I'm lying on the ground, unable to move. I am still conscious, so that's a good sign isn't it? I have landed on my arm and it hurts. Not as bad as my head though. I just want to close my eyes, and go to sleep, that's when Jake and Sarah come up to me and lift me up, they sling one arm around each of their shoulders, and half carry me down into the rooms. The next thing I know is that I'm in the rooms, lying on a stretcher. I look around and see is Marcus. I sit up and he looks at me concerned.
"W-what happened?" I ask and Marcus looks at the docs. Sarah and Jake nod and walk out of the room.
"Em." He says slowly.
"Do you remember what you were doing?"
"Yeah, I was playing footy." I say and he nods.
"Okay." He says with a sigh of relief.
"How much do you remember?"
"I remember that the ball landed in my hands, and I was going to run, then Christina tackled me... And that's where I can't remember anything else that's happened." I say and Marcus nods. He pulls me into a hug and sighs.
"You're going to be okay." He says. Sarah and Jake come in to do a few tests on me, they keep asking me the same questions over and over again.
"We are not going to let you go back on. But we'll track how you go for the rest of the week." Jake says and I nod.
"Okay, but do we know how severe the concussion is?" I ask and Sarah nods.
"Yes, it's actually a grade 1 concussion. So it's mild." She says and I nod.
"Did I black out?"
"No, you were just out of it. It's normal for you not to remember certain parts." She says and I nod.
"Okay, so I should be fine for next weeks game?" I ask. Jake and Sarah look at each other and I get the hint that I probably won't be playing for a while.
"Look Emilia. Because it is a concussion, we don't want to risk you going out there next week and doing more damage." Sarah says and I nod.
"Okay." I say and Marcus looks at me sadly. Jake and Sarah leave the room and Marcus pulls me in for a hug.
"I'm so sorry Em." He says and I sigh.
"No, I should've listened to you." I say. "I thought that I'd be okay, but Christina just wanted to hurt me."
"She did. And don't worry, Soph spoke to the umpire and they reported her for dangerous conduct. Hopefully she'll get a few weeks off." Marcus says and I nod.
"I just feel like a failure." I say. "I couldn't even play a full game without me getting injured."
"It's okay babe. If it makes you feel better, you can come and stay with me for a few days and I promise, I will not let you out of my sight okay?"
"I'd like that." I say and he smiles.
"I knew you would." He says and I smile.
"My head hurts." I say and Marcus places a kiss on my forehead.
"Is that better?" He asks with a smirk and I nod.
"Mhm hm. I think you need to keep doing that." I say and Marcus smirks as he places kisses all around my face.
"You sure it's making your headache better? Or is it turning you on?" He says and I smile.
"Maybe a bit of both." I say and Marcus laughs.
"I knew it." He says and I smile just as Dunks and Baz come in.
"Hey Em." They say and I smile.
"Hey guys."
"How are you feeling?" Baz asks.
"Like shit." I say and they laugh.
"You're fine babe." Marcus says, then he turns to the boys. "She just has a headache."
"Right. I'm sure Marcus can make it better." Dunks says with a wink and I roll my eyes.
"If she can roll her eyes, she's fine." Baz says and I laugh, then regret it straight away as my head starts pounding.
"Stop making me laugh." I say which makes them laugh even harder. The door opens and Adam Treloar comes in and pulls me into a hug.
"What did the docs say Em?"
"I've got a mild concussion." I say and he nods.
"Ouch." He says and I nod.
"Yep."
"She was laughing before." Dunks says. "I think she's fine."
"I am not fine. My head is pounding cause you made me laugh." I say and Baz smiles.
"At least we're making you laugh." He says and I shrug.
"I guess you're right."
"Hey babe, can you get me some water?" I say and Marcus nods.
"Since when did you call Marcus babe?" Baz asks and I smile.
"You jealous that it's not you huh?" I say and Baz rolls his eyes and shakes his head while Adam and Dunks laugh. Marcus brings me the water and I take a sip.
"Well, the main thing is that it was a low grade concussion." Adam says and I nod.
"Yep and before we know it. I'm gonna be out there again." I say and they all nod.
"Love the positivity." Baz says and I shrug.
"Hey, I've been to hell and back just to get here. So I'm gonna go to hell and back to try and be successful in my AFLW career." I say
"Now I know why Marcus can't stay away from you." Ads says with a smile and I shrug.
"Don't even get me started." I say and everyone laughs.
"Determination is the key." Marcus says with a nod and I smile.
"You got that one right." I say then I sigh. Marcus grabs my hand and gives it a squeeze.
"You're gonna be okay Em." He says and I nod.
"Yeah Em, you're gonna be okay." Dunks says mimicking Marcus and I laugh.
"Again making me laugh." I say and Dunks chuckles.
"I am the class clown." He says and Ads slaps him lightly.
"Stop making the girl laugh. Her head is pounding." Ads says and I smile at him.
"Thanks Ads."
"You're welcome." He says with a wink.
"I'm gonna go back up with the boys. You guys have fun." Ads says and I smile.
"See ya." I say as he gives me a hug.
"You'll get through it." He says and I nod. Then he leaves the room.
"Come, you can probably go and sit on the bench." Marcus says and I sigh.
"Alright." I say reluctantly. I get up and Baz laughs.
"She wants to be with you Bont."
"I know she does. But she also can't stay here." He says and they nod.
"I'll be fine on the bench. I don't have separation anxiety." I say which makes them laugh.
"Are you joking about separation anxiety?" Dunks asks and I shake my head.
"No, I'm not. I'm just stating facts." I say and they all laugh.
"Well, we'll see you at home then Em." Baz says with a wink and I raise an eyebrow.
"Have you moved in with Marcus? So this is official now." I ask and Baz nods.
"Yeah. Dunks moved in as well." Marcus says. And I nod.
"Wow. I thought you'd live with Treloar." I say to Dunks and he shrugs.
"Yeah, I was already with Marcus when Treloar came." He says and I nod.
"Makes sense." I say. "I'll see you boys later." They nod and I walk out of the rooms and to the bench. It's 3/4 time and Burke is delivering the final message. We are leading by 35 points and I know the girls will be looking to extend that lead.
I take a seat on the bench and Claire, one of the other physio's comes up to me and gives me a hug.
"You okay?" She asks and I nod.
"Yeah I'm okay. Just annoyed that I have another setback." I say and she nods.
"I know. But she will definitely get charged with rough conduct, if not suspended for a couple of weeks." Claire says and I nod.
"Yeah hopefully."
"You'll get through it Em. You're a strong girl." She says, squeezing my shoulder as she walks off and I smile.
"Thanks Claire." I say and she smiles. The siren blows, which makes my head pound even harder, but I want to try and stick it out.
The last quarter was a tough one. Geelong was trying to come back, but the girls thankfully, didn't let that happen. We end up smashing them by 42 points and it was a must, needed win for us.
We walk down into the rooms and the girls sing the song. They give me a gatorade shower even though the docs told them not too. I sing the song with them and meet up with Marcus outside the entry of the rooms.
"I see you got a gatorade shower." He says pulling me into a hug.
"Yep, I did." I say and he chuckles.
"Come on, let's go home." He says and my heart skips a beat. He looks at me and sees my expression.
"What?"
"Nothing. It's just that you said let's go home. As if your apartment is our home." I say and he smiles.
"Well, I was going to have this conversation with you at some point. But I don't think now's the right time." He says and I nod.
"Definitely not." I say and he chuckles. Marcus grabs my hand and leads me to his car. I open the passenger side door and get in. The whole way home Marcus had one of his hands on my knee. I adore this man with all my heart.
We finally get to Marcus' apartment and I walk straight into Marcus' room and he follows me.
"I'm having a shower." I say, going to the drawer and taking out a pair of underwear and a bra that I've left here. Then I grab one of Marcus' shirts so I can sleep in it.
"You sure you'll be okay." He says and I nod.
"I promise I'll be fine." I say and he sighs.
"Okay, if you need anything just yell out, I'm going to be sitting on the bed." He says and I nod.
"Okay." I say, then I walk into the bathroom, grabbing a towel on the way. I close the door, but don't lock it, because I know Marcus will ask me why I've locked it. So I don't even bother. I quickly undress and jump in the shower, washing my hair with shampoo and conditioner. Once I'm done, I wrap myself in a towel just as the door opens and Dunks walks in and I thank God that I am covered.
"Holy shit. I am so sorry." Dunks says when he see's me and I laugh.
"It's fine Dunks. I'm covered." I say and he shakes his head.
"Still." He says and I smile.
"Josh." I say and he looks at me.
"It's okay, don't worry about what just happened okay? Marcus won't get mad at you, it was an accident." I say and he nods.
"Alright." He says, then he closes the door.
"Did you need anything in particular." I yell and he opens the door again.
"Yeah, pass me the soap. We ran out of soap in the other bathroom." He says and I nod. I squat down to open the cupboard. I grab the soap out and hand it to Josh.
"Thanks." He says and I smile.
"No worries." I say, just as Marcus walks in and laughs.
"Did he walk in on you?"
"Yep." I say and Marcus smiles.
"Don't even tell me if you were covered or not." He says and I smile.
"I was."
"Okay good."
"What's going on?" Baz says walking in and his eyes widen.
"Holy shit, I feel like I'm not supposed to see this." He says turning his back towards me and I laugh.
"Oh my god, you guys are such babies. I am in a towel. It's fine." I say and Baz turns around.
"You do look cute though." He says with a wink and Marcus looks at him and raises his eyebrow
"Come on, we're all thinking the same thing." Baz says and Marcus shakes his head while I laugh.
"Baz, that's a bit far mate." Dunks says and Baz shrugs.
"You gotta be bold."
"Yeah, be bold with Natalia, not me." I say and Baz smiles.
"I'm out." He says and he walks out. I look up at Marcus who is still shaking his head.
"He's lucky he's my mate, otherwise he would've been kicked out the door." Marcus says and Josh laughs.
"He's a kid, what do you expect?"
"True." Marcus says.
"Don't tell me you're having doubts now." I say and Marcus sighs. I walk up to him and grab his face with one of my hands, the other one I use to hold my towel up.
"You are the ONLY man I will ever love." I say straight into his eyes and he smiles. I then walk back into the bathroom, closing the door. I then put my clothes on and walk out.
"I'm gonna go and check on Baz. You probably scared him." I say to Marcus and he nods.
"And don't worry, we're only gonna talk." I say with a wink and Dunks laughs.
I walk out of the room and knock on Baz's door.
"Hey Baz, it's me." I say opening the door. I open the door to see Baz sitting there on his phone. I close the door behind him and sit down on the bed next to him.
"You okay?" I ask and he sighs.
"I fucked up with Marcus didn't I?"
"No, you didn't." I say and he sighs again.
"He probably despises me now."
"He does not." I say and Baz looks at me.
"I was only saying the truth."
"I know you were. And Marcus was 110% thinking the same thing you were. But as his mate, you need to just hold those thought in." I say and he nods.
"It just slipped out of my mouth."
"I know it did. I can tell you regretted it as soon as it came out of your mouth. But you know what. I think you're cute too." I say and he smiles.
"There we go." I say. "He's back to smiling."
Baz pulls me in for a hug.
"I just miss having a girlfriend. And when I see you and Marcus." He says and I nod.
"I know." I say. "Tell me, how's it going with Natalia?"
"I don't know. She's too complicated." He says and I sigh.
"I'll talk to Alanah and find out what's happening okay?"
"Okay." He says and I smile.
"You gonna come sit on the couch with us?" I say and he shakes his head.
"Nah, I'll give it a miss tonight." He says and I nod.
"Okay, well good night."
"Night." he says and I walk out of his room. I walk into the living room and sit down on the couch next to Marcus.
"Was I too harsh on him?" He asks and I nod
"You were a little harsh. But I get why you were." I say and he nods. "But don't worry, I spoke to him and he's okay now."
"Okay good." Marcus says and I smile, snuggling up to him.
"He's still hurting." Josh says and I nod
"He is. He see's us, and he probably thinks 'why can't that be me again?'" I say and Josh nods
"Exactly, and me with Alanah, you two, Sophia and Daniel, Bianca and Silvagni, our whole friend group has a partner, no wonder he feels the way he does."
"Exactly." I say and Marcus nods
"You're right."
"I'm gonna text Alanah and see what's happening with Baz and Natalia. I want him to be happy. I can't stand seeing him like that." I say and they nod.
I pick my phone up from the coffee table and send Alanah a message. She responds straight away.
"She said Natalia's coming over now..." I say and the boys both look at me
"What? Right now?" Marcus says and I nod
"Yep. She's gonna surprise him."
"Ahhh, so is today the day where they admit their feelings for each other?"
"I think so." I say with a shrug and Dunks smiles
"About time." He says and I nod. I get a text from Natalia and head to the front door and open it.
"Hey Em." She says and I smile
"Hey Natalia." I say
"How are you feeling?"
"Yeah I'm alright." I say and she nods
"Well, I'm glad it's not too serious."
"Yeah same." I say and she sighs
"Where's his room?"
"I'll show ya." I say closing the front door behind me. I walk her to his room and she knocks on the door.
"Come in." Baz says and Natalia opens the door as I mouth "good luck" to her....
***
Ooh damn, a lot happened in this chapter.
Hopefully, everything goes well with Baz and Natalia!
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Next update should be out soon