piece by piece~j.d

~67~

Aubrey was more stressed out then Josh had seemed all morning, she was constantly toying with something or finding herself zoning out though she tried to keep herself distracted. She was just happy to tend to anything that Josh needed, she normally wouldn't be that way but it was beneficial for them both.

"You're going to do good tonight?" Aubrey asked as Josh prepared his things so that he could get to the ground at the right time. He was almost ready to leave but was being held back by Aubrey.

"I'm good, I'll make you proud." Josh said as he pulled her in for a hug, pressing a kiss to the top of her head. "Stop stressing about it all, you've done all that you can do today. Now it's your turn to enjoy it."

"Okay, you don't worry either. You're going to kill it out there like you always do and I'll be waiting to see you as soon as the game is over and you've sung the song." Aubrey said as she adjusted the collar of his jumper. "Remember, I'll love you no matter the results."

"Love you too." Josh said and as easy as that he was walking out the door where, not surprisingly, Adam was waiting for him so they could drive in together. Aubrey smiled after him, feeling that much pride for where he was getting, she was sure that any conversation she had in the next few days would be about Josh, regardless of the results.

~~~

She tried to smile and ignore the nerves as she found her seat, but it was difficult, the people around her who would usually be of help were doing nothing but trying to calm themselves down, let alone worrying about her. Aubrey wondered what the week after would be like if everything was to go the right way, she had seen the excitement and nerves alike from afar but had never dealt with them on that scale and knew that she would most likely be better off not being with Josh all day if they were o be successful, in saying that he had done it all before and could hopefully feel a bit nervous. Though that was very much unlikely.

"You look really pale." Chloe commented, the two had found themselves seated side by side again, Aubrey knew that they would both be holding hands the whole time, possibly slapping each other in excitement or frustration depending on the state of the game.

"No one should have to feel like this, do you think they'll be as bad?" Aubrey asked as she flattened out her scarf and sighed deeply, taking in all of the noise around them. The atmosphere was one thing that had changed dramatically even from two weeks before when they say in the same place, electrifying would only be able to half describe it.

"I think they're in routine now and they'll be fine. We will be too." Chloe said, she was somehow holding her nerve and Aubrey admired her for that. Also hated her for it, she wanted to be just as calm, but knew there was no chance of that happening. She was on the 'almost having a heart attack' end of the spectrum.

"I hope so, can you imagine how exciting it'll be next week?" Aubrey asked, the prospect was exciting and she was doing her best to hold onto the image that she had created of that, if the cheering and chattering was loud now, she knew it would be out of this world next time. 

"I think I might pass out or just forget everything because my mind will be trying to forget the stress that I'm feeling right now." Chole laughed as she partook in her nervous habit, repining the pin of Pat that belonged on her scarf time and time again.

"Look at them running out." Aubrey pointed out as they watched all of the boys, the cheers were deafening and many of the little kids were wearing little earphones to protect themselves which Aubrey thought looked adorable. 

"We got this babe, we're going to be just fine," Chloe said, whispering assurances for herself just as much as for Aubrey and Logan who was sat on the other side of her, Aubrey had Ebony on her left who had promised she was heavily supporting the dogs and not the dees who had originally lost to Geelong in the qualifying finals but then beat Port Adelaide the next week. It was already decided that whoever was to win this prelim would be taking on the cats at the G the next week and everyone wanted that task.