Number on me

4. Hydra

16. Her number. Maxine tried to focus on the confidence wearing hér number brought her, instead of the ever increasing feeling of panic. Sitting in the changing room, alongside her new teammates, she keeps her head down, and focuses on getting ready for that first session. Sock, shoe, sock, shoe, her way. Max didn't want to be a superstitious person, but she had her ways. They made her feel in control and on days like today, she longed for that feeling.

Max knew she should use this moment, all moments in the first weeks really, to get to know her team. She promised Fay that she would. But, in the changing room, Maxine didn't want to converse with anyone, and Fay wasn't there to make her keep her word.

Maxine did however look around the room, her eyes moving over the faces that she would soon be extremely familiar with. Sitting In her cubby, in between Katie McCabe and Lina Hurtig, she got ready. Her hair in her signature bun, familiarity confidence, a headband from her sponsor, Nike, and her shin pads, purple, not her favourite colour, but Fay's.

The twins favourite colours was another notable difference between the sisters. Fay rocking the purple any change she got, and Max, preferring green. Their mom didn't know what to do when the twins begged her to paint their room their favourite colour. She ultimately decided to just let them do their thing. The result: a purple and green monstrosity. It took years for them to style the mismatch in a way that didn't look hideous. Maxine wouldn't have it any other way though, the room represented them both and she loved it.

'You ready kid?' Katie McCabe looked over from her left.

Maxine wanted to respond, but somewhere in the last couple of minutes her throat seemed to have closed. So instead she nodded with a slight smile.

'Hopefully you play better than you talk, ey.' Katie laughed. Max smiled along, while her cheeks turned a reddish pink colour.

'Nerves', she managed to say.

'Eh don't you worry, my first session I tripped over the head coach, you'll be fine'. Max didn't know if it where Katie's words, or her accent that reminded her of her uncle Harry, but Maxine felt calmer as she followed the team to the pitch.

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Training went by in a blur. Max felt like she did alright. It wasn't her best performance, but, for a first session with a new team, she was satisfied.

'Good job you, loved the energy, you are going to cause some trouble, you!' Steph, the Matilda's captain came up to Max. Max smiled, knowing they were both thinking of the match winning tackle Max pulled of in the final seconds of the final game of the training, that she, despite her surgeons advice, participated in, stopping the Australian herself.

The media would often criticise Maxine for her style of play. Calling her both reckless and dangerous. Maxine tried not to listen to these comments, but they would sting. Although it was true that she would play her heart out every single game, and was never afraid to pull off a daring tackle, Maxine would never willingly injure an opponent. And, even as an controlling midfielder, she knew when to not try for a tackle.

She knew she wasn't reckless or dangerous, but the Aussies use of trouble seemed a great fit. She would never tackle studs up, or aim for ankles, but she was no stranger to the occasional shove or swear battle. She loved playing rough, especially when her direct opponent did as well.

On the walk back to the changing room, Maxine found herself in an easy conversation with Steph. Talking about the World Cup and their mutual love for dogs, they got along well.

After a quick shower, and getting dressed even quicker, Maxine longed to go home. However, she decided to make the most out of her, so far successful, first day, and chat with a few teammates before heading to her apartment. Conversing with people that she wasn't familiar with was out of her comfort zone, but things that are truly worth it are almost never easy. And, to her surprise, she enjoyed her time spent talking with her teammates.

She learned a lot about them, being the great listener that she is. Beth talked about her brother, Katie about her siblings and Manu about her partner. She was even invited to a Friday night dinner, tomorrow, at Beth and viv's house. Viv went straight home after training, having to do some interviews, leaving Beth to get a ride home with Katie. Max looked forward to talking to the Dutch legend a bit more, knowing they would be teammates at both club and country once Viv made her comeback.

Leaving the facilities, Max got some weird looks when she didn't follow the other girls to the cars. Saying their goodbyes, none of them commented on the fact that Max left per foot. Walking home, Max decided to explore the area, making her 20 minute walk last around an hour. When she finally got home, it was around 5 in the afternoon.

When she got home she was once again confronted with her empty fridge. Not wanting to leave the house again, she decided to order her groceries to be delivered. After loading her online shopping cart with a lot of groceries, as she still needed absolutely all the basics, she loved cooking, which meant a large variety of ingredients was necessary.

Maxine got ready for another work out. Most athletes liked to relax when they got home after a long they, Maxine simply could not. Her mind was at football, getting better, training. She refused to be out worked by anyone, and always felt great after she put in effort to outwork everyone.

She didn't feel great when actually working out though. Today was tough, and she was still hurting from her injury. She wasn't cleared to play matches yet, but was allowed to do anything that didn't hurt. At least until her surgery next Wednesday. The burpees she was doing right now did hurt, but Max loved ignoring her own pain. She gave 110 percent, she didn't know how to give anything less than that. As she was in the middle of a set of weighed squads, the doorbell rang.

Expecting to open the door to her groceries, Max opened the door in her sport shorts and bra, absolutely covered in sweat, and was surprised to see a new face on her doorstep.

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Hey guys!

Excited to put some more time in this book again, and thanks to everyone who has been reading so far! Let me know how you like :)

Xx Belle