Trouble

We're too good

It was almost the end of GCSEs. Erin could practically scream with joy. She hated how stressed it made her feel and she was desperate for it to be over. Her eating was still a bit all over the place. Some days she ate well and others she could barely stomach it but it was improving.

Maisie was looking forward for GCSEs to be over. Some of her exams had gone well and some hadn't and she just couldn't wait for it to be finished. She hated having to sit in a room and do the papers. Even with her rest breaks and other provisions it was hell and the sooner it was over, the better.

It was now time for retain and release and both the teenagers were feeling nervous. Despite getting lots of praise and both being consistently picked to play for England, they were nervous.

"You're going to be fine," Ella reassured her sister as they sat watching Love Island. It wasn't particularly Erin's thing but she liked spending time with Ella so she put up with it.

"But what if they release me?"

"Then you'll find something else. You'll be fine whatever happens. I promise you."

It was the day of Erin's meeting and she was terrified.

"I can't do this," she said to Karen as they drove over.

"Yes you can. It will all be okay."

They arrived and headed inside. Her heart was hammering in her throat and she felt like she was about to be sick.

They walked into the meeting room and she couldn't even get her words out to say hello.

"So Erin we'll get straight to it," her coach said, "We are going to be offering you a two year contract."

She was so relieved she could scream.

"Thank you."

They want on to discuss some more details and talk about all her strengths and weaknesses and then they headed back to the car.

"Well done you," Karen said, cuddling her and giving her a kiss on the side of the head.

Erin felt so happy. She'd been retained for the next two years, she only had two more days left of GCSEs and then she had the whole summer to look forward to. Life could hardly be any better.

It was also Maisie's meeting and she felt super nervous. As always, her brain wasn't letting her portray this in a normal way and instead she sat with an angry scowl on her face the whole way over.

They got into the meeting and Darren and Joe were both sat there waiting.

Her parents and the coaches exchanged pleasantries before they got into the main reason they were there.

"We would love to offer you a two-year contract as well as doing the education programme alongside it."

A huge grin burst onto her face.

"Thanks."

They carried on chatting and they discussed the logistics of it all as well as talking about ways they could support her on the education side of it and then they walked back to the car.

She was completely happy and bubbly and her parents were so pleased to see it. She deserved to be retained and she deserved to be given more of a chance to thrive.

"We're so proud of you."

***

GCSEs were finally over. Maisie and Erin were both relieved.

It was now time for Erin's prom and she'd invited her girlfriend to come along with her. At first she'd been nervous. Despite everyone knowing that she was gay, they'd never actually seen her with Maisie, and the thought of everyone actually seeing that side of her made her feel nervous but as time had gone on, she'd got over that; she loved Maisie and she wanted the whole world to know it.