The next morning, Yn walked into training with a spring in her step. Her date with Summer had been on her mind all night, and she was still buzzing from their video call. She barely noticed as Leah jogged up beside her.
“Hey, Yn!” Leah greeted, nudging her playfully. “So, how was family night?”
Yn’s eyes widened slightly, caught off guard. She forced a smile, trying to think of something on the spot. “Oh! Yeah, it was good. You know, just… catching up. We, uh, watched some old movies. Real low-key stuff.”
Leah chuckled. “Sounds like my kind of night. Guess that’s why you ditched movie night with us then?”
Yn shrugged, laughing a bit too. “I did promise you a rain check, though!”
“True. We’ll hold you to it!” Leah winked before heading over to join Katie and the others warming up on the field. Yn let out a small sigh of relief, glad she’d managed to keep her date with Summer under wraps.
Training went smoothly, with everyone in good spirits, and after the last drill, Yn waved goodbye to her teammates and headed home. As soon as she got back, she pulled out her phone and quickly hit the video call button on Summer’s contact.
After a few rings, Summer’s face appeared, a warm smile lighting up her features. “Hey, you! How’s it going?”
“Not too bad, just got back from training,” Yn replied, smiling back. “It’s good to see you.”
“Likewise! I was actually just thinking about you,” Summer admitted with a playful grin. “So, how’s everything going on your end?”
Yn chuckled. “Oh, you know… lots of football, lots of training. The usual.”
They chatted for a while, swapping stories from their days, laughing about little things, and Yn felt the stress of training and the season melting away. Summer’s happiness was contagious, and Yn found herself grinning along with her.
“So, I was thinking,” Summer said, leaning closer to the camera, “I might be in London for your next game.”
Yn’s eyes lit up. “Really? That would be amazing! Maybe you could come watch?”
Summer beamed. “I’d love to! I’ll get myself a ticket and everything.”
“Great! I’ll be looking out for you,” Yn replied, unable to hide her excitement.
---
The day of the game arrived, and the Emirates Stadium was buzzing with fans. Yn knew that somewhere in the crowd, Summer would be watching. She was nervous, but in a good way—there was a little extra thrill knowing Summer was there, even if she was trying not to make it too obvious to her teammates.
Just before kickoff, she scanned the stands and spotted a familiar figure, waving subtly. Summer waved back, flashing a big grin. Yn smiled, feeling her confidence surge.
The game started strong, and in the 27th minute, Yn found herself in the perfect position. Leah passed her the ball, and with a quick shift, Yn sent the ball sailing into the net. The crowd erupted as she sprinted to the corner, where she struck a pose, mimicking a model’s stance. She could imagine Summer laughing, knowing exactly what she was doing.
As her teammates joined her in celebration, Katie slapped her on the back, grinning. “Look at you, striking a pose like that! What was that about?”
Yn just laughed, keeping her secret. “Just having fun with it!”
The whistle blew for halftime, and Arsenal headed to the locker room up 1-0. The team’s spirits were high, and Renee, their coach, gave them a quick pep talk before sending them back out for the second half.
---
In the 71st minute, Arsenal won a free kick on the edge of the box. Yn walked over to join the small huddle as Katie picked up the ball, ready to take it. But then, Katie turned and handed the ball to Yn.
“Here, Yn,” she said, with a wink. “This one’s yours.”
Yn felt her heart race. She stepped up, took a deep breath, and, with a quick strike, curled the ball perfectly around the wall and into the net. The crowd roared as she turned back, running to where Leah was waiting.
She and Leah performed a quick, choreographed celebration they’d been practicing for weeks—a series of silly moves that ended in a playful salute. The team laughed and cheered them on, high-fiving Yn as she made her way back to midfield.
---
When the final whistle blew, the score was 2-0 to Arsenal. The team celebrated on the field, their voices echoing through the stadium, and Yn couldn’t help but feel a surge of pride. She scanned the crowd, catching a glimpse of Summer clapping and cheering.
Katie ran over, throwing her arm around Yn. “Two goals in one game! Someone’s on fire!”
Yn laughed, her cheeks flushing. “Just trying to keep up with you!”
As they made their way off the pitch, Leah caught up to Yn, grinning. “That celebration was epic. We have to keep that one in rotation.”
Yn nodded, still feeling the rush of the game. “Absolutely. We’ve got to give the fans a show, right?”
Leah chuckled, pulling her into a quick hug. “That’s my girl. Keep this up, and no one will be able to touch us.”
As they walked down the tunnel, Yn glanced over her shoulder one last time, catching Summer’s eye as she waved. Summer waved back, a warm smile lighting up her face, and Yn couldn’t help but feel on top of the world.
