Close - Ella Toone

Chapter 2

June 9th, 12:30

It's been a couple of hours but I got that call, the one that made me burst into tears and made my mouth fall open.

I've finally been called.

I'm going to be playing with the lionesses.

But guess who else was going to be there?

Ella Toone.

She's kind of the reason I was kinda happy to still be playing for the U23, but I'm excited and even she can't ruin that.

I'm scared she's now going to be able to run rings around me as she's been called up for quite a few more years than me.  

June 13, 2022 18:00

I've finally made it to SGP after being stuck in traffic for ages. I was supposed to get here at 12 so I've never been more happy to be out of a car.

I slowly walked inside and met the rest of the team in the lobby. I don't know if I've mentioned this before but I'm actually quite a shy person and seeing all these girls that I've looked up to has definitely made me starstruck. 

Everyone was so welcoming and there were still a few people that still hadn't made it due to the traffic, so I sat down and waited with the rest of everybody. 

"I heard you could speak fluent Dutch, is that true?" Lucy Bronze asked.

"Yeah I can," I replied shyly while placing my bags by my feet.

"Can you say something?" She asked while smiling.

"What should I say?"

"Say 'hello my name's Madison.'"

So that's what I said, and my speaking Dutch seemed to catch the attention of quite a few of the other players who then started asking me to say random things.

I was in the middle of saying 'boot it' by Keira Walsh's request when someone tapped my shoulder.

I turned towards them, and there was the beautiful blue-eyed girl I despised. 

"Hallo!" She said while giving me a tight hug.

"Hey," I replied hiding the look of disgust on my face because ELLA TOONE just hugged me.

"How are you? I feel like I haven't seen you in ages!" she said sending me a smile. "I'm so excited you've finally been called up!"

"Me too!" I replied keeping a straight face before quietly mumbling in Dutch.

"Well, I'm going to go say hi to everyone else. bye," she said while walking away.

"That's so cool that you guys are already friends." Millie Bright said.

I still can't stand Ella Toone.

___

"Everyone listen up!" Sarina yelled. "As I called your name, come get your key."

"Kirby, Walsh." She called.

"Bronze, White."

"Toone, Lewis." She called.

You've got to be kidding me.

How am I meant to avoid her as much as possible if we're sharing a room?

"YAY! We're Roommates!" She smiled as we both went to collect our room keys

"Roommates," I replied while looking down.

This has to be a joke. Why is she acting like we're besties? She never used to be this happy around me.