Always and Forever

one

I'm Sophie Roberts, but my friends call me Soph. I am a forward for Arsenal and the Lionesses. I am twenty years old and i am Arsenal though and through.

I debuted for Arsenal at the age of 18 and signed my first professional deal for the club at the same age. I debuted for the Lionesses in the same year. It was one hell of a year and it was only two years ago. That year is also the year when mine and Leah's friendship turned into a relationship, we both confessed feelings and became an official couple four months after we both signed our first professional contracts for the club we love.

I met Leah when i was 14. We first met training for the Lionesses under 15s. I was a shy girl and she was the complete opposite, she was full of excitement and was talking to everyone. I ended up being in her team for some 2v2s and that's where it all began. After that, we both clicked. We started talking and becoming friends. We would partner up at training but our friendship blossomed when Leah joined Arsenals academy. That's where our unbreakable bond started. We were inseparable, we done everything and i mean everything together. It was me and Leah against the world. There was no stopping us.

Relationships though are hard, extremely hard at times and my relationship with Leah is exactly that. Leah and i have been together for over two years now but we haven't spoke in a few weeks because of the constant fighting. We were never ones to argue. We never fought but a few weeks ago that all changed. Me and Leah would come home from training or whatever we were doing together, we would hang out in the house and just chill until she left. She did this every single night and never once told me where she was going. I got sick of her disappearing every night without telling me where she was going, without texting or calling me so i decided to go to Viv and Lisa's house where i stayed for a couple of nights. After a couple of nights i went back and we started fighting. Leah yelled at me, saying how i had disappeared for a few nights without telling her where i was or what i was doing. I retaliated by yelling back. I Yelled at my girlfriend, telling her that she can't keep leaving every night without telling me where she's going and we just kept fighting. It didn't stop so i left. I went back to Viv and Lisa's where i stayed the night. I went back the next morning and we continued to fight. That's how it was for the next few days, it was fight after fight after fight until i decided it would be better to stay with Viv and Lisa right now. That's when we just stopped talking. Even at training, there's no words, only eye contact. The whole team knows me and Leah aren't on good terms but only Viv and Lisa know why. I think Leah has probably told Jordan, Beth and Katie but i'm not 100% sure.

Childhood is a sore subject for me. My parents kicked me out of the house when i was twelve years old because of the constant trouble i would get into at school, so i had to move in with a friend until i got into Arsenals Academy at the age of fourteen when i moved out and lived with a host family. Who, i never had a good relationship with either. They didn't trust me and i felt the same so there was distance there. I never felt at home.

I did get in a lot of trouble as a kid until i found football. I had always watched it, i was an Arsenal fan but i never played for a team until i was twelve. I joined my local team and suddenly the whole town was talking about me. I became the captain of my team and we won a good few trophies until i got scouted by Arsenal, two years later. It was a no brainer so i went. I left everything behind and moved in with people i had never, ever met before.

I would say i am a kind, generous and athletic girl. I am fragile, i always have been but i don't like telling people that. I hate being weak but the Arsenal girls all know about my past, my troubles and they all know i have a fragile heart. I'm easy to break. I may not look it but in the inside i'm soft and vulnerable so when me and Leah began to fight i would break down in either Viv or Lisa's arms every night. It took a lot for me to calm down but they always calmed me down. They always help me and i'm so beyond thankful for them.

I am close with all of the squad but i'm closest with Viv and Lisa. Definitely. There's nothing more to it. I mean i live with them right now. They're my people. They understand me. They care for me and they listen to me. They want to protect me, always.