You weren't new persay but you were new to the senior team having only played with Arsenal academy since you were 10 and climbing the ranks and now at 15 (almost 16) you had been invited to join the senior team for trainings and hopefully if Jonas thought you were doing well enough get some game time. It was really scary for you to move up and it showed considering you weren't really a shy person but for some reason ever since joining the team you had sunk back into your shell but meeting, playing and training with your idols does that to a girl. The people you were playing with now were professionals and some of them a decade older than you which means you had to start taking it seriously which meant no time for mucking around. You didn't know anyone aswell which made the transfer from academy soccer to professional soccer so much harder for you knowing you were leaving behind some of the girls you had climbed the ranks with at the academy and though they said they were excited for you you couldn't help but feel left out in this new team.
Someone who you had taken a liking to was Alessia Russo who had just transferred from Manchester United around the time you made your move up and through you didn't know her well you thought she was a calming presence and always seemed to help when you were feeling anxious even if she didn't know it, just her presence made you feel safe and relaxed. Due to this you often found yourself sitting at the same table as Alessia for lunch though you made sure to not be directly next to her so she didn't think you were following her or trying to force something on her but you sat close enough that you could feel the calm aura she brought. You also stood near her in the line for drills as she encouraged you when you completed them while also giving you little bits of feedback for you to improve on. When it came to game days you often walked out with her and Kyra as you had become a bit close with the younger Australian who had also transferred around the time you came up and often used her as an excuse to walk with Alessia as she calmed you before a match. You understood why Kyra walked out with her now.
The team had started to notice your liking of being around the striker and some of them like Katie, Kyra and Beth had started calling you her shadow. That made you back off, scared you had overstepped the boundaries and that Alessia might think you were weird. Alessia however liked having you around and she found the fact you liked being around her but not making it painfully obvious and she would be glad to take you under her wing as an upcoming striker.
"Hey less" Katie called out across the training pitch and alexia turned to her "where's your little shadow gone?" she asked and alessia furrowed her eyebrows. You had been more distant with alessia in hopes of not coming across to the girls as clingy or obsessive but alessia genuinely didn't mind and enjoyed your company as much as you enjoyed hers but she had never had to go to you to get that as you always came to her so she hadn't expressed that she liked being around you and mentoring you.
"I don't know she's been a bit closed off from me recently" alessia sighed and Katie gave her a sad look as Leah and Beth came over seeing alessia look a little down
"What's up with you?" Beth asked as she made it next to the blonde striker and nudged her shoulder with hers
"Y/n" she sighed as the other players shared a look they had been waiting to have this conversation with alessia but you were always round her so it was hard for them to do it without upsetting you. They had to make sure alessia was ok with you constantly following her and wanting to be around her and by alessia reaction it seemed she did as she looked genuinely heartbroken you hadn't come near her today
"It's ok less I think the comments people were making scared her a bit because she realised she wasn't as sneaky as she thought she was" Leah said comfortingly as she placed a hand on alessias shoulder
"yeah sorry about all the comments I'll tone it down" Katie said apologetically as alessia finally cracked a smile
A bit later during training everyone was instructed to get a partner and you were shocked to see that alessia had come up to you.
"Hey y/n/n can I be your partner?" She asked as you nodded shyly "cmon then" she said as she took your hand and led you further onto the field to get started. It felt like a weight was lifted off of you and you were no longer suffering the feeling that you had been to much to fast for alessia as she now initiated coming close to you which proved she actually did like being around you. Everyone noticed the big smile on your face throughout training and couldn't help but smile too knowing the kid of the team had found her mother figure and that now nothing would separate the two of you unless it was Kyra forcing her way into alessias and your personal space for the pitch inspection which you didn't mind.
Once you'd finally found your footing in the team you started coming out of your shell and hanging around with Kyra more and alessia less considering you had moved in with the blonde and spent a lot of time together at home watching movies and shows. You and Kyra had gained the annoying little sister tag for your constant need to annoy your team mates and designated team mums aswell as pulling pranks to keep the girls on their toes but they wouldn't have it any other way.
