WOSO Imagines

Tattoos (Georgia Stanway)

I have a phobia of needles and always have. I'd be the kid at the doctor's office crying when I had to get a flu shot. I nearly pass out as an adult when I need my blood drawn. My girlfriend thinks it's a silly phobia and sits for tattoos like someone is brushing a feather over her skin. She's been trying to convince me to get one with her since we first started dating, but I flat-out refuse every time she brings it up.

The last time she tried was when we won the Bundesliga title (her 1st, my 3rd). I managed to get out of it, citing the fact that we didn't have time before our trip to Cumbria to visit her family.

"You would look so badass with a tattoo, babe," Georgia would say. "Why not just go for it?"

"Absolut nicht," was always my reply. (Absolutely not)

She tries again while we're in England, even getting some of her national teammates in on it while we're out to dinner with them.

"I hate needles, and I've got a bunch. Promise there's nothing to be scared of," Keira says.

I groan. "Why are you all ganging up on me about this? I have said no, end of conversation."

"Sorry, Tahlia. Didn't realize it was such a big deal. G's just told us you were on the fence and needed some friendly convincing," Leah admits, looking apologetic.

"Sie ist eine Lügnerin," I mutter, crossing my arms. (she is a liar)

"What'd she say?" Keira whispers to Georgia.

My girlfriend shrugs. "No clue."

"Only you could live in Germany for a year and not speak a single syllable of the language," Leah laughs, diffusing some of the tension.

"Plus, you've been with Tahlia for longer than that," Keira points out. "Haven't you learned anything?"

"When did this become a take the mick of Georgia party?" she whines.

"Now you know how it feels," I say, pressing a kiss to her cheek.

Soon enough, I have to go back to Germany and leave her. It's even more bittersweet and anxiety inducing because World Cup squads will be picked soon, and my fate is still undecided. See, I have incredibly bad luck and have often been injured before or during the early stages of big tournaments, so a call-up for Germany is not guaranteed. I managed to play in the Euros last summer, even coming on in the second half of the final where we lost to England (G still rubs in it my face sometimes), but due to aggravation of an old ankle injury, I sat out a good chunk of the 2023 season.

I facetime Georgia the night before the reaping, needing to hear her voice. "What if I don't make the squad? I mean, I know I am still young, but I feel like I'm in my prime right now and I deserve to prove that I am one of the best in the world."

"I'd be bloody shocked if you don't get a call-up, and I'm not just saying that as your girlfriend, but as someone who has played with and against you in the past year. Your performance at the Euros even impressed Sarina, and we wouldn't have one the league without you. That being said, it's not the end of the world if it doesn't happen, lovey. Then you can come to Australia and be a WAG for a month." She grins at that last bit, causing me to roll my eyes. "I'm serious though. You have gone through so much to get here and if Martina doesn't realize what an asset you are, her loss."

I laugh. "I just hope we get a rematch for last year's final."

"So you can lose again?"

"No, so we can once again prove why we are rated higher than you," I smirk.

"Du bist gemein," she says slowly in very poor German. (You're mean)

"That was so good, mein herz! You have been practicing," I praise. (My heart)