Close to you

Old Instincts, New Role

Beth lasts approximately four minutes as an observer.

It isn't entirely her fault, either, because Sarina had told her she could watch for as long as she wanted before getting involved, and Beth had every intention of doing exactly that when she'd followed the rest of the group towards the main pitch with her hands tucked into the pockets of her Arsenal training jacket.

Theo had gone willingly enough with Lauren towards the smaller pitch running alongside it, although he'd made Beth promise twice that she wasn't going anywhere.

Since he can still see her from where Lauren has started rolling a ball towards him, he seems perfectly content to spend the next little while kicking it back with all the concentration a three year old can manage.

Beth checks on him anyway because she can't really help it, and the first time she looks across, she finds him standing with one foot planted on top of the ball while Lauren crouches in front of him, listening to something he's telling her with both hands moving enthusiastically.

The second time, barely a minute later, he's chasing after the ball with a delighted squeal because Lauren has rolled it past him, and when he finally catches up with it, he immediately looks towards the main pitch as though he needs to make sure Beth witnessed his accomplishment.

Beth lifts both thumbs, and Theo beams as he copies her before turning straight back to Lauren, which should probably be enough to settle Beth's nerves for longer than another thirty seconds.

"You know he's still going to be there if you look away, right?"

Beth doesn't even need to turn her head because Leah's voice has been irritatingly recognisable for more years than she cares to count, although she eventually looks towards her best friend and finds Leah walking backwards into position with a grin that makes Beth want to kick a ball at her already.

"You know I've officially got the authority to make you run now, right?"

Leah's grin disappears so quickly that Jen nearly walks into Steph beside her. "That's fucking terrifying."

"It should be."

Sarina doesn't quite hide her smile as she walks past them, although the amusement disappears easily enough when she brings the players together and starts explaining the next section of training.

Beth listens properly because, for all the joking and familiarity surrounding her, she hasn't forgotten for a second why she's here, and when Sarina moves them into set piece work, Beth finds herself watching the shape rather than the ball almost immediately.

Katie is responsible for most of it, which Beth already knows, and there isn't anything fundamentally wrong with what they're doing.

It's the smaller details that catch her attention instead, including the way the wall is being used, the position of the runners before the kick is taken and the fact that one of the routines is making the intended target far too obvious before Katie has even started her approach.

Beth keeps quiet through the first attempt, and she manages the same through the second, although her head tilts slightly when the delivery comes in and Daffy claims it comfortably.

By the third, Sarina is standing beside her rather than several feet away. "What are you seeing?"

Beth glances at her. "You asking because you want to know or because you've noticed me making faces?"

"Both."

That gets a quiet laugh from Beth, but she looks back towards the players as Katie sets the ball down again. "They're telling Daffy where it's going before Katie even moves."