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Chapter Eighteen
" i think nothings going to be the same again"
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Two days before the final match of the season. Stakes have never been higher... well, lower. Nobody believes in Richmond, especially since one Jamie Tartt is the one Richmond is going to be facing against.
All of the players were currently in the conference room, including all three of the coaches, now that Nate had been promoted and the lovely Tallulla sitting in the front row between Colin and Richard. "Alright, gang. Here's the unskinny bop," Ted began, "Manchester City is coming into our house for the final match, but preparation-wise, we're gonna treat it like it's any other game."
"But it's not just any other game. We could be relegated." Issac's voice spoke up.
"We got relegated when I was at Cardiff. It's my family's team." Colin told the room, "My nana never spoke to me after that. Just left me a box of her shit in the will."
"When you say shit, Colin—" Tallulla began before being cut off by Zorro.
"Yeah, and when clubs go down, teams get broken up."
Sam piped up with a question of his own, "Coach, do they not have relegation in America?"
Ted chuckled, "Oh no, no, no."
"So what happens to all the shit teams at the end of the season?" Issac questioned in a frustrated tone.
"They all just keep playing until they're done with all their fuck-about games and then try not to be shit the next year... which, you know, usually takes a decade for them not to be well, shit." Tallulla explained, earning an impressed look from Lasso. "What, my father was an American."
"Yeah, alright, now Nate..." Ted turned to Nate, making him blow his new and incredibly loud whistle. The team let out a collective groan as some covered their ears at the shrill.
"Not inside, Nate." Ted told him off, "I'm saying, now Coach Nate has a video he wants to show us."
Beard went over and wheeled in a big screen. "Oh, yeah. Sorry." Nate mumbled out. He cleared his throat, helping Beard bring in the screen. "Okay. So I thought you'd all find this motivational. All right." He clicked play.
To Tallulla's surprise, Jamie came on screen. His hair was slicked back in an odd way; he looked very different from the time she had seen him just two weeks prior. She smiled brightly when she saw him, even if she couldn't see him in person, this was good enough for now.
"Clearly no barbers in Manchester." Colin said from beside her, and the rest of the team laughed as Tallulla frowned a bit but nevertheless put a smile back on her face.
"Well, I'd never say a bad word about me old club." His Mancunian accent flowed from the speakers. "Even though I did carry them through every match." Tallulla's smile faltered at his comment; the room was dead silent. "But they're good lads."
Jamie paused for a moment in the video to think, "Apart from Roy Kent. He is a knob."
"Fuck, Jamie." She mumbled, putting her hands over her face as the thing went whooshing over her head. She turned to find Issac standing there with an apologetic look, "Oops, innit?"
"Well said." Roy agreed with him from the other side of the room.
"Sorry, Fitz."
"It's fine." She breathed out, her voice barely above a whisper.
THE NEXT DAY
Tallulla woke up the next day to a knock at the door, still in her pajamas with a spotted dog in one hand, trying to rub the sleep out of her eyes with the other, she opened the door. Jamie Tartt and his now slicked back hair were standing at her door.
"Jamie? What are you doing here?" She yawned out, now very self-conscious over herself in her pj's which included an oversized band shirt and boxers. "I, uh, needed to talk. More importantly, why did you answer the door with just your nightclothes on?"
"Uh, I don't know, come in, I guess."
He walked in, setting down on her island kitchen counter two coffees. "I didn't know what you liked, so... I got you a latte or some shit."
"Thank you, Jamie. What do you want for breakfast?"
"What?" The man asked, surprised the girl was about to make him breakfast.
"What. Do. You. Want. For. Breakfast?" The ginger questioned him again.
"Uhh, I don't know, surprise me, just not scones, yeah?" The girl rolled her eyes at his response but nodded, getting out the supplies to make some pancakes with blueberries.
She placed the dog down on the floor, bending down and making the dog sit before beginning to speak to her gently, "Listen, that's Jamie over there. He's nice, well he's nice to me. You need to be on your best behavior." She told the dog, making Jamie chuckle as he took a seat at one of the stools by the counter. "Right, off you go."
The girl went back to making the pancakes before looking back at Jamie, "So what is it you need to talk about, my person?"
Jamie sighed, "Ted Lasso is trying to play fucking mind games with me."
"Is this about the interview you did, or the one that he did? 'Cause it kinda seemed to me like you were the one acting like a prick and he was the one being nice to you." Tallulla spoke out, giving him an unimpressed look.
"You saw that?"
"The whole Richmond team saw it; well, we saw some of it. Issac threw a chair at the telly." Tallulla explained before Jamie continued.
"Well Lasso keeps saying nice shit about me, he's trying to get in me head."
"Jamie, Ted has nothing bad to say about anyone. Do you ever think he just likes you?" Tallulla questioned, mixing the batter and the blueberries together.
Jamie scoffed, "If you think that, you're just as full of shit as he is."
Tallulla narrowed her eyes, "You want to say that again, bitch boy, let's see where this batter ends up if you keep talkin' like that." Her Irish accent flared up as her anger did.
"Sorry." He mumbled out, "I still want pancakes, please."
"Good." Tallulla looked back at Jamie, who was looking down at the floor. She sighed and placed the bowl of batter down on the counter. "Jamie, you need to realize that not everyone in your life is out to get you."
He didn't say anything; she leaned over and gently took his hand in hers, "Jamie, am I out to get you?"
"No." He whispered, "You never are."
"Exactly, so just keep the notion in your head that Ted Lasso might just be being friendly to you, Jamie, or who knows, he might be trying to help you, Jamie." She smirked at him.
He rolled his eyes at the girl but smiled nonetheless. "You know you never told me her name," he gestured down to the dog who was patiently waiting for the man to pet her.
"Oh, it's Kitty." She smiled, and she took out a pan and began to dollop out pancakes. After a minute, she got some bacon out for the man as well and began to fry it.
"But that doesn't make any sense," he gave the girl a confused look before bending down to pet the dog.
Tallulla rolled her eyes this time, "That's the point, isn't it?" She plated the bacon and the blueberry pancakes as well as got out some syrup and butter for breakfast. "I hope you like it; it's been a while I've used this kitchen."
"You don't make yourself meals and shit in here?"
"Well, I usually skip breakfast..." She trailed off, looking down at her own plate of pancakes.
He watched her look down, "You know you shouldn't skip meals; it's not good for you." He began to eat his own, pouring syrup all over the stack of pancakes. "Do you want to talk about anything? Usually I'm the only one who talks..." He trailed off.
She began to slowly cut into her pancakes, "Well, I don't know lately I've been feeling..." She trailed off as she put her fork down, "Do you ever just feel like life's kinda just passed you by?"
Though here in this moment with Jamie, she didn't feel numb. She felt happy to be eating breakfast with him in her kitchen. She was ecstatic that Jamie had still wanted to go to her for advice even if she hadn't been there for months because of the season. She felt like all her emotions were back and brighter than ever. But she wondered if they would truly last when he went away again.
Jamie searched his head for possible ways to cure the sickness of numb she was feeling, "Have you ever thought of taking a break from the club?"
Tallulla chuckled hollowly, "I don't think I could do that Jamie; they're my family..."
"Well, it wouldn't be permanent, would it?" Jamie rolled his eyes, "I'm saying take the break after the season to let yourself be yourself. Then you come back, you know if you want to." He explained.
"Yeah, maybe." She waved off the plan.
There was silence before Jamie spoke again, "I just want you to be happy."
Another silence followed as Tallulla stopped cutting into her pancakes, freezing. She took a big gulp of air, "Seems like a lot of people just want me to be happy nowadays. I thought I was happy, but I guess not." She twisted a ring around her finger nervously.
Jamie put his hand over hers to stop the nervous tick, "Ulla, I think you need a break."
"I think you're right, Jamie."
GAME DAY
The locker room was filled with anxious energy. Tallulla was nervously turning the ring on her finger round and round; this time, there was no Jamie Tartt to stop it. Tallulla needed to speak with Rebecca. She couldn't now, though; she was going to have to wait till after the match.
There was a low rumble coming from all the players in the room, nervous chatter all about. Ted walked into the room, scanning over all the players before walking over to Nate and Beard to say something to them. He then turned back towards the rest of the players.
"All right, now, fellas. Hey, let's focus up, huh? So, I've been hearing this phrase y'all got over here that I ain't too crazy about. 'It's the hope that kills you.' Y'all know that? I disagree, you know? I think it's the lack of hope that comes and gets you. See, I believe in hope. I believe in belief. Now, where I'm from, we got a saying too, yeah? A question, actually. Do you believe in miracles?"
The question hung in the air. Yes, Tallulla thought. She believed.
"Now, I don't need y'all to answer that question for me... but I do want you to answer that question for yourselves. Right now. Do you believe in miracles? And if you do... then I want y'all to circle up with me right now. Come on. Let's go."
The locker room cheered; everyone piled into a circle and placed their hands in. "All right Captain, let them know."
Issac spoke up, Tallulla's eyes met Roy's for a second giving him a knowing look. "Richmond on twelve."
"One."
This was it, the final match of the season.
"Two."
There was nothing else after this.
"Three."
Tallulla would go home either way.
"Four."
But what home would she go to?
"Five."
What should she do?
"Six."
She was lost.
"Seven."
Lost in her own mind.
"Nine."
Maybe Jamie and Ted were right.
"Ten."
Needed to go on her own journey.
"Eleven."
Then let's fucking go.
"Twelve!"
"Richmond!"
Among the many subplots, the return of Jamie Tartt, who enjoyed a successful loan period here, but had an infamous on-pitch dustup with Roy Kent, who is not starting today. I really can't remember seeing Roy Kent on the bench for a big match.
Tallulah stood watching Jamie intently by the coach's box. She absentmindedly snapped a quick photo of him lining up the ball. He noticed her lens as he was looking for Roy and gave her a small wave, which the girl returned.
Hendrick takes. Outside for Corwin. Oh, and he puts Tartt through on goal. No, no, no. He has a man open to his left. But he takes it himself! And Zoreaux is there. Nice stop! That's a solid save from Zorro. Yeah, Chris. It's pronounced "Zoreaux". Thirty minutes gone. Richmond with an opportunity here on the counterattack. Obisanya with an inch-perfect through ball. Oh! Winchester was clearly offside.
The game was tense as she hoped for Richmond's sake they could at least score a goal. Tallulah in all honesty had never been this anxious at a match. The crowd was as loud as it had ever been.
A shot from Dixon... Oh! Pushed over the bar. Agony for Dixon, but a corner for Richmond.
They were setting up a corner kick now, Tallulah got a nice shot of Rojas setting up the ball. The players had gotten in a formation Tallulah had never seen before; they were setting up some sort of trick play.
Rojas to take the corner. It's a dummy. Oh, and another one. What is this? Dixon again! No! Hamlin saves with his foot.
Chaos. This game was chaos. Half whistle blew and all the player went to the locker room. Tallulah had felt like the game just started. The score was still nil, nil. No one had yet to score. The locker room was filled with the nervous buzzes of players again. The coaches piled into the corn talking about tactics.
"Hey, somebody check the Crystal Palace Score." Sam asked the room only for Ted to come out of the woodworks shouting.
"Hey, no. No, no, no. Absolutely not. I don't want to hear about any other game going on any other place. Okay? Look, we are not playing for a tie. Ain't nobody here gonna kiss their sister."
Mutters were heard around the room confused about the saying, "Which is an American phrase that I'm now realizing does not exist here, and that's good, 'cause it's creepy, and I hate it myself, I don't know why I said it. I think it's just the adrenaline, the nerves and all that. But we are playing for a win. Win and in. You hear?"
The players nodded before Ted spoke again, "I can't hear your nods. Do you hear me?"
The team let out a resounding, "Yes, Coach."
Ted then started barking out orders, "Okay, good. All right. Roy, you are starting the second half. Go ahead and start warming up. Let's go. Gentlemen, follow me. And here comes Roy Kent."
Isaac handed back over the Captain band to Roy.
"Let's fucking go!" Tallulah shouted, getting all the other players to shout as well.
And here comes Roy Kent. A surprising move from Lasso. Manchester City's speed is causing Richmond problems, and he brings on Roy Kent, who is, to be polite, very slow. City with a real opportunity here. Scharfenberg into the box. Oh, it's a penalty against Richmond.
Tallulah looked worriedly over to where the other team was taking a penalty. "Come on Zoreaux, you can do this."
Zoreaux in position. Hendrick to take. He scores. City finally gets past Zoreaux, and it's 1-0. It's the goal that's been coming. City takes the lead, and the Dogtrack falls silent.
"Fucking hell."
Jamie Tartt with the breakaway. If he scores here, it could be curtains for Richmond. No one can catch him. Go, Roy, go! Hold on. Can you believe it? It's Kent!
Tallulah watched nervously as Roy gained up on Jamie. Pulling a spectacular move, Roy slid between Jamie's legs, making him topple over and lose the ball. She waited for both of them to get up. Jamie did. Roy didn't. "Fuck Roy..."
Once again, the tortoise has stopped the hare. Now this looks serious.
"No Uncle Roy... Don't do this. Get up."
It was a fair tackle on Tartt, but Kent may have paid the price. And they're sending out the physio.
Shouts from the crowd echoed in her ears, "HE'S HERE, HE'S THERE, HE'S EVERY FUCKING WHERE ROY KENT, ROY KENT!" Tallulah couldn't help but think this was the last time she'd be seeing Roy for a while as Sam helped him off the field. Before he made his way to the tunnel, Roy sent a small nod to Tallulah in the distance down the field. Which the girl returned. Shouting with the crowd, "HE'S HERE, HE'S THERE, HE'S EVERY FUCKING WHERE ROY KENT!!!"
Well, we apologize for the fruity language as the crowd serenades Roy Kent with a song that's echoed through the Premier League for more than a decade.
Tallulah couldn't help the tears that flowed down her cheeks at the man's parting. Everything was changing.
Kent has been a fan favorite because he always left everything he had out on the pitch, and he did so tonight.Chris, does this almost feel like a farewell to you? Well, you have to wonder, Arlo. At his age, with that injury... Personally, I'm sorry to say, I think this may be the last time we ever see the great Roy Kent lace up his boots.
Time to say goodbye.
Three minutes of added time is all that's left in Richmond's season. Montlaur runs left. No, Chris. He's definitely hurt. No, no, he's absolutely fine.
Suddenly there were shouts from the players as another play was being called out by the players. "The Lasso special." More chaos.
Manchester City is more worried about yelling at the official than they are about... whatever it is Richmond is doing. Hold on, hold on. Actually, what are they doing? I don't know what's going on here, but it looks like... Is this American football?
Tallulah laughed light-heartedly as the players set up what looked like an American football play.
I've never seen anything like this. Zoreaux: Motion! Get in line! Obisanya goes in motion. If Richmond is trying to confuse Manchester City, you have to say it's working. It's working on me too, Arlo. Is Zoreaux yelling numbers and colors? The Richmond players fan out. City's defense is in chaos. And it's a Hail Mary to Obisanya, who is wide open! Rojas is all alone on the left. Dani's onside. Yeah, he is. Rojas! The Richmond players fan out. City's defense is in chaos. And it's a Hail Mary to Obisanya, who is wide open! Rojas is all alone on the left.
Tallulah watched in absolute awe as Dani was passed the ball and sunk straight into the net. The stadium roared to life as the score went up to one, one. Tallulah herself had never cheered louder than when Dani Rojas had scored that goal. Tallulah luckily had focused back enough to get a photo of Dani and the rest of the team roaring.
The team's celebrating was short-lived though.
Straight from the kickoff, oh, City is back on the attack. There he is again. Ooh, Tartt loses Winchester with ease. It's only him and the goalkeeper. Oh, he makes the extra pass. Hendrick buries it.
Jamie had passed it.
Manchester City wins, and AFC Richmond's time in the Premier League is over.
That was it. The team had lost. It was over now. Nothing could be done. Tallulah had walked back to the locker room with everyone else but then went to her office to try and hide out. She also wanted to go somewhere she could cry in peace and not feel as bad about doing in front of the rest of the team.
When she had finally sat down, wiping a hand over her already red face, she noticed something. A small green army man sat atop a note that read, "Find your path." Signed with a small smiley face with a mustache.
She took a moment to pull herself together before moving out of the office into Ted's and then into the hallway. She didn't know where she was headed but she knew she needed to go there. She paused herself, something deep in her telling her to look over into a window.
That's where she saw Jamie. He didn't look happy about his win. He suddenly looked up at her just as a shoe came flying near his head. She flinched back, a loud angry voice came from inside. "You! Do you really think I would've come all the way down to London to watch my son pass the ball?" The angry man pushed Jamie's face away, "You could've scored the winner. You're better than that, Jamie. Fuck!"
Tallulah's eyes pooled with tears, she sat down next to the door waiting for the man to come out. Soon enough after more shouting, he burst through the door leaving an alone Jamie. She sniffled and ran into the room. That's when she saw Jamie Tartt crying. Never in all of Tallulah's life did she ever think Jamie Tartt would cry. But here before sat a broken man.
Tallulah without saying a single word wrapped her arms around him. She could feel the faint sobs of his cries as she let out some of her own. Jamie then moved his head away from the girl and looked into the stormy ocean eyes he had grown to love. He moved his hands to cup just behind her jawline and moved his head forward. She leaned into the kiss.
But there was something off about it. This one didn't seem as real as she wanted. He was hurting, so she kissed him back. Because that's what you do when someone's hurt. You kiss it to make it feel better. She pulled away after a moment. Completely away. Away from him. Cause she didn't want the first kiss with Jamie to be like this one. She needed it to be real.
"I'll be seeing you Jamie." She moved out of the room, stopping for only a second when she heard Jamie let out a, "Goodbye Ulla."
She continued on the original path she had started on before being sidetracked, and once she had made a familiar turn up a flight of stairs, she knew where she was going. She knocked on the office door to hear the woman call for her to come in.
"Hey Rebecca." She sniffled.
"Tallulah what's wrong?"
"I think I'm quitting."
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End of part one.