𝙬𝙝𝙖𝙩𝙚𝙫𝙚𝙧 𝙞𝙩 𝙩𝙖𝙠𝙚𝙨

Chapter 19 - Euros (Pt 3.)

23rd July 2022
Chloé pov - present
The stadium in Rotherham roars around me, a sea of noise and color. My heart pounds beneath my jersey, the emblem of France burning against my chest. This is it. France versus the Netherlands, a quarterfinal of Euro 2022. There's no room for mistakes tonight. The floodlights burn bright, making everything seem sharper, more vivid. The cut of the grass beneath my cleats, the way the Dutch players fan out across the pitch, their orange kits blazing against the night sky. But my mind narrows in on one thing: the ball. I can feel the energy, the intensity of every teammate around me. Wendie commands the backline like a warrior, while Grace moves like a storm through the midfield. We're pushing, pushing against the Dutch defense, and I know. This game is ours to take.

It's been a battle from the first whistle. The Netherlands aren't giving anything up easily. Van Domselaar, their goalkeeper, has been incredible. Leaping, diving, snatching every ball we send her way. I've watched her block strike after strike, my frustration growing, my legs aching with each sprint. It's like hitting a wall, over and over again. But we keep pushing. We have to. I glance up at the scoreboard. Seventy-seventh minute. The tension coils tighter in my stomach, and I clench my fists. We can't let this slip away. This game... it's ours. It has to be. Suddenly, the ball is at my feet. Time slows. I can hear the crowd, feel the eyes of everyone in the stadium fixed on me, but they're distant, like echoes at the edge of my consciousness. All I can focus on is the ball. And the goal.

I take a deep breath. I shift my weight, dodge past a defender, and my eyes lock onto a small gap, just a tiny sliver of space between van Domselaar and the post. It's now or never. I swing my foot. Contact. The ball flies. For a moment, everything hangs in the air. The noise of the crowd, the calls of my teammates. It all fades. I watch the ball spin, cutting through the air. The Dutch keeper dives, her arms outstretched, fingers brushing the ball... but it slips past her. Into the net. For a second, there's silence in my mind. The world seems to stop. Then it erupts. I hear the cheers before I even fully register what I've done. The sound crashes over me like a wave, and my teammates are sprinting toward me. Arms wrap around me, pulling me into a blur of hugs, shouts, and joy. It's a blur of blue jerseys and bright smiles. We've done it.

I try to catch my breath as I look around. The scoreboard flashes. 1-0. My heart races faster than ever, but this time it's pure adrenaline, pure happiness. I can see the disappointment etched on the faces of the Dutch players, but I don't have time to dwell on that. We've fought for this, tooth and nail, and now we're ahead. The next few minutes feel like an eternity. The Netherlands throw everything they have at us, desperate for an equalizer, but we stand firm. Every pass feels like a lifeline, every block like a small victory. I watch as Wendie and our backline fight off wave after wave of Dutch attacks. Selma races down the flank, trying to stretch the play and ease the pressure. We're holding on. We're so close. And then, the final whistle.

Relief floods through me, so powerful I almost sink to the ground. The roar of the French fans rises again, even louder this time. We've done it. We've held on. I find myself at the center of a joyful chaos, my teammates surrounding me, congratulating me. But all I can do is smile, soaking in the moment. We're through to the semifinals. And tonight, on this electric night in Rotherham, I was the one who made the difference. I take a deep breath, closing my eyes for just a moment, letting the noise and energy wash over me. This is what we live for. These moments. These games. And tonight, it's all ours.

*** ***

I'm leaning against the wall of the locker room, my body still buzzing from the match, when my phone vibrates in my hand. It's a video call from Mapi. I smile instantly, answering it, and there's Mapi's face, lighting up the screen with that familiar warmth. "Hey, champ," Mapi says, her eyes sparkling. "You were amazing out there. That goal. wow..." I grin, my cheeks flushing. "You saw it?"
"Of course I saw it. I screamed so loud, the whole hotel probably heard me," Mapi laughs. "You did it, Chloé."
"I still can't believe it," I admit, brushing a hand through my damp hair. "It feels like a dream." Mapi's voice softens.
"Well, if it is, I'm so proud of you. I knew you had it in you." I bite my lip, feeling my heart swell. "Gracias, mi amor. Your support means everything." Mapi smiles, her voice a gentle tease. "Now rest up, because I expect the same magic in the semis." I chuckle, nodding. "Deal. Just make sure you keep yelling for me."
"Always," Mapi replies. "Te quiero."
"Te quiero," I whisper back, my smile lingering long after the call ends.

Word count: 886

A/n: Smaller chapter because there's a lot going on in the next chapters plus I'm tired and it's like 2 in the morning when writing this so... I'm tired and I'm probably gonna go to bed.