It's been a few weeks
Lila is feeling better, her and Alessia are going strong, they've been on a few dates together and have stayed at each others houses for a few nights every so often
They have the weekend off so Lila decided she'd go down and see the City girls (Georgia, Chloe and Lauren) bringing Less with her
It's a Friday night
Alessia and Lila are at Georgia's in her old room
Georgia and Lila are in the kitchen having a catch up while Less has a shower
Georgia: So how's Arsenal?
Lila: It's good. I made friends with Lia Wälti. She's cool.
Georgia: * a little jealous* Good. I'm glad your making new friends.
Lila: G your avoiding eye contact. What's wrong?
Georgia: I just..... I'm just worried I might lose my best mate to a gooner.
Lila: You could never lose me G. I'm a City girl. Forever.
Georgia: Promise?
Lila: Promise. G no one can replace the big imprint you've left on my heart.
Later that night
Georgia has gone out to see Keira etc
Alessia and Lila are alone
They're snuggling on the sofa watching Star Wars A New Hope (Alessia lying down with Lila ontop of her)
Lila: * snuggles into Alessias chest*
Alessia: * draws patterns on her lower back*
Lila: * kisses Alessias neck*
Alessia: Everything ok baby?
Lila: Yeah.
Alessia: Ok baby.
~Time Skip~
Lila and Alessia are back from Georgia's and have been training daily getting ready for the match against Liverpool
Lilas still been feeling insecure etc but hasn't said anything to anyone. She doesn't believe Less meant what she said before when she told her about what happened and has been doubting herself about a lot of things
It's the day of the match
Lilas alarm has gone off for 5am
She gets up and does her morning workout before getting in the shower
(Alessia stayed the night with Lila)
Lila finishes her shower and gets ready (She's wearing one of Alessias Arsenal shirts with black Adidas tracksuit bottoms and her white Nike Airforces)
Lila then decides to play her guitar
She grabs her guitar and sits down at her desk and starts playing Control by Zoe Wees
Lila: Early in the morning I still get a little bit nervous...... Fighting my anxiety constantly I try to control it...... Even when I know it's been forever I can still feel the spin...... Hurts when I remember and I never wanna feel it again...... Don't know if you get it cause I can't express how thankful I am....... That you were always with me when it hurts I know that you understand.......... I don't wanna lose....... Control....... Nothing I can do....... Anymore.......
Alessia hears her and gets up and sits infront of Lila on her desk and watches her play the guitar and sing
Lila: Trying every day when I hold my breath...... Spinning out in space pressing on my chest....... I don't wanna lose........ Control........ Sometimes I still think it's coming but I know it's not....... Trying to breathe in and then out but the air gets caught........ 'Cause even though I'm older now and I know how to shake off the past....... I wouldn't have made it if I didn't have you holding my hand......... I don't wanna lose........ Control......... Nothing I can do..... Anymore......... Trying every day when I hold my breath...... Spinning out in space pressing on my chest........ I don't wanna lose....... Control......... I need you to know I would never be this strong without you...... You've seen how I've grown you took all my doubt, 'cause you....... were home........ I don't wanna lose........ Control....... There's nothing I can do......... Anymore........ I don't wanna lose........ Control......... Nothing I can do........ Anymore, (anymore), anymore........ Trying every day when I hold my breath....... Spinning out in space pressing on my chest...... I don't wanna lose......... Control..........
Lila finishes the song and puts her guitar down
Alessia: You are amazing.
Lila: * fiddles with her fingers and lowers her head* Sorry I didn't mean to wake you up.
Alessia: * lifts her chin* Hey. Don't be sorry. Your a beautiful singer baby.
Lila: I'm not. I sound like a dying seagull.
Alessia: No you don't. You sound like a bloody goddess.
Lila: * sighs, smiles and nods at her antics*
Alessia: Is there something going on that I should know about baby?
Lila: No. I'm fine. There's nothing wrong.
Alessia: Are you sure. You know you can tell me anything.
Lila: Yeah I know. I'm sure.
Alessia: Ok baby.
They soon drive to the Emirates and train for the game against Liverpool
Later that night
It's time for the match
All the girls are in their kit
Arsenals starting line-up:
Goalie - Kaylan Marckese
Defenders - Lotte Wubben-Moy, Jen Beattie, Katie McCabe, Leah Williamson
Midfielders - Lila Williamson, Lia Wälti, Kim Little
Forwards - Beth Mead, Vivianne Miedema
They get a pep talk and game strategies from Jonas and then Kim does her captains speech, giving encouragement to the girls
They separate and then get into positions
The game begins
Kim gets the ball and has a run with support from Lia and Lila
Lila finds space and Kim kicks her the ball
Lila shoots after a good run
It hits the back of the net
(Not sure what Liverpools colours are so I'll just put red and green for them)
❤️🤍1-0❤️💚
Lila celebrates
Lia pounces on Lilas back
Lia: Yes Lils!!!!!
Lila: * laughs* Lia!!!!
The game continues
Both teams have good shots at the goals but the ball never goes in
The whistle is blown for Half Time
The girls all go inside for their team talks
Afterwards they go back for the second half
The game starts again and Lila gets the ball and has a run, she's still stuck inside her own head, with the bad things that were said running through her mind
A Liverpool player slide tackles her and she topples over landing on her head and then lies down curled up in pain with her head in her hands
Kim goes and checks on her
The crowd (Arsenal fans) start chanting "Come on Lila"
Kim kneels down beside her
Kim: You ok kid?
Lila: * groans in pain* Ow.
Kim: You'll be ok Lila. It'll be ok. Can you try and get up for me?
Lila: I don't know..... It hurts Kim.
Kim: The medics are coming now.
The medics come and check on Lila
The crowd clap their hands and chant "Lila" (how they would for the England team where they clap about 10 or so times and chant "England" after each clap)
They ask if she wants to come off, Lila nods no, they ask if she can get back up
Lila: I'll try. Kim can you help me?
Kim: Yeah.
Kim helps Lila get back up
Lila: * goes off balance for a second* Woah.
Kim: * supports her* Careful.
Lila: Can I have a drink?
The medic give her a drink of water
She finishes it and they give her one to pour on her head to cool down and tell her once she does pour it on her head that if she needs to come off let them or Jonas or Kim know and they'll get her off immediately
Lila: Thank you. I will.
The medics leave the pitch
The ref gives Arsenal a free kick
Lila takes it
The crowd cheers loudly
Lila takes a few steps back before running up and kicking the ball
It flies to the back of the net
❤️🤍2-0❤️💚
The crowd roars as Lila celebrates skidding on the grass shortly followed by her teammates
They all hug her and pat her on the back
After a good 79 minutes without anymore goals but a good few tries from both ends the coaches decide to make substitutions
Arsenals subs -
Alessia Russo on for Beth Mead
Victoria Pelova on for Kim Little
Stephanie Catley on for Jen Beattie
Once the subs are made the game continues (Leah now wearing the captains armband)
Lila gets the ball and has a run, she finds Alessia in space and kicks the ball to her
Alessia has run but is soon tackled and loses the ball
Liverpool get the ball down in there half and score finally after a long game of no goal
Which makes it ❤️🤍2-1❤️💚
The game resumes
Lila takes a shot from distance
It goes in the top right hand corner of the net
❤️🤍3-1❤️💚
Lila celebrates
The game resumes
They all have a try at a goal on both ends but nothing goes in
In the last few minutes
Lila has the ball she's had a run with it
She finds Viv in space and kicks the ball to her
Viv then shoots and scores
❤️🤍4-1❤️💚
Viv celebrates and Lila runs over to her
Lila: Yes Viv!!!
Viv: What a kick!
Lila: What a goal!
They high five
The final whistle is blown the Arsenal fans erupt in cheers, whistles and claps
Lila: * smiles* Yes.
Lia runs over to Lila and hugs her
Lila: * hugs back and picks her up*
Lia: * laughs* Your brilliant!
Lila puts Lia down and hugs her other teammates and say good game to the Liverpool girls
They run around the pitch and say thank you to fans, sign things, take pictures and chuck shirts to the fans
Lila and Leah spot their Mum and go to her
Amanda: Well done girls.
Lila: * hugs her* Thanks Mum.
Leah: * joins the hug*
Amanda: * hugs back* You both played so good.
Lila: * smiles and breaks apart from them* We're glad you came Mum.
Leah: Yeah we are.
Amanda: I'm glad I did too. Lila, darling. How's your head?
Lila: It's ok. I'm ok now. It was a bit rough but I'm ok.
Leah: I didn't know whether I should've checked on you or not. I'm sorry.
Lila: It's ok.
They chat and then Leah and Lila go to the changing rooms and get dressed, ready to leave
The girls decide to have a sleepover at the Emirates (they spoke to Jonas and he said it made it mandatory)
They all go to their houses and get ready for the night
Lila goes to the shop and gets some snacks e.g. Chocolate, Sweets, Popcorn
She then goes home and gets ready
(Lila changes into a white baggy Nike shirt with black Nike booty shorts with her white Nike Airforces and her new Arsenal hoodie) (she ties her hair into two braids) and puts on her rings (she has a Pandora heart ring, a Scarlett Witch ring, a big chunky ring with her birth stone on it (which is diamond) and a Infinity Gauntlet/Infinity Stones ring)(the heart ring is on her right hand on her ring finger, her Scarlett Witch ring is on her left hand on her index finger and her chunky ring is on her left hand on her thumb and her Infinity Gauntlet/Infinity Stones ring sits on her right hand on her middle finger)
Lila puts spare clothes and her pjs in her old City kit bag, along with her headphones (which are the blue beats Bluetooth headphones) and her hairbrush, toothbrush and toothpaste, shower gel and her bluetooth speaker)
Lila puts her guitar in its case (with her blue and black capo) and puts both her bag and guitar in the boot of her car
Leah walks outside with her things
Leah: Your seriously taking your guitar?
Lila: Yeah. Thought maybe the girls would wanna have a jam.
Leah: It'll probably just be karaoke but ok.
Lila: Quit judging me. I'm also gonna be playing for myself. I'm trying to write a new song.
Leah: Yeah ok.
They drive back to the Emirates and head inside where they find in the relax room sleeping bags and areas have been set up for them
Lila finds her sleeping bag which is near the door but not too close to it, and is next to Alessias
Lila puts her bag and guitar at the head of her sleeping bag
Lila then sits alone on the sofa on her phone on TikTok
There's a video of her falling on her head when they played against Liverpool earlier that day
Lila swipes off of TikTok and puts her headphones on and listens to Pompeii MMXXIII by Bastille and Hans Zimmer
(Her headphones are noise cancelling so everything around is muffled around her, meaning she can't hear them properly)
Lila puts the music on full blast and walks around the stadium, in the seats around the pitch and on the pitch
She lies down on the grass in the centre of the pitch and looks up at the stars from the view of the open stadium roof
Lila closes her eyes and let's the music fill her up, taking deep breaths
The next song that plays in her headphones is Atlantis by Seafret (it's one of her favourite songs, because she relates to it in a way, because she feels like she's hanging on by a thread and everyone always leans on her or calls her a problem and she can't save herself from the void of depression, sadness and numbness she feels inside her and she feels like she can't escape the voices in her head and the way they make her feel, no matter how hard she fights them)
Her thoughts wander..... She thinks of her friends, Chloe, Georgia, Ellen, Lauren, the Lionesses, Ella, all the City girls, all the Arsenal girls, Leah, her brother Jacob and her Dad, David, her Mum, Amanda but finally her thoughts go to Alessia
The next song to play in her headphones is Overthinking by Zoe Wees
With the girls
They're all having fun, playing games etc
Alessia notices Lila isn't there
Alessia: Hey uh Viv have you seen Lila?
Viv: I think I saw her wandering around. She might be on the pitch.
Alessia: Ok thanks.
Alessia leaves and looks around
She finds Lila on the pitch
Alessia lies down next to her
Lila notices she's there and takes off her headphones, putting them around her neck
Alessia: You ok baby?
Lila: Yeah.
Alessia: What's wrong?
Lila: Nothing.
Alessia: There's clearly something going on.
Lila: I said it's nothing.
To be continued.........