They Don't Know About Us

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"Is everything okay?"

I open my eyes to see Tobin in front of me, "Sorry it's just you left pretty quickly and I just wanted to make sure the team didn't scare you off". I shake my head, "No I'm fine just had to answer that call". "Was it your parents?". I didn't meet her eyes and played with my fingers. I feel her put her hands on my shoulders and look directly at me, "Look kid, you don't have to tell me or the team if you don't want to. I can tell your uncomfortable with it and that's cool. Just know that if you ever need someone to talk to you can always come to me or anyone on the team. I know your in a new environment and it can be scary, I was the same when I got called up, but we are always here to help okay?". I nod and hesitate for a second before hugging her. I'm guessing she was shocked for a second but she hugs back. "Thanks Tobin I needed that" I thank her. She smiles her goofy smile at me, "No problem kid".

We walk back into the conference room and I see the team laughing and joking around the room. I go to sit back in my seat. "Everything okay?" Mal asks from beside me. I look across the table and see Tobin and Christen smile at me before I turn back to Mal, "Yeah everything is great".

....................

We were in the middle of having lunch when Jill entered the room, "Okay guys once your finished up here we have training in half an hour. When your finished go to the kit room to get your training gear if you haven't already got it". Most of the veterans left to go get ready for training I guess. Rose, Mal and I head to the kit room to get our gear. "Our first training session with the national team. God I don't know whether to be excited or nervous" Rose says as we walking into the kit room. "Same" Mal and I say in unison. We both look at each other, "Jinx!" "Double Jinx!" "Triple Jinx!". We look at each other and step away, "Weird". "Okay that was freaky you were like twins or something" Rose says. We both roll our eyes, "Don't be ridiculous". We at each other again. "Okay I'm leaving before anything else can happen" I say before walking towards our room.

I change into my gear and grab my training bag before heading down to the bus. When I get to the bus most of the team are already seating down. All that were missing were Mal and Rose. I was about to sit by myself when I hear my name, "Elliot! Come sit with me". I turn around and see Alex wave to come sit with her. I shrug and go to sit beside her. "Should I be worried that the Alex Morgan wanted me to sit beside her?" I joke. Alex laughs and shakes her head, "Not at all. I just wanted to know more and about the rising star of the Arsenal team. Up until now I didn't even know you were American". I shrug, "Yeah I don't think a lot of people actually knew I was born here". Just as the bus was about to leave Mal and Rose rush into the bus, "We're here. We're here". I laugh at the two who plop into the seats in front of us, "Nice of you to join us". "Oh shut up Griffin" rose says. Alex and I talk the rest of the bus journey until we reach the training pitch.

I ended up kicking a ball with Tobin and Christen. Which was really Tobin and I trying to one up each other with skills. "I feel left out" Christen pouts while we both do skills, "It's not my fault I'm not as skillful as you two". I laugh before going over to her and hugging her, "I'm sorryyyyyyy. Your still amazing though". Christen laughs before hugging me back laughing as well. "Cmon on ladies we're doing beep test" Jill announces. Everyone groans before following her over. I'm standing in between Christen and Kelley on the line preparing for the beep test. "Don't feel bad if your one of the first to drop" Kelley jokes which earns her slaps from Christen, Alex and Tobin. I shake my head ignoring her. "Don't listen to her and just focus on yourself okay?" Christen whispers to me before we get started. I nod and then we begin the beep test. Obviously the goalkeepers were first to drop. The numbers began to dwindle down the longer the beep test when on. Mal and I were the only rookies left at this point. It came down to Christen, Alex Mal Kelley and I. Alex stumbled which caused her to miss the beep and dropped out. Christen and Mal both dropped out afterwards leaving Kelley and I. I was tired but I wasn't about to let Kelley win. But then I heard it, "Cmon on Kel you ain't gonna let a rookie beat you right?". I don't know who said it but that fuelled me. There was no way I'm was going to lose just because I was the 'rookie'. The team started putting bets on who would last the longest. Most going for Kelley but I had Mal, Christen Tobin Rose and Alex cheering me on. I listened to the beeps and started to time my strides. I slowed down at the start of one which make Kelley slow down too. But then I released a burst of speed and make the beep. Kelley sped to try make it as well but missed the beep. I continued on for 4 more sets before stopping as well. "Good job Speedy" Alex says slapping me on the back. Some of the team congratulated me while I saw Kelley sitting on the ground drinking water trying to catch her breath. I walk over to her. The team watch me walk over to her and see me hold out a hand to her, "Don't feel bad that you just lost to a rookie". Kelley stares at me before bursting out laughing and grabbing my hand. I hoist her off the ground, "Your okay Griffin".

After that we had a little scrimmage. I was on the same team as Tobin, Rose and Mal. I linked up really well Mal and Tobin especially and played great with Rose as well. I was 'breaking ankles' like Tobin according to Kling. Mal and I were unstoppable up front together. I hugged Mal as she scored her second goal which I assisted. "How do you play so well together when you've only just met?" Tobin asks. Rose pops up from behind us, "I swear they're twins. Even this morning they were saying stuff in unison". "No we weren't"." Quit it!" We both somehow say at the same time again. We all laugh before getting back to our positions. "Elliot swap with Lindsey on the other team I want to see you play midfield and I want to see you play with Alex" Jill says. My team boos as I swap pennies with Lindsey. "Hell yeah let's win this" Kelley shouts. "Your just saying that cause you don't have to defend Elliot anymore" HAO says in which Kelley nods happily. I keep playing exactly how I did for the other team linking well with Christen and Alex as well assisting them in their own goals. Although Hinkle and McCaffrey seems to try and get hard tackles on me, but ignored it and kept playing. Once Jill calls it, it ends in a draw 3-3 which Mal Tobin and I scoring when I was on their team and then christen scoring and then Alex scoring the last 2. "Why weren't you called up sooner?!" Julie calls out picking me up. I laugh as she puts me down when Hope Solo comes up to me, "Your on my team from now on kid. You barely gave me a break with all those shots". "Woah kid that's amazing you got a compliment off Hope. You must be special" Carli jokes. "Great session Elliot. Keep up the good work" Jill says before walking off. I change out if my boots and start walking back to the bus with Alex when I feel a weight on my back but keep walking, "You were amazing Ellie". I turn my head slightly to see Mal grin widely on my back, "Thanks, you too Mal". Alex turns to Mal with a smirk, "Ellie huh?". Mal just nods, "Yeah it's her new nickname". I laugh, "Well it's not exactly new. My teammates over in England call me Ellie as well". Mal pouts as Alex laughs, "Well it's a new nickname for me and I'm still going to call you Ellie". "Fine by me Pugh". We went onto the bus and wait for everyone to load up. Carli was the last one on and shouts out to the bus, "Who's ready for ice baths?". Kelley jumps from her seat holding her arms like a cross shouting,

"Nooooooo!"