Only Friends

Chapter 51 - Wolfsburg

As the second half of the season commenced, we were vying for the title again this year. Our main competitor was Chelsea, but we weren't going to verse them until the last game of the season. As we started to prepare for our game against Reading on the weekend, I was ready to play and be free on the field once again. 

We got to the ground, and were greeted by a huge crowd. The crowds seem to get bigger and bigger with each year I am with Arsenal.
"Your starting 11!" the commentator called over the loud speaker as we walked out to line up on the field.

As the game commenced, we were dominant over Reading. We had many shots, most of which went in. Kim scored in the first 5, then Viv scored 10 minutes later. Kristie got a tap in, and Beth's cross flew into the goal. By the end of the half, we were leading 4-0.
The second half continued similarly. Leah got a perfect header, and Viv scored again. By the 90th minute, we were up 6-0 with 3 minutes of injury time. I got myself into the box, when we had a corner, and as the ball came into the box, I headed it into the goal, getting myself a goal.
"Your goal scorer, number 13, India Harrison!" All the girls came around me, and we celebrated, but with dignity. We didn't jump all over each other, showing off that we were winning by a lot, but rather, had small hugs and high fives.

After the match, I posted a picture from the match. It was an action shot of me defending one of the players, getting the ball out from under her feet.

indiharrison: Good day to wear red <3

kmewis19: when isn't it?

bethmead_: lovely jubbly

Leahwilliamsonn: when defenders get goals :)

viviannemiedema: <3

Winning is always nice, especially when I score a goal, as it is not a common occurrence.
We flew through the rest of the season, beating every team and going undefeated. We ended up securing the win before we had even versed Chelsea in the final game. But before the final game, we had the semi finals for the Champions League. The final four were Chelsea, Barcelona, Wolfsburg and us. Chelsea won last year, beating Barcelona in the final. We were ready to get redemption and win.

It was decided that we were to play Wolfsburg in the semi final. I was going to have to verse Jill. I hadn't seen her since New Years and we hadn't talked. She let me have my space, which was hard for her, I know.

"Are you going to be okay playing Jill?" Kristie asked me, as we were preparing to leave for Germany the next day.
"Yeah I guess. We haven't talked since New Year's."
"Wow, that's longer than I thought," she replied.
"Yeah, she used to text me, but not anymore." Kristie gave me a slight hug, and she continued to pack her bag. I was sitting on her bed in her room. I was already packed, and was picking her up to drive us to the airport. "It's her birthday soon as well," I said.
"When?"
"Tomorrow."
"How old?"
"26." It is crazy to think Jill will be 26 tomorrow. We met when she was 23, and I was 20, and now she will be 26, and I will soon be 23. Time has flown by so fast. Too fast.

After Kristie had finished up packing, I drove us both to Gatwick airport to meet the team to get on a plane to Wolfsburg. I posted an instagram story of Kristie looking out the window on the plane and wrote:

Wolfsburg time <3

I thought about messaging Jill to see if she wanted to grab a coffee before the match but I thought better of it, knowing that it may be awkward or she may not want to, possibly still being mad after everything that happened at New Year's. I missed her. Terribly. I wanted to see her smile, hear her laugh. But, I can't ignore all the hurt I caused her. I can't forget all the shitty things I did.