Australia

                                    

                                          
28th of October 2019
I was a hot mess when I woke up but I still woke up early and went into the gym in the hotel. Frida came in and sat down leaning against the wall. "Are you nervous." She said as she watched me doing pull up. "About the game? No, I know how to play football." She shook her head. "I meant seeing her, Hayley." 
"Yeah, I guess I'm a little bit nervous, it's going to be weird seeing her again. Can we not talk about this right now Frids, I want to focus on the game." I said moving onto push ups. "Sorry. You should finish up soon or we are going to be late for the team walk." I nodded and she walked out. We went for a walk before everyone filed onto the bus to go to the stadium. We were very early at the stadium so all the girls were allowed to go explore for a little bit.
I decided to grab a ball and head onto the pitch because that's what I wanted to do this morning when I went to the gym. I messed around for a bit failing to notice the Australian team filing onto the pitch for their walk around. I was so zoned out focusing on myself that I only noticed them when I went to retrieve a ball from the net. I tried to sneakily walk back to the changing room but Mary stopped me.
Mary got her call up for the senior team. "Mary, hey how are you." I said hugging her. "Im doing well. How's Norway treating you." I smiled. "It's refreshing, all the girls are really nice. I heard about your club signings." She smiled. "Yeah it's been great I'm loving it so far. Where is the rest of your team." She questioned. "We got here really early so a lot of the girls went to explore, I just wanted to come out and mess around instead. I better head in but I'll see you after." I smiled trying to walk in to avoid another person.
As I was about to reach the tunnel, she appeared out of no where. "Jess wait, can I please talk to you." I shook my head. "Hayley I don't want to talk to you." She ran in front of me cutting me off. "No I need to talk to you. I'm sorry just give me 5 minutes please." I laughed sarcastically. "Give you 5 minutes. 5 minutes to do what?" She tried holding my hands but I pulled away. "No Hayley. I'm not going to talk to you because the last time I remember having a conversation we decided that we weren't going to talk anymore. Why break something that's worked so well." 
"Jess please, I'm sorry if I knew what happened I wouldn't have said anything I said. I take it all back." I cut in. "You shouldn't have needed to know. You should have supported me either way you're my sister. For years you were the only person who cared about me, but what you did showed me that I really don't know who you are anymore. I get that you had to stop putting me first, you were focusing on your back but you out of everyone knows how I'm used to people coming and going. I guess I shouldn't have been surprised that you left too but I'm ok with it now, I don't need you anymore I have people who are actually proud of me." As I pushed past her and made my way into the tunnel, I felt all of the Matilda's eyes on me.
I didn't go out for the pitch inspection with the girls, I just got ready for the game going through my routines. As we went out for warm up, Frida gave me a big hugs while we walk out, she whispered in my ear. "Don't worry, I'll look after you." I smiled. "Thanks Frids I love you too." We warmed up and went inside so Marten could give the final tactical talk before we lined up in the tunnel. Hayley was stood across from me, I could feel her eyes on me trying to get me to look at her.
We sung the national anthems and went to shake hands, I didn't shake Hayley's hand. You can say that it was petty all you want but I don't care. I went back to playing on the left side and Frida on the right with Ingrid in the middle and Guro on the left wing, Caro on the right. I was on the left against Alanna Kennedy, Steph Catley and Caitlin Foord. It was very physical from the first whistle.
It was the 30th minute, the game was 0-0 and we were all in the box, I was going up for a head from Marens cross. I went up and collided with someone behind me, I went to get up by myself but Hayley ran up to try help me up. "I can get up myself, don't touch me." I said as I stood up and walked away. About 5 minutes later Frida past the ball to Guro who saw me open in space behind her, she quickly passed it off to me screaming. "BE SELFISH, SHOOT JESS." I glanced up at goal as I took my shot curling it into the top right corner.