Chapter 13
“Erin honey, the phones for you.” The keeper’s mom said at breakfast the next morning.
“Hello?”
“Erin, this is John Herdman, coach of the Canadian women’s national team, I’m calling to confirm that you will be joining us for residency at the end of June.”
“Yeah absolutely.” Erin said, excitedly.
“Great, we’re excited to have you, I look forward to meeting you next month.”
“It’s an honour to be invited, I’ll see you soon.”
“I’ll be in contact as it get’s closer, have a good day.”
“Thank you.”
Erin hung up with a huge smile plastered on her face.
“Who was that?” Ella asked.
“The women’s national team coach, I still can’t believe this is happening.”
“That’s so exciting, I’m proud of you babe.”
“Thanks baby.” Erin smiled, she could tell the forward was happy for her, but something seemed a little off to her, and she could see that something was bothering Ella.
The school day passed quickly, along with practice.
“Babe?” Erin asked walking up to the forward after practice.
“Yeah?”
“Are you alright, you’ve been kinda quiet today, is something bothering you?”
“Oh um no I’m fine.”
Ther keeper looked at Ella seriously, she knew that her girlfriend was lying, but she just let it go until they we’re alone.
“Hey Erin?” Ella spoke quietly, when her and the keeper were cuddled up in bed.
“What’s up babe?”
“I lied earlier, something is kind of bothering me.”
“You know you can tell me anything Ella.” Erin smiled, kissing the forwards temple.
“I know… Um I was just thinking after the National team coach called about how you’ll.. you’ll be leaving when the school year ends…”
Erin realized what Ella was getting at and her smile faded. She had been hoping to avoid thinking about this until it got closer.
“I have thought about that… and obviously my first thought was to just bring you with me, but that’s not so easy when we are going to a different country, and you would need a form signed by your legal guardian for you to be allowed across the border with my mom and I. You have to know though that whatever happens, I love you and distance isn’t going to change that okay?”
“I know it wouldn’t change how I feel either but I just don’t want to think about being apart from you for that long.” Ella said sadly, tears filling her eyes.
“I know baby me either, we’ll figure something out I promise, and until we do, we have almost two months still before the year ends.” The keeper tried to lighten the mood, but both girls could tell one another were upset.
“Promise?” The forward whispered.
“I promise Ella I’m never going to say goodbye to you.”
This finally brought a small small to Ella’s face.
“Never is a big word.”
“Forever is a bigger word though, and that’s how long I plan on being with you.” Erin said simply without really thinking.
It caught the forward off guard though. “You… really?”
“Um yeah… I know we haven’t been together very long, but I don’t know I just get this feeling like you’re kind of my forever… that doesn’t freak you out does it?” The keeper tensed up a bit, waiting for a response.
The forward responded by kissing Erin. “It doesn't freak me out. I mean, it’s a little scary, but in a good way ya know? I feel the same way though… I can’t see myself ever being with anyone else.”
Erin smiled, “I love you Ella. And we’ll figure out the residency thing okay?”
“I love you too, okay babe.”
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The girls didn’t bring up Erin leaving again for a couple of weeks. May was halfway over now and the reality was beginning to set in that in just over a month the keeper would be leaving for Montreal.
“Ella are you ready to go? We’re going to be late for our game.” Erin shouted from the bottom of the stairs. When she didn’t get a response the keeper made her way up the stairs, when she was outside her bedroom door she heard Ella talking.
“...Yes I understand, thank you, I will be in touch.”
Erin stepped inside and found the forward sitting on the bed staring blankly at the wall.
“Who was on the phone babe?”
Ella blew out a deep breath before turning to the keeper to respond. “That was Pia, the National team coach… She just offered me the last spot in their camp this summer… and she said it’s the last time they can offer me a spot, if I turn them down again I won’t get any more chances.”
“Ella that’s.. that’s amazing, you have to go!” Erin embraced the forward, holding her tight.
“I don’t want to talk about it right now, let’s just go to our game.” Ella said quickly, standing and walking out of the room, leaving a confused Erin sitting alone before she followed the forward out to the car.
Ella was off her game from the moment the whistle blew, her passes were sloppy and she barely got any chances for shots. When halftime came they were down 1-0, and the forward was beyond frustrated. She walk straight to the locker room’s avoiding all her teammates, including Erin.
Erin watched her girl storm off the field, she knew that Ella would need a minute to herself so she talked to her coach and teammates for a bit before heading off the the locker rooms.
When Erin walked in, she stood leaning against the doorway for a moment just watching the forward.
She was standing in front of a mirror, staring at her reflection.
“Did you come in here just to look at me?” Ella spoke quietly, breaking the keeper’s focus.
“As much as I love looking at you, I can’t say that was my sole motive.”
“Well then are you here to talk about how I’m sucking out there?”
“You don’t suck, you’re stressed out and it’s affecting your game. I know that phone call is weighing on you, but just remember why you got that call. You got it because they think you deserve to play for your country. So go out there and play how Pia knows you can, how I know you can, and how you know you can.” Erin spoke seriously, walking across the room to Ella. She cupped the forwards face with her hands, and looked into her eyes. “Score a goal for me.” She finished with a wink and left the forward with a lingering kiss, as she walked back out to the field.
Ella scored Erin’s goal, in fact she scored three. As soon as the whistle blew to start the half, it was as if Ella was a whole new person, the team ended up winning 4-1 with their captain back on her game.
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“That was awesome babe, you killed it out there.” Erin said cheerfully as they walked into the keeper’s room that night.
“Couldn’t of done it without you.” Ella smiled, flopping down on the bed in exhaustion.
Erin joined her, she hovered over the forward before bringing her in for a heated kiss. The keeper pulled away, out of breath after a moment, but Ella wasn’t done. She flipped them over and began to kiss down the keeper’s neck as she tugged off her jersey. A light moan escaped Erin’s mouth as Ella sucked on her collarbone as her hand slid below the keeper’s waistband.
“I love you.” Ella whispered into the keeper’s skin