Rediscovering You

eleven

note: it's Tuesday somewhere in the world, right 🙈🙈

6th March 2023 - one year and six weeks old.

'Quite a few sore heads this morning, are there?' Leah asks, a small smile on her face as she makes her way into the canteen with Rory perched on her hip. She receives a few groans in reply as she places Rory down on the floor and watches her slowly toddle towards Beth who has her arms stretched out.

'Hi, little legs... How's your mumma as bright as a button this morning, ey? Everyone else is feeling sorry for themselves.' Beth says smiling as she lifts the blonde onto her knee.

'Because I was sensible and didn't drink as much as these numptys.' Leah replies shaking her head.

'Oh I see we've got a little guest for our recovery session this morning.' Jonas says, his voice rough, as he makes his way into the canteen causing Leah to glance over her shoulder.

'She's only here for an hour or so... My mum's coming to pick her up but she's got a hospital appointment with my grandma so it had to be after that.' Leah replies and Jonas nods his head.

'No worries... I'd ask how we're all feeling this morning but I can clearly see we've got some slightly more worse for wear than others.' Jonas says glancing around the room where multiple girls are sitting with their heads on the tables in front of them.

'Katie, you good?' He asks focusing on the Irish defender who has her hood pulled over her head as she leans forward, her face buried in her arms.

'Grand.' Katie mumbles.

'Right I want you to all get something to eat and get some fluids in you. We'll get together in the meeting room in an hour.' Jonas says before turning to leave the canteen.

'I think you might want to go check on Wally...' Jen says softly, her arm wrapping around the blonde's shoulders as she stands at Beth's table.

'What? Why?' Leah asks.

'I just- Go check on her. She's in the changing rooms with Steph.' Jen replies and Leah glances at Beth who nods her head.

'I've got little legs.' Beth says.

****

Making her way into the changing rooms, Leah raises her eyebrows as she finds Steph sitting on a bench by herself. She glances around the room but fails to find any sign of the Swiss-midfielder.

'She's in the bathroom... I take it you've heard then.' Steph says softly as she stands to hug the blonde.

'I've not heard anything. I just got told I should come check on her.' Leah replies shaking her head causing Steph to sigh.

'After you'd left last night she caught Caitlin and Katie.' Steph says quietly.

'Caught? What do you mean?' Leah asks glancing towards the bathroom door.

'She'd gone outside to phone a taxi because she was gonna head home and they were literally just outside the pub kissing...' Steph explains.

'Fuck...' Leah mumbles and Steph nods her head.

'She stayed at mine last night. I told her to tell Jonas she wasn't coming in today but she said she wasn't doing that... I don't know what happened with Katie and Caitlin after we left. They were both absolutely hammered.' Steph says and Leah shakes her head.

'You can tell they're both hungover this morning.' Leah replies.

'Are they sitting together?' Steph asks and Leah nods her head.

'Mm-hmm...' Leah replies as she hears the bathroom door open and Swiss-midfielder appears looking absolutely shattered.

'Come here you...' Leah says softly, immediately wrapping Lia in her arms as she pulls her tightly against her chest.

'You've got the right idea... I'm staying single forever.' Lia mumbles into her shoulder.

'Don't be silly... You'll find the one who treats you like the queen you are.' Leah says.

****

'Lia, can we talk?' Caitlin asks softly as she makes her way over to where her and Leah are sitting together slightly distanced from the rest of the team.

'No.' Lia replies.

'I just wanna-' Caitlin begins.

'She said she doesn't want to talk to you, Caitlin.' Leah says, her hand resting on Lia's knee.

'I just- I can see she's upset and I want to explain.' Caitlin says.

'I don't think there is any explaining though, is there? The beds barely cold and you have got someone else in it. Did you ever really care?' Lia asks, almost whispering the last sentence.

'You know I did.' Caitlin says.

'I think you should just go back to where you were, Caitlin. You've clearly moved on and that's fine but if you really care then give her space.' Leah replies only for the Aussie to step closer to Lia in a bid to take the blonde out of the conversation.

'Back the fuck up, Caitlin. She's already said she doesn't want to talk so fucking respect that.' Leah says pushing herself to her feet.

'Okay. I think it's time we go away from here.' Steph says as she rushes over with Jen to take hold of the Aussie's shoulders and beginning to direct her away from the pair.

'Thanks.' Lia whispers as Leah sits back down beside her.

'I've got you... I've always got you.' Leah says softly as she gently squeezes the other woman's knee.

'I always knew she was going to move on but I just-' Lia begins, shaking her head as she runs her hands over her face.

'You just didn't think it would be this soon or with Katie.' Leah says causing Lia to nod her head.

****

'What were you thinking?' Viv asks as she sits opposite Katie who sighs and shakes her head.

'Well clearly I wasn't.' Katie replies quietly.

'What about Rue?' Viv asks.

'We split up weeks ago, Viv.' Katie replies and Viv nods her head.

'Okay well I guess that's something... But Caitlin? Why Caitlin?' Viv asks.

'I don't know. I just- We were drunk, it just happened.' Katie replies.

'So it was a one-time thing then?' Viv asks.

'I don't know.' Katie almost whispers.

'Oh Katie...' Viv says reaching out to rest her hand on top of Katie's as the Irish defender looks absolutely distraught in front of her.

'I didn't want to hurt Wally... I didn't set out to hurt her.' Katie says and Viv nods her head.

'I know you didn't and she'll get there eventually but she's just hurting. The breakup is still fresh and she probably wasn't expecting to walk out that bar and find you two, was she? She just needs some time to process it all... You need to speak to Caitlin because if she keeps trying to talk to Wally, it's never going end well.' Viv replies.

'I'll speak to her... Tell her to back off a little bit.' Katie says and Viv nods her head.

'It will all work out, Katie. It's just going to take some time for Wally to move on. It will be okay though.' Viv replies gently squeezing Katie's hand.