My home away from home.

Moving

My dad's putting the last box in his car before we drive to London. I walk over the road and knock on the door, my best friend Josh walks out and I hug him tight. "I love you Josh, I'll forever miss you" I tell him. "I hope you come back" he says. "I will Josh" I say

"I promise" I say, I pull away from him and see as his eyes gloss over. "Don't cry josh" I tell him. "I'll be back and I'll call you every night, I'll message you as soon as I'm there" I tell him. "Okay" he says and hugs me one more time. "Say hi to Alesha and Freya for me" I say. "I will"he says.

I walk off and wave, we get in the car and I feel some tears fall down my face, "your okay" my older sister says as she rubs my leg as the car moves. Lucy was only seventeen there was only a two year age gap between us, we were incredibly close we told each other everything and we still do.

The car journey was long a lot of tears shed, mostly by me. A lot of singing led by Lucy and a lot of games of eye spy which my mam usually won. We pull up outside a big house just outside London, it was cool but yet it felt so surreal. I couldn't believe someone would want me on their team, this was a massive deal for little miley.

I hop out the car and two girls open the front door with an older woman stood behind them. The England captain walks towards me, I gulp and take a deep breath. "Hey I'm Leah" she says to me. "Hi, I'm Miley" I tell her
"I know who you are kiddo" she says
I smile and my dad says "this is very kind of you Leah"
"Anything for the new generation of gunners" she says

She spoke so formally, she was definitely slightly posh but she seemed so down to earth.

"Back there is my mam Amanda and that's my girlfriend Jordan" she says. "However Jordan doesn't play for arsenal" she says. "I know" I say and smile at her. "She plays for Aston Villa"i add
"She's a football fanatic, some peace would be nice" my sister says jokingly.
"I'm Lucy her older sister" she then says
My parents help carry some boxes inside as well as me. Leah shows me my room, it was a grey box room with a double bed pushed against the wall with a grey carpet and a white sliding wardrobe with some drawers also a vanity for revision.

I'm by myself in the room, I take my backpack off and chuck it on the bed. I stand still in the middle of the room and look around. I walk over to the window and see a long garden outside. I take a deep breath and then I hear the voice. "Hey are you okay?" My sister says. I turn round "I'm gonna miss you guys" I tell her

"We will miss you too miles, but do this for you. Because this is the rest of your life and we are all so proud of you" Lucy says to me and hugs me. "Look at this though, Lucy this isn't me, I'm not Sophisticated, I'm a local girl from manny" I say
"Leah's just set up a basic room for you, she doesn't even know you yet. She will let you change it" Lucy says to me
"What if they don't like me and they want me to go back?" I ask
"They will love you" she says
I stay embraced in her arms for a bit longer, feeling the sense of comfort for a tiny bit more.

I go downstairs with Lucy and say goodbye to my parents. We go outside and Leah follows with her family. I go to the car with them and say goodbye again giving them all their last hugs, I feel tears falling out my eyes as I watch the car drive off, I turn round and walk back to Leah. "Come on" she says and pulls me into a hug. "I know we aren't your proper family but I promise you, the girls will make you incredibly welcomed" she says
I give her a slight smile and Amanda says "I will leave you three to it, I'm going to head back home"

I go up to my  room and hear Amanda's car leave. I keep my promise and call Josh. "Hey" I say through tears.
"Hi" he says
"Josh, I don't know why I'm here' I tell him. "I miss them too much, I miss you too much" I say
"Your there because this is your dream, this is where life will take you" he says
"We are all proud of you and we will support you no matter what" he then says
"Just because your young doesn't mean you don't deserve this" he adds
"Thanks" I say
"I really do miss you though Josh" I tell him
"I miss you too but these things happen, what would happen when we went to college or uni?" He asks
I shrug my shoulder, "exactly either way we would be separate" he says

The call ends and  there's a knock, "come in" I say quietly. Jordan pokes her head in. "Hi I'm Jordan" she says. "I know"in tell her and she smiles. "I'm the funny one" she adds and laughs at her comment, I laugh slightly. "Leah she's the more serious one, she will see you like your her kid and she will protect you at all costs. I promise you will be looked after and cared at when you go to training, everyone will stand up for you no matter what" Jordan tells me
"I know it's hard leaving home, I did it too. I struggled too. But look at me now, I might not be at the club I want to be at but I still play professional football and for me that's the dream" she says
I take a deep breath. "Do I still have to go to school?" I ask
"Your parents said yes we have to enroll you in a school. However we talked to the local secondary and you get a Thursday and Friday off to do training" she says
"Okay" I say and smile at her
"Also foods ready" she says and walks out.

I go downstairs and sit down in the spare chair, Leah puts some food infront of me. "I hope you're not fussy" she says. "Nah, I'll eat anything" I tell her. She smiles as her and her girlfriend sit down too, the silence was incredibly awkward yet comforting.

"I know your rooms pretty basic but we can change it if you want? Whenever you want? If you like" Leah says
"Thanks" I say
"Look, I understand this is a big change for you, but please trust me, the girls will adore you" Leah says
"It's just weird, like back in Manchester I'd go play football with my mates after school before training" I tell her
"Which club did you come from?" Jordan asks
"Manchester United, I never made my debut though" I tell her
"I was in the senior team but I played with the under 16s" I add

The conversation drifts away from football "you start school tomorrow" Leah says. "Okay" I say and smile. "Your uniform is in the wardrobe. And you will need to be down here for 8:20 as we can drive you" Leah says. "Ok" I say and smile.

I go upstairs and look at the uniform. I change into some Victoria secret pyjamas alongside doing my skincare and putting my hair into a messy bun, I find my AirPods and listen to music. I get into bed and read a book on my phone whilst listening to music. Leah walks in "goodnight" she says. "Night" I say and smile. She smiles and leaves.

I fall asleep.