Rollercoaster love

Face to face

It's now May. Months have passed. I'm playing so well. Arsenal are top of the table and we are still in the champions league. We are doing well. I'm doing well.

I'm asleep and my phone starts ringing, it's 2am and a hidden number. I answer it.
Leah: "hello?"
"Hi."
I heart starts racing.
Leah: "Molly?"
Molly: "yeah."
She's crying.
Leah: "what's wrong? You alright?"
Molly: "I'm sorry. I shouldn't have called."
The call ends.
Fuck sake.

I'm awake now. 2.05 am. I toss and turn trying to get back to sleep but I can't. Why was she crying? What's happened and why, why did she call me?

End of the season. Since that 2 second phone call with Molly I haven't heard anything. Which was to be expected.
Today. The champions league final.
We won the league.
We won the Conti Cup.
We won the FA cup.
Now it's this.
Against Barcelona.
For the quad.

We come out strong. Some shots and near goals. Barcelona look quiet.

23' Russo.
36' Mead.
41' Williamson.

I got my head on a high corner and it ripples the back of the net.
3 nil up against Barcelona. It's unheard of. What the hell is going on?

We don't get much out of the second half. But we don't let them score either.
90+4' the final minute. I'm looking at the ref. The whistle goes to her lips and it blows for full time.
I drop to my knees.
We won. We fucking won.
The girls all run over to me. The bench, the staff, everyone.
Beth: "you fucking did it! We fucking did it!"
Beth grabs me. I'm crying. She's crying.
She's right.
We fucking did it.

We go over to our fans and celebrate with them. I look up at the family area and wave to my mum and dad. Mums crying, as per. But behind her. I see TJ. He's and Arsenal fan so of course he's here but then I see Jason. And Aaron. And Wayne. And then Molly.
9 months since I last saw her.
She's wearing an Arsenal shirt. Hat on. My hat.
She's on her phone so she doesn't see that I'm there but TJ does. He taps the cannon on his shirt and smiles at me. I smile back and turn to walk away. I start walking when one of the staff hand me my phone. All the girls have theirs to take photos and get all the memories from this day.
I turn it on. Messages and notifications come through. But I see a text.

Congratulations. I'm proud of you. M x

I turn around to look at her and shes with someone i don't know. Some guy I've never seen before. Another of her security probably. But then, as she disappears into one of the boxes. She kisses him. She smiles like she used to do with me. My heart breaks all over again.

I decide to forget about it for tonight. We celebrate. And celebrate some more. A lot of drinking and singing and dancing goes on.

The next morning I wake with with a raging headache. What makes it worse is I remember Molly with someone else. It hurts. I get up and have a shower before we get on the plane home.

Beth is sat next to me but even she's not saying much.
Beth: "guessing you saw Molly."
Leah: "yeah."
Beth: "I was trying to keep you away from her."
Leah: "I figured. It's fine. She's moved on."
Beth: "huh?"
Leah: "she kissed some guy."
Beth: "oh mate, I'm sorry."
Leah: "it's fine. I obviously didn't mean that much to her."
Beth: "you did Le, don't think like that."
Leah: "yeah."

The rest of the journey home is silent. People sleeping or watching their phones. I'm just looking out of the window. Headphones in watching the world go by.
I get home and flop on the sofa. The sofa I used to share with Molly. This house reminds me so much of her. She picked most of the furniture and decorations out. If I'm going to move on like she has, I need to move out. Or make changes, but a little part of me doesn't want to, a voice in my head is telling me she's going to come back, back home, to me.

A few weeks pass. Speculation of Mollys new relationship is all over social media. It's everywhere and I can't escape it, so I delete the apps. Not my profiles, just the apps. I need to forget that she's moved on, so I can move on too.

I have decided to not to go England camp this time. I need a break from football. Mentally and physically.
I go on holiday with some of the girls that didn't get selected to Ibiza.
What I didn't know is that Molly would be there too.
We are sat on the sunbeds and someone walks over.
TJ: "Leah."
I look over at him.
Leah: "TJ, hi, how are you? How's Scarlett?"
TJ: "I'm good, she's good. Loving life really, she's over there in the pool with Aaron and Jason."
Leah: "she's the spitting image of you TJ."
TJ: "so I've been told."
Leah: "so, erm, she's here?"
TJ: "yeah."
He looks at the floor.
TJ: "just so you know, we don't like Tom. He's going to hurt her."
Leah: "there's not much I can do is there."
TJ: "go talk to her. Please, she watches all of your matches still, she still loves you."
Leah: "she does?"
TJ: "she does."
Leah: "okay, is Tom here?"
TJ: "no, he's with his mates for the day."
Leah: "okay, I'll come over in a few minutes."
TJ: "thanks, she needs you still."
I nod and he walks away.
I look at Alex.
Alex: "you going over there?"
Leah: "what do I say? It's been a year almost."
Alex: "just go say hi. Down this first though."
She hands me her drink. Vodka. Liquid courage.
I down it and head over to where Molly is sat, TJ next to her. He looks at me and slightly nods before I walk over.
Leah: "mol?"
Molly: "le-Leah. Hi."
Leah: "how are you?"
Molly: "I'm doing okay, walking again, so that's good."
Leah: "yeah, it is. I'm happy for you."
Molly: "well done on your season with Arsenal. I knew you'd do it."
Leah: "yeah, erm thanks."
There is an awkward silence for a few seconds before I walk away.
Molly: "le, wait."
I turn around to face her.
She stands up and limps towards me.
Molly: "I'm sorry."
Leah: "no im sorry, you were right I was being selfish-"
Her lips press against mine. Soft and slow, she is still perfect. She pulls away but I don't want her too.
Molly: "sorry I just didn't want you rambling. You have nothing to be sorry for. You saved my memory. Tours, songs, my family, friends, you. You saved all of that, it's taken me a while to realise that. So thank you."
Leah: "I'd do anything for you, you know that."
Molly: "I know."
Leah: "listen, I erm, still knew how you were getting on. Your mum told me bits and pieces, only when I asked because I needed to know. Your dad told me a few things when he came and got your things a while ago. I'm glad you're doing better and that you've found someone who helps you through it all. I'm sure he's great but I should get back to my friends."
Molly: "he's no where near as good as you le. You'd have helped me so much more."
Leah: "I wouldn't have left your side."
Molly: "I know."
Leah: "yeah, look after yourself."
I weakly smile and walk back to Alex and Lia.
Alex: "well?"
Leah: "not now."
I grab my drink and down it.

Mollys POV:

Leah has just walked away. She's still perfect, she's still proving to me what an idiot I was for leaving her.
TJ: "boss?"
Molly: "I'm getting her back TJ."
TJ: "you are?"
Molly: "I am. I'll make it my life's mission if I have to."
TJ: "well okay then."
I can see TJ smiling. He's always loved Leah because he knows I'm looked after. If I was with her here then he wouldn't be sat next to me with two others looking over me. He doesn't trust Tom and to be honest, neither do I.