Saving Lotte Sullivan | Collingwood/Carlton

92: the Carlton Lounge, ft. Lotte

A/N: I am Slavic/Croatian/Serbian with Semitic roots and I have absolutely nothing against Italian people or Europeans, it's just for a point in the story. I also have Italian children. I mean no offence by the wording in this chapter, it is just merely included for the point of the story and character's poor sentiment. Thank you!

And one more thing, it has also been three weeks since the Collingwood premiership, which also means three weeks since my final baby Frankie was born, and she is so sweet and I just love her and want to tell the whole world about her (proud mom lol but seriously I can't shut up), thank you Wattpad for allowing me to dip outside of the newborn bubble for a few hours overnight while I find the time 😂

...

Sirens.

The pounding of her heartbeat intensified as she clutched his hand a little tighter, absolutely terrified. She opened her eyes to the underground world.

'You okay?'

She looked up, a perplexed Zac Fisher staring straight back at her. 'I think you fell asleep' he added, offering her a small smile.

'Yeah, sorry' she apologised needlessly, uncontrollably yawning and cringing at how asleep her voice still sounded. 'The sirens must've woken me. They were in my dream too' she said, rolling her eyes and staring out the window beside her, as somebody wrestled with their car.

'Typical of a North Melbourne player to set their own car alarm off' Zac joked, checking the time on his phone. 6:02pm.

'Don't judge them, Zac. You know, one day Carlton might not want you anymore and you might end up stuck with them' Lotte said, sarcastically smirking and raising her eyebrows. Zac sighed.

'Yeah, that day looks to be approaching more and more, for both Tyler and I. Paddy. JSOS' he said, downcast.

Lotte closed her eyes as the pain continued to rip through and around her badly, subconsciously squeezing Zac's fingers a little tighter. Damn. So she hadn't just dreamt them up.

'Alright?' Zac asked, glancing down at their slightly intertwined hands, concerned.

'Huh?' Lotte asked, looking over and then realising. She quickly dropped his hand. 'Oh, I'm fine. Just...nervous. Keep feeling like I'm going to see her somewhere' Lotte said, quickly rambling an excuse up. Zac nodded.

'Yeah, I understand' he said carefully, plugging a charger into his phone.

The two sat in silence for a little longer, as the North Melbourne potential rising star struggled to turn off his car alarm. Lotte leaned her head against her hand, heart still pounding. She glanced down at the sparking diamonds on her ring finger, a tang of guilt pinging at her chest.

'Why is he here anyway?' She asked, nodding her head towards Harry Sheezel's car. Zac shrugged.

'Jack Ginnivan was well loved and, with all due respect, just as hated in the AFL community. I'm pretty sure through his father or, or childhood, he was connected to the Hawthorn Football Club' he gently explained, looking over at the pissed off teenager, who was getting into an argument with the arrogant security guards.

'Hawthorn. Does he play for Hawthorn?' Lotte asked, a little shocked.

'Oh, no. No, as I said earlier, he's at North Melbourne. But he was a huge Hawthorn fan growing up. He probably knew Jack when they were both kids' Zac continued, shrugging. 'I don't know. It's a huge event, I mean, even Tyler and I have been invited, and we're not playing. Jamarra and uh, the mullet guy from the dogs - no, not Bailey Smith' he added. Lotte nodded. 'Caleb Poulter' she confirmed, seething in pain and grabbing at her seat again.