~the manager ~ P.F

twenty.

The boys finished up training and changed into their kit tracksuits then we got onto the coach. I had to say bye to the girls as they weren't allowed to arrive with the boys whereas I was considering I still worked there.

They got into a minibus with a few other of the players girlfriends and wives. I waved bye to them and walked on to the coach with Bukayo.

I scoured the bus to find a spare seat. It was infront of Phil but Jordan H and Harry M were beside him.

I sat down and turned around to talk to everyone sat behind. My bump was pushing against the chair so I winced a little bit but was fine. I turned back around and Jack and Mason came over.

I was near the window, Jack was in the middle and Mason was on the end.

I was tired after the day and felt myself slowly falling asleep so I shook my self awake and decided to film a TikTok.

I found a sound to lip-sync and opened it up to a video. I pulled my fingers through my hair and tapped my lip to make sure there was no product around my lips. Jack put his head on my shoulder and tuck his tongue out to mock me so I pushed him off me and he laughed. Phil put his head on the top of my chair and put his hand over my face. I moved it out of my face and held it in the air along with mine.

The recording finished and I slapped them both on the back of their heads, "You idiots!" I joked and they laughed at each other. I captioned the video; can't do anything with these two around 😂 x

• • •

We arrived at the stadium and my phone was blowing up from the TikTok I made on the coach. I switched my phone onto silent so I could take my attention off it.

The bustle of fans outside the stadium and around the coach was insane, Jack walked out with Mason and then I waited for Phil and he grabbed my hand. People were taking pics of my bump and me holding Phil's hand but there was one girl shouting out our names.

I stopped Phil from walking inside and pulled him over to this little girl. She was wearing an England shirt with Phil's name on the back and my name on the front.

Except it didn't say 'Natalie Grealish' on it, it said 'Natalie Foden'. Phil pointed it out and I laughed. "I wish! Whats your name?" I asked and stroked her head. She was around 8 or 9 I think. "Well my name is Rosie but I get called Ronnie," she said with a huge smile on her face.

"Well you are very beautiful," Phil said and I agreed. She gave me and Phil a black pen and we signed a note on the front and back.

Her parents took a picture of all of us "and I want to see your baby!" She said with a huge grin on her face, I laughed and pulled out an old bracelet of mine with a small heart in the middle and tied it around her wrist.

"Keep this and remember us by it," I said and she started to cry. I hugged her really tightly and Phil knelt down to talk to her and she gave him a small little bear, "For your baby," she said in between tears.

Me and Phil gave her a last hug and walked inside. I held the teddy and Phil's hand and he kissed my fore-head. I laughed and shed a small tear but didn't let him see.

I met again with the girls and told them about what happened with the little girls and they thought it was so cute. We went to the subs bench and waited until the boys were dressed and ready for walk- out.

Gareth gave us the heads up and we walked through to see them for a few minutes before walkout.

I went to Jack and hugged him, "You ready?" I said and he nodded. Sasha walked over and I let them have a chat while I went to find Phil. He had his kit on and he was on the phone to someone so I stood and waited for him to be finished.

He smiled at me whilst on the phone and mouthed, "it's my mum" toward me and then said bye and ended the call.

"Hi, you feel ready?" I said and he nodded. It was the quarter-finals and it was against Spain who had been getting amazing recently.

I started work with Manchester City again in 2 weeks so I hoped and prayed things were going to be good enough for me to be able to leave peacefully.

It was nearing walkout so I met Sasha and we went to our seats. It was walkout and then after the anthems were sang it was kickoff.

It was not a good start to the game. Spain had the opening goal and then followed up with another 2. Harry scored one for us. Half-time came but I was not allowed to go see Phil and check if he was ok. We walked back out and kicked off again but nothing changed. That was it.

We were no longer in the World Cup.

A few tears were shed by me and I couldn't even start to think about how the boys felt. Me and Sash went straight inside to the changing rooms and everyone's faces said it all.

I went over to Jack and Phil sat next to each other and hugged them both. "You played really well!" Me and Sash reassured them. "Come on, cheer up you've got the premier league to win now boys," Sasha said and I agreed. They stood up and wrapped their arms around us. "ManCity here we come," I said and it made them half-smile.

*this has been updated*