It was the next morning and me and Luce were already at the airport. I still haven't quite woken up from the 4am alarm, but I'm somewhat conscious. The truth is I've never been to an airport before, so I have no idea what to expect. Luckily, Lucy has done many flights before and knows the way like the back of her hand.
"Come on kid, bags are already checked in, and security is this way" she claims whilst I slouch around next to her.
"You could've have gotten a later flight?" I groan as I trudge along side her.
"Nope, we gotta get straight to training as soon as we land" she is somehow happy and cheerful at 7am in the morning.
"Wait?" I stop in my tracks, "we?" I look confused as Lucy swings around,
"Yes we, as in me and you, I spoke to Jonatan, and he agrees to let you kick about with us." She laughs, "now come on security then rest.
"You mean I'll be training with Barca? Like the best football team out there?" I ask in shock, whilst following her slightly behind. Eventually, we reach security and Lucy tells me what to do.
"Electronics needs to be out and visible, take off any metal on your body and step through, got that?"
"You do know my only possessions are a phone and my boots right?" I laugh back at her as she walks through some type of bleeping machine.
"Just drop em and follow" she chuckles back. I do as I'm told and we both make it through with no mishaps. "And now, welcome to duty free kid, this is where the fun happens" she announces like a tour guide, I look around in awe. "You can get three things, anything you like, no matter what cost, you know add to the phone and boots situation" she winks at me as I walk down the path full of multiple shelves and stock. The first thing I run to is the perfume section. Gotta smell good if I'm meeting some of the best footballers in the world right? I take my time smelling them all and consider their prices. I know Lucy said any price but I feel bad grabbing something expensive straight away.
"Omg is that billie eilishs perfume?" I excitedly run towards it whilst Lucy laughs behind me,
"Found your first item kiddo?"
"No it's ok, it's like 50 quid" I look disappointed, but again nothing too expensive I don't want to chase her away straight away, as I walk away, I hear Lucy behind me,
"One item down, two to go" I turn around
"What?" I see her holding the perfume, "no it's too expensive" I try reasoning with her.
"What were my rules? Nothing is too expensive ok? You want it I got it, consider it a welcoming gift" she laughs and I smile slightly. Maybe this is real, and she won't give up on me like the rest.
"Thanks Lucy" I say with a genuine smile.
"No problem kiddo" she smiles back. After what felt like an hour in duty free we finally make it out. In the end I just bought some sweets and a little teddy bear. It's funny, I haven't had one since David and Helen. We find a little restaurant within the airport to sit and eat.
"What's for you kid? I'll order on my phone" Lucy asks,
"Can I just have some hash browns and scrambled egg please?" I ask politely, I hope I'm not overstepping,
"Of course and what to drink?"
"Just a water for me"
"Apple juice?" She replied, I look confused,
"Water is fine, I promise" I insisted,
"Apple juice it is then" she laughs knowing that I don't want to spend too much of her money. How does she know me so well already?
"Thanks Lucy" I chuckled again. Whilst waiting for the food we get into some small talk about football, discussing our favourite teams, until Lucy interrupted,
"Umm kiddo" she says nervously, which makes me nervous,
"Yes?" I question trying not to seem as nervous as I am,
"I just want to say thank you for taking a chance on me, and I promise I won't let you down" she says shyly,
"I should be thanking you, I would be out in that park still if it wasn't for you." I chuckle back
"And to prove that this is for real I got you this" she pauses for a moment, reaching into her bag, she pulls out something silver but hides the rest in her hand,
"What is it?" I question, she opens her hand,
"A little bracelet which I thought could be a promise bracelet?" She opens her hand and reveals a dainty little diver chain with a football and a heart on it.
"Lucy..." I start,
"Before you say anything, it's a promise, a promise that I'll always be here for you and I'm never going to leave or give up, even when things get hard, I'm here." She finishes,
"You mean it?" I feel tears forming in my eyes. Have I finally met someone who cares as much as Helen and David did?
"Of course kiddo" she chuckles still seeming nervous,
"Thank you so much Lucy" I jump off my chair and into her arms, after pulling away she helps me put the bracelet on. After sitting back down, as on cue, our breakfasts arrives and we eat in a comfortable silence.
After an hour of waiting and small talk, our flight is finally ready to board and me and Lucy rush off to the gates. As soon as we are on the plane and in our seats, Lucy hands me the teddy bear I previously got,
"Flying first time can be nerve wracking, but I'm here and you can squeeze mr bear all you want" she jokes I nod in silence. I can't lie I'm really nervous, I have no idea what's going to happen, or Eve how this metal tin can is going to keep us up, I hold on to Lucy's arm as soon as we start moving. She looks down, "here, have some chewing gum it helps pop your ears once we are in the air" she explains and I take it thankfully.
When we finally land an hour and a half later I took a deep breathe and looked at Lucy,
"We here?" I question her and she smiled,
"Yes we are, this is where your new journey will begin"
YOU ARE READING
The rookie
FanfictionAfter loving football her whole life but never getting the chance to play for a team all due to the simple fact that she was a girl, how is Julia going to react when the England football coach catches her training alone in a field one day and is in...
