London, once blue, now red

Flashback: On Loan

*****This goes back to just before Leah and Isla met at the club*****

I pulled up just outside Man City's training centre, ready for another traning session. I walk into the building, and on my way into the changing room, I hear Gareth Taylor call out behind me.

Gareth T: "Isla", he says, waiting for me to turn around to face him.

Gareth T: "Could you come to my office, please, just for a quick chat."

I feel my heartbeat increasing as the anxiety fills my body. What could he want to talk about? I hope it's nothing bad; surely I haven't done anything wrong. All these thoughts consume me as I trail behind him towards his office. He holds the door open for me as I take a seat across from his desk and wait for him to sit on the other side.

Isla: "So, what did you want to talk about." I say

Gareth T: "Isla, you have been working really hard at this club, and you have helped us so much."

Isla: "Thank you." I say, not really knowing where he is trying to go with this.

Gareth T: "But we have decided to put you on loan."

Isla: "What? Why."

Gareth: "I think this is a great opportunity for your career and will help build you as a player."

I stared at him with shock. Why do they want to loan me? He just said I have done heaps to help this club, and he's putting me on loan. Surely, there are other players that he could have picked. Why me? I think to myself.

Isla: "Where am I going."

Gareth T: "Arsenal, I think you will like it there, and there are a lot of people you can learn from at that club."

Isla: "Okay, when do I start."

Gareth T: "You will go and sign the contract and take photos, as well as a tour of the facilities before the game in a couple of weeks with Arsenal. Then, after that game, you will go and train with them."

I sit there in shock as I try to take in all the information; I don't want to leave this club. All my friends are here. Everything is familiar here, and now I have to start all over.

Gareth T: "That's all, Isla. I will connect you with Arsenal's management team, and they will be in touch with you today."

Isla: "Thank you." I say as I head out the door with my head looking at the floor. I continued walking towards the changing room when I bumped into someone.

Isla: "Sorry." I mumble as I continue to walk.

I feel their hands go to both sides of my shoulders as I look up to see Chloe, my eyes glassed over.

Chloe K: "Hey, what's wrong." she says as I feel my eyes begin to water. I don't respond as I don't know what to say. I feel Chloe pull me towards her as she wraps her arms around me with my head against her chest. I feel the tears run down my face and onto her shirt as the realisation that I have to leave my club for a while settles in.

Isla: "Sorry about your shirt, Chloe." I say as I see the remnants of my tears on her shirt.

Chloe K: "Don't say sorry. Are you okay? What's wrong."

Isla: "I'm going on loan to Arsenal." I say

Chloe K: "Hey, it's going to be okay. That means you still have a place here. You will come back eventually." she says as she runs her hand up and down my arm.

Isla: "I know, but I'm scared." I say

Chloe K: "There is nothing to be scared about; the Arsenal girls are all lovely." Sorry to cut this short, but we have to get changed for training." she says as she grabs my hand and leads me back to the changing room.

I sit down in front of my cubby with my head in my hands, trying to understand everything that has been said to me and how I will tell the team. I suddenly feel the glooming presence of eyes staring at me. I lift my head to see the whole team looking at me.

Lauren H: "What's wrong, Isla."

Isla: "Don't worry, it's nothing."

Lauren H: "It's okay to tell us we are a team and are all here for each other." She says I look up and look around the room at each girl. I finally plucked up the courage to tell them.

Isla: "I have been put on loan to Arsenal. I will start the day after our game against them." I say.

Lauren comes up and hugs me, followed by all the other girls saying how much they will miss me.

Lauren H: "Let's not dwell on this and enjoy the couple of weeks we still have before you go," she says as we head out to training.

********************

The following weeks were followed by me going into Arsenal, signing my contract, and doing media. I met with ​​Jonas Eidevall to talk about the expectations of the club and what he expects from me at the club. I was given a tour of the facilities. I felt comfortable and was ready to start my new journey at Arsenal.

Jonas E: "I will introduce you to the girls when you arrive the day after the game."

Isla: "Okay, thank you, Jonas; I appreciate everything."

Jonas E: "No worries." he says as I head out the door

I am a little scared of how everyone will react when I arrive. I know a couple of girls through my sister Millie. Hopefully, there will be no bad blood between any of us after the game, I think to myself as I am in a rush to leave as I am now running late to watch Chelsea v Arsenal as I wanted to see my sister play and of course Sam Kerr but also to see my new teammates.

--------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------

If you saw the wrong post before this, no you didn't.