Week 1

"Who else?" I joked, looking at the blonde entering through the door of my makeshift office.

"I like to be the first one trying out new facilities," she raised both eyebrows.

My first day had been hectic. I had met the team, been shown around the facilities, and introduced to all the players before training.

I already knew some of them. There were knowing glances towards Alexia, which she completely ignored.

Afterward, I finally got to see the room that would be my office. I had been given the remaining two hours of my shift to set everything up to my liking, to create a comfortable environment. There were still boxes everywhere.

"There's not much to see yet," I pointed at the furniture and equipment boxes provided by the club and some that I had brought. "I won't be available for you until tomorrow at least."

"I thought you'd make an exception," she crossed her arms.

"You know I can't do that," I said while placing some books on the shelf behind the newly assembled table.

Alexia readjusted her tracksuit jacket and sat on the box that seemed to have the least fragile contents.

"I thought you were someone who breaks the rules."

"Me?" I asked mockingly. "Don't make me laugh. It's you who follows the rules too much and anyone else seems rebellious," I leaned against the table.

Alexia rolled her eyes.

"Come on, let me be the first to try out the psychologist, please," she pouted, and I burst into laughter.

"Do you see all those boxes?" The blonde glanced around and then nodded. "If you help me and we manage to set everything up in less than two hours, I'll let you be the first."

She immediately got up and took the box she had been sitting on. She placed it on the table with effort and opened it. She started taking out the books, two at a time, and placed them on the shelf according to my instructions.

Meanwhile, I focused on arranging the framed diplomas and certificates on the empty surfaces. I needed to ask someone from the office to come and hang them up.

Together, we assembled a few more pieces of furniture. A small table and some shelves. Alexia hadn't stopped. There was only one box left and almost an hour remaining in my shift. She placed it on the table and opened it with a triumphant smile.

"Last box," she said tauntingly. I leaned back in the desk chair, ready to leave all the work to the football player. She threw a stuffed teddy bear at me. "A box of toys?" She laughed.

"Of course."

"Are they for passing the time between sessions?"

"They are here so you can point out which part of your knee is missing," I smirked, and Alexia opened her mouth wide.

"Damn," she tried not to laugh without much success. "Just for you to know, this comment has added more work for you. It has been incredibly traumatic."

The blonde sat down in front of me, on the other side of the table, and looked at me expectantly. I sighed.

"Hello, Alexia. I'm Mia, and I'm your new psychologist," she nodded without wiping the smile off her face. "You can come to talk to me whenever you need, for support both personally and athletically so you can give 100% on the field." I cleared my throat, trying to erase the smile and maintain a more serious and professional demeanor. Alexia noticed it and looked at me mischievously. "If I'm not here, you can always let me know, and I'll see you as soon as I can."

"So, whenever I need you, you'll come to see me?"

"Yes, of course. That's my job."

"But for that I'll need a phone number or something," she teased.

I blinked a couple of times upon hearing the comment. The interpretation of words and intonation is more subjective than the choice of words, and I shouldn't let my friend Irene play with my head as she usually did.

"I'll provide all of the team with a contact card as soon as I see all of you," I nodded silently, and she returned her lips to a straight line. "Let's start then. How have you been feeling lately, Alexia?"

"I'm fine," she said simply. "The routine helps. Being with my teammates, training with the group again..."

"That sounds good."

"It sounds good, yes. But I still don't feel like myself on the field."

I could sense something off. As if the room had cooled down and the distance between us had grown larger. Alexia had taken her position, serious and disciplined, far from what she had been when she arrived at my office. It was a psychologist-patient distance, not friends. Were we friends?

"Well, we talked about this before. You're still a bit stiff, getting used to another knee, relearning how your body works. You need to give yourself time and not rush," She felt uncomfortable. Very visibly. And that made me uncomfortable too. There was a heavy air around me, as if something was out of place. "Is something bothering you?"

The question may not have sounded the most professional on my part. Certainly not the tone I had chosen to utter it, fearful and unsure. The situation had taken a radical shift in attitude, but the situation was supposed to be right. It felt like something was off.

"I'm fine," she responded seriously. I opened the consultation notes while she replied. A shiver ran down my spine. "I already told you."

"Yes, you told me," I pressed my lips together, seeing Alexia's cold eyes.

Suddenly, she stood up.

"Well, thank you very much for letting me be the first to try it out," she thanked. "See you when it's my turn again."

With her hand in the air and without even giving me time to say goodbye, Alexia left through the door.