Becoming A Lioness

Belgium

"Rise and shine girly, it's game day!" Lauren shouts as I cover my head with the duvet

"Why have you got to be so loud" I groan out hating the fact the woman can have so much energy this early in the morning.

"Because it's your first game day and your first time wearing the England kit love," Lauren says making it dawn on me

Shit, this is really happening isn't it, I'm about to step on that pitch and play my first national game for a country that's not the USA and not alongside my family. It's going to be hard I know that, but I think I'm finally ready for it.

"I'm going to stop you right there Kate," Lauren says jumping on top of me as I let out a loud huff

"Stop me what, I have done anything" I complain

"You're overthinking this whole thing already and you haven't even gotten out of bed yet, today is going to be a great day I can just feel it," Lauren tells me her all too optimistic attitude

"If you say so Lauren, now get off me so I can change please," I say and shove her to one side

I head to the bathroom to wash my face and freshen myself up quickly before heading to my draws and taking out the matchday warm-up gear. I put it on and stand in front of the mirror, a sense of pride washing over me as I look at my new kit.

"Come on rookie, we've got a team to beat," Lauren says standing behind me and putting her hand on my shoulder.

We head out our room and to the dining hall where the team is all having breakfast, I go up and get my plate of fruit and a small bowl of cereal not wanting too much that I'll be throwing up from the nerves.

"How are you feeling this morning Kate?" Kiera asks eating her full cooked breakfast

"A little nervous I guess," I say truthfully the meal in front of me being a big give away

"I was a mess on my first match, don't think I ate a single thing until Alex shoved a banana down my throat," Jordan says

"Alex Scott right?" I ask knowing she can't be talking about Greenwood since Jordans older than her

"Yep, Scotty was my camp mum for the longest time, still weird she's not here with us," Jord says smiling sadly

"I loved listening to Alex and you at the World cup by the way Jord, you guys made it so much more interesting for the fans cause it sounded like you actually knew womens football," I tell her getting a huge grin of the midfield player

"Thank you Kate! Everyone else said I was shit at it" She says making the whole table laugh

"Jord you forgot you were on live tele and started celebrating with us, as much as I loved it you failed your one job miserably" Leah tells her girlfriend as the team starts laughing again

"Next time I'm on the tele I'll tell them how bad you are then babe" Jord tries to retaliate

"Baby, there's not going to be a next time" Leah smirks back as everyone's oos at her burn.

I just sit back and let myself smile at the scene in front, grateful to have come into a team like this and have been accepted so quickly, nobody having bad blood with me just pure love and happiness which is more than I could have hoped for.

"You feeling okay?" Georgia whispers next to me, subtly putting her hand on my knee

"Yeah I'm fine Georgia, just happy to be here," I tell my new girlfriend

"Me too Kate, me too" She smiles back

- - - -

"So I want everyone to go into this game with a strong mindset to win this one," Phil tells us as we sit on the bus, having just arrived at the stadium