what if it just took a couple of changes to notice the invisible strings surrounding you both all along?
or
when two friends are forced to confront their feelings for each other as they run out of excuses.
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Sarina greeted us all as we took our seats, I was sandwiched between Alessia and Mary. Leah pretty much just went into captain mode as soon as we entered the conference room.
The meeting was set to last all morning, with discussions about starting lineups, tactics and our training schedule all coming into play. Obviously what was being discussed was slightly hypothetical at this stage with only Leah knowing she would for sure be playing this summer.
A lot of us had been playing for the lionesses anyway in qualifying and national games but it doesn't mean that the nerves ease, well not for me anyway.
It turns out that Jordan was injured so wouldn't be joining us for the Euros. I felt awful for her, one of the biggest tournaments of her career. I saw Leah visibly shift in her seat when the older girl was mentioned.
After intense discussions and a few speeches and pep talks thrown in there, it was time for lunch. I sat with Georgia, Keira and Lucy catching up as Leah approached.
"Make way for the captain everybody." Keira called as Leah sat down.
"Shut up, you idiot." Leah replied.
"I hate sitting with these three." I aimed at Lucy, "Feel like we're the fourth and fifth wheel." Lucy nodded her head in agreement.
"How'd you think we feel? Whoever's around you and Leah is a permanent third wheel, so consider this payback." Georgia rebuttaled.
Leah's cheeks flushed red and she felt heat rush to her face. She didn't know why. For their entire friendship they'd been teased relentlessly about their close nature, so why now did she feel embarrassed. Like when someone finds out about your crush at school.
"You alright there, Williamson?" Keira nudged her as she'd gone quiet. Leah just nodded, concentrating on her food before anything else could affect her.
"Right, you're all being weird. I'm going on a walk, who's coming?" I asked as I stood up, trying to ignore the sudden tension at the table.
"Oh, me! I'm coming." Georgia stood up with me as we walked off arm in arm.
I knew no doubt I was about to be interrogated by the girl. Almost every time we saw each other, Georgia just had to ask me whether I'd realised my feelings for Leah yet. To which I obviously replied no, citing the fact that I was in a relationship and did not fancy my best friend.
Georgia and I were close. We'd known each other since we used to play for the Under 15's team, much like Alessia, Ella and Lotte. Georgia was there when I made my senior England debut, meaning she was there when I first met Leah and she hasn't shut up about it since. Georgia already knew Leah and she's been claiming that in their whole friendship, she's never seen Leah's face light up like that. She said she could feel the tension from the moment we shook hands.
