ʀᴏᴏᴋɪᴇ | ᴋᴏ ✔︎

17

"Are you positive about this decision, Scott?" Laura asks as I sit at her desk. I take a moment to think it over before I nod, a grin on my face.

"I'm definitely sure."

"Okay. I'll give them a call, let them know and you should expect a phone call at some point. I'm sure they'll want to talk to you." She stands and I follow her to the door. As she opens it, she turns to me and holds her hand out, I shake it. "Thanks for letting me know, Logan and good luck."

"Thanks Coach."

I leave the Laura's office and order an Uber to take me home while I make my way to the locker room to grab my kit bag and by the time I get outside, my ride home is waiting for me. I decide to waste time on social media since my driver isn't much of a talker, which I don't mind if I'm honest.

I laugh as I read the almost instant replies from fans and some teammates as I follow some players on social media. Players like Christine Sinclair, Julie Fleeting, Alex Scott and Carli Lloyd. Admittedly I'm stirring the pot, but I'm also bored.

I swallow the chuckle as I read people start to say I'm representing England or Scotland, so I send one last tweet before I put my phone in my pocket as we turn into my street.

I pay the man and grab my kitbag, trekking up the steps to my front door. I drop my kitbag to the ground and kick my shoes off as I go to my bedroom to grab a towel, and I take a shower.

Drying my hair, my phone starts to blow up, and I ignore it until I recognize the ringtone I set for Kelley. I drop my towel and pick up my phone, putting it on speakerphone as I resume drying my hair.

"Hey baby."

"Don't 'hey baby' me." She sasses and I raise my eyebrow, even if she can't see me. When I don't speak, she continues, "What's with all the cryptic bullshit? Have you decided?" I laugh at her bluntness while thinking on my next words.

"I'm getting there." I answer vaguely, chuckling when I hear her groan.

"You're lying. Who have you picked?"

"Nothing's official yet, Kel. I can't say until I've had a call from the Coach."

"That's it. I'm phoning Jill, I'll talk to you later Logan."

"Right. As if she's gonna tell you anything." I laugh while I hear her sigh. "Bye babe."

The phonecalls didn't end with Kelley, and because I was waiting of one specific caller, I answered everyone. From Hope, Keelin and Pinoe to Fishlock, Zurrer and van Egmond. I told each of them the same thing I told Kelley, there's no way I'm telling my teammates and not my girlfriend. I know word would get to her and I'd be in the doghouse. I groan as my phone starts to ring again and I answer without checking the caller ID.

"Yellooow?" I drone, while staring at the TV screen which is showing highlights of the weekends La Liga games. The flow of Spanish football has a certain appeal to it.

"Hey sis!" I instinctively grin when I hear my brother's voice - especially when he sounds so effortlessly happy.

"Hey kiddo, what's up?" I ask, flicking through the stations.

"Is it true?"

"Is what true?"

"That you've chosen to suit up for England?" I choke on my spit slightly, making my brother laugh.

"What, who told you that?" I ask him as I sit up straight.

"It's all over twitter, I can read." He deadpans, making me want to smack him for his sass.

"You should know not to believe everything you read, Kevin. I thought you were the smart one?" I ask rhetorically, but get a very stern 'of course I am' in return.

"I'll let you know who I've chosen when it's official, okay?"

"That wasn't a no, Logan!" He yells as I say goodbye and hang up on him.

Getting tired of my phone constantly blowing up, I grab my shoes and keys and go for a run to clear my mind. I stop when I stumble upon an animal shelter that must be new. I think for a moment but shake the thought of adoption away for now, continuing on my route.

It's July 3rd and we're hosting Boston. It's a game we're confident for, considering we beat them not too long ago. The only downside is that I'm riding the bench again, apparently it's for 'tactical reasons', but it doesn't make it any less infuriating.

"Okay ladies, we know what to expect from Boston. We've been there, done that. So lets go do it again, okay?!" Laura tries to inspire the starters and it works. We're on a high, so the starting eleven jump out of their seats to line up in the small tunnel as myself and the rest of the subs get to our seats on the bench.

The first half is boring, nothing really happens. No goals, no injuries, nothing but a few saves from both 'keepers. A few times I caught myself thinking 'I could have scored that', doing what I'm told my Laura isn't making my thoughts any quieter - I'm desperate to get out there.

During halftime I warm up with the other subs, working on our passing and shooting while Laura gives her teamtalk, same as Boston. When we see the teams begin to exit the tunnel, heading for the field, it's our cue to get back to the bench.

"So, can you tell us who you've picked?" Zurrer asks. She's usually on the bench with me, sharing my blanket.

I'm lucky when I get interrupted as I watch Pinoe send a cross into the box, and McDonald gets her head on it, sending it past the Boston stopper. I celebrate with my teammates on the sidelines, even if McDonald is my least favorite person right now.

Nobody asks me about my choice again while we take to our seats. The game goes back and forth, once again, until somehow Boston level up through Leroux. As the minutes tick by, extremely slowly, I get more anxious. My leg starts to bounce and I don't realize until Emily puts a hand on my knee.

"Relax, rookie."

I nod softly, despite the nickname that I'm eager to shake, and I try and control my legs. It helps when the referee calls the game and I know for a fact that I'm not getting on that field today.

Four days after our draw with Boston, I'm in my apartment about to go for a run, when my phone starts to ring. I check the ID, not recognizing the number, and answer it cautiously.

"Hello?"

"Hello, is this Logan Scott?" I hear an English accent ask and I suddenly know exactly who it is.

"It sure is, how can I help you?" I ask, overly happy to be talking with the man who now controls my International future.

"My name is John Herdman, and I want to meet you, Miss Scott. I've seen you play, you're amazing, and I hear that you would like to represent us."

"You heard right."

"I'll be at your next game, against Western New York. We can chat after the match, and discuss what I believe you can bring to the Canadian team."