'Choices'

By: Victoria Liu-Pearson

© All Rights Reserved

Chapter 1

'…Oh yeah he is like totally fine!'

'Fine doesn't even cut it Ani he is total hotness!'

The loud voices soon broke into a fit giggles, causing Vickie to grow annoyed at them, she wanted to sleep in it was Sunday morning and she had no intensions of getting up early.

'Oh what about Gareth? Now that he is heaps gorgeous!'

Vickie covered her face with the pillow and groaned this was not the sort of discussion she wanted to be hearing from her friends; however their constant giggling and chatter began to annoy her and she pulled the pillow off her head sat up and looked at the time. 9:43am.

'Lovely.' She muttered. Still hearing her friends' voices coming from the lounge she reluctantly got out of bed and padded along the corridor towards the lounge their voices getting louder and louder still giggling over their talk of who was the hottest player they've met.

'Would you guys shut the hell up!' She yelled walking in on them.

'Morning Vick.' They called back.

'Whatever.' She said, her friends Sally, Andrew, Brook, Ani, Michelle, Chris and Natalie are massive NRL fans they enjoyed going to the games every weekend, post-match functions and training sessions whenever time would allow. Brook and Andrew lived up in Sydney and both supported the Tigers, although in Brook's case whenever she was in Melbourne and attended a game she would support every team apart from the Storm. Natalie, Chris, Ani and Sally were all based in Melbourne and loved the Storm having been supporters of the club for several years.

'Ok so how come all of you are here so early on a Sunday morning?' Vickie asked as she sat down on the floor.

'We're just waiting to hear when the Sydney Roosters fly in so we can stalk them,' Brook said this huge cheesy grin on her face Vickie frowned.

'Why?'

'Ani so badly wants to meet Justin Carney she reckons he's way hot,' Chris added.

'Shut up!' Ani said laughing.

'At least I don't go chasing after a married man!' she added in reference to Chris's obsession with Storm's captain Cameron Smith, at this Chris's face immediately blushed from embarrassment she didn't have a god enough come back her friends knew it seeing the guilty look on her face they burst out laughing.

'Hey Vick don't you know the Roosters guys?' Sally asked Vickie stared at her friend a bit shocked while the laughter had quickly died down and the attention went on her and she fiddled with her hands.

'Uh-yeah I do, well sort of but why?' she asked just before Sally could say what she was going to suggest Brook immediately jumped in.

'Oh my god, you know the Roosters! That is amazing! How do you know them? Like did you used to go out with one or something?' she said.

'No.' Vickie replied quickly she got up off the floor.

'I was friends with a couple of them but that's about it.' She answered she could tell from the looks her friends gave her they didn't look convinced although she was partly telling the truth.

'I'll try and see if I can ask them when they get in and if they are training and stuff if you guys want.' She added.

'Oh yes, yes please.'

Vickie left them alone to continue their discussion and as she headed back to her room she wondered how in the heck Sally found out she knew the Roosters. She let out a tired sigh and rubbed her forehead it didn't matter who knew anyway it wasn't as if she left those guys on good terms and that was evident after the Roosters last visit to Melbourne last season.

Flashback

She discretely knocked on the hotel room door her eyes darting to both sides of the corridor hoping nobody would suddenly come out of the room and spot her.

'Come on hurry up.' She muttered giving another knock this time a bit louder. Seconds later she heard footsteps shuffling along the carpet floor and some mumbling before the latch un-hooked and the door opened she held her breath as he stood in front of her water dripping off his head down his chest before disappearing under the towel.

'Vick!' he exclaimed surprised yet very happy to see her, and before she could really digest anything he gave her a hug. She smiled softly and patted his back.

'Hey its nice to see you too.'

'Although I wasn't quite expecting you to be standing in the doorway half naked.' She remarked he laughed blushing slightly.

'Yeah sorry I only just got out of the shower. I definitely wasn't expecting visitors, Mini didn't tell me you'd be coming by.' He replied she rolled her eyes.

'Why am I not surprised?' she said.

'Yeah well you know him. Ok come in seriously you don't need to stand out here all night,'

He moved aside allowing her to walk inside of the room; it was quite a large hotel room with a plush carpet, two-twin single beds, a small bench for the microwave and mini fridge and a little sink, a small round table with a single chair and another bench for the TV. She heard the water running in the bathroom and guessed it was now Anthony's turn to take a shower so she went and sat down on the lone chair in the room and stared out the window seeing the clear night sky pale against the bright lights of Melbourne city below. He stood and stared at her for a few minutes wondering why his teammate had asked her to come, things had been awkward for a while now especially for the three of them.

'So.' He said trying to break the silence Vickie turned away from looking out the window and back at her friend.

'Yeah…. so.' she replied.

'How've you been?' he asked she shrugged.

'Ok I guess just get by I suppose where I can. It's been kind of difficult you know; I really didn't want to leave all of you but in the end I had to, just to get away from that whole environment,' she remarked.

'Did it have anything to do with us?' he asked a slight frown crossing his face she quickly shook her head.

'No, no had absolutely nothing to do with your or Mini.' She said.

'Then who?'

She looked down at the floor for a second everything was still pretty fresh in her mind but she never ever wanted to speak of it again if she could avoid it.

'It's not something I'd rather discuss.' She said at last.

'Ok that's cool.' He said he had a feeling he knew who it was he just wanted to hear it from her first.

'Anyway don't you think you should be getting changed?' she asked he raised his eyebrows a crocked smirk on his face.

'What? I am offended you don't like!' he said in mock protest.

'Whatever!' she laughed back.

'Besides if you don't I may just take a photo and splash it all over twitter and facebook.' She said doing her best to look at him seriously but he still smiled.

'I really doubt anyone would believe you anyway but I'm sure I could help with it.' He added the smirk on his face getting wider as he stood up her eyes widen when she realized just what he was going to do.

'Mitchell Pearce you keep that towel on thank you very much!' she yelled half laughing he pretended to huff and folded his arms though to her relief he did keep the towel where it was still tightly wrapped over his waist.

'Well fine than you are just not fun,' he remarked sulking.

'Aw sweetie don't be all upset.'

She got up and walked over and hugged him and he kissed the top of her head.

'We do miss you loads.' He said she sighed.

'Me too.'

'I think I know who I can hear out there!' Anthony yelled from the bathroom he poked his head around Vickie looked over at him and laughed.

'Ok please tell me you aren't half naked as well I think seeing one of you in this state is enough for me,' she answered Mitchell just laughed seeing the confused look cross Anthony's face.

'Please I'm not that much of a show off!' he said.

Soon the three friends got some food ordered, drinks and spent the time chatting and doing a lot of catching up over the past two years. Vickie hoped like hell they wouldn't want to find out any more information on why exactly she had left her job at the Roosters then left Sydney altogether and moved down to Melbourne.

'Are you expecting someone?' she asked Anthony seeing him check his watch for the fifth time in the past ten minutes.

'No, why?' he asked.

'Well you keep checking your watch.' She answered

Knock! Knock!

She raised her eyebrows at him suspiciously he shrugged his shoulders she had a feeling he was definitely hiding something Mitchell got up and went to answer the door.

'What are you doing here?' he exclaimed they couldn't hear what the other person said but Mitchell was soon shaking his head and his voice dropped to a whisper.

'Look just get out of the way Mitch I said I want to talk to her and I mean it.' The other person said a lot louder this time Vickie froze she'd recognize him from anywhere even in the time she'd been avoiding him since then she never forgot, she stared fearfully at the door hoping Mitchell wasn't going to let him in she had no idea what she would do if she had to face him right now. She glanced sideways at Anthony he looked very stressed about the situation and she wondered if by the way he kept looking at his watch if he had known something like this could possibly happen. Suddenly Mitchell landed on the floor looking very surprised and the door swung further open hitting the wall making her flinch at this Anthony stood up.

'Todd, seriously what the hell are you doing?' he asked.

'That is not any of your business.' He answered back.

'Well it is my business if you're going to come around un-invited.' Anthony replied Todd folded his arms and laughed.

'Un-invited? You're the one that told me you were going to get her to come by and you even suggested that I come.' He said Vickie turned around and stared at Anthony.

'You told him!' she exclaimed.

'I—well-yeah I did.' He said slightly embarrassed she couldn't believe it.

'Why in the hell would you tell him? Him of all people you had to let him know I was coming!' she cried.

'Look I just thought maybe after all that other stuff you guys could talk about it.' He remarked she laughed sarcastically at him.

'Talk? Talk! When he's involved.' She pointed at Todd.

'There is no such thing as talking! The way he ever communicates with anyone is by actions. Bad actions I will add.'

'Hey you don't need to damn well talk about me when I'm standing right here!' Todd yelled back she turned on him.

'Just shut it I don't want to hear from you. Ever. Get that clear in your head.' She snapped she picked up her bag and moved around getting past him without giving him a chance.

'As for you two.' She added looking at Anthony and Mitchell.

'Some friends you are thanks a lot!' She stormed out down the corridor and instead of waiting for the lift she took the stairs.

End

Vickie sat down on her bed holding her mobile in her hand that had been the last time she'd spoken to any of them properly, both Anthony and Mitchell did try to call her several times, left messages apologizing for it but she didn't want to even speak to them. She'd eventually forgiven them over the incident though never told them and its been a year since it happened and now her friends wanted to go and stalk the Roosters. She looked at her phone she knew she wouldn't have the right words to say if she called so instead she began to write a message something short she hoped it didn't come across as her wanting just the information straight out. Before she put her phone down it started beeping indicating the arrival a text she went to open it up seeing it had come from Mitchell.

Vick! Miss ya heaps!

Wen am I goin 2 get 2

See u? :(

We got in 2hrs ago.

d hotel chillin.

FYI Im not naked! Haha!

Going 2 train OP

Frm bout 11:30.

Def cum! Please? ;-)

She couldn't help laughing at his message particularly about the naked bit he would have known that still got on her nerves. She also knew both the senior squad and the Toyota Cup juniors were in so it was likely both would train together at the same time. She got up and went to relay the message to her friends they got even more excited.

'You are coming too right?' Nat asked she hesitated a bit torn over the decision. She definitely wanted to see her friends she had missed talking to them but there was still the issue of Todd; she still didn't want to see him or have anything to do with him, but looking down at the message she'd got she decided it didn't matter he was a separate problem and she wasn't about to let it get in her way.

'Yeah I'll come.' She said at last.

'Cool we'd better leave soon then want to try and arrive at the same time as the team.' Sally replied Vickie went back to get ready and replied to the message.

Glad 2 knw u aren't naked! :-P

Yes I will cum w/my crazy friends.

See u there!