The Runner and Number 30 (Charlie Curnow)

Chapter 8

Monique's Pov

i got up and got dressed, quickly gave myself some breakfast, and headed to the MCG. Once I had arrived i grabbed my bag and headed into the rooms, put my bag away, and headed to the locker rooms to hang up their guernseys again. I started at the beginning like last time, and again players started arriving as I was doing so.  "Hey Monique, it's good to see you" I heard, I turned around it was Jack "Oh hey Jack, good to see you too, How's your quad doing?" I asked "It's going good, the massage really helped I think," he said "That's good" I answered, "You spend a lot of time in the locker rooms, do you enjoy looking at us shirtless, or just someone specific?" Jack flirted, and I rolled my eyes, here we go "No actually I'm just doing my job, but you can take it as you want" I suggested "Oh I will, see you later" he said continuing through. I sighed, Jack is the most forthcoming person I know, he really doesn't care how I react just wants to know what I do to what he says. I continued working on the guernseys as more and more players started coming in, "hey Monique" another person said "Hey" I said again as I turned around to see Tom "How are you?" he asked "I'm good thank you, yourself?" I asked "Excited, nervous but good" he laughed "Haha understandable, you'll do great" I reassured "Thanks, you too," Tom said as he walked away. I smiled, Tom was so sweet, he deserves all the good that comes his way. I was just about to finish the Guernseys when Charlie walked in, and i knew, cause I could feel it, i didn't even see him but i knew it was him, this was the moment whether he knew or not "Hey" I said as he approched "oh hey Monique, how are you?" he asked "im good thank you, what about yourself?" i asked "im good thank, hey do you have those exercises for me?" he asked "oh yeah they are in my bag let me go grab them" i said as i finished the last guernsey and walked out of the locker room and back to where i put my bag, i grabbed out the exercise paperwork and headed back to the locker room, it was a lot busier now, i think everyone was in here now, i searched for charlie but couldnt find him through all the people, just when i was about to give up "hey" i heard from behind me, i turned around and there he was in nothing but his footy shorts, i looked at the floor "here are the exercises" i said giving him the paperwork and looking up at him briefly before looking back at the floor "thank you, i really appreciate it" he said "its all good, if you need anything else, you know where to find me" i said as a basicall ran out of the locker room and into the area where i could fill up all the water bottles for the game, my throat was dry, i was sweating profusely and my heart was racing, i grabbed a cup and filled it up with water and drank it all, i felt better after that, and i began filling up the water bottles like i should be, i was slightly behind schedule but i would be okay, however i couldnt get those images out of my head.

I made my way out onto the field and made my way into the huddle to disperse water before they went on to play, then made my way to my station and waited for the game to start, i had the defenders down my end the first quarter again. and like usual i waited for the ball to be down the other end before i ran on and offered the players water. About 2 minutes into the game, Carlton had a really good run down the field and Charlie ended up marking it in the goal square and kicked their first goal, then with 9 minutes left he managed to get away from his player and lead perfectly clear and jack kicked him the ball and he went for another set shot, sadly this one he missed, there was almost a fight and then Charlie went to take a massive mark but sadly lost balance and fell that was basically the end of the first quarter, the score was 18, Carlton and 13, Geelong. again I headed into the huddle and offered water to all the players and then headed back to my station.

the second quarter started and the forwards were down my end this time. with 8 minutes left, Ed kicked a ball straight to Charlie just inside the 50, Charlie decided to play on and kicked the goal, everyone was celebrating as he ran off the field and to the bench. with about 3 minutes left Charlie came back on and instantly took a great mark for another set shot which he scored as well, that was 3 goals in half a game, which was really good, all the forwards got into a huddle so I took that as my opportunity of offer them water, I ran over and held the bottles out for them, Jack took one, and Harry took the other, then charlie took one when they gave them all back then as he walked past he grabbed some moisturiser front around my wrist and he grabbed my arm, I didn't break eye contact with him the whole time. then it was half time the score was Carlton, 44 to Geelong, 36. As we were all making our way back to the locker rooms I glanced over at Charlie who was already looking at me, and he winked, I quickly looked away, did he really just wink at me? nah he probably blinked but I didn't notice, there was no way he just winked at me. once we were in the rooms, the boys went into their meeting and I waited outside, they had taken all the water in and I headed to grab new bottles with cold water in them.