Where Mary and the team help ease your social anxiety that is triggered by a press conference
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You should've known that scoring a hattrick in a crucial game would get you a lot of attention from the media, but in the moment you had been solely focussed on playing the best football you could and getting your team the win. But once the final whistle blew and you were hugging your teammates on the field, a staff member took you to the side and led you to one of the interview booths placed on the pitch.
The panic on your face as you walked with him to the reporter was immediately noticed by your girlfriend. Mary dropped the conversation she was having instantly, and made her way over to you.
"So, y/n, scoring a hattrick to get the team back in the lead, that is incredible. Can you walk us through it?" Your eyes were everywhere but the journalist or the camera. When you noticed a familiar pair of boots standing in your line of vision, you looked up and locked your eyes on Mary. She gave you a reassuring nod. With your eyes focussed on her calming ones you attempted to answer the question. "Well, we were 2-0 behind, and we had to win." Mary watched you with pride, which gave you a little more confidence to continue your sentence. "We fought back hard, and I just happened to be in the right places at the right times."
Mary shook her head with a proud smirk, you were always one to be humble. Focussing on the team effort rather than your own accomplishments, something she loved dearly about you. As the questions of the reporter continued on, she saw you getting more anxious. With one pleading look her way, she was by your side. "What a match huh?" Mary chimes in with her arm around your shoulder in comfort.
Where you struggled with social anxiety, your girlfriend thrived in social situations. You were happy to have her by your side, so some of the attention would be away from you. Mary interacted with the reporter and all the voices around you moulded into static sound as your eyes unfocussed once more.
Not visible from the view of the camera, you were trying to ground yourself by playing with the fabric on the back of Mary's jersey. Mary knew you were struggling, so she ended the interview by saying, "If you don't mind, we've got some celebrating to do." The reporter said of course, and after a quick thank you, Mary guided you away.
"I- I can't-" Mary held you closer to her side. "I know baby, we're not joining the team, we're going inside. I've got you."
Mary led you to the locker room, which was empty as your teammates were still celebrating on the field. When you sit down in your cubby, the reality of the moment fully comes crashing down, making your breathing start to be irregular. Mary kneels down in front of you, "Hey baby, eyes on me." She lifts your chin, and places her other hand reassuringly on your knee. "Follow my lead, alright?" You nod and breathe along with her, slowly getting your breathing back to its normal pattern.
When you were wiping away your tears, your captain walked in. "Hey, I saw you two wander off and wanted to check if everything was alright." Leah sat down besides you while Mary was still tracing patterns on your upper thigh.
"Yeah, I'm alright. My anxiety just got the better of me during the interview." The team knew about your struggles with anxiety, and had been there for you every step of the way. "Alright, take your time here, and let me know if there's anything I can do for you, okay?" YOu smile and nod, "Thanks Lee."
Once you feel ready again, you head back to celebrate the quarter final win with the team on the field. When you were walking around the stadium connecting with fans, you noticed either Mary or Leah were only a few steps away from you. Strangely your social anxiety often stayed away when you were just interacting with fans, maybe because you once were the little girl in the stands waiting to meet your favourite players.
