Chapter 2

Vickie and her friends left Richmond station and made their way hurriedly down Swan Street towards Olympic Park the old home ground of the Storm. It remained in-use on a less regular basis compared to the brand new AAMI Park Stadium right next door. Cars continued to drive through the street keeping traffic at its busiest even when not in peak hour. They got closer to Olympic Park and being able to see through the fence they spotted the Roosters training staff already out on the field setting up the equipment.

'Oh my god, oh my god I can't believe we are actually going to watch the Roosters train like up close and everything,' Brook said.

'They're cute but not as good looking as the Storm boys,' Nat said.

'Yea but still hot especially Justin Carney.' Ani answered grinning from ear to ear.

'Ok, we get your point you're in love with him.' Chris said.

'Of course.' Ani answered. They found the side gate to the ground open with no security guard to watch it and they ducked inside.

'Should we like go sit in our old seats or just wonder around and find the best spot?' Andrew asked.

'Well they might use the whole field so every spot will give us a good viewing,' Nat said Vickie was a little distracted while looking down to the other end of the stadium outside of the away team's dressing room. The always-familiar Murray Coach bus was parked outside its door open but nobody in sight, she was now beginning to wonder if this really was a good idea she knew she was going to have to face him at some point even if they weren't going to speak to each other.

'Coming Vick?' Sally asked she turned back to her friends they were looking at her little confused she quickly pushed her thoughts away and nodded her head with a smile.

'Yup.'

They went past the Western Grandstand and to the field the trainers continued to set up all of the equipment required for the session Vickie immediately recognized Jeff Reynolds the head trainer of the Roosters.

'Jeff!' she called he stopped for a moment looking around for the sound of the voice and upon seeing her she gave a wave back.

'Long time no see Vickie.' He added.

'Yeah, well you know just been busy and all.' She said.

'Are the guys going to come out yet?'

'Yeah they won't be too much longer.' He answered.

'Oh I just got a great idea.' Brook remarked the wide grin spreading across her face the others looked at her slightly puzzled she headed in the direction across the athletics track to where the sheltered tunnel where the players would come from in just a few minutes.

'Brook, what are you doing? We seriously don't want to look like desperate fans.' Sally remarked.

'Well this way they definitely can't avoid us and will have to stop,' Brook answered.

'Oh god.' Chris replied.

'Guys come on I don't want to stand there by myself.'

'I think it's a bit late now.' Nat added nodding behind her Brook quickly whirled around as four players from the under 20s team jogged out bouncing footballs in their hands.

'Hello boys!' She chirped loudly putting on her best brightest smile at them the four players briefly glanced her way giving slight nods in greeting before they then carried onto the field. Vickie shifted uncomfortably she was now really dreading the arrival of the first grade players though she secretly hoped they wouldn't pay any attention to Brook and her loud mouth.

'Oh my!' Sally squealed Vickie looked around to see four of the senior Roosters players Nate Myles, Phil Graham, Daniel Conn and Aidan Guerra head onto the field she let out a breath glad it was only them though she knew it was only time before the one person she didn't want to see would make his appearance.

'It's him!' Ani exclaimed her excitement jumping to another level Vickie glanced sideways spotting Brook wave her arms at Justin Carney he was soon followed by Mitchell Aubusson and Anthony Watts then Jake Friend and they did stop to chat with Brook she was unashamed at her own behaviour around the players, one of the guys must have said something to her about her friends she turned her head and waved at the group to come forwards none of them hesitated for a second quickly going over to join in Vickie hung back though she saw Justin giving her a confused look she knew him pretty well only because he is quite good friends with Todd. Her attention was soon distracted when she saw the next two players Mitchell and Anthony her two mates she had missed talking to for so long it was no surprise they were chatting away and joking with one another. They both looked when hearing the group talking and Vickie could see them both smiling though a bit curious as if they were trying to look for someone else. Sally went over to them she made pointing gestures with her hand Vickie rolled her eyes trust her friends to give it all away.

'Vick!' they both yelled at the same time, and only seconds later she got squashed in a big hug from both of them.

'Ok, ok! As much as I am pleased to see you guys I need to breath!' she yelped struggling to get out it.

'Sorry,' Anthony said he stepped back she laughed.

'So what's news then?' he asked.

'News…hmmm…not much just working is all.' She replied.

'All work and no play now that is never good.' Mitchell added she poked him in the ribs he pretended to double over in pain.

'Drama queen! I didn't even get you that hard,' she said.

'Boys!' Brian Smith's voice yelled he came into view followed by his coaching staff the medical staff and the rest of the trainers.

'Ok we better run but Vick are you doing anything after?' Mitchell asked she burrowed her eyebrows.

'Not that I know off yet why?'

'Just keep it open.' He said with a wink she rolled her eyes they gave her a wave and jogged off to join the others and it was only then she noticed Todd staring in her direction a frown spread across his face she instead turned her attention to her friends as they continued to gush over the players she approached them.

'Guys I think the coach is not going to like us being this close.' She said.

'You have some hot friends Vick,' Chris said.

'Oh them? Ah they are all right I guess I find them more annoying.' Vickie answered she shrugged her shoulders the group crossed over the short fence collapsing into the row of front seats Sally and Andrew had their cameras out taking photos.

'Annoying?' Chris asked.

'Yeah, like typical big brothers you know. I love them to death but they get on my nerves a fair bit too.' She said smiling.

'How'd you meet them?' Nat asked getting interested in the conversation at this Vickie had a quiet chuckle.

'Stupid really,' she replied.

'Come on tell the tale then,' Ani remarked Vickie smirked.

'Oh, so you've stopped drooling over Carney have you?' she said Ani laughed.

'So how'd you know them?' Chris asked again.

'Met them at different times but it was Mini first and yeah pretty stupid. I was still at uni at the time and my friends in Sydney also big footy fans and wanted to go stop by the Roosters afternoon training session. I wasn't that interested really but just tagged along, we got there and hung around watching and stuff nothing really exciting.' She stopped for a moment hearing the loud shouting coming from the field.

'Anyway I went looking around the place and before I knew it I heard somebody running; turned around and barely had time to think about it because the next thing I knew I'd hit the ground.' She said she smirked recalling the memory.

'It was Mini?' Ani asked Vickie nodded she chuckled.

'Of course I knew him but I certainly wasn't expecting him to come barging into me the way he did.' She said.

'The funny thing is I wasn't as embarrassed as him because he landed on me.'

Chris, Natalie and Ani stared at her their eyes wide.

'He landed on you?' Ani shrieked worried Vickie quickly glanced at their others friends they didn't' show they heard a thing, Sally and Andrew kept taking photos Brook chatting away with them at the same time.

'Keep your voice down and yes he did but it wasn't on purpose it was accidental.' Vickie replied.

'Well that is still pretty cool,' Nat said.

'What about Pearce then?' Ani asked.

'That one happened the following year and it was horribly embarrassing for me anyway,' she said.

'Oh now you definitely have to tell this story.' Chris added.

'Ok so after the whole thing with Anthony things were pretty cool he said I could always come and watch the guys train whenever, and of course my friends liked to take advantage of his suggestion every chance they got. One of the times we went the team had a recovery session at Manly beach,' she said seeing her friends smile she knew they were thinking the worst she put her hands up.

'Hey it wasn't like we were spying and they weren't actually swimming.' She said.

'So anyway we went to watch them didn't make ourselves too obvious because we knew if it was obvious other people passing would then come and they'd probably end up with a whole crowd watching them. There was this one guy I didn't recognize and I found it odd because I'd gotten to know all the guys so it was obvious to me if someone new was around. Of course Anthony forgot to mention this to me but it didn't matter.' She replied.

'I was really curious and more so because I had idea who he was; I did hear some rumour going around about Wayne Pearce and his son and that the Roosters were interested but thought nothing of it.' She paused again hearing more shouts and laughter from the field looking around some of the guys were using the tackling bags and laughing into them with such force the guys holding them fell backwards into the turf making more holes.

'Then what happened?' Ani asked.

'He is cute ok I'll admit it though it isn't something I'll mention ever again now especially since I do know him.'

'By then the team had finished and just hung around for a bit so my friends wanted to get even closer, me being so damn distracted kept on staring at him trying to figure out who was the new guy but he caught me out and saw me! I tried not to look like an idiot but missed seeing a stupid pot hole in the sand, stood on it and fell smack on my face.' Vickie answered.

'Oh my god!' her three friends roared with laughter she giggled it was funny now back then not so funny.

'To make it even worse everyone; my friends and the whole team were laughing, and he was the only person to get up and come and help me too.' She said shaking her head.

'He never let me forget it for ages.'

'I bet! I'd be so embarrassed too.' Ani said.

'Still can't believe you can like only be friends with them they are pretty cute and hot,' Chris remarked at this Vickie tried not to choke she coughed hard to cover it up.

'Well when you're around them as much as I was back then it is not such a big deal. Besides I'd rather not date a footy player thing like most girls really not my type.' She answered.