Hate or Love - Leah Williamson

Game Day

Chelsea has its toughest game of the season tommorow and to Lexi's surprise Sonia her team manager has put Lexi in the starting 11.

Lexi's POV
Today is the first time I have ever started against Arsenal, they are a tough team and I've played them before but never started. Sonia would normally sub me in for the last 10 minutes, especially if we were losing, hoping I would be able to score a quick goal.

I have been training hard recently and I'm glad Sonia has noticed my hard work.

I get ready to drive to the coach to take us Emarites Stadium for the game, having a quick smoothie for breakfast because I woke up late. I packed my things and threw my Chelsea kit on as I rushed out the door. Traffic was light but that didnt help the fact I was already going to be late. I see Sam as I am getting out of my car.

Sam: woke up late did ya Lex?

Lexi: How'd you know it wasnt just traffic

Sam: because I saw you driving behind me the entire time

Lexi: fair, what about your lateness then ha

Sam: thats for me to know and you to guess

We both laugh as we hop on the coach to see all the girls ready to leave. As we find a seat in the front of the bus as all the others are taken Sonia comes and has a word with us.

Sonia: Lexi every week, whats your excuse this time and do not say your alarm didnt go off again because I already know you forgot to set one.

Lexi: I dunno what to tell ya Sonia, you've read me like a kindergarden book.

Sonia just laughs and walks away with a dissapointed look on her face. I quickly smack Sam with a pillow seeing her amused over me being told off.

Lexi: I cant believe you didnt get told off, you were late too Sam

Sam: well this is a once off for me, your late every week

I roll my eyes at her slightly annoyed but I know shes right. I cant help it that I dont like alarms, when they ring in the morning the give me the biggest scare and thats not the way I like to start my mornings.

I chat with Sam the whole journey until we pull up to the stadium. I get off the coach after a few of the girls made jokes about me being late. I see a camera man pointing a camera in my face as I walk into the stadium, I try to stay unbothered by it so I stick my tounge out at him. Walking with the girls into the changing room most of us are quiet trying to focus up, I find it hard to focus before a match, I like to begin focusing as I step on to the pitch. I dont like to overthink things before they happen so I am mucking around with Sam in the changing room. I stole her boots, and she is chasing me around the room begging me to give her them back. I eventually give them back to her, only as Sonia walks in not wanting to get in trouble with her before the big game.

After Sonia talks to us about tactics I walk to the physio to quickly tape up my ankle thats been bothering me lately, I think maybe I've been pushing myself too hard with all these runs I've been doing on top of regular training. But it feels nice, to run, to exercise, i feel in control of my body and I can forget about all the thoughts in my mind. Most of them are stupid things that I randomly think about, I have always known that my mind can never stay quiet, when I was young Eva suggested checking it out but I refused. She told me she thought I had ADHD but I shrugged it off not wanting to find out.

The physio finishes taping my ankle and I walk back to the girls as we line up in the tunnel, waiting to walk out on the pitch, I catch a glimpse of my once best friend and mischievous sidekick on the other side of the tunnel. I haven't spoken a word to her in 2 years, since I abruptly left australia to go to Chelsea. Shortly after she joined Arsenal, I felt bad that I didnt say goodbye to her. I do miss her but I wont admit it, something happened before we left which had me confused its why I didnt give her a goodbye or warning that I was leaving.