Trouble

We're going to have trouble with you lot

Maisie and Erin were sat in their room that night.

"Do you reckon we'll beat France?" Maisie asked, wanting to have a chat.

"Yeah I think so. I mean we seem like a good team in training."

"Yeah we are a good team."

They chatted a bit more about football before deciding to sleep.

"Night."

"Night."

Maisie once again didn't hear her alarm but Erin had woken her up and they were both on time for breakfast. They were becoming a bit more comfortable with each other again and found it easy to have a chat together. There was still a slight apprehension as they both mistrusted the other a tad but they ignored that for now.

Training went well and even when Maisie got a bit hyper, the staff were brilliant at putting stuff in place to keep her focused.

Her friendships with the other girls were solidifying and she was pleased that she could have an easy laugh with everyone.

After a fun but full-on day, Maisie and Erin were lying on their beds in their room. Maisie still had a ton of energy and she was waffling away, forgetting that three days ago she hated Erin with all her heart. She'd got onto a topic she enjoyed and had let her guard slip down, almost forgetting that she wasn't with one of her best mates.

Erin listened happily to her ramble. Three days ago she would've felt furious at having to listen to her go on but now she didn't mind. Maisie was interesting and funny and she'd probably even go as far as saying kind. A sudden pang of guilt hit her for what had happened when Maisie had come to her school. She was really mean and she realised just how little Maisie deserved it.

"Are you alright?" Maisie asked, suddenly realising that Erin seemed a million miles away. She could feel her face going red as she thought maybe Erin didn't like her and didn't want to hear her ramble. She felt embarrassed that she'd let her guard slip and her heart was beginning to hammer a little.

Erin hesitated for a moment but she knew she had to do this. She had to apologise.

"I'm sorry about what happened with Emma. We were really mean and you didn't deserve it," she said. She was looking forward, not wanting to see Maisie's reaction.

"It's alright," Maisie said, grateful for the apology, "I'm sorry I got you into trouble."

"It's fine. I deserved it."

They fell into silence, both of them pleased to get the apologies out.

"Why do you hate getting in trouble so much?" Maisie asked after a few moments. She was always in trouble and was used to it but it clearly upset Erin a lot.

"I don't know really. I just hate it. It makes me feel awful."

"Really?"

"Yeah. How come you aren't bothered?"

"I'm used to it. Everyone sees me as the naughty kid so I suppose I just live up to that."

Now they'd got all of that in the open, they went back to having a conversation, more relaxed this time as that bit of tension had eased away.

***

It was the day before the match and they did training out on the grass. It was a bit less intense than the other days as they didn't want to tire them out but it was still hard work.

Maisie came in after lunch and as usual sat with Liv and Samara. They'd formed a little trio and they got on well.

They were each as loud as each other and their personalities slotted together well.