Lean on Me || Jill Roord

18. A Different International Break

This international break was completely different from the last in more ways than one. Australia wasn't playing, meaning I wasn't occupied watching them, so instead I watched the Nations League games. More so in the Netherlands because of Jill.

Since Monday, Jill and I have been talking nonstop, and I mean nonstop. I found myself smiling every time I checked the notifications on my phone and realised one of them was from Jill. Ellie had come over after my PT on Wednesday and wouldn't stop teasing me about it either.

"Are you texting Jill again?" Ellie asked from across the room. She was currently spending the afternoon with me as we were going to get dinner later tonight. I glanced up from my phone, cheeks hurting from smiling too much.

"How'd you know?" Ellie gave me a look that caused me to furrow my brows.

"You're smiling like an idiot." She deadpanned. "That's why." I couldn't help the laugh that slipped out, making Ellie laugh with me. She wasn't wrong though; I'd had a permanent smile on my face since Jill left for international duty. It wasn't because she had left; it was because we were still talking nonstop, unlike last time when it was awkward ignorance on both our parts.

A softer smile took over my features as I glanced down towards my hands placed in my lap. I fiddled like a child with my rings as Ellie came to sit next to me once more. "Hey." She grabbed my attention carefully.

"I'm happy for you. I'm glad you're in a good place now." She gave my shoulder a squeeze, and I leaned into her. "Thank you," I mumbled quietly.

"So are you guys dating yet?" She grinned when I pulled away. I rolled my eyes heavily and fought the smile forming on my lips.

"No." Ellie gasped in shock.

"No?" Her eyes were wide, and I laughed at her expression.

"Not yet," I confirmed, making her wiggle her eyebrows.

The rest of our afternoon and evening were filled with lots of laughter and easy conversation as we got ready for our dinner. We also played a bit of Mario Kart, and to no one's surprise, I won every race. Which made Ellie incredibly mad because she was winning our last race, but I knocked her out with a red shell in the final corner on the final lap. I fear Mario Kart may be the cause of friendship breakups sooner or later. Ellie even called Kerstin to inform her of the situation, and Kerstin surprisingly took my side solely because she wanted to be the one to beat me.

A Mario Kart tournament day was now in the works when everyone returned from international break.

"Hey, are you going to England's game at Wembley on Friday?" I asked Ellie out of curiosity during the short silence that had consumed us at dinner. Both of us were enjoying our meals thoroughly.

Ellie thought for a moment, "Yeah, I am. Why?" I debated telling her, but before I could, she spoke again.

"Are you wanting to go? You can come with me and hang out with a few of the English girls that are injured." She offered setting her fork down.

"Really? That would be nice."

"Are you planning on supporting someone, or?" A sly smile formed on her lips, and I knew she had caught on to why I had asked in the first place.

"No, I told Jill I wasn't wearing her jersey." It was too soon in my eyes, and we weren't even together yet.

Ellie hummed and dropped the subject, realising Jill and I still had a lot of talking to figure things out to do. We planned out the details for Friday and finished our dinner not long after. When Ellie dropped me off back at my apartment, I fell asleep almost instantly. Today had drained me, but I was content with it. Now I was just tired and desperately needed some sleep.