Lover- Alessia Russo

5. Suprise

What if they're like scared of me? I mean I'm rough on the pitch. I've put a rough tackle on a few of these girls before... My mind is a bit all over the place as I pull up outside the training grounds. It's happening. I couldn't be more excited. Yes, I'm a bit nervous but once I have a ball at my feet that'll fly right out the window... I hope. Im most confident on the pitch. That's where I know what I'm doing. I just have to go in.

I take a deep breath before I open my car and walk towards the main building. Again a smiling face greets me.

"Good morning Coach." I say with a smile.

"Good morning Izzi! And remember it's just Jonas." Jonas says with a smile. I'll have to get use to that. I nod with a smile. I came early today because I'll be getting a tour. Not that I usually don't but just a little earlier than normal.

"So uh are you gonna be showing me around?" I ask. Jonas turns me and looks up as he shakes his head.

"No... I hope thats alright. I asked someone to show you around and help get you settled in. All they know is there's a new signing." Jonas informs me. Oh god I hope it Lotte or-

"NO WAY!" Or Leah. I turn around and see Leah come running full speed towards me.

"Oh god." I mutter and Jonas laughs from beside me. Leah quickly runs and jumps onto me wrapping her legs around me. Burying her head in my neck.

"Hi Leah." I say with a laugh. Clearly amused by her reaction.

"You're the new signing?!" She says with a big smile as she pulls her head back.

"No just visiting." I say with a straight face. I immediately see hers drop.

"Oh." She says and climbs down.

"Leah. I'm just fucking with you. I'm the new signing." I say with a laugh.

Her face immediately turns right back into a smile and she starts jumping up and down like a child. I can't help but smile at the happiness on one of my best friend's faces.

"So I'm assuming you guys are close?" Jonas says amused from beside us.

"We've known each other for a long time." I say and Leah nods.

"Well I'll leave you two be. Make sure to show her everything and introduce her to the girls when they get here." Jonas say as he walks off after Leah agrees. Immediately after Jonas is out of sight Leah turns to me and gives me another hug. Until she quickly backs up and says "does Lotte know?"

"Not a clue. Only Lucy and Keira know. I wanted it to be a surprise." I say.

"She is gonna be SO happy!" Leah says excitedly. I don't even get to answer before she pulls me by the arm and starts telling me all about the training grounds and where everything is. We quickly finish the whole tour as we see girls out on the pitch. Leah and I both go into the locker room where I find my locker and get dressed.

"I can't believe you signed with arsenal!" Leah says. I can't believe it either I think I look at the badge in my shirt again.

"You think the girls will be happy as well?" I say as I scratch the back of my neck.

"Of course. Most of them look up to you!" Leah says with a smirk as we start our short walk to the training pitch.

"Even the ones I've..." I say but stop.

"Roughed up? Ya they all love you really." Leah says as she pats my back calming my little bit of nerves.

I take a deep breath as we make our way into view of the girls. Luckily they're all turned around seemingly in conversation as they wait for us.

Leah and I walk to where there standing and when we get close enough Leah yells "GOOD MORNING GIRLS!! MEET OUR NEW SIGNING!!"

This gets the attention of all the girls as they all turn around. Most of the girls jaws drop or they let out a gasp. But I'm just focused on my best friend who is currently hurling towards me. Oh god.

Lotte runs and jumps onto me. Luckily I don't fall over I catch her and she yells "OH MY GOSH!" Over and over. I can't help but laugh and the girls join as well.  Lotte pulls her head back.

"You're the new signing?" She says with tears in her eyes. She still in my arms holding onto me as if I'm gonna disappear. The girls all aww when they see Lotte face.

"Yeah." I say with a smile. Lotte burries her face in my neck once again and I can feel tears running down my neck.

"Hey. Hey Lotte it's alright I'm not going anywhere." I say as I try to set her down to comfort her. Lotte drops her legs but keeps her face against my chest. Shit I'm not really good with comforting. But luckily I don't have to do much more as Lotte start laughing. The fuck. I raise my eyebrows at her as she continues laughing while crying a bit.

"Asshole. Why didn't you tell me." She says hitting my shoulder trying to act tough but fails tremendously since she can't stop smiling. I let out a sigh of relief as the girls giggle at our banter.

"No one but Lucy and Keira knew." I say with a laugh.

"You told them before me?" Lotte says acting hurt.

"Oh shut it. I wanted it to be a surprise and Lucy helped me move into my apartment." I explain.

"You already have a place here?" Lotte says with a smile.

"Ya but how about you introduce me to everyone?" I say with a laugh as I see the girls looking eager to talk but don't want to interrupt us.

"Oh yes guys this is Izzi Charles." Lotte says and points to me.

"We know Lotte." Someone says and the girls laugh.

"She's like the best. No offense Viv."  I hear another voice say. "None taken" I hear.

"Uh thanks well it's nice to meet all of you. I'm Izzi and uh I can't wait to play with you all." I say with a smile as all the girls wave and come greet me with a hand shake or a high five.

"Nice to meet you! I'm Beth and... this is Viv." Beth says as she pull Viv over to us by the arm. The shyer one of the two sticks her hand out which I reciprocate.

"Nice to meet you both. Nice goal last week. Perfect touch and finish." I say and she smiles at me with a nod.

"You too. Hat trick in a derby is pretty impressive." Viv says. I can already tell we'll get along. Two football brains.

"I uh yeah thank you. Means a lot." I say as I scratch my neck a little.

"If you guys can't tell. She doesn't like compliments." Lotte says with a little laugh, trying to help me relax. She knows how I get. She knows everything about me. The girls continue to introduce themselves to me and try to get to know me a bit

"Hello again." Katie McCabe says with a laugh as she walks up to me.

"Hi McCabe." I say with a laugh. You see the last game we played against each other we both got aggressive as we normally do. But you see we both ended up getting reds that game and...yeah it was a good game. We actually got to talking as we left the pitch and ended up trading jerseys. Fun times.

"Can't tackle each other now can we?" Katie says with a laugh.

"No promises." I say teasing. The rest of the girls greet me and until there's just two left.

"Hi I'm Kyra!" She says with a smile.

"Nice to meet you." I say and give her knuckles. I turn my head and look at the blond standing beside her. Wow...

"Nice to meet you." I say and hold out my hand.

She shakes it and says" Nice it meet you as-well. I'm Alessia." I smile and nod. We continue talking for a few minutes until we start training.