The Only Exception | W2S

NINE.

A drink sounds like a great idea, and so I order my usual, greeting the girls with it in my hand.

"This is my fifth charity match and I still get so nervous," Talia admits, as we all fit into the lift together.

"This is our first, and we can confirm full of nerves," Hattie answers for the both of us.

"Charity match veteran here, and can confirm it doesn't quite go away," Freya laughs, sipping from her drink. "You just gotta drink through it."

"I have absolutely no problem doing just that," I answer, and as soon as the lift comes to a stop and the doors open, the noise is booming.

We step out, greeted by the fresh air, and the atmosphere is palpable. Despite the match not starting for a little while, there are practically no free seats. Nearly everyone come to watch is here already, and they're all here to see our friends play football. The whole thing is madness.

"I love being pitch side. So much better than being in the box," Talia sighs contentedly, looking around and getting her phone out.

"Wish they had a bar down here though," Freya counters, eagerly sipping from her drink.

"Maybe you should slow down until the night out tonight," I smile, because it's going to be a long day for all of us.

"Yeah, don't repeat twenty seventeen," Talia smirks, which causes Freya to blush slightly.

"Sorry - what happened in twenty seventeen?" Hattie asks, seeming interested.

"It was my first charity match - Simon invited me even though we weren't quite official, but anyway, it was my second time meeting Freya, and she was drinking throughout the entire match, and ended up passing out at halftime. Missed the rest of the match," Talia explains, and we're all laughing.

"I was just a little bit of a lightweight back then. I can handle my alcohol better now, and I also won't make that mistake again," Freya assures us, finishing her drink and putting it on an empty tray. "Anyway, enough about me. Look, they're starting."

The ceremony was great, and the crowd was absolutely electric. Soon enough, the boys were filtering out onto the pitch, and the screams were insanely loud.

"I'm starting to think I should've brought ear defenders for this," Hattie yells, only just heard over the shouting.

"Me too, this is fucking crazy," I reply, my gaze focused on Tobi, George, Arthur and Harry, as they stood together in a line, waiting for the whistle to blow.

"Here we go!" Talia shouts, as the whistle blows, and everyone starts running around.

I have absolutely zero idea what's going on. Football means absolutely nothing to me, but I cheer every time someone I recognise gets hold of the ball.

"Josh has got it! Wait - he's near the goal! Josh!" Freya screeches, and I try to zone in on Josh, who is absolutely racing towards the goal with the ball.

Everyone beside us is screaming Josh's name, and although I don't quite understand the significance, I join in.

Before I can even grasp what's going on, the stadium erupts. Like, genuinely erupts, and I have to hold my ears briefly because of how loud it is.

"He scored! He fucking scored!" Talia yells, hugging Freya ferociously.

"That's his first goal! And in Wembley, too!" Freya shouts, tears streaming from her face, and I finally understand.

I join in with the hug, as does Hattie, and even Faith comes running towards us, as does Kirsty, and Ellie, and we have a gigantic group hug, with Freya sobbing tears of happiness in the middle.