Y/ns POV:
It's Friday. The twins 16th birthday. They still have school and training this evening but after their game tomorrow morning we are having a party for them at our house.
I'm downstairs making their favourite breakfast, pancakes with any topping they want.
Noah is always the first one up, he's an early riser like I am.
Noah: "morning mum"
Y/n: "happy birthday!"
He hugs me.
Noah: "thanks, what's for breakfast, I'm starving"
Y/n: "pancakes"
Noah: "get in."
Lucas comes down a few minutes later.
Lucas: "morning."
Y/n: "happy birthday!"
Lucas: "thanks mum"
He kisses my cheek and sits down.
Leah and Isla are the last ones down.
Isla: "happy birthday!!!!!"
She screams and the boys jump.
Leah: "happy birthday boys"
Leah kisses their cheeks whilst they tuck into their breakfast.
Noah: "do we have to go to school?"
Leah: "yes you do."
Noah: "urghhhh"
They all eat and Leah drives them to school. Normally they walk but it's a special day.
Noah's POV:
I get to school, Lucas and I head to our form room. The boys are all there waiting for us.
James: "happy birthday lads!"
Owen: "yeah happy birthday you pair of wankers."
Lucas: "oh what a nice greeting Owen"
Everyone laughs.
I feel a pair of arms snake around my waist.
Amelia: "happy birthday babe"
Noah: "thanks beautiful"
I kiss her softly whilst the lads all make gagging noises.
Noah: "yeah funny"
I hug her tightly.
Noah: "I love you"
Amelia: "I love you too"
I get some notifications on my phone. Mums posted on instagram.
Noah: "Lucas. Mums posted on instagram"
Lucas: "of course she has"
I have a look:
@y/nwilliamson: and just like that our boys are 16🥹 So proud of the men you are becoming. We love you so much🤍
Comments:
@lucybronze: my baby nephews, happy birthday boys. Auntie lucy loves you soooooooo much🫶🏻
@bethmead: how are they 16 already? I remember the day they were born. Happy birthday boys!
@jacobwilliamson: such good looking boys, must get it from their uncle.
@arsenal: happy birthday boys!
Lucas: "Noah"
Noah: "yeah bro?"
Lucas: "Arsenal have commented."
Noah: "fuck off"
Owen: "you play for them, surely that's what they are supposed to do?"
Noah: "we play in their academy, they never comment on shit like this"
Lucas: "that's mad"
Noah: "yeah init."
The school day goes so slow. It's so boring. But today is early out, so we finish at 2 instead of 4. Mum picks us up and takes us home.
Y/n: "get something to eat, then you've got training"
Lucas: "yeah the boys have a surprise for us apparently"
Noah: "oh brilliant."
Lucas: "can't wait"
Lucas and I have something to eat before we head to training. Mama drops us off and stays with us, she still works with Arsenal so she has some things she needs to do.
We are both training well, ready for our game against Chelsea tomorrow. Biggest game of our season.
Mikel Arteta is at training today. (He's been managing the club since we were babies, and he's still here).
He's watching which is a scary thought but I just play my game like I normally would, so does Lucas. I score a few goals in the 5v5 we play at the end of the session.
Arteta is speaking to our coach.
Lucas and I are just chatting to some of the lads before coach walks over and tells us that Arteta wants to speak to us. Mama is with him too. I'm so confused.
We walk over.
Mikel: "Noah, Lucas. Pleasure to meet you both"
We both shake his hand.
Noah: "what's going on?"
Leah: "patience Noah"
Mikel: "I've been watching you both for a few years now. You are both such great talents. So I want to make you an offer. I want you both to sign professional contracts today. I want you both to join the squad on Sunday. I want you to see what a first team day is like"
Noah: "what?"
Lucas: "you serious?"
Mikel: "deadly serious"
Noah: "but what about tomorrow, it's our biggest game of the season"
Mikel: "you are still playing, I'll be there watching."
Lucas: "no pressure then"
Mikel: "no pressure at all, I've watched all your games this season, without you noticing. You play both play with such freedom. Your connection on the pitch is one of the best I've ever seen."
Noah: "wow, thank you, that means a lot"
Mikel: "your mum and sister are on their way to us now. Then we will get your contracts signed, that okay with you both?"
Noah: "yeah great"
Lucas: "thank you."
Mikel: "I'll see you both in a bit"
Mikel walks off and I look at Lucas then at mama.
Mama: "you did it boys! You did it!"
Mama hugs us both tightly. I'm still in shock and I can tell Lucas is too.
A bit later we are sat in the office of London Colney. We have both just signed our contracts. Mum, mama and Isla were all there to watch it. Playing professional football, with my boyhood club. This is insane.
Lucas: "best birthday ever."
Noah: "you can say that again"
We have left the office and we are holding our contracts in our hands.
Lucas and I look at each other in awe. I pull him in for a hug.
Noah: "proud of you bro"
Lucas: "proud of you too bro"
We all go home. Mum and mama have not stopped hugging and kissing us.
Y/n: "your favourite for dinner"
Noah: "spag bol?!"
Mum nods.
Lucas: "get in"
Noah: "can Amelia join?"
Leah: "of course she can"
Noah: "I've not told her yet"
Leah: "she'll be so proud of you Noah"
Noah: "I hope so"
A bit later Amelia comes in.
Amelia: "hi everyone"
Noah: "hi babe"
I kiss her.
Noah: "I have something to tell you."
Amelia: "good or bad?"
Noah: "it's great"
Amelia: "go on"
Noah: "I signed a professional contract today."
She jumps in my arms.
Amelia: "babe I'm so proud of you. I knew you'd do it."
Noah: "that's not all, Mikel wants us to join the lads for the game on Sunday"
Amelia: "that's insane! What a birthday for you."
Noah: "Lucas got the same too"
Amelia: "aw lukeyyyyyy, congrats"
Everyone laughs.
Everyone heads into the kitchen.
Amelia: "I'm so proud of you babe"
Noah: "thanks beautiful, I love you"
Amelia: "I love you"
I kiss her again.
Amelia: "you haven't seen my instagram post have you?"
Noah: "oh god"
I look at my phone.
@ameliasmith: Happy Birthday my love. I'm so proud of you, love you forever🤍💫
Comments:
@lucaswilliamson: you both make me sick
@noahwilliamson: I love you💫
Noah: "you're a softie"
Amelia: "only for you"
We all have dinner, Lucas and I open our presents. Of course they are all football related. New boots, new shin pads. I got some new headphones which I've wanted for gym sessions, Lucas got some new running shoes.
Amelia leaves and Lucas and I get an early night.
The next morning we are both up early for our game. Mama drives us there, mum, isla and Amelia are joining them later.
Leah: "good luck boys, stay calm and focused okay?"
Lucas: "yes boss"
The game starts pretty well, I get a goal early on. We are 2-0 up at half time which is great.
Second half they are all over us. I'm waiting for Lucas to pass the ball to me when he gets tackled really badly. I know it's bad instantly.
He's clutching his knee.
I run over.
Noah: "bro"
He's crying. He's crying hard. The medics run over, they check him over. I'm so angry but I'm more focused on my brother right now. I'm holding his hand with tears in my eyes. The medics whisper ACL. Not his ACL. Please no.
He throws his hands to his face to cover up that he's crying. I look over to mums. Mum is on the verge of crying. Mama is the same. Lucas gets stretchered off.
I talk to him just before.
Noah: "I love you bro, I love you."
Lucas: "I love you. Go win this."
I go back onto the pitch and wipe my tears with my shirt. I see mum and mama rush to his side, mama stays with Isla and Amelia, mum goes with Lucas.
I get my head back into the game. Now I'm winning this for him.
I score 4 more goals in the game. 5 goals, 6-0 win. I'm buzzing but I go straight over to mama.
Noah: "Lucas. Is he okay?"
Leah: "they think it's his ACL."
I look at Amelia, she can see I'm about to cry.
She hugs my side whilst I hug mama.
Leah: "I'm proud of you for that game. I wouldn't have been able to focus after that. Come on, let's go find them."
Mikel: "Noah wait!"
I stop, Amelia waits with me.
Mikel: "call me, let me know how he is"
I just nod and take the paper with his number on. I don't even register that I have Mikel Artetas number in my hand I just run to catch up with mama and Isla.
We get to the hospital. Lucas is in for scans already, mum is in the waiting room.
Leah: "babe"
Mum hugs mama tightly.
Isla hugs her then me.
Y/n: "did you win?"
Noah: "6-0"
Y/n: "I'm so proud of you."
Leah: "how is he?"
Y/n: "distraught"
A few minutes later and the doctor comes in.
Doctor: "it's not good news I'm afraid. He has snapped his ACL."
My heart drops. I just drop to my knees. Amelia hugs me.
The doctor is still talking but I'm not listening. His ACL. His fucking ACL. Someone picks me up. It's mama.
Leah: "he's going to be fine, he will come back from this"
I cry on her shoulder.
We all go to his room. He's having surgery in the morning.
I wait to go in. Amelia is still hugging my side. Mum, mama and Isla go in first. I can't look at him.
Leah: "Noah? He wants to see you."
I just nod. I go in and everyone leaves.
I sit next to him.
Lucas: "you win?"
Noah: "we won, 6-0"
Lucas: "proud of you bro"
Noah: "I'm so sorry. I wish it was me."
Lucas: "no no don't say that, I'd prefer it to be me."
Noah: "we will get you back, mama went through it, you can too. I'll help you every step of the way"
Lucas: "I know, but don't stop your dreams because of me. You keep playing, no matter what okay?"
Noah: "I can't play without you beside me"
Lucas: "you did today, you can tomorrow. You can for all of my recovery. I know you can."
Noah: "I'll do it, for you."
I hug him.
Noah: "I love you bro"
Lucas: "I love you too bro."
Mum and mama come back in. Lucas starts laughing at Isla trying to cheer him up. Amelia is stood behind my chair.
It gets late and mama says I need to go home for tomorrow. I don't want to do tomorrow without Lucas. But he wouldn't want me not to go because of him.