Signing of Your Life

Chapter 12

A/N

Hey guys! Another chapter for you, it is quite short as it is more of a bridging chapter if you know what I mean? It took me forever to right, but the next couple chapters should be very interesting... Or I hope they are.

Enjoy!

*Third person – time skips*

The team is in the changing rooms with an hour and a half until kick off, they are about to make their way onto the field for their pregame warm up. Natalya is having second thoughts; she is nervous. This is her debut for the WSL and Arsenal.

"What if I choke? Everyone will hate me. Maybe I should've stayed in Australia. What have I done?" She says to herself while she is alone in the toilet cubicle.

"Nat!" A familiar voice breaks the silence. "Nat, are you in here? I must check your calf remember. Natalya!"

"Sorry Lisy, I was having a moment alone... that you ruined by the way." Natalya joked as she opened the cubicle door. She sniffed and wiped her nose before washing her hands. "Sorry, I forgot I asked you to have a look."

"That's okay, what's wrong? You look terrible." Lisy asked concerned, not realising how what she just said sounded.

"Wow... thank you?"

"No! Wait, sorry. That's not what I meant. I just mean- "

"It's okay, I'm messing with you. Relax." Natalya giggles as she watches Lisy calm down. "Anyway, my calf."

"Yes, come and sit down. Why did you want me to check it?"

"I'm just scared it might give way during the game, and if it does then I am doomed." She says as she lifts up her left leg for Lisy to examine.

"Uh... Nat?"

"Yes? What's wrong with it? Is it bad?"

"No, you gave me your left leg... I thought you said it was your right that you were concerned about."

"Oh yes, right. Thank you." Natalya swaps her legs over.

"Right, let's have a look. Does this hurt?"

"Umm, yeah. Yeah, a little bit. Ow." Natalya says without confidence. "Is it okay though? Do I still need to play? Oh no, I mean can I play?"

"Why do you think it will give way, Nat?" Natalya looks down, a sudden sadness appears on her face. "You don't think it will give way, do you? You're just stalling because you don't want to warm up yet. You're scared."

"Pfft, no I am not. I don't get scared." Natalya defends herself.

"Natalya, you're scared."

"Okay fine! Thanks for exposing me! Yeah, I am scared. I have every right to be. This is my WSL debut, and my debut for Arsenal. I am 17! There is only so much I can take."

"Natalya, calm down. You're going to be okay. The fact that you are making your debut at 17 is a massive achievement, and of course you are going to be nervous, and yes, you have every right to be scared, but trust me, the pressure you are feeling is a good thing. Put it this way, one of my friends told me that you only feel pressure after doing something amazing. Why is there pressure on you? Because you're making your debut at 17 years old. Pressure comes from a good thing. You're going to be amazing out there, and hey! You get to meet Ella Toone, how amazing is that!"

"You're so right. Thank you so much Lisy!"

"Of course, anytime. Now go out there and warm up otherwise you will injure yourself in game and I really will have to look at your calf."