Katie McCabe x Teen!Reader
Where you're always very timid, but open up to Katie
~
You had never been great at new environments. It always takes a long time before you are able to warm up to people you don't know. So, being called up to Arsenal's senior team and being surrounded by a whole new team definitely wasn't an easy task.
The first few weeks had flown by, but you hadn't really spoken to any of your teammates, besides giving short answers to their questions.No one seemed to mind that you were so timid, never pushing you.
Behind your back they had spoken about it, not in a bad way, more so that they were worried that you weren't comfortable here. They tried in different ways to make you feel more included, hoping you would start opening up more, but despite their best efforts not much changed. However, your teammates were patient with you, and you were grateful that they weren't pushing.
"Good morning, are you ready for training?" Kim said as she sat down besides you in the locker room. You smiled timidly and nodded. Your team captain smiled and quietly got ready besides you. Around you the room was buzzing with the chatter of the rest of your teammates.
Training today was a gym session. You enjoyed gym days because for the biggest part of it, you were working individually. While yes football was a team sport, so that part was very important, the individual work made you feel more comfortable with the new environment.
You started with biking, as that was usually the equipment that everyone liked the least, so you would have the space to yourself. After a few minutes of cycling, Katie walked up. "Hey Kid, mind if I join you?" In response you nod. She sits down on the bike beside you and starts cycling with you.
After a few minutes of silence, Katie turns her head your way with a serious expression. "I've got an important question for you." You turn to her, worried about what she might ask. Katie McCabe wasn't known for being serious, so this must be something big or important.
"Do you think cereal is a soup?" You look at her in disbelief, definitely not having expected that question at all. "That's your important question?" Your lips curl up slightly. "Yes, I need to know where you stand on the matter." She says just as seriously as she started.
This time your smile breaks out and you start laughing. Katie smiles proudly before she joins in on your laughter. "So," She says when the laughter dies down. "Is it soup?" You shake your head. "Definitely not and you can't convince me otherwise."
Katie gasped, her face filled with shock. "Not soup? Unbelievable. I thought you had better judgement, Kid." You felt the walls you had up crumble bit by bit every time she joked around.
The sound of your laughter caught the attention of a few of your teammates in the gym. They looked at the intersection between you and Katie with smiles on their faces. Who would have thought that Katie would've been the one to get you to open up more?
"I will let you off the hook this time. Everyone is allowed one wrong opinion, and you have just used yours." You shake your head with a chuckle. "Good to know."
The two of you continued chatting throughout your bike session. The team occasionally looks over, happy to see that you are feeling more at home. Wondering what kind of magic Katie used to get through to you.
"Do you maybe want to join me and toss the ball around?" Katie is quick to say yes, happy that you want to continue opening up to her. "Right behind you." She says as she gets stopped by Leah on the way.
"I've never seen her like this. How did you get her to open up?" The blonde asks full of wonder. Katie shrugs, "I told you that I am funnier than the rest of you." She walks off proudly, leaving Leah standing there dumbfounded.
You had picked out the weight that you wanted to use right as Katie walked up. "Alright, show me what you got, Kid." She stood a few steps in front of you and got ready to catch the ball. You held it at chest height as you squatted down and in your movement up, you threw the ball her way. She did the same movement before tossing the ball your way again.
Just like on bikes, the two of you were chatting. It seemed like you were getting really comfortable with Katie, and there was just one thought on the older players' mind. "Why me?" She asked out loud before thinking.
"I eh, I mean you're opening up to me and I was wondering what made you do so with me?" She threw the ball back your way. You catch it with ease and as you squat down you answer her question.
"You just made me feel safe." You toss the ball back but Katie is so caught by surprise with your answer that it just falls to the ground in front of her. "I win." You say with a proud smirk.
"Yeah yeah, well done, Kid." Katie tries to shrug off the loss, but ultimately she's feeling very good, because she had created a safe space for you without even realising it. Growing up with younger siblings had unintentionally prepared her for youngsters joining the team.
"I want a revance on this next training." You shake her reached out hand. "Deal, but don't be upset if I beat you again." Laughter erupts in the room. Your cheeks turn a bright red when you realise everyone was looking at you.
Katie notices and puts her arm around your shoulder. "Get used to it Kid, that humour will get you far with these girls."
