As Yn walked out of the Emirates, feeling the buzz of Arsenal's victory still humming in her veins, she spotted three familiar faces leaning casually against the stadium wall. Jess, Lauren, and Chloe from her old team, Manchester City, waved her over, warm smiles lighting up their faces.
"Yn!" Jess called, stepping forward to greet her. "Thought we’d never get the chance to catch you before you disappeared!"
Yn grinned, pulling her into a hug. “Jess! Lauren, Chloe… I didn’t expect to see you all here tonight.”
Lauren gave her a quick squeeze. "We wouldn’t miss this, especially knowing you were on the pitch against us."
Chloe nodded. “Yeah, it’s strange seeing you in red, though. Like, really strange. But you looked great out there.”
Yn chuckled, the praise soothing a bit of the lingering tension from the game. “Thanks. It was a bit weird for me, too.”
“Look, we just wanted to say…” Jess hesitated, then continued, “We miss you. A lot, actually.”
Lauren nodded. “It’s not the same without you around. Training feels a bit… off, y’know?”
Chloe added, “And the manager’s been… well, he’s been even tougher than usual. It’s like he’s trying to double down on all of us since you left.”
Yn glanced away, feeling a pang of guilt for leaving her friends behind. “I didn’t mean for things to turn out like this, honestly. I miss you all, too. But this move… I needed it.”
Jess reached out, squeezing Yn’s shoulder. “Don’t worry about us. We’ll be fine. You just focus on doing your best here, alright?”
Lauren smiled. “And hey, don’t be a stranger. We still expect you to come out with us every now and then.”
Yn laughed. “Deal.”
Just as she was about to say goodbye, Katie appeared, waving over at them. “Hey, Yn! Movie night back at mine—let’s go!”
Yn turned back to her City friends, a playful grin on her face. “Guess I’m off. Duty calls.”
Jess rolled her eyes, laughing. “Go on, then. Enjoy Arsenal’s… whatever movie marathon they’re forcing you into.”
With one last round of hugs, Yn joined Katie, heading out of the stadium and into the cool night air.
---
Back at Katie's flat, Yn found herself surrounded by laughter and warm banter. Leah was lounging on the sofa, scrolling through movie options, while Kyra and Caitlin sorted through snacks. Alessia and Beth joined them a few minutes later, and soon the room was filled with their voices, each one vying for control of the night’s movie lineup.
Katie, who was rummaging through a bag of popcorn, tossed Yn a grin. “Alright, since you’re the newest to the group, Yn, what’ll it be? Classic comedy? Something scary?”
Yn bit her lip, looking around. “How about something funny? We could use a laugh after that game.”
Beth clapped her hands together, nodding. “Yes! Something light-hearted sounds perfect.”
Leah handed the remote to Yn. “You heard her. Pick something.”
After scrolling through a few options, Yn settled on a feel-good comedy, and the group quickly settled into comfortable spots around the room. The movie started, but within a few minutes, everyone was chatting over it, catching up and joking around more than actually watching the film.
Halfway through the movie, Caitlin turned to Yn, nudging her playfully. “So, are you adjusting to the Arsenal family?”
Yn nodded, a soft smile on her face. “Honestly, it’s been amazing. The support from you all… I couldn’t have asked for better teammates.”
Katie smirked, wrapping an arm around Yn’s shoulder. “That’s because we’re the best. City’s got nothing on us.”
Leah chimed in with a chuckle, “Easy, McCabe. Don’t make her regret her decision.”
Yn laughed, but her thoughts drifted to her friends at City. She’d never forget the bonds she’d made there, but this, this felt like home. “No regrets at all. Really.”
They continued watching the movie, but the room burst into laughter more often than not, with everyone’s personalities shining through. Yn felt herself relaxing, melting into the warmth of the group’s energy. It was clear she had found her place here.
As the movie came to a close, Alessia turned to Yn. “You were insane out there tonight. I swear, that run past half their defense… and then that celebration?”
Beth snickered, reaching for another handful of popcorn. “That celebration was iconic. Standing right in front of your old manager, pointing at your name… brilliant.”
Yn felt a slight blush rise to her cheeks. “He kind of… deserved it.”
Katie laughed, nudging her. “Oh, he totally did. And we’re proud of you for it.”
Leah raised her water bottle, grinning. “To Yn. The one and only.”
Everyone echoed the sentiment, raising their drinks and toasting Yn. For the first time in a long while, she felt truly at peace. This was more than a team—it was family, and Yn was exactly where she was meant to be.
