Family Portrait (Fam Series #1)

Chapter 119 - Upside Down & All Around, Melbourne

Adeline -

'Hey, excuse me, Miss?'

I tighten my eyes shut as I stay asleep. I haven't been getting a lot of it efficiently lately due to extreme stress and the constant nightmares, the Queensland heat and my son crying, asking what happened to Jack when he went off in the ambulance almost month ago.

'Mrs Curnow?'

I reluctantly open one tired eye as the bright fluorescent lights blind me.

'Do you need help?' Patrick Cripps asks in a judgemental tone, as he looks down at me, unsure.

'I...I was getting Charlie something. I must've fallen asleep' I mumble tiredly, looking around as I realise I'm in Jack's locker. Good place to sleep not gonna lie.

'This isn't Charlie's locker' Patrick says, giving me a weak smile. I sit up and groan as I stretch my poor back.

'Yeah Patrick, I know' I say, rolling my eyes.

'In fact, you're not even allowed to be in here. This locker room is authorised access only to the men's playing group. How'd you get in here anyway?' Patrick asks. I shrug.

'It doesn't matter how I got in, because I'm leaving anyway' I say, turning my back on him as I walk out, coming face to face with another situation of sorts.

'PADDY! COME BACK' Cameron Polson yells as he sprints up the corridor, waving an almost empty bottle of Powerade around.

'Shh, don't tell him where I'm hiding' Paddy Dow says, as he suddenly appears out of a utility closet.

'PADDY!'

'Dammit!' Paddy yells, running off as he realises his cover has been brown.

'Mrs Curnow, don't think you can just walk away from me. I'm a member of the leadership group, remember? I can issue you a warning for being in an unauthorised area - in fact, I am issuing you a warning' Patrick Cripps says. I sigh.

'Who's issuing who a warning for what?' Zac Fisher asks, as he walks up the corridor with a Paddy clinging off his arm like a leech. Didn't realise Zac was a good cover.

'Nothing, Zac. Don't worry. Patrick, can I go now?' I ask tiredly, rolling my eyes as Cripps shrugs.

'I got you!' Cam yells, as he suddenly runs over and taps Paddy on the arm. Paddy smirks at him.

'Nah uh, I got Zac's arm. I'm safe' He choruses, childishly sticking his tongue out.

'Damn it! Zac, I have been chasing him around for hours. Why the one time I get anywhere near him do you give him your arm?' Cam asks, whining loudly.

'I'm literally the victim here Cam, he grabbed me and refused to be shaken off' Zac says. Patrick C shakes his head.

'Dow, Polson, isn't there a reason you're here today?' He asks. They exchange blank looks before looking up at Patrick dumbly.

'Could it be that you're both contracted to a football club and you're both meant to be training in the gym right now?' He continues.

'Hey - I am not contracted. I'm a free agent' Cam says, pointing at Cripps.

'You're not, but I am. I guess I'll just go' Paddy says, suddenly sulking as he breaks away from the group and trudges up the corridor.

'Cameron, you're not gonna end up keeping your job here if you keep running around like an imbecile. Go follow Paddy' Patrick advises.

Cam looks back at Paddy longingly before sighing.

'I'm going back to the cafe' he decides, walking in the opposite direction.