Australia had won us.

Ellen had managed to score us a hat trick, but it just wasn't enough. When Sam had scored the fourth goal for the Matilda's, we couldn't make it back ontop.

After the match, I sat on the grass alone for a while until Steph came over and pulled me up. She pulled me into a hug and told me she was proud of me for trying and I told her I was proud of her too. Sure, I wanted an olympic medal and I was dissapointed we didn't get to atleast make it for a bronze, but we tried and that was what mattered and so did the Matildas.

Just before I left the Olympic Villiage the next day, Kristie told me to wait up for her and she'd dropped the news that her and Sam Kerr, Matilda's captain, we're dating. To say I didn't expect that was an understatement. I wasn't even sure how they'd started dating, but either way I was happy for the two. Sam seemed like a really nice person from what I saw at Caitlin's dinner, Kristie would be good in her hands.

When we'd came home and I'd found out Kristie had earned herself a bronze medal against Australia, I immediately face timed her and congratulated her on the big win. I wondered how she managed to play against Sam when they had such strong feelings for one another, but she did and Sam was happy for her even if she felt a little dissapointed in herself like I did in myself.

I wanted to stay in the Olympic Villiage, I loved it that much, being around athletes, people who understood my love for sport, but I couldn't and it was a shame.

Caitlin had called me when she'd arrived back and asked me to help her find herself an apartment and that she was staying with Sam at the moment because she didn't want to go back to live with Lia while she looked for a place to move out in. I'd helped her find one and luckily for us it was close to Steph and I's. The next day, we both talked to the landlord and he agreed to letting Caitlin stay there. I offered to help her move her stuff from Lia's to there, but she told me it was okay and she needed time to process it on her own.

I think I needed to process some things on my own aswell.

Caitlin had been in that relationship with Lia since way before I'd joined. That's all I'd known about the two. I'd grown closer to Caitlin than Lia, but I wasn't exactly choosing sides in their break up.

However, I'd felt even closer to Caitlin since she told me she broke up with Lia on her balcony at the villiage. I don't know what that meant. I was confused. I wanted to talk to someone like Rachel or Kristie about it, but I didn't want to bug them with my confusing feelings. I decided I'd just carry on with my life and our friendship and see where I'd end up.

"And she scores!" Beth cheers for me as I get past Steph and shoot the ball into the goal during training. I run over to her and jump up, wrapping my legs around her waist. "Elena! Elena! Elena!" She makes me giggle.

"That wasn't fair." Steph says and I stick my tongue out at her.

"I got that in fair and square." I say as Beth lets me down.

We'd started our preseason now and it was nice to be back training with the girls. It felt good being back on the pitch with the girls. Rachel was right. I just needed time to adjust to the new settings. I enjoyed training, I enjoyed girls nights outs and they also enjoyed me being around.

"She did to be fair." I hear Caitlin say behind me. She was on Steph's team in our small 5 a side game. I smiled at her and swung my arm around her.

"If Caitlin says it, then it is correct." I say.

"And why's that?" Steph asks me with a raised eyebrow.

"Because she's the superior Aussie." I mumble.

"What did you just say?" Steph asks me, her jaw dropped open.

"Did I say something?" I play dumb. "I think I'm gonna go fill up my water bottle." I say and walk away while Caitlin laughs at Steph, my arm still around her.

I grab my water bottle from the basket and run inside with Caitlin hot on my heels as she chases me. It was nice to see her a little more lively after how tired and worn out she seemed at the Olympics.

"How you holding up?" I ask Caitlin. "You're back to living alone after over a year, that must be a change."

"It does feel a bit lonely." Caitlin admits. "Sometimes I find myself walking around the place trying to find where Lia is and then I realise." She says quietly while shaking her head in shame.

"Hey, that's normal." I give her a squeeze. "It'll take time to adjust, but I'm here. Have you told anyone else?"

"No, just you." Caitlin says. "I don't think Lia's told anyone either, but they'll catch on themselves."

I nod, slowly. "Don't worry. It'll be okay." I rub her arm before I let go and take a sip of water. "Do you want me to come over tonight, give you some company?"

"Would you?" Caitlin asks, her face lighting up. "It would be a good distraction."

"Yeah, of course." My face lights up, matching hers. "I can bring my guitar and finally teach you to play."

"Yes, please." Cautlin says like a child and we giggle with one another.

After training, Caitlin drove home in her car and I drove home with Steph. I got changed out of my training kit and pulled on a pair of shorts and an oversized sweatshirt. It was August, but the UK never followed the seasons so instead of having the sun, we had strong winds instead.

I grabbed my guitar and said bye to Steph, kissing her cheek to annoy her before I skipped down the apartment stairs to the car park and got into my car, placing the guitar in the back safely.

I loved my guitar. After my dad told me my mum used to play the guitar and piano, I took it upon myself to learn how to play them. I enjoyed playing the guitar and felt more connected to it because you could take it around with you anywhere and it was easier. I had my middle name carved into the side of it in honour of my mum.

I walked up to Caitlin's apartment when I'd arrived and knocked on her door, waiting for her to answer. I didn't have to wait very long as she'd came up to the door and opened it almost immediately. She welcomed me in with a wide smile on her face. She was dressed in some comfy clothes like I was and her hair fell past her shoulders. I hadn't seen her with her hair out since I'd joined, she was the type of person to keep it in a bun all the time. It was a new sight. She looked nice.

"I made pasta."

"Oh my God, yes!" I jump up and down excited. I placed my guitar down on the sofa with care before I ran to the kitchen without any care for myself. I needed this pasta. It was too good.

As we ate, we just chatted about light things like WoSo gossip, the Olympics and Caitlin told me about what she'd learnt about Sam and Kristie from Sam's perspective while I told her about Kristie's perspective.

"You know on our game against you guys," I began, "in the tunnel I was right at the back and I ended up tripping on my own foot on the way out, that's why I had to run to catch up to the team."

"I was wondering what was going on when I saw you run onto the pitch behind the girls." Caitlin laughs at me as we begin washing up.

"I'm just clumsy." I shrug.

"I have observed that."

"Umm." I say and give her a side eye before I walk to the sofa to grab my guitar and sit down.

I strummed it a few times, checking it was in tune and when it wasn't I twisted the pegs in the right direction to fix it.

"Right so, I know nothing about guitars." Caitlin says as she finishes up and sits down beside me on the sofa.

I strum the guitar in a light tune, my fingers sliding across the frets to play different notes and chords. I hum a quiet tune and then look at Caitlin. "What?" I ask her, wanting to know what the meaning behind the look in her eyes was.

"Nothing, just your voice sounds beautiful."

"Thanks." I pass her the guitar and she holds it infront of her. "We'll start of with the first song I ever learnt and we can go from there."

"Let's hope it's an easy one." Caitlin lets out an uneasy chuckle.

"So if you place your first finger on the first fret, second string," I begin, watching Caitlin move her fingers, "nope, second string up," I correct her, "then your second finger on the second fret, fourth string and your third finger on the third fret, fifth string, you'll have your C chord." I tell the brunette and she strums down on the string.

"Yay, you just played your first chord." I clap in excitement while Caitlin laughs at me.

"Now let me teach you A minor. You'll only need those two chords for this song, nice and easy." Caitlin nods and listens to my instructions for the A minor chord. "Okay now, practise switching from C to A minor."

Caitlin struggles and giggles up at me. I shuffle back on the sofa and move to place my arms around her. I placed my fingers on the frets and she moved hers, our fingers brushing in the process. I slowly switched from the C chord to A Minor to show her and then strummed the song lightly.

"Just like that." I say, my voice soft and quiet.

I continue strumming, getting closer to Caitlin to look over her shoulder at my fingers. My light breath tickled her neck to which she turned her head to face mine, our faces close together. We pause, eyes meeting.

I felt my head moving before I could even think to stop myself. My gaze flickered to Caitlin's lips, but hers did the same to mine. Caitlin leaned forward as well and our lips brushed against one anothers.

There was a knock on the door.

I was brought back to reality by the simple sound and shuffled back to let Caitlin get the door. I looked past her to see it was her landlord, who started telling her about some last minute changes to the rent system.

My heart beat fast in my chest as I had time to process what had just happened. My lips touched Caitlin's. Caitlin's lips touched mine. What did this mean?

When the landlord had left, Caitlin sat back down and we continued the guitar lesson. The atmosphere was thick with unspoken tension, but neither one of us dared to speak upon it. We both knew something had happened, but neither us wanted to push it

- yet.