One Hell Of A Life

chapter ten: decision making.

Simon POV:

"Cal, I want her on my team."
"No, she's always been closer to us, she's playing for my team."
"I've known her since she was six."
"She's lived next door to me for three years."
"She's JJ's sister. Therefore, she should play for the same team that JJ does."
"Is Deji an exception?"
"Look, I don't want Alex."
"I don't want fucking Mo, but we all have to take sacrifices, don't we?"
"This is-"

"ENOUGH!" Tobi yelled. Typical peacemaker.
"What?" Freezy turned to him, his face solemn.
"Why is this such a massive decision?" He questioned.
"Because Emmy's a great player and clearly we can't distinguish who's team she's on." I rolled my eyes.
"Then why doesn't Em choose for herself?" Tobi suggested. "She's just across the hall, isn't she? I'll go and get her if you like."

"That's not a bad idea." Freezy agreed.
"So you're down for her to choose me over you?" I smirked.
"We'll see about that, Si." He shot me a death glare.
"BRB, guys." Tobi waved, leaving Freezy's flat.

Em POV:

Right as I tied my shoe laces, my doorbell rang. I huffed as I went to answer it, calling out "Two seconds!" as I rummaged for my keys. Eventually finding them, I shoved it into the lock, turned it once, and opened the door to reveal a concerned looking Tobi.

"What's up, bro?" I asked. "Everything okay?"
"Simon and Freezy are arguing." He told me.
"Over...?"
"You."
"You fucking what?"
"Not in that way, chill." Tobi raised his hands, signalling for me to calm down.
"What do you mean, then?"

"You remember how you said you wanted to play in the charity match a few weeks back?" He started.
"Yeah."
"Well, today's the day that the teams are supposed to be getting sorted. They're due to have the player's names and team that they're playing for up on the website on Wednesday." He continued as I stepped into the hallway.
"So, what does this have to do with those two arguing over me?" I furrowed my eyebrows, confused.

Well, that didn't last for long, did it Emmy?

"O-Oh." I muttered in realisation. "I remember. I didn't say what team I wanted to be on. I told them to figure it out themselves." I bit my lip.
"They want you to come over and make the decision yourself." Tobi said calmly.
"This isn't what I wanted! I wanted for them to be civil about it and choose for me!" I raked my hands through my hair, stressed.

"Emmy, please, come on. It will be fine. Nobody will take it to heart, I'm sure of it." Tobi grabbed my shoulders, making me face him. "You're getting worked up about nothing. This is no pressure. Easy peasy. Walk in the park, right?"
"Right." I nodded uncertainly.
"It's for charity, remember. We're all going to fuck up our hair for this, and help people in the meantime. You didn't donate £2,000 for nothing." Tobi smiled warmly.

He's good at comforting people.

He's one of the only people who can calm me down when I'm in - what I like to call - The Middle Ground. It's when I'm between choosing fight or flight with a panic attack. Only him, JJ, Deji, Mum, Harry, Simon and Freezy can...

Speaking of whom, Tobi had opened the door at this point. The two tall lads snapped their heads towards us, Cal speaking first.
"Yo, Em, you wanna play for All Stars, right?" Then, Simon: "Nah, she doesn't."

I knew that this would easily get out of hand. The two of them are unbelievably competitive. So, quickly, I took control of the situation.

"Look, guys, it's flattering, it really is, but I have places to be, people to meet, videos to film." I began. "See this fifty pence piece? Imma flip it. See which team I'll play for on June 2nd. Simon? Heads or tails?"
"Tails." He answered, chin up.
"And, Cal? Are you happy with heads?" I turned to the slightly taller guy.
"Sure." He ensured through gritted teeth.

"3, 2, 1."

I launched the coin in the air, the light reflecting off its shininess. I caught it with my left palm, and threw it on the back of my right hand.
"Just checking; for Sidemen, it's tails, and for All Stars, it's heads. Am I correct?" I received confident nods of approval.

Careful not to move the coin off balance, I revealed it to myself, Tobi, and more importantly, the two captains.
"Tails." I let out a sigh of relief.
"Fuck you!" Cal yelled. Simon just laughed.
"What did I tell you, bitch?"

"Yo! You two argue over this and tease each other about it then I'm out of the whole thing. I'll happily sit in the box above you all doing commentary." I put my hands on my hips defiantly. "All I have to do is give Brian a text..." I brought out my phone.
"NO! I-I mean, no, it's fine. I won't tease Cal. And he won't be pissed off about it, right, Cal?" Simon elbowed Freezy in the stomach.
"Ouch! And, yeah, sure. I won't be pissed."

"Good. Fantastic. Act like grown men about it, because that's what you are, okay?" I shoved my phone back into my pocket.
"Okay." I received in unison.
"Cool." I smirked. "I'll see you around, then?" I walked towards the door.
"Totally."
"And remember: I hear anything about you two being dicks to each other, then I'm doing commentary and not playing. Make sense?" I checked.
"Uh-huh." Cal gulped.
"Psh, of course." Simon answered a little too confidently.

All I could do was smile.

I was playing in a stadium again. Officially. And nobody could change that decision but me. I was in control for once. And holy shit, did I enjoy it.

-

My phone buzzed on my desk as I scrolled through my emails, desperate to find a company that would give to the charity if I advertised for them.

Mostly for my hair for the match. Everyone was doing something funky and I wanted to join in.

"What's up, Square Head?" I grinned, pressing the green receiver button.
"Hilarious, mate. Anyway, an organiser for the match is asking us what we want on the back of our shirts. Out in mind?" Will began.
"What numbers are taken?"

Eventually, the pair of us were happy with the name on number that we'd decided on for the both of us.
"So, you're having WillNE with number 2. That right?" I recapped.
"Bloody dead on. And you've settled on plain ol' Emilohi with a number 13." Will remembered.
"Snap." I laughed.

"Why thirteen?"
"To fuck with everyone. Plus, it was my number when I used to play a few years back. 'M' is the thirteenth letter of the alphabet, which is why I chose it in the first place."
I explained.
"Eh?" He sounded confused.
"You call me Em, don't you."
"Well, yeah."
"And you know the letter 'M'?"
"Obviously."
"It's pronounced the same as Em, init?"
"You've just blew me head off, man." Will chuckled.

"Are the Gal Gang going?" I asked.
"What, Gee and that?" He double took.
"Yeah. They went last year with me." I added.
"Oh, right. I'll get her to text you or something."
"Cheers, Will."
"Any time, Em."

a/n:

- part 1 of 3 charity match chapters -

so i'm going to try and get as many chapters as i can out before september 4th (when i go back to school) and if i don't update for a while after then it's because i'll have a lot going on with school, training, etc.

also, WE WAITED SIX FUCKING MONTHS TO SEE A DRAW.

no tea but... y'know.

tysm for reading.

lee x