More Than A Game

Chapter 55

Laying on my bed, I was confused. I was disappointed. And, I was a mess. Not only do I have to deal with my latest fallout with Chad, suddenly rumours are circling about a summer fling involving Kurt and I.

The reporters were going to have a field day covering this one. You've got the family man from Port Adelaide, the pretentious journalist student and the high roller from Bondi Beach. I could already imagine some of the things that could be said about this latest event and let me tell you, it won't be pretty.

I was glad I was back in Adelaide since I knew the media would go in a frenzy with the stupid rumours spreading through. Who comes up with this kind of stuff?

I decided to get up from bed and move to my bedside table, where my sat patiently on the chestnut coloured table. I grabbed the phone and begun to dial the number of Jessica's before beginning to pace back and fourth in my room.

"Hello, Jess?"

"Oh hey Carmen, how was Gold Coast?" She asked sounding rather nervous on the opposite end of the line. I sighed, awaiting for a terrible outcome.

"What can I say, Gold Coast was Gold Coast. I guess it was pretty interesting, but honestly I don't even know what think anymore." I said stressfully and snapped before keeping myself calm, trying my best to remain peaceful as I possibly can.

"Oh yeah, I guess you had an awesome time. I watched the drafts, please pass on my congratulations to Brayden. I'm super proud that he's going to play for The Bulldogs."

"Ah yeah, thank you. I'm glad he's going to a club like them." I said, feeling the tension between the two of us. I wasn't sure if I was supposed to bring up the rumours about Kurt and I or if Jessica knew herself.

"Carmen, I don't mean to make this personal or whatever but what did you actually do in Gold Coast?"

"Chilled with Ollie, supported Brayden, hung with mum. Oh and watch the drafts. That was about it. Why?"

"Alright, before I tell you what I'm about to tell you, just know that I care for you and don't believe it at all because it sounds completely ridiculous -"

"Jessica, could you just please get on with the point. You know very well you're starting to scare me."

" - There's this article that goes on about how you and Kurt Tippet had an affair or whatever in Gold Coast and that now he's taken you away from Chad."

I froze after hearing what she said, my heart feeling like it being pulled in knots. I wasn't sure if I was meant to laugh over how stupid this whole rumour was or cry since this could potentially ruin my reputation.

"Send me the link Jess." I blurted out, desperately wanting to see how much damage was done. A moment of heavy silence came from the opposite end of the line before I could hear shuffling emerging.

"Are you sure that you -"

"Send me the damn link for the article Jessica, please." I pleaded; my legs starting to feel like jelly as my heart raced. I wondered what the article would have said or if I should be worried if it's going to effect my chances of getting the media intern job.

Moments later, I had received a text from Jessica which was a link. I took a deep sigh and hesitated for a moment; did I really want to find out what was written? I took another sigh and tapped the link before my eyes set upon a picture of me smiling next a picture of Kurt, also smiling. My eyes widened as I began to read the article.

WAG's Bittersweet Romance;
In an unexpected shock twist nobody saw coming, a new scandal has broken within the AFL off field, this time involving the much loved WAG and Australian sweetheart, Carmen Richwald, the 23 year old journalism student who has won our hearts several times during this year's premiership season.

Sources have told the magazine that Carmen and one of Bondi's most popular, Sydney Swans player Kurt Tippet have recently been spotted together during a trip to the Gold Coast and was seen getting cosy at the AFL NAB national draft.

It has been indicated that the duo (Richwald and Tippet) have been involved in an affair which has been going on for several weeks states a friend of Tippet's. Sources have also told us of the tension that is currently brewing between the Sydney Swans player and another Australian Rules Footballer, Port Adelaide's Chad Wingard which is causing serious speculation about Wingard's relationship with the WAG.  

I closed the article and went back to the conversation with Jessica, feeling nervous and mostly, betrayed. What kind of website would publish an article as fake as that? I knew what the website was, probably from the Women's Day or something like that. This article was pure evil and I honestly wouldn't know who'd write an article like that.

I knew I had a lot of explaining to do. Not only to my family, but to Kurt, possibly to the fans and of course, I was going to have to talk to Chad sooner or later. Why was I continually thinking about my ex when we've clearly broken up?

"Carmen?" Jessica's gentle voice echoes from the opposite end of the line as I became distracted from my negative thoughts.

"Yeah, sorry I'm still with you Jess. Don't worry." I answered, hoping to the heavens above that Jess believed that I wasn't involved in any affair.

"So what actually happened in Gold Coast, apart from the drafts? And honestly, an affair with Kurt Tippet sounds very pathetic."

"Well, it is. Anyway, I actually met Kurt when I arrived in Gold Coast on the first day. I hung out with him a couple of times as friends since I saw him in cafes and stuff. On the actual day of the drafts, I ran into Kurt and we then we began talking."

"And that's it? That's all that happened?" She questioned me as I looked down on the ground, feeling a little embarrassed with our kiss. Although it meant absolutely nothing to either of us, it still felt a little awkward with everything that's going on.

"Well, there was something. But you have to tell me you won't tell a single soul, promise?"

"Yes, yes. Now Carmen, please tell me what happened." She pleaded as I began to blush.

"After it was announced that Brayden was going to the Western Bulldogs, I left my brother with mum and Ollie to congratulate him or whatever and walked off with Kurt where I started talking to him about Brayden and then we kissed."

"DID YOU JUST SAY YOU KISSED KURT FLIPPIN' TIPPET?" Jess screamed aloud as I held my breath, hoping that nobody heard our conversation.

"Yes." I sharply added, feeling the warmth of my cheeks build up as I continued to listen to the squeals emerging from the opposite end of the line.

"But Jess, kissing him is besides the point. That article has probably gone viral now. I might even be being spoken about on some radio station and I'm going to be in a really awkward situation right now."

"Yeah, I totally understand what you're talking about but I have no clue on what to do. I've never been famous, don't know many contacts and haven't hadn't anything written about me, like ever."

"You know what the worse thing is, this scandal between Kurt and I, it's going to make it more awkward in my relationship with Ollie after what happened last week." I said, panicking to myself as Jessica questioned my rather anxious tone. I began explaining to Jess what happened at the cafe after I ran after Chad about a week ago.

"Carmen no. You honestly shouldn't have rushed after Chad -"

"What was I meant to do Jess? The poor guy was angry and I guess I felt terrible, felt terrible that my ex was feeling bad about himself being in the damn same room I was in."

"- hey, hey shh. It's alright Carmen, just don't stress too much and please, stay calm. Whatever happens with that article, it happened, but hopefully you get it all sorted."

"I hope so too." I mumbled to myself and hung up the phone, sighing sharply in defeat.

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A/N: here's the new chapter for all you lovely people to enjoy. thank you for all the kind words so far. who watched the brownlow's last night? nat defiantly deserves the medal. ⚓️💕don't forget to leave a vote if you enjoyed it and comment below what you though. x