Close - Ella Toone

Chapter 33

After the award ceremony

Madison's POV

"I'm exhausted," Ella said grabbing her things.

"Me too," I said proudly touching my medal again.

"Shoot!" Georgia said.

"Woah, Stanway you good," Ella laughed 

"What's happened?" I asked.

"My train was cancelled!" she said.

"What you gonna do? Isn't Rach getting the same one?"

"No she's travelling tomorrow, she's staying at Alessia's,"

"Well, why don't you come stay at mine? You can travel back tomorrow," I suggested.

"Really?"

"Yh of course,"

"Thanks, Madi. You're the best," She said hugging me.

Once she had her stuff we went back to mine.

Ella and I checked our socials, and it was flooded with pictures from tonight.

"This one is so viral," Ella said showing me her phone with a tweet with over 2,500 retweets. It was a picture of when I celebrated my goal making a heart with her hugging me from behind.

Another viral one was the picture of me, Georgia and Ella kissing our medals.

The most liked post on the Lionesses' Instagram was my goal and a picture of me and Ella holding Hannah smiling and laughing.

"Okay. The air mattress is all setup," My dad said coming back downstairs.

"Thanks, dad," I said.

"Thank you for letting me crash here, Mr Lewis," Georgia said.

"Anytime Geo. You know that. Alright girls, goodnight. You guys played great,"

"Thank sir," Georgia said.

"Thank you," Ella said.

"Thanks Dad. Love you," I yelled after him up the stairs.

"What a tournament," Georgia said.

"Yeah," I said smiling.

------

9:30

Ella's POV

When I woke up, I didn't even bother opening my eyes I was that tired. Instead, I just slapped Madison who was next to me.

"Give me the blanket back," I whined.

"What the hell?" she said yawning.

"You took all the blanket,"

"No, you took mine,"

"You're an idiot. I have nothing," I said sitting up and yawning. "What the hell?"

I looked to the foot of the bed to find Stanway under a mountain of blankets.

"What are you doing?" Madison asked looking at the empty air mattress next to the bed.

"I got cold on the floor," she complained but I felt like that wasn't the actual reason.

"Really?"

"I felt left out," she answered truthfully while looking down.

"That's okay, Geo," Madison said laughing.

"But did you have to take all the blankets?" I asked.

"Yes,"

We went downstairs and Madison's mother was making us breakfast. It tasted delicious.

Then we hung out and rested for the rest of the day.

Around 11:30, Madison had the idea to go outside and start a basketball competition with Georgia.

"Dude, really? You have a sprained wrist," I said dumbfounded.

"I don't care. It's wrapped and doesn't even hurt that much," She replied before going outside anyway.

When they were outside, I just sat on the porch and laughed at them. I took a few videos as well. Madison had the ball, and she would dribble for a couple of seconds, then put the ball through her legs a few times, then go around Georgia every single time. And when she would shoot, she had perfect form while Georgia just kinda threw it with less form. It still wasn't that bad though.

I watched them giggling and running around like kids.

It's the little things that make them so happy.

"What's on your mind?" Madison's mom asked me sneaking up behind me and holding a bunch of glasses.

"A lot," I answered.

"Wanna  share?"

"Maybe,"

"Well I'll tell you what's on my mind," She said in her thick accent.

"What's on your mind, Mrs Lewis?"

"You don't have to call me that you know," She laughed.

"But I do!"

"Anyway. I've never seen Madison so happy in her life. You wanna know why?"

"Why?"

"You. When you were outside with Hannah playing football while we were trying to talk about legal stuff, all she could talk about was how amazing you are. Same with on the phone before you got here. She also said you were just the best after the whole assault thing,"

"You do realize your daughter is also one of the best players in the world right now?" I asked.

"I do. Biy it's you. I'm not wrong,"

"This time maybe," I laughed.

"Ella, she's hurting. Badly. I don't think you realize how much it hurt her mentally to get attacked by her own sister. her past best friend. They used to be inseparable. True best friends. But she was essentially betrayed by her. And you know why she took to you so much recently after the incident?"

"Why?"

"Because you two have a connection like they used to have. before things went south. She adores you like she adored her in the [last. You're good to her. Please, I beg you don't hurt her. She's had enough with just this one incident,"

"Mrs Lewis I would never hurt Madison. She's amazing. She's the kindest, most talked, smartest, most amazing person in the world. I would be the biggest idiot in the world to ever hurt someone like her," I said tearing up.

"You're a good kid. I've known you since the two of you started playing together in school. Thank you," She said before putting down the drinks and going back inside.

"Look! Drinks!" Georgia said running to get one with Madison following her. 

Madison sat down on the steps next to me so I put my arm around her and leant my head on her shoulder.

"I love you," I whispered only loud enough for us to hear.