Maisie 'Baby' Bronze

38. I know

"That's it Arch, go go go!" I called, as I sit, cross-legged on the grass, "Now, shoot!"

I watched as his little legs stumbled after the ball and just about managed to kick the ball so that it rolled into the back of the net. He immediately did a little happy dance as he turned to make sure I'd seen it. 

"Yes Arch, you're a superstar!" I threw my hands up in the air, not quite willing to get up yet. I'd been quite content bathing in the sun until mum had unleashed the boys as they giddily ran into the garden in their matching shorts and top. Ever since the birth of my twin brothers two and a half years ago, almost everyday had been happy with our two bundles of joy. We'd upgraded the apartment into a house, kitted out with multiple bedrooms, a pool, and a large grass garden which had now been covered in a variety of children's toys and football equipment. For me, it was project Mbappe for both of them, I wanted them both to share the love of the sport that the rest of our little family did. Ollie was less excited about the sport, with the occasional lack of interest while Archie and I kicked the ball around and he just sat cosily in mum or Keira's arms. But that didn't mean he didn't have a natural ability, they both most definitely did. 

While mum's career had ended at the end of this last season, mine had just begun. I'd been lucky enough to make my debut early this year for the first team, and had since came on a couple times. I'd also been invited to the preseason with the team, which originally I'd been thrilled about, but since I'd gone to the first session I wasn't so keen at the sudden up of intensity.

It had been emotional when mum played her last match, with me coming onto the pitch in the last twenty minutes. In fact, all three of us had been on the pitch at the same time, which was always something we'd talked about. The decision was also a tricky one, but with the boys growing up, they didn't need any less attention than they had when they were first born, and with mum deciding she'd completed what she wanted to do, she made the decision to 'pass the boots to me' as she claimed on her retirement posts. 

"You play, you play" I feel a hand tug at my shirt as I'm pulled back into reality. To my surprise, it was Ollie asking to play.

"Okay, but I'm tired ok so no extremes" I sigh, my limbs still aching from this mornings training.

"Can't handle the intensity then Maise?" I hear mum chuckle from behind me.

I whip around surprised at her presence, "stop being jealous that I'm playing and you're not"

She scoffs, "trust me, I'm not, I'm not missing pre-season one bit"

I don't bother to reply, and just get up, taking Ollie's outstretched hand. 

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"Nice to see you again Maisie" Jonaton smiles and shakes my hand, offering me a seat across from him as I nod politely. 

"Okay, so, how have you been finding pre-season"

"Um, yeah, well I'll be honest, it's definitely a step up" 

"Of course" He nods, encouraging me to say more.

"but I'm definitely enjoying the challenge and I don't feel like I'm not ready or anything"

"Yeah, that's good then" He nods, quickly glancing at some paper work on his desk. "From what I've seen of you, I think you have so much potential, you continue to impress  me everyday and you're definitely a player I'd like to some day have on my day. However, I think you'd agree here, that Barcelona are a very high stake team, if that's how you'd phrase it" I nod along, not sure where this is going. "and I think for you to develop and reach your potential you need game time. Unfortunately, I can't promise that here. But I don't want to let you go at all, I think you're an amazing up and coming player, who just needs a bit of game time in order for you to solidify your place in the first team. So here's what I'm proposing, I and my managing team, think it would be best for you and the club for you to go out on loan."