My Traitor Girl

Chapter One - Meeting The Fans

After another argument with Alliyah, all because I disagreed with her when she said she was getting fatter which isn't true. We've had this argument a few times now recently but somehow we always worked it out. I could tell she was still feeling annoyed at me and it was draining, it was time for me to get to work.

As soon as I get to work, I'm put into the group for team building at the stadium. I usually liked these but I kinda feel like just doing something by myself. I am good at putting on a front and focus on my job. Me and the guys banter, and it ends up being loads of fun. Time goes fast. It's time to get ready for the game. I'm looking forward to playing. Especially the game today.

I'm hearing voices out in the tunnel and a few of the guys have said there's a family with a young lass in a wheelchair who they all comment on how she's a smiler. The other team have already been out to meet them as this is their home ground stadium.

I make my way to the tunnel and I see a guy called Matt, who've I met a few times when I've played here previously. He's always been really cool to banter with. As soon as I'm in sight of the family, immediately I see the lass in her wheelchair. Although it's her smile that catches my attention more than her wheelchair, she looks excited, maybe a little anxious. I can't help but smile at her. Then I make sure I acknowledge her family so I don't look like an ignorant idiot. I go to say hello to them and then go back to the lass, who I'm told is called Kacey. I kneel down so that I can be eye level with her. I hope that's the right thing to do as I understand every person who is disabled is different and requires different things doing. I make eye contact with her, and she has hazel coloured eyes, actually quite pretty looking into them.

"Kacey, it's good to meet you. You looking forward to watching us play?"

She definitely looks a little nervous so I try to ease her nerves. I can't help but laugh when she tells me she feels like a traitor. That's brave of her to say when she tells me she supports the other team but she's looking forward to seeing me play. That's really sweet. I can tell that she's a genuine, honest person. This is rare nowadays.

I didn't realise how her wheelchair is all decorated in the red and white ribbons, and little flags with the team's badge on them. I like it. Even if it isn't my team. I wonder if they all support the same team? Her dad tells me he did the decorations. I praise the good work.

Hearing Matt announce that I have to go in a minute to get ready, I'm glad he did because I forgot what time it was and I probably would have got scolded for being late getting ready. I ask them if they want to take some pictures so we spend five minutes doing this. Thinking Kacey might appreciate having a picture of the two of us, I ask her if she'd like this.

Now it's time for me to leave so I give Kacey a hug and I shake both her Dad's hand and her Auntie's hand. Then I slowly walk away. Before they're out of sight, I stop to wave at Kacey and I give her a last smile. I can see what the other guys were saying about her being a smiler. She's cute. It's helped brighten up my day so far, meeting her and her family, of course. After a quick chat with the others as I was getting ready, I dash to find Matt. I ask him if he could help me by getting a few things to give to Kacey, some merchandise and something that has my signature where I wrote a little note

'Hi Kacey, I hope this reaches you. It was fab meeting you and your family, enjoy the game. Good luck in your 'team' winning today! Jacob Grainger'

For her to keep. He did mention he was doing a goodie bag from the other team so it was no problem doing something from us too. Together, we'd got a match programme, a team photograph, a little soft toy mascot, a key ring, some other things with my name on. I hope she likes what I've picked out for her. Hopefully it'll be things that can remind her of meeting us. I run back to dressing room, just in time for the manager to talk to us before we head out through the tunnel to the pitch. I feel more motivated to play my best, knowing how exciting it will be for Kacey.

When we are walking out on to the pitch, both myself and Howie Mulney, the other team's captain have a kid mascot with us. I love to make their turn on the pitch a memorable moment for them to remember as they get older. For a brief moment, I look around to see where the accessible seating area is and I spot Kacey and her family, she's waving so I wave back to her with my spare hand.

The referee blows his whistle to start the game and I'm soon lost in the action. It's a difficult game this one. For some reason, I feel more determined to put in extra effort and I thrive off pressure. Well this first half is goalless from both teams. Once the referee blows his whistle for half time, I find myself feeling desperate for the toilet so I run off the pitch as quickly as I can. During the break, our manager talks to us in the dressing room. We, the players, we all sit and drink. It's important to keep our fluids up especially as we're running around for so long. It's not long before we head back outside to the pitch.

I glance over at Kacey, it looks like Matt has delivered the goodie bags. She looks really happy yet surprised. Soon the referee blows his whistle again. It doesn't take long for the other team to score. Damn. Oh well, it is what it is. We just need to keep pushing now. I'd be happy with a draw if that's all we can get today so I make sure I help create chances for us to score goals. Yes! I take a second glance as I didn't know if the ball had even gone in the goal but it definitely went in. Now it's a draw. I celebrate like I always do! The guys all huddle around me as I stand back up.

The game has now just finished and all of us footballers are shaking hands. For the last time, I look over towards Kacey and I have to squint a little as I'm a bit further away, she's doing the thumbs up signal to me. She's so cute! I can imagine her getting along with my sister really well, as she seems like our Hayley, personality wise. Looking around me, I notice everyone is walking off the pitch towards the tunnel so I sprint to catch up with them. Me and the lads have a good chat whilst showering and getting changed, etcetera before we all head towards the coach bus.