Chapter 31
The next morning at training Ella was so focused on the new skill she was trying to perfect, she didn’t notice Carli walk up behind her.
“Boo.”
“AH.” Ella’s ball went flying across the field as she turned to face her teammate with a scowl on her face.
“I almost had it.”
“Sorry kid, Coach wanted me to talk to you about some attacking things, something about getting insider info on a certain goalkeeper who you know a little more about than the rest of us.”
“Oh um well I haven’t seen her play with the national team yet obviously but I think from what I’ve heard that we’ll need to use her defense against her, they aren’t as strong on the backline as they’d like so we’ve got to use that to our advantage. She’s really good one on one so just simply breaking them down isn’t going to cut it. Obviously she isn’t the tallest person so top corners is the weakest spot, but also we’ll need to pressure early because with each save she makes she gains confidence and her game improves with each positive thing she does.”
“Got it, wanna come set up some drills with me to work on with the other forwards?”
“Yeah of course!”
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“Carli asked me about you today, she asked me about how to score on you and I felt weird telling her but like at the same time this is the world cup we’re talking about and I had to and then I felt guilty… It’s dumb I know but-”
“Ella, babe take a breath please. Look, you know there is nothing wrong with that right? I know you’re my girlfriend but I can’t expect you to not tell your teammates information about me, especially considering the position I play, scoring is a pretty important part of the game so I would expect them to want information, and if we’re being honest the whole defensive line has been badgering me for details on the US’s new star striker so I may have told them a thing or two about how to stop you.” Erin finished with a smirk.
“Pff I can’t be stopped so there can’t be too much to tell.” Ella quipped, her competitive side kicking in.
“Whatever you say babe.” Erin laughed as she peeled off her training top leaving her in just her nike sports bra.
“E Stop stripping for your girlfriend!”
“Hey sorry I don’t like to wear the same stinky shirt for all of camp like someone I know.”
“Mhmm because you just had to change right this second didn’t ya?”
“I mean I’m not complaining.” Ella chimed with a smirk on her face, admiring her girlfriend.
Sinc made a gagging noise and walked out of the room.
“LOVE YOU SINC.” Erin shouted.
“HATE YOU ERIN.” The captain yelled back, earning her a few dirty looks from other residents of the hotel.
“Erin stop scaring your roommate's away.”
“Maybe that was my plan.” The keeper said mischievously with a big grin.
“You’re a dork, but how’s your knee feeling?” Ella asked with a yawn as she collapsed on her bed.
“It’s a little sore right now because I just finished a workout but overall it's been good, still making progress. I did a pretty good paced run today and it actually felt really good.” Erin smiled proudly, she couldn’t wait to get back on the field in real game situations.
“That’s awesome Erin, I’m so proud of you for working so hard.”
“I couldn’t do it without your support babe.”
“You’ll always have my support.” Ella spoke through a yawn and the keeper could tell her girlfriend wouldn’t be up much longer.
“You should get some sleep El, you look exhausted.”
“I’m fine really.”
“Babe it’s almost 11:30 there you’ve gotta get some sleep, take care of yourself.”
“Alright… I don’t like having the time difference.” The forward pouted.
“Me either but it’s not for long, and don’t pretend you aren’t enjoying practically living on the beach.”
“Yeah I guess that part is pretty great. It’d be better if you were here with me though.”
“Of course it would, I’m awesome.” Erin winked, getting a laugh out of the striker.
“But seriously, go to sleep, I’ll talk to you tomorrow.”
“Okay, night baby, I love you.”
“I love you too.”
Erin signed off and plugged her phone in for the night.
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“Hey Erin you want to watch some old footage with me?” Christine asked from her side of the room.
Even with the large age gap between the two players, the pair had gotten along really well and Sincy had become a great mentor for the young keeper; who even though she would never admit it, was still very starstruck with the captain.
“Yeah sure! When’s it from?”
“The last time we played the US, I was hoping to point out some things to you about their most threatening attackers. Of course, you know all about their newest threat up front, who is missing from these videos.”
“Yeah that’s true, I know how to stop her, but she know’s how to beat me just as well. It’s going to be a hell of a game if we end up in the final with them that’s for sure.”
“It always is with the Americans. I’m excited for you to get to experience that rivalry, and just being at a world cup in general.”
“I’m excited too, I still can’t believe I’m going.”
“You deserve it kid, you’re something special.” Christine smiled, patting Erin’s shoulder as she started the video.
The two watched old footage for almost two hours, every couple minutes or so, Sincy would pause it and point something out to the keeper, who took it all in with open ears.
Erin laid in bed that night even more excited than before to represent her country that summer. She was getting the chance of a lifetime at the age of seventeen and she knew this would be something that she would never forget.
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“Nice work McLeod thats knee is looking great! How do you feel about getting on the field tomorrow?” The team's movement specialist Damian asked with a big smile.
“Really?!”
“I think so, just some light range of motion stuff to start off but I see no problem with getting you out there, you can go with the team on their jog in the morning and if you feel up to it after that we’ll get you out on the pitch.”
“Awesome! Thanks Damian.” The young keeper was practically bouncing on her feet as her trainer walked away. She jogged over to her bag and grabbed her cellphone to call Ella.
“Hey babe.”
“Hey you, what’s up?”
“I’m just heading over to Morgan’s room, most of the team is going out tonight so we’re just hanging out since neither of us can get into a bar.”
“Oh that sounds like fun! So guess who get’s to actually take part in drills on an actual field tomorrow?”
“No way! That’s awesome Erin, just be careful alright?”
“I will babe don’t worry, and Damian knows what he’s doing, he wouldn’t let me out there if he didn’t think I was ready.”
“I know I know I just worry. I’m sure you’ll kick ass though.” Ella spoke reassuringly, she could hear the excitement in Erin’s voice and she couldn’t help but smile at how happy her girlfriend sounded.
“Well thank you, I’m excited to finally get my cleats on.”
“I bet, I’m so proud of you Erin.”
“I wouldn’t have gotten this far without you babe, thank you for helping me keep my head up through this.”
“I mean, I really just need you to be better so I can have someone to score on all the time for practice.” Ella joked.
“Oh is that right?” The keeper challenged.
“Mhmm”
“Whatever you say, just remember that when we get home and you want to score with me because that won’t be happening anytime soon.”
“Hey! Don’t act like you can resist me.” Ella shot back.
“Someone is sure full of themselves tonight.”
“Gotta keep you on your toes right?”
Erin just laughed at her girlfriend, shaking her head. “I miss you dork.”
The forward sighed lightly, “I miss you too Erin, just five more days.”
“I know, I can’t wait. But I’ve got to get to a meeting in a few minutes so I’ll talk to you later babe, have a good night with Morgan.”
“Well since I’ve already been in her room for ten minutes and she’s been listening to this whole conversation I think she’d appreciate a break from listening to us so that’s okay.”
“Ella! Why didn’t you tell me, I would’ve let you go sooner.”
“Hey don’t even worry about it, this is nothing compared to rooming with Ash or Ali so you’re good.” Morgan spoke loud enough for Erin to hear, getting a laugh out of the Canadian.
“See it’s all good, have fun at your meeting, love you.”
“Love you too El bye.”
“So are you ever not on the phone with your girlfriend?” Morgan joked.
“I mean, not really no.” Ella laughed.
“It’s cute, and I get it, I was the same way last year with my boy- well ex boyfriend.”
“How long were you two together? If you don’t mind me asking.”
“Almost three years, we met in our senior year of high school, it was hard when we both left for different colleges but we made it work for a while. I don’t think it was ever really gonna last though, he was kind of uncomfortable about me labelling myself as bisexual and being around girls all the time, which really meant he never trusted me I guess, but we’re okay now. And it’s fine really, I’ll probably ask you like a million questions so you can ask anything, since we haven’t really had a chance to get to know each other yet.”
Ella smiled, “Sounds good.”
The two girls spent most of the night watching movies and staying true to her word Morgan asked many questions and both girls learned a lot about one another.
Erin wiped her forehead with her sleeve as she collapsed on the field after her first pitch training in months.
“How ya doing McLeod?”
Erin looked up to see KK standing over her with a big smile on her face.
“I mean, I’m dead but pretty damn happy about being back on the field so I’m not gonna complain too much.” Erin gave a thumbs up as she sat up and began to stretch.
“Well you looked great out there kid, Steph and I were gonna head to the ice baths if you wanna join.”
“That sounds terrible and heavenly at the same time, I’m in.”