We don't drink Fosters

A proper emergancy

Positioned towards the back of the press room, filling her coffee cup and stifling a giggle, Lucy felt oddly at home in the room of footballers. She returned to her spot next to the team's new sport psychiatrist, Doctor Fieldstone, who shot her a silencing look.

The team had gathered to review last weeks match, and Issac had been screaming at the team for most of the afternoon, and it was only after the Doctor had essentially told her to shut up, that Lucy started to notice that maybe this was a bit more than the usual Issac Macadoo carrying on.

'Jan Maas, that's shit defending.' He bellowed at his team mate, watching as Jan Maas failed to tackle an opposing player.

'Yes, that goal was entirely my fault.' Jan admitted.

'I don't wanna hear it. We need to get our shit together!' Issac yelled in reply, directing his rant at the team now rather than just Jan.  Lucy looked over to Doctor Fieldstone who was furiously taking notes in her notebook. Lucy was at first relived at the idea of the team taking on a sports psych, it would take a lot of pressure off of her. The boys had began to talk to her about issues outside of the usual medical realm, and it really was starting to take a toll on her. 

When the doctor had first arrived, Lucy wanted to make herself know to her. Offer her her notes, try and establish some kind of connection figuring that would most likely working together at some point, but the doctor had just blown her off. 

'Hey, hit pause for me, will you?' Ted interjected 'Hey, fellas.' Nate went to blow his whistle, confused when no sound came out, 'No, I gave you an indoor whistle.' Lucy giggled and sipped at her cup of coffee. 'Listen, I don't care what our record is, but I hear the chatter, people saying there's something wrong with us. Not the way I see it, okay? And here's why: I believe in communism.' The room fell silent, the players sharing confused and concerned glances.

'Rom-communism, that is.' Ted finished, as relived sighs filled the room. 'What is rom-communism you ask? Well, it is a worldview that reminds us that romantic comedies with folks like Tom Hanks, Meg Ryan or Julia Roberts and Hugh Grant, who am I missing Coach?' 

All of a sudden, a piercing, unashamed ring tone rang out through the room. It was Lucy. Everyone turned and stared at her as she fumbled around in her pocket, attempting to silence the ringing menace. 

'I'm so so sorry everyone!' she spoke to the room, while glancing down at the screen, seeing Damian's name flash across the screen. Deciding he can wait, she declines the call and shoves her phone back in her pocket. 

'Thats alright Miss Lucy, happens to the best of us.' Ted spoke sympathetically, as the room of footballers looking at her nodded in agreeance. 'Anyway, as I was saying Rom-communism is centred around the idea tha-'

Once again Lucy's phone rang out, Damos name screaming across the screen. Lucy looked up at Ted, panic and embarrassment etched on her face. 'Just take the call Lucy, you won't be missing much.' Ted finally said, not an inch of annoyance in his voice. 

'Thank you' Lucy replied, apologising profusely to the room as she left the room to answer the call. 

Stepping out into the hall way, she pressed the green answer button. 

'I swear to fucking god Damo this better be the biggest fucking emergency!' She cursed at her roommate. 

'I'm sorry Luc, I didn't know who else to call.' the panic in his voice made the girl regret how she had answered the phone.

'What's going on?' Lucy asked, pinching the bridge of her nose to regain her composer. 

'Its Marie, she's locked herself in the bathroom and I think I can hear her throwing up?' he sounded stressed and tired, he most likely had come home from work to this mess. 'she won't talk to me and won't let me in. I promise I tried Audrey first but she wouldn't pick up and I don't know what to do?!' Lucy could hear him hyperventilating over the phone, she had never heard him like this before. So afraid for Marie. 

'Ok, ok, Damian, I hear you. But you need to try and calm down.' Lucy spoke calmly and rationally, thinking that might help but Damion was in his own head, spiralling. 

'She's never locked me out like this! Should I call an ambulance? Whats the number here again?' 

'Damian mate, you don't need to call an ambulance. I'll leave work early, I'll just call a taxi or something. In the meantime, I need you to take a few breaths and try to relax. For Marie's sake?' Lucy's mind was turning over, 'food poisoning? Could be. But why would she lock out Damian?'. She was passing up and down the hall now, and was so focused on trying to recentre Damian that she didn't notice the team spilling out into the hall and flooding towards the locker room. Most of them didn't take notice of the girl, but one did. 

Jamie watched as the girl patted over her pockets, clearly searching for something and clearly not finding what she needed. She looked to the ceiling, and as the player approached her, he heard her say, 

'Look Damo, I don't have any money for a cab so I'm going to have to walk, meaning I'll be about 20 minutes. I can stay on the phone the entire time so you can tell me if anything happens ok?' 

There was a tinge of stress in her usually calm voice. 

'You ight Lucy?' Jamie finally spoke, Lucy covered the microphone on her phone and whispered a reply, 

'My roommate is pretty sick, and I need to get home but I don't have any cab money' she explained before removing her hand and returning to the call. 'I just need to talk to Ted and explain that I need to go home, I'm sure he'll understand. I'll call you back in 5 ok?' There was a pause before she continued 'I promise.' 

'You sure everything's ok?' Jamie questioned, 

'I'm sure it will be, I just need to talk to Ted and then I have to go.' Lucy avoided eye contact with the player, they haven't spoken since their confrontational phone call two weeks ago. She went to turn and leave for the coaches office, but then Jamie spoked out, 

'Screw coach, I'll give you a lift now.' 

'Thats a really nice offer bu-' Lucy began

'Lucy, this sounds like a proper emergency. I'm driving you home.' 

Lucy could only nod and follow as her and Jamie began to run out to his car. 

                                                                      ***

Sat in the passenger seat of Jamie Tartt's luxurious sports car would seem like a fever dream for most girls, but Lucy couldn't focus on the details and trimmings of the assumedly overpriced interior. The air in the car was cold, anxiety brewing in Lucy's mind as she ticked over what could be wrong with Marie.

'Look,' Jamie spoke first, attempting to melt the forming icicles between the pair, 'I recognise that asking you to tell me what the boys say to you was probably not the best way to go about improving. I took advantage of you, and I'm sorry.' 

Lucy was almost stunned, last thing she had expected was for Jamie Tartt to apologize to her. 

'Thats very mature of you Jamie, thank you. But I should be sorry too, for going off at you like that. It was a bit unfair.' Lucy refused to look at him, instead focusing on the panicked texts coming from Damian to the flat group chat. 

'No thats ight Luc I get it. You had every right to be a bit pissed at me. I was just wonderin-'

'Thats my street!' Lucy exclaimed. 'Just pull up at the curb' she spoke directly, with clear purpose. The car had barely stopped before Lucy ripped the door open, grabbed her bag and began to leg it up the cobbled street towards her friend, yelling thanks to Jamie as she ran. He giggled at her chaotic ways, before roaring away from the curb towards his own home. 

Her mind cursing her for still not learning the lesson of wearing jeans to work, Lucy belted passed the crown and armour, Teds and Beards apartments, refusing to let her blue straight-legged jeans slow her down. Finally, the pink bakery loomed into view. Lucy went to pull open the door, finding it was locked. Knowing her keys were buried somewhere in her Mary Poppins-esk work tote, she opted to use the buzzer, pressing the buzzer repeatedly until a very panicked Damian came to the door. 

'Thank fuck for you Lucy'

A/N- Sorry for the late chapter! Hopefully this is enough drama to get you through the week :)