Sam Kerr x The Management Agent

Chapter 13 | Separation

Third Person POV:

A few days had passed since the unfortunate news headline was released. However, Camila had no time to waste, trying to come up with ways to control the situation. She hadn't seen Sam since the meeting. She worked full days from home, meeting with the Chelsea Staff at the beginning of each week to go over the meeting schedules and what they'd need to go through with Sam in the meetings. Camila hadn't really had the time or energy to focus on the fact that she hasn't seen the star striker, as her work consumes her. She rarely recognised that she craves her touch and misses smiling uncontrollably whilst hearing Sam laugh [sarcasm of course]. It was weird. But nevertheless, Camila was working harder than ever to salvage her career – and it was paying off.

Mila's POV:

I visited the coffee shop each morning since the news broke, having frequent pleasant catch ups with Dean again. It was a good distraction, nice to have his company again. But now it was less flirtatious. Not because of how awkward the ending of our date was, but just because I simply wasn't interested in him anymore for some reason (and he clearly wasn't that interested in me). Don't get me wrong, I can appreciate an attractive person, but emotionally I just didn't have the capacity or will to put all my effort into re-trying this whole Camila-and-Dean thing again.

Sam's POV:

Sitting through these meetings were not the same. The Chelsea Athlete Manager was not Camila, far from her really. She was a 40-year-old woman named Margaret who wore the same baggy Chelsea tracksuit set to every meeting. I don't think I've actually seen her smile once. She was fairly to-the-point and not very chatty – very different to what I'm used to really.

As I'm sitting in today's meeting, I can't help but lose focus – I have no interest in what this lady had to say (no offense to her), and by no means wanted to figure out who she was/what she is like as a person. I look out over the pitch to the girls running out and warming up slowly. There's two minutes left of this session, and I've never itched so much to leave – maybe because I was so used to being enticed by an uptight-workaholic who melts at my close presence. My knee bobs up and down as the clock counts down, making me free of this painful two hours. Finally, it was time, I pounce up and respectfully smile at Margaret as I head to the changeroom to prep for my training session.

Training wasn't going so well – my head has been all over the place, feet not connecting with my brain, let alone the ball...It was safe to say I was a little worried about the upcoming game in a couple of days.

_____ Game day _____

Getting ready to run out onto the pitch for warm-up, I enter my serious zone – trying to focus on the big game I have ahead. As I walk through the underpass, coming to a jog as I move out onto the pitch, I scan the crowd seeing the massive attendance. I can't help but smile a bit internally, trying to keep my game-day head zone. Despite the bad press, Chelsea fans (and even some fans who are on the rival team) continued to support me. Maybe it's because they understand that the press has a reputation for painting hurtful, false stories. Or maybe it was because they don't care for what Sam Kerr, the famous Chelsea striker, gets up to in her spare time – they appreciate and support me as a player AND a person which I could not be more grateful for. Their cheers loud places a confidence and assurance that I've lacked the past few days – (usually provided by my hype-girl/comforting-in-a-professional-way manager).

Third Person's POV:

As the game went on, Chelsea fought Manchester City with heart and unity. The ball weaved its way up their end, and when it wasn't defended away, it usually landed with their key striker, Sam Kerr who strategically and technically connected with the ball to either make an assist or get the ball into the back of the net herself. – her goal celebrated as she slid down onto her shins in relief [see chapter cover photo for reference]. She was mostly successful, adding 1 of 2 Chelsea goals to the scoreboard, however beaten by Man City who scored 3. Sam did miss a goal in the 74th minute which she beat herself up about from the minute she missed it to right up to when she went to sleep that night.

Her mind operated like that though. She tried to console the Chelsea Team psychologists provided but no-one could fully understand the way her mind operated and how to distract her from this – all but one person. Even though she doesn't realise it or at least want to admit it, the comfort of Camila's belief and support was what helped her harsh self-blame during the moments that she was there, in Sam's presence, occasionally giving her a little reassurance – even if she wasn't saying anything. Sam went to bed with her mind against her, the self-blame not fading.

______________________

Author's Notes:

The separation: is it good or bad for Camila/Sam/Chelsea/The Agency in the long-term? There are many factors to consider but which one matters the most?

- 900 words - (Bit of a filler chapter )

Next Chapter: -- False Hope? --