The atmosphere on the coach back to St. George’s Park was electric. The England team was in high spirits after their 1-0 victory over Germany, and the players chatted and laughed as the coach made its way through the countryside. Everyone was congratulating each other, replaying moments from the match, and enjoying the sense of accomplishment.
Yn sat in her seat, relaxed, her earphones in as she listened to music. She leaned her head back against the window, still processing the fact that she’d just scored her first goal for England. The joy of the match lingered, but now she was just happy to relax and unwind on the long drive back.
Just as she was starting to drift into a calm, contented state, she felt a tap on her shoulder. She opened one eye, a little annoyed at the interruption, to see Ella Toone standing beside her.
"Mind if I sit?" Ella asked with a mischievous grin.
Yn nodded, pulling her headphones down to her neck. "Go ahead."
Ella slid into the seat next to her, but there was something different about her demeanor. She was usually playful and bubbly, but today she seemed a little more serious.
"So, Yn," Ella began, her tone slightly more serious than usual, "there’s something I need to ask you about Summer."
Yn furrowed her brow, not sure where this was going. "What about Summer?" she asked cautiously.
Ella leaned in a little closer, her phone in hand. "Yesterday, someone saw her with Maya Le Tissier, and this is the picture they took."
Ella handed her the phone, showing a photo of Summer standing next to Maya, both of them smiling. The photo didn’t look suspicious at all, but something about the way Ella was acting made Yn feel uneasy.
"What’s your point, Ella?" Yn asked, her voice growing more guarded.
Ella smiled, but it didn’t quite reach her eyes. "I just thought you should know. Maybe there’s something more going on between them."
Yn felt her stomach drop, her mind racing. "What are you implying?" she asked, trying to keep her cool.
"I’m just saying, it’s odd, right? I mean, you and Summer are together, and then she’s seen with Maya... you know, it just didn’t sit right with me. You’re my teammate, and I thought I should tell you."
Yn’s patience was running thin. She’d been through enough drama already, and she didn’t need any more rumors or insinuations. She looked at Ella with a serious expression.
"Seriously, Ella," Yn said firmly, "leave it. It’s not your business. Summer and I are fine. So, stop trying to stir something up."
Ella opened her mouth to say something else, but Yn cut her off, putting her headphones back in, signaling that she wasn’t interested in continuing the conversation. Ella sighed and stood up, clearly a little put off, and moved back to her seat.
Yn took a deep breath, trying to shake off the tension Ella had created. She pulled her phone from her bag and decided to video call Summer, hoping to put her mind at ease. She needed to hear Summer’s voice, to know everything was okay between them.
Summer answered quickly, a warm smile on her face. "Hey, love! How’s everything going?"
"Hey," Yn said, her voice a little more serious than usual. "I need to ask you something. Ella came up to me just now, and she said she saw you with Maya Le Tissier yesterday. She made it sound... weird. Is everything okay?"
Summer’s smile faltered for a moment, and Yn could tell she was trying to keep her cool. "What? That’s ridiculous," Summer said, shaking her head. "I was just talking to Maya. You know she’s a good friend of mine. We were just catching up. That’s all."
Yn studied Summer’s face, looking for any sign that she was lying. But Summer seemed genuine, her expression soft and calm.
"I swear, Yn," Summer continued, her voice earnest, "nothing’s going on. I promise you, it was just a chat. You know you’re the only one for me."
Yn felt a wave of relief wash over her. She trusted Summer, and seeing how upset Ella had made her just confirmed that this was all a misunderstanding.
"Okay," Yn said, her tone softer now. "I just wanted to check. Ella made it sound... weird. You know how she is."
"I know," Summer said with a small smile. "But don’t listen to her, alright? It’s just nonsense."
Yn smiled, feeling the tension start to fade. "I’m glad you called. I just wanted to make sure everything was okay."
"Of course, everything’s fine," Summer replied, her voice warm and reassuring. "I miss you though. I wish I could be there with you now."
Yn chuckled. "Me too. But hey, you’ll see me soon. I’ll be back before you know it."
They talked for a little while longer, and the warmth between them made Yn feel much better. She ended the call with a sigh of relief, feeling the weight of Ella’s words lift from her shoulders.
The coach was still buzzing with energy as they neared St. George’s Park, but for Yn, the moment had passed. She didn’t need to let anyone—especially Ella—cause doubt in her relationship with Summer. Everything was fine.
