The struggle

Part 7

Ella POV
1:48pm. I was there for a while, just over two hours. I didn't have to rush back as I didn't start work until 3pm. As I opened the door I walked up what felt like Mount Everest of stairs, all the crying really took it out of me. I had a cold in attempt to try get me some energy. I picked up my usual work bag and headed off to work. I arrived at 2:45 so I sat in the break room scrolling on my phone until my shift begun.

Just like most days I work it was boring as ever but that was until my favourite customer, Jerry walked in. Jerry was the homeless man from around the corner. He never used to get much conversation as people would just stare and walk away but when I first got a job here Jerry came in and bought some food with his 'weeks earnings' as he called it. I was sat at the counter looking rather sad when he placed his food down along with his pile of change and a few notes here and there. His first words were "it takes less muscles to smile than frown." I looked at him clueless until it clicked then I fired back "well the world ain't all sunshine's and rainbow though is it." He didn't seem phased by my attitude like normal people. Instead he spoke to me like an actual human. Ever since then he would come in on Saturday evenings to cash in his weekly earning for his weekly food run. I told Jerry's about Arsenal as well and he was so excited for me. He knew the struggles I had and encouraged me to stop without forcing me. He told me "all your effort has payed off, enjoy it." Before walking out of the door.

As it got closer to 11pm my boss walked in and I thought this would be a good opportunity to tell him I can't work next week. "Evening boss, I have had something come up for next week from Monday to the next Monday and I'm not going to be here so I can't work." I didn't want to tell him about the offer as he was a bit of a blabber mouth and to be honest we weren't overly close so I wanted to wait until either I knew it was a permanent move or got denied and the whole scenario would never be spoken about again.  "Why may I ask?" My boss said back.
"I've been offered something which is a once in a lifetime opportunity and I can't turn it down."
"Will you be ready to work on Tuesday?" He asked
"Yeah I should be back"
"Ok no worries"
I left work walking down the eerie road back to my house, I couldn't really call it home because it wasn't.

The next day I woke up at my usual 7am and when downstairs to have something to eat. I opted for some avocado and eggs on toast knowing it would energise me for my day ahead. It had now footed to the point where I was more nervous about this trial than shocked now. I felt like I wasn't ready so, I left the house on my way to the field. This session was going to be tough but not to hard as I had to be at my best tomorrow and I don't want overly sore muscles. I did my same well thought out warm up plan as I did every other day before jumping into some sideline sprints, doing 3 sets of 5 100m under a time limit. I'd always practiced sprint with a further distance than what was needed and I never really knew why but this would now be really coming in handy next week. I some long passes into the goal to work in my crossing length. After I packed my few balls away only leaving 1 out to do some freestyling. I always looked up to Ella toone when doing freestyle, she was so technical and an absolute baller. If I was watching a video of her doing keepy ups and she did a trick I could do I could guarantee you I'd be practicing until I could put it off.

Walking back into my bedroom I flung my dirty clothes on the floor and getting straight into the shower. The cold water ran down me washing off the lavender body lotion. The cool water soothed my achey muscle and prepared them for more tomorrow.

Once dried off I pulled out my suitcase from my wardrobe flinging it on my bed. I know the email said I'd be provide with training stuff my suitcase was still nearly full with boots, shoes, endless hoodies and other bits. I pulled out 'the shoebox' and put a few joints in a ziplock back as well as a 200ml of vodka. It didn't seem like a lot but it would be enough that it'd get me thorough the week. All the socialising would tire me out.

Leah POV
I got a message from the boss this morning telling me to come see him before training because he had something to discuss with me. To be honest I was slightly nervous. Whenever someone says they want to talk to you your mind runs wild so while driving over I was thinking about all possibilities, even the completely unreasonable ones.

As I walked through reception I said hi to all the staff and begun the walk to see Jonas. "Come in"he shouted through the door after I knocked.
"What's up boss?" Jonas always liked the players to have a less formal approach when talking with him but obviously still respectful of who he is.
"There's a new girl coming for the week to trial." He said and i furrowed my eyebrows.
"Trial? What."
"I know I don't usually do that but this player may be a star and had great potential but I need to see if she'll fit in with the team. There's some factors that may not work." Jonas replied to me.
"Ok. Do you want me to tell the team to make her feel welcome or something else?"
"Since she lives to long from here to travel everyday, I was wondering if she could stay with you? I know it's a big ask but it's just because she's only in a trial there's no point moving somewhere else but if you don't- "
"No, I'll definitely do it. You don't need to explain her situation. I'll get the room ready later." I cut him off
"Thank you Leah, I really appreciate it."
"All good boss" I said and headed to the door. As I opened it Jonas called my name and said "can you please tell the other girls a new players coming and explain the circumstances." I smile and closed the for behind me.

I was cutting it close with time by the time I got to the field and everyone noticed as I was usually one of the first here.
"Oi everyone, look whose finally showed up!" The typical Katie McCabe shouted.
"Relax you lot I was here I was just chatting to Jonas."
"What'd he want?" Beth mead asked me
"There's a new player coming but she's staying with me." The girls now looked confused so I said "Jonas has only brought her here in a trial of 1 week. Apparently she doesn't live close enough to drive to and from her everyday."
The girls all went "ohhhh" when Steph Catley said "why's he trialing her? I thought the boss doesn't usually do trials."
"He said that she's got potential to be a star but theres some factors that may not work but anyway she'll be here tomorrow so you can all meet her."

After telling the team about her our trainer told us to get a move on and we started the session. Overall it was a good session but was more of recovery and light stuff as we had a hard game against Chelsea yesterday and drew 1-1.

AN: I won't be using actual scores