This Is Our Year.

Chapter Nine: The New Boss.

Ben’s POV.

I couldn't believe it was Lindsay in charge! I mean I went to school with her and we got to know each other. You wouldn't think that based on the fact I was older than her. But Linds was so clever. She often came up and sat in our chemistry class and took notes, same with biology and physics. She explained things in a way the teachers didn't so it meant myself and a few of the other younger lads learnt something.

"Yo Ben!" hollered Jaques.

"Yeah?" I replied.

"Can you believe we've got time off, Lindsay sure seems great!" he said as he ran over.

"I know, she's fab, she's got that kind of mind set, she wants us to win as do we, but she knows we need time off," I explained.

"She hasn't even been our manager for a day and I already love her!" interrupted Ashton.

"You love anyone who'll give you a pint!" joked Mako as he joined us. We all laughed. I turned around to see Lindsay looking around the stadium, almost shocked at what she had gained. I didn't blame her. It's a lot to take in. She saw me, flashed a smile, waved and walked towards the exit where her friends were.

I jogged up an down the pitch a few times, passing the ball to Alex as I did so. Just to work on our technique a little. We then formed a circle and played quick pass. Basically, it’s where you throw the ball as fast as you can to a player in the circle. Sometimes we used more than one ball which meant it got more difficult. But it was always good fun. So much so that time passed and the next thing we heard was Mark’s booming voice.

“Ladies and Gentlemen, you may leave now you’ve already stayed for an hour and a half!” he called to us from his box.

“Jesus!” exclaimed David, or Stretts as we called him.

“Yeah time flies when you’re having fun eh?!” I replied.

“Right best get home then, got to look good for the new boss!” said Brad as he walked over.

“Are you trying to pull her?” asked Owen as he followed.

“No mate, just got to look respectable that’s all,” he explained. There was something about Owen’s face that lit up a little when he heard that sentence. Hmmm.

“Ben, are you coming to mine to get ready?” Owen asked me.

“Yeah sure thing mate, I’ll go home have a shower and be round yours in half an hour?” I suggested.

“Fine mate, I’ll see you in a bit,” he said as he jogged out of the stadium. We’d got very close over the past year. Well very close since he was called up to the England team and things. Someone needed to be the fly-half when he wasn’t there and that person was me! I was his protégé as they say. He taught me how to kick, and how to get super stuck into the game, it was the best thing I think Mark ever suggested to us both.

I stood chatting to a few of the guys before I left the stadium and headed to the car park. I grabbed the keys from my bag that I had picked up from the bench just moments earlier, and unlocked my blue Audi. I turned the keys and the engine started, I drove home and pulled into the drive. I shared a house with some of the guys, Nick Auterac, Sam Stanley and Matt Hankin. I could see they were already home as the two cars were already on the drive. I parked behind them and jumped out the car. I approached the front door when it opened with Sam stood there holding two different suits.

“Ben, which one, grey or blue?” he questioned me as I stepped through the door.

“What the hell Sam, do you think he’s am Gok Wan now or something? “ asked Nick as he waltzed down the stairs wearing only a towel.

“Grey,” I replied with a chuckle and ran up the stairs past Nick.

“Cheers Gok!” shouted Nick. I laughed to myself as I reached the bathroom. I dropped my bag and pulled on the lever that let the water jets erupt from the shower head.

I finished in the shower quickly and dried myself. I wrapped a towel around me, picked up my bag and walked across the landing to my room. I placed my bag on my bed and threw on some trackies and a Nike t-shirt. I styled my hair quickly and the proceeded to empty my bag. I left my phone in there but then took my suit out of the wardrobe and carefully placed it into my bag. I took a quick glance in the mirror before I left my room and headed back down the stairs. I shouted to the boys that I would see them at the party, and I left the house. I closed the door behind me and got back into my car.