𝙄𝙣 𝙏𝙝𝙚 𝙌𝙪𝙞𝙚𝙩 𝙈𝙤𝙢𝙚𝙣𝙩𝙨 - 𝘊𝘢𝘪𝘵𝘭𝘪𝘯 𝘍𝘰𝘰𝘳𝘥

𝙎𝙞𝙭𝙩𝙮 𝙁𝙤𝙪𝙧. 𝘞𝘩𝘦𝘳𝘦 𝘞𝘦 𝘉𝘦𝘭𝘰𝘯𝘨

I pulled into the parking lot of the bar where the Arsenal girls usually hung out after training or on match-free weekends. A surge of nervous excitement bubbled in my chest as I got out of the car. I hadn't seen them properly since I moved to the Lionesses, and while I was excited to surprise them, part of me felt like an outsider now. Caitlin had told me everyone missed me, but still, I wasn't around for the jokes, the training drills, or the post-session banter anymore.

Stabling myself, I pushed open the door to the bar. The sound of familiar laughter hit my ears, and I spotted the girls at our usual booth. Steph's boisterous laugh rang out, easily cutting through the noise of the bar. Katie was at her side, gesturing animatedly while Leah and Jordan listened in, amused smiles on their faces.

I hesitated for a second before Leah noticed me. Her face lit up with surprise and excitement. "Oh my god, look who it is!" she shouts, causing everyone to turn.

"Elena!" Katie practically jumps out of the booth and rushes over, pulling me into a tight hug. "Finally, you show your face! About bloody time!"

Steph grins from her seat. "Well, if it isn't our little Lioness coming to slum it with the Gunners again."

Caitlin, already seated at the booth, scoots over to make room for me, pulling me beside her with a smile that warms me instantly. She leans in, brushing her lips softly against my cheek, her arm resting casually around my shoulders. "You surprised us all," she whispers, her voice low enough that only I could hear. "I missed you."

I give her a small smile before looking at the group. "I missed you all too. Thought I'd stop by and see what mischief you lot have been getting up to."

Katie snorts. "Mischief? Try surviving without you. Arsenal hasn't been the same."

Steph grins, raising her drink. "It's quieter, I'll give you that. With Beth not bickering with anyone."

Leah leans across the table, shaking her head. "We need you back on the pitch, Els. I don't care what Jonas says—he's lost his mind sending you away."

I chuckle softly but can't deny the pang of longing in my chest. "Don't worry, I'll be back before you know it. London City's good, but they're no Arsenal."

"I hope so," Jordan says, winking. "Don't get too comfortable over there."

I lean back, savoring the warmth of their presence, the laughter, the easy banter. It feels so natural being here, like no time has passed, but there is still a small voice in the back of my mind reminding me that I'm not part of these moments every day anymore.

Katie, ever the life of the party, breaks the thought before it can settle too deep. "You missed a classic moment yesterday, Els. Training was chaos."

I raise an eyebrow. "What happened?"

Katie smirks and nudges Steph. "Go on, tell her."

Steph's grin widens as she gets into her storytelling mode. "So, we're doing this fitness drill, yeah? Jonas has us running like it's the apocalypse. You know the one where you have to sprint and turn on the whistle?"

I nod, remembering how much I'd hate that drill.

"Right, so Jonas is watching us like a hawk, and Leah here—our fearless vice-captain—decides she's going to go full speed like it's a World Cup final. She's going hard, pushing herself to the limit, and just as she's turning..." Steph pauses for dramatic effect, mimicking Leah's stumble with a hand motion. "She trips over her own feet and goes flying. I'm talkin' face-first into the grass."

Leah groans, hiding her face behind her hands while everyone bursts into laughter.

"I did not trip that badly!" Leah protests, her voice muffled but clearly embarrassed.