Daughter of two Arsenal legends.

Part 9

The next week is a bit more difficult. I head back to Manchester a week after my hospital trip. No one wants me to go but I have to so the city medics can look after me. After a day at training without actually training I'm on the phone to Jackson.

Jackson: "how was today?"
Isla: "was okay, I'm tired."
Jackson: "maybe you should just take it easy for a few more days."
Isla: "taking it easy won't help."
Jackson: "it will."
Isla: "Jackson it won't. I need to get back into a routine."
Jackson: "no you are still healing."
Isla: "I'm fine. The medics have looked over it all. Im fine now."
Jackson: "yeah you might be healed but your body isn't."
Isla: "why can't you listen? Im fine."
Jackson: "babe."
Isla: "no don't fucking babe me."
Jackson: "I'm trying to help from 100 miles away."
Isla: "you aren't helping!"
He doesn't say anything. We sit there for a while without saying anything to eachother.
Jackson: "I'm just trying to help."
Isla: "I know."
I sigh.
Jackson: "get some sleep. I love you."
Isla: "I love you."

The next day I head to training. The medics check me over and say I'm okay to go to light training. I'm annoyed because I just want to get back into it fully.

Maddie: "how you getting on?"
Isla: "bleh, I just want to get back to training."
Jess: "yeah I bet, but it'll be alright, not long."
Isla: "just shit."
Jess: "I know mate."

I train individually to the rest of the team. I keep telling everyone I'm fine. Which is true. I feel great, I just need everyone else to see that too.

I head inside after training, everyone is getting ready to go home.
Jess: "you coming to mine? Movie night?"
Isla: "yeah sure, what time?"
Jess: "8ish?"
Isla: "sounds good, I'll be there."
Jess: "lovely, see you later then."

We all leave, I head to my flat and relax for a bit before heading to Jess' house. I knock on the door and she answers it.
Jess: "hey come in, everyone's here."
I go in and say hi to everyone before sitting down and relaxing on the arm chair. Jackson ends up ringing me half way through the movie.
Isla: "be back in a second guys."

I leave the room and answer it.
Jackson: "hey beautiful."
Isla: "hi, how are you?"
Jackson: "I'm okay, tired after a long day."
Isla: "yeah me too."
Jackson: "where are you? Doesn't look like your flat."
Isla: "oh I'm at Jess' house, just watching a movie with some of the girls."
Jackson: "okay, I'll leave you to it then."
Isla: "no I haven't spoken to you for ages."
Jackson: "babe you're with your team."
Isla: "so? I see them everyday."
Jackson: "Isla, go have fun. I'll ring you in the morning."
Isla: "it's game day tomorrow, don't think I'll be playing."
Jackson: "that's okay babe, you still need to heal."
Isla: "I am, but one more week and I'll be playing again."
Jackson: "I know you will."
Isla: "just gutted I'm going to be missing out on England camp."
Jackson: "why? That's next week, surely you'll be okay for that."
Isla: "the medics said I shouldn't go, but they'll assess it later on."
Jackson: "exactly, you can still go."
Isla: "I hope so"
Jackson: "right go have fun, I love you."
Isla: "I love you too."
The call ends and I head back into the living room.
Jess: "lover boy?"
Isla: "yeah."
Sarah: "he coming to the game tomorrow?"
Isla: "nah he can't, he has training."
Sarah: "ah that's shit, you haven't seen him properly in a while."
Isla: "saw him last week."
I laugh.
Jess: "sick of him are ya?"
Isla: "don't think I could ever get sick of him."
Sarah: "ahh young love."
I roll my eyes and watch the rest of the movie.

The next day we play Bristol city at home. Should be a pretty decent game, I'm in the team but Gareth has told me I'm not playing which is pretty shit.
I sit on the subs bench during the first half, it's 2-0 to us by the half time whistle. Pretty good first half but a few things to improve on.
Second half starts better, by the 75th minute we are 4 goals to nil.
Gareth: "Isla, how you feeling?"
Isla: "great, why?"
Gareth: "prove it, you're coming on."
I smile widely and get ready to come on.
80th minute I'm subbed on for Maddie.
Maddie: "you got this."
I hug her and run into position.