The Big Secret

Roomie

"Promise me you'll come to visit?" My mother pulled me in for a hug "of course we will, you have to visit too! Once you get over your rugby phase you should move to England! You'll love it" she was never fond of my rugby career.

"Conor you best look after her!" My dad eyed up Conor "Of course, I will, have I ever let you down?" They shook hands "that's my boy" my dad always loved Conor like his own, at one point Conor might as well have lived with us. We spent every day together until his rugby career went mad.

They left and suddenly I felt quite empty "you alright scruff?" Scruff was a nickname my parents gave me and somehow Conor will not let it go. I nodded looking down at all my suitcases. "Yeah just strange" he hugged me "now parties every day of the week" he laughed. I shook my head "they've put me on the bench tomorrow so I can't do anything" I've always been in the reserve team this Is the first time they've put me on substitutes.

"That's amazing! Told you you'll get there! Now get up there and start unpacking these" I sighed and he laughed. See Conor was always a joker but was very protective of me. "I'm going to training but I'll help you unpack when you get back" and with that, he was out the door leaving me drowning in piles of boxes and suitcases.

I don't know if I'm starting to regret not moving to England with my parents, it's not like I have anyone over here except Conor. I am an only child so the closest thing to a brother I have is Conor.

Conor plays for the Ireland Rugby team, so he's away most of the time just like me. Luckily we seem to be playing at similar times so mine would be a day after his so we would travel up together and go to each other's games. He was my number one supporter and I was his.

Since starting playing with the Ireland team there has been plenty of rumours about our relationship, I walked into training one day and got "oh yeah your Murray's bird" I nearly choked "let's say Murray's sister" which confused them even more.

Yes, we have the same colour of hair, but we look nothing alike so I can understand why everyone thinks we are a couple. I'm dreading the day he gets a girlfriend, selfishly, I can't wait to see him happy but I know I'll be pushed out.

The unpacking went quicker than I thought. I looked at the room, it had plain white coloured walls and a black cover. I can't wait to get it all spruced up. "Miss me?" I jumped out of my skin, "you stink!" I could smell how hard he was working at training "nice to see you too Roomie!" He laughed and walked out of the room.

"Roomie?" I could just hear him laughing down the hallway. "Idiot" I mumbled to myself. Might go for a run myself in preparation for tomorrow. Yeah, sod it, I'm going for a run. I dug out my running clothes and left a note for Conor:

I'm going for a run! Be back soon, and get dinner cooking ;)
Love your roomie x

Luckily this area was familiar to me, when I was 14 we moved away from here near Galway. Always moving for my dad's work. My father was always going on about moving to England but they had to wait until I finished school and then my mother's work as a lawyer always kept her back. But guess he finally got his dream.

"Erin" I heard a very unfamiliar voice "Erin, it's Lizzie" Lizzie? I stopped in my tracks "Hi how are you? It's been like five years!" Ohhh I remember Lizzie, my old rugby buddy "yeah, I know I've just moved back recently" she hugged me "it's good to see a familiar face around here" I laughed. I told her my address "you should come round one day" her jaw dropped "you live at Conors?" I nodded. "You two finally got together?" She nudged me "no" she kept talking about Conor, she always had a big crush on him.

We exchanged numbers "when you're not busy just pop in and we'll have a proper catch up. I've got to go for a run" she nodded and left me to continue my run. She hasn't changed one bit, still, the same old plastered-in make-up blonde. I wonder if anyone else still lives around here?

I ran past my old house, the new tenants had already started moving in. I sprinted the whole way back to Conor's or should I say home. The thought of walking on the pitch tomorrow sent my anxiety through the roof. I've never managed to play on the Dublin pitch yet, but I've played on every other pitch in Ireland. Since transferring back to Munster, we've been near the top of the table but have not won it yet.

"Ew, you stink!" Conor mimicked me "get used to it" I showed him the finger and ran upstairs for a shower. It felt weird showering in someone else's shower, but I suppose I have to get used to it. I dug out my most comfy pyjamas and joined Conor on the couch.

"You ready for tomorrow? I guarantee you'll play!" Hmm well, see "don't forget it's my game Sunday so I've got us separate hotel rooms for the two days" "Thanks" the days of us sharing everything have long gone.

We watched a movie together, of course, I was lying down with my legs on him. "Oh my, you never guess who I bumped into on my run" I sat up "who?" He didn't sound impressed "Liz" he rolled his eyes, "I told her she can pop around whenever she likes for a catch up" "okay, but you know she hasn't gotten over her school crush on me" I completely forgot about that. "Well it's about time you got someone" he rolled his eyes again.

"On that note best get to bed" he laughed. "Yeah, be up by 7 am got to be at the stadium for 12! You're driving" I flashed him a smile "wouldn't expect anything less" he kissed my head.

"Night roomie"