Reassurance || Leah Williamson

Five

"Is that the last of your boxes?" Jill asked as I shoved two additional boxes into my car.

"Uhh yeah. I think that's all." I just sort of stared at the boxes in my car for a minute. Not ready to face Jill. Not ready to say goodbye to my best friend.

"Tess." I turned around with tears threatening to spill. Jill then pulled me into a long hug, rubbing my back. That's all it took for my tears to spill over. "Hey, it's going to be okay, Tess; I'll always be here for you. Call me, text me, facetime me, and drive back up to Manchester." This earned a small laugh from me.

"I'm not ready for this change. Life was too good; why now?"

"Change is good; you'll be just fine. Arsenal is a family that you'll fit right into. I would know. Plus you've already got friends there, Viv, Vic, Lotte, it seems like, and Leah." Jill held out Leah's name. To this I rolled my eyes, pushed Jill away, and forced the blush forming on my cheeks away. I had only told Jill that Leah and I went for coffee. Nothing more, nothing less. Yet she still has to tease me obviously with the little information she has.

"Leah's just a friend, okay."

"That's what they all say." I rolled my eyes yet again.

"I'm going to miss you, Jill." I forced a small smile into my face, but it didn't quite meet my eyes.

"I know Tess. I'm going to miss you too." After one last hug, I got into my car and waved at Jill as I drove off.

Time for a change—a change I need to accept and put my best foot forward. And like Jill said, if I had friends at Arsenal, I would be fine.

—

"Okay so! Viv, Beth, and Lia, you guys do the living/dining room; Katie and Vic, you do the kitchen; Kyra and Lessi, you do the guest room/bathroom; and Lotte, Tess, and I will do her room. Yeah?" I chorused yes and got it to come through after Leah bossed everyone around.

"Sir, yes, sir!" Katie saluted, causing Leah to frown. Katie then laughed, and everyone else laughed while Leah rolled her eyes and cracked a grin.

Leah, Lotte, and I got to work on my room. I worked on unpacking all my books and records I've collected over the years. Music and reading have always been a big part of my life; it's like my little escape. I've only set my records in my room until I get a proper shelf and set up for them in the living room. But my books are going to take up the majority of my room.

"Hey! Look, it's you and Leah from when you were probably like 16!" I looked over to the picture Lotte had found; it just so happened to be a big group picture from when England played the Netherlands in the under-17s. I smiled and felt Leah look over my shoulder. I turned to her, and she smiled. Evident in her face that she remembered that game.

"Yeah, that's the game. I scored the winning goal on a header." Leah said and nudged me. I rolled my eyes and went to look at some of the other pictures in the box. Most consisted of childhood ones with my parents and my sister Lieke. There were a few of Jill and me as well. Leah watched over my shoulder basically the whole time, asking questions here and there about different photos.

Once my room was completely set up, we went to the living room to find only Kyra, Katie, Viv, and Beth still here. They told us everyone had finished and decided to go home, but they wanted to order food.

We all decided on pizza, and I ordered it. As we waited for the pizza to arrive, we talked amongst ourselves, and I learned a bit more about everyone, which I was thankful for. When there was a knock at the door, Leah jumped up and said she'd get it. I frowned, knowing she was trying to pay again, but she pushed me back in the couch and ran to the door. This caused Katie and Kyra to laugh at me, and I just rolled my eyes.

After dinner, everyone went home except for Leah, who wanted to help clean up.

"You know, you don't have to help. I'll be just fine; you've already helped out way more than needed." I tried to get her to relax.

"No, no, it's fine. I like helping; it's no worries."

I just tilted my head to the side in defeat. "Well, thank you. I really appreciate it." Leah looked at me with a glint in her eyes and said, "Of course, Tess. I'll always be there for you."

I couldn't quite read her face when she said this, but I didn't think about it too much. At least not while she's here. I pulled her in for a hug and thanked her again. When we separated, I felt cold. Maybe I need to check the thermostat.

"I bet you need to get home now, so I'll let you go. Thanks again for everything, Leah. I'll see you tomorrow." I smiled gratefully at her. Her smile faltered ever so slightly at what I said. I'm not sure why. Did I say something wrong? Surely I didn't. Or did I? Was I rude? Wait, does she not want to go home? Is something wrong at home? Am I missing something? Does-

"Yeah, you're probably right. I'll see you tomorrow, Tess." Snapping me out of my thoughts. She looked at me for a few more seconds as if she wanted to ask me something. Her blue eyes bore into my green ones. It was like a trance; I couldn't look away. "Tess"

Suddenly my phone rang. Who was calling me at 10pm on a Tuesday? I looked at my phone and then to Leah, who smiled and motioned she was leaving. As I answered the phone, I walked her out and closed the door.

"Hey T! How's the new apartment?" Ah. Lieke. I talked to my sister for about an hour before I fell asleep. Though I couldn't stop my thoughts from drifting to a certain someone before I fell asleep. What was she going to say?