said where I'd be staying. I was a bit disappointed when the name wasn't there it just said will be told once arrived. I had to have this signed and sent back by Wednesday, today was Friday evening. If it was signed the car could come to my house on Thursday.
By the time I had gotten home the 20 minute journey had turned into 30 because I'd never felt so exhausted as I was right now. I flopped on straight onto the floor not wanting to get my clean bed dirty as I was still dirty from the game earlier. Peeling myself from the carpet I turned the shower on and almost screamed when the water was like ice. "Fuck sake," I whispered under my breathe. The hot water must've ran out leaving me to almost get hypothermia. On the bright side though it gave me some energy, so I decide to unpack my bag. I placed the medal around my neck immediately as it was on the top of the pile within the bag. I place all my dirty laundry in the basket next to my door so I could clean it tomorrow and left everything else in the bag. I scanned my room for any rubbish but there was nothing major, I loved this bedroom. It was an attic which was converted so I had a huge window which I usually climbed out of to sit on the roof
Oops! This image does not follow our content guidelines. To continue publishing, please remove it or upload a different image.
Under my bed was where I kept my shoe box which had everything in revolving smoking or drinking so I pulled from under the bed and took out a blunt I'd rilled a few nights ago and my lighter before kicking it back under the bed and getting on the roof through the window.
I lit the blunt and held my well deserved medal in the other hand. As long as I got mum or dad to sign the slip there was a chance I would have this life anymore. I was happy yet sad about that at the same time. The thing is this place has so many bad memories, like Josie dying and mum and dad giving up on me but it was my home, it was where I felt connected to Josie. I know where ever I went she'd be with me but this was where we had so much fun, where the friendship started, where we shared the best memories but I knew she'd rain hell upon me if I decline this offer.
