The Tortured Poets Department

Mine

I landed at the airport in Brighton at around seven in the evening. Spain was supposed to play England there and I had no intention of spending more time in a car than I had to.

Alexia
Are you at the game tomorrow?

Odette
I am!

Alexia
I'll look for you on the TV.

Odette
How is everything going with your knee?

Alexia
Got my surgery tomorrow and then I have a long time of recovery ahead.

Odette
That must suck!

Alexia
It does, but at least you can visit when you work on your house in Barcelona?

Odette
I'll come and visit as often as I can.

Alexia
Thank you!

I took a taxi to the hotel while texting with Alexia. Tomorrow evening, I would be at the stadium, cheering the girls on.

The hotel lobby was filled to the brim with people. I tried to keep my head low while walking to the desk, but ultimately failed. "You're Odette Swift, right?" a girl asked from behind. "I went to your show in London, and I just wonder if I could take a picture?" she asked again. I turned around to face her, a polite smile on my face as I was about to accept her request. She was in a tracksuit, with the England emblem on it. Was she a footballer or just a fan? The other girls in the lobby sported that same tracksuit, so my guess was that they were all footballers.

"Of course" I answered her. How did I look? I was sure that my cheeks were stained with tears, my eyes red and swollen, and I was not wearing any makeup. "Would you mind not posting it on any socials? I don't exactly look my best now" I said with an awkward laugh. God I was bad at conversations. "Sure" she answered and walked up to take her spot next to me. "What's your name?" I asked the blonde girl. The least I could do was to be nice to her. "Leah Williamson" she answered, a smile was displayed on her face. "And you play for England?" I asked.

She smiled brighter as I asked her that. I missed Alexia. This conversation reminded me of that. Football reminded me of her. She was a friend, and her company was one I greatly appreciated. "Yes! I am actually the captain" Leah said. "How about we take a picture tomorrow at the game instead?" I proposed. Then I would at least look good. "Are you going?" she asked, and I nodded. We continued to talk for a while, her teammates joined in and when I went up to my room, I had tickets for the England box and held a jersey with Mead on the back of it. How the tables had turned.

Odette
Just so you know, I am sitting in the England box tomorrow

Alexia
Traitor

Odette
Was I supposed to say that I supported Spain in a room filled with the English team?

Alexia
Yes

Odette
At least I know that for the next time.

Alexia
Are you serious?

Odette
Yes!

Alexia
Can I call you?

Odette
Give me fifteen minutes so I can shower.

I took a quick shower and changed into an oversized t-shirt, opting to not wear any shorts tonight. Alexia called me after exactly fifteen minutes, and I picked up on the second ring. Her face appeared in front of me and it was enough to make me smile.