Hotspur Girl

Part Two

I arrived at Cheshunt FC early the next morning. As expected, I was put as a sub. I was excited to see how the team worked together after our training. I stood with Jessica and the other subs next to Karen. I looked at the Liverpool ladies: they all looked so strong and aggressive. "That one's a real beast," Jessica pointed out their number 2. "If she's within a metre of you, you're screwed." As soon as the ref blew her whistle, I could see what Jessica meant. Despite the setbacks they provided, we stayed strong throughout. Knowing that this was my team playing made the match all the more exhilarating to watch.

At half time, we were 2-1 up, thanks to a penalty from Wiltshire and a smooth goal from Dean. Morgan, our goalkeeper, saved four attempts and missed one by a millimetre. Karen congratulated them and gave us a few tips for the second half. She subbed on Jessica but chose to keep me off, but I didn't mind. We headed back to the pitch after a short rest and prepared for the match to recommence.

Almost straight away, Liverpool managed to make an own goal, resulting in the player, who looked about fifteen, getting some nasty looks from her teammates. In a heated fury, she "accidentally" knocked Dean hard in the shoulder, sending her to the ground. I saw her ankle rotate horrifyingly before she met the grass. Two paramedics hurried onto the pitch to escort her off, putting her arms over their shoulders. They brought her over to us to check the severity. Karen looked at me and nodded. "It's time, Audrey," she said quietly. I took a deep breath. I looked down at my shirt: bright white with Baker and my number, 32 on the back. I ran onto the pitch and tried not to look at the fans. I knew that they would be expecting an equal substitution for Rianna, who I knew I wasn't as good as.

Thankfully, the ball didn't come near me often- it was taken up by all the big names. I did, however, manage to make a decent assist for Jessica, who neatly clipped the ball into the back of the net. The goalie didn't stand a chance. 4-1! Jessica ran to me and threw her arms around me, and some of our players joined in our celebration. The rest of the game was reasonably uneventful. When the whistle sounded, we all celebrated our hard-earned win before heading over to the changing rooms. After we were changed, I heard Jenna cheer from across the room. She was on the phone to someone. "Alright, ladies!" She called and everyone went silent. "The lads just hammered Bournemouth so we're out to celebrate our wins!" Angela Addison high-fived her and cheers rippled through the room.

I walked to my car but I was stopped by Sarah before I could get in my car. "Will you come tonight? My husband will be watching Alexa so he can give you a lift home if you need," she said.
"I suppose I can." I thought about what Avery had said yesterday. "Can I bring a plus one?"
"Yeah, everyone's welcome, babe! See you there!"

I called Avery using my car telephone. "Ave," I said. "Do you want to meet the boys?" I heard a sharp intake of breath on the other line.
"What kind of question is that? Hell yes!"
"Right, well we're having a little celebration night tonight, and I can bring you if you want to come."
"Oh my god, yes, yes, yes! What did I do to deserve a best friend like you?"

I spent forever picking my outfit. I decided on something simple but pretty, a safe bet considering I didn't know how everyone else was dressing.I even put on some heels, something I almost never do. I didn't live far from the restaurant we were going to so I decided to walk. I picked up Avery on the way and looked at her for a moment. She was wearing a white PVC wrap dress and she looked so pretty in it. We made our way down and talked as we went. "So you've never met any of them before?" She asked.
"Not yet," I laughed.

The restaurant was small and quiet. I gave my name as 'Audrey Baker plus one', as instructed, and was led downstairs to a separate area that was locked. Inside, I saw my teammates, who I was happy to see, but also the men's team, all in white button ups and jeans. It was mad seeing them interacting normally, just laughing, chatting, drinking. Jenna saw me and  showed me and Avery to some seats on our table. I saw Avery checking out some of the players- and who can blame her? They were all so perfect, even more so in real life and when they weren't all sweaty in matches.

She suddenly gasped. "Who is that?" She whispered.
"Which one?"
"The one with the eyebrows. And the freckles."
"Ah." This one was exactly Avery's type. "That's Harry Winks. Central midfielder."
"Please can you introduce me? You don't have to if you don't want to but-" I laughed and took hold of her wrist.
"You worry too much. Of course I will." I took her over to the small table occupied by Harry as well as Dele Alli and Oliver Skipp. Oliver looked at Avery and winked. Everyone always noticed Avery first, naturally. Harry was the first to talk. "You must be Audrey, right?"
"Yeah, that's me, and this is my friend Avery."
"Nice assist today, by the way."
I was a little surprised by him paying me attention. "Wow, thank you!" I said. I felt myself blushing: he was so handsome, but I wasn't about to take him from Avery. "I'm going to the bar," I said, winking at Avery. "Do you want anything. Avery shook her head. "Nah, I'm good," Harry said. He gestured to five full glasses in front of Dele. "Del likes to, uh, plan ahead, and we don't trust Skippy yet." Oliver pulled a face at Harry, who just laughed at him. I smiled and left in the direction of the bar.

I ordered a glass of wine and talked to Coral Haines, one of our midfielders. She was dressed impeccably, exactly as I expected her to be. Then she left and I was alone again. I heard a voice behind me, one I knew as well as my own. It was low pitched, its accent part Korean, part British, part German and part something else.
"Are you okay? You look lonely."
I jumped out of my skin and spun my stool around to face him. He was right there in front of me. Son Heungmin, the man whose face has lined my walls for years, whose name has read on my shirt when I was a teenager at White Hart Lane. I did my best to be confident. "Yeah, I'm great, actually."
"Ah, because you've been entirely alone for a while now. But if you're alright..." He started to walk away and I felt myself about to miss my chance.
"No, stay. Please."
He gave me that famous smile. "If you insist." He took a seat beside me. "So you're new to Tottenham?"
"Yeah, it was my first match today."
"How did you find it?"
"It was hard- I'm not as good as the others."
"Yeah, I wanted to leave when I first came here. But now," he looked around at the people in the room. "Now I love it. So don't give up, because in three, four years time you'll be living the dream, I swear."
I smiled at him. "Thank you, that means a lot." I finished my drink and ordered another. I pulled out my purse but he stopped my hand. "No, I can pay for it," I said, my hands shaking. I didn't want to take anything off him. He laughed.
"I don't think it's going to break the bank. Unless you're drinking Dom or something." I laughed and let him pay. Then we talked as if we were long lost friends. There was no awkwardness, no small talk. We got along so well and I didn't want it to end.

My dream of a night was brought to an abrupt stop by none other than Jan Vertonghen. "Sonny," he said, exasperated. "Lloris is absolutely smashed."
He sighed. "Of course he is."
"Toby and I are getting out of here before we're kicked out and end up on the cover of every paper, so if you want a lift, come now."
He looked at me. "Sorry Audrey. I've had too much to drive. I'd stay if I could. Hey, give me your number and I'll call you." I nodded. I felt like crying as I typed my number into his phone. He put in his pocket and left with Jan and Toby. I watched them go sadly.

I looked for Avery. She was incredibly drunk, no surprise there, and she was sitting on Harry's lap, her hands around on the sides of his face. His hands were around her waist and he may have been even more drunk than she was. I saw Oliver Skipp with a pint in his hand, so I assume the rules were relaxed. I couldn't talk to her, then. I felt the room spinning. I wanted to go home, stat.

I was saved twenty minutes later by a tall, dark and handsome man I didn't recognise carrying a sleeping baby girl. Sarah took my hand and said, "here's my husband. We can go now." Her makeup was all smudged. I nodded gratefully and left with them.