Chapter 8 - The Team
"Liv?" Abby questioned.
"Yes," Cyrus rudely answered her previous question. She was interrupting.
"No, it's fine." Olivia said interrupting Cyrus, as she made her way to the door. He still had a job to do.
"Liv!" Cyrus called out to her, hoping she wouldn't leave, they hadn't finished talking. "Olivia!" He tried again to no avail.
Before Abby had a chance to say anything else, she watched Cyrus dash past her and out the door, leaving her standing in his office alone.
"Olivia..." Cyrus said, quickly catching up to and stopping her just down the hall from his office.
"It's fine Cy, I'll go home."
"No, just let me speak to Abby and we can carry on."
"I'm tired Cy," she said, looking at her feet as she shuffled about, hands in her pockets, unable to keep still.
"Okay, okay" He said softly moving closer to her, once she was within arms reach he pulled her in against his chest.
"No Cy, not here." She tried to push him away to no avail, her plea falling on deaf ears.
He felt it. The moment her body stopped struggling, she relaxed a little, that's when he noticed. Quiet snivels could faintly be heard, they weren't loud enough for anybody passing by to hear, but he could. Was this all she needed? Just some comfort, he is the closest thing she has had to a parental figure, since her parents passing, perhaps that's what she needed.
He let her get it out. The moment he felt her starting to move again he let her go. She took just a small step backwards from him before looking up again.
"I really am tired Cy."
"I know. Look get some rest, I'll swing by as soon as I can, okay? Then maybe we can finalise what's happening tomorrow, what do you say?"
He watched as she struggled to think about the meaning as his question. Of course she knew what he was saying, she just needed to process it properly and maybe explain the morning she'd had.
Cyrus watched Olivia walk away before turning to walk back towards his office, he knew Abby would have some questions.
"Coach Beene," Abby began, addressing him formally, as soon as Cyrus returned to his office. "I just wanted to talk about our upcoming game."
"What about it?" He asked, sitting behind his desk.
"I think it would be beneficial, to have an extra training session, or team building or something."
Cyrus looked at her puzzled. This was one of the reasons he liked Abby, one of the reasons she was captain. She wasn't afraid to say the things that needed saying, no matter how big or small.
"What's wrong?"
"It's the team, it's not like last season, they aren't gelling. There are rifts in the team, cracks. There are arguments in the locker rooms, players unwilling to work together, somethings changed Cyrus and I don't know what."
"You must have some idea Abby? I don't believe you are completely clueless."
She paused for a few seconds, for the first time she was struggling with what needed to be said. Best to just bite the bullet.
"It's Olivia." She said looking up at Cyrus, as he moved in his chair, straightening up, looking directly at her.
"What about her?" He tried to act as neutral as possible.
His question was met with silence and that only frustrated him more.
"Just tell me Abby." He sighed in frustration, this is exactly what he didn't need. Not right now.
This was hard for her, she likes Olivia, she has a lot of sympathy for her and what she been through. But at the end of the day it was the truth, and she wasn't one to sugarcoat things.
"What about her?" He repeated becoming increasingly annoyed.
"I... well, you see... the thing is,"
"Spit it out Whelan!" Cyrus shouted.
Sighing, she realised she had no choice but to tell him what he needed to hear, "some of the players think that Olivia is getting away with a lot. That's there's some favouritism towards her." She briefly glanced a look over to Cyrus, to see him shaking his head. "Coach, I know that she deserves some slack, but the others, they don't. They don't understand because they don't know. I know that's not an excuse and it's not my place to say anything but they have started picking up on things, that she gets to do, rules that everyone else has to follow."
"Like..."
"Mike," Abby left that hanging in the air.
She knew that Cyrus would understand. Team rules stated that all practices were closed, meaning that the only people that should be there are the players and the coaching staff.
"The players have started to question why she can bring him, amongst other things."
Mumbling the last part, she hoped that Cyrus wouldn't hear. As it turned out, he'd heard her loud and clear.
Cyrus slumped back into the padded recliner. This was going to be a difficult one. Knowing that he had to approach this from an angle that didn't look like he did favour Olivia, he tried to think. Conscious of Abby standing in front of him, he tried to remain calm about the whole situation.
"Abby is there anything else going on? Besides this?"
Cyrus wanted to know if this was the main issue the team has, or if there were smaller issues that could be resolved first, allowing him some more time to think it over. He was hoping to convince Olivia to stay and her hearing about this would destroy that hope in a second.
"Coach Beene..."
"Abby please just tell me. This needs to be sorted, either way."
There was a hesitation, Abby seemed to be thinking about something. If only Cyrus knew what was going through her mind.
"I just, I don't want to lose Liv."
"Nor do I..." Cyrus sighed.
"Not just because of the team or for the team. She isn't letting anyone help, not anymore, Michael is becoming more dependent on her if anything."
The conversation about issues within the team was soon forgotten as Abby sat herself down in one of the plush chairs facing Cyrus.
"You... We won't lose her." Cyrus began.
"You don't know that, you can't know that. We don't know anymore with what's going on inside Liv's mind than she does at the moment."
"She is sorry. Truly."
"I don't believe it." Fitz replied dismissively.
"She really is Fitz."
Fitz was still waiting in the clubhouse, Michael had fallen asleep in his lap, cuddled into his body. His head and messy curls were resting against his chest.
"If that's true, why isn't she telling me?" Fitz questioned his father.
"She's tried to call you Fitzgerald, but you're refusing to take her calls."
"Can you blame me!" Fitz said angrily but simmered quickly, conscious of Michael. "The one person I introduce to her and... and she does that. I'm sorry Dad but at the moment, I don't accept her apology."
"Fitz..."
He could hear his father sighing in defeat on the other end.
"What would you say to me meeting her, Olivia?"
"I don't know Dad. Now isn't really a good time."
"Please Fitz, give me a chance."
Fitz released a breath, not knowing what to say. Did his dad deserve the silent treatment he was currently giving his mother? Probably not but, it wasn't as simple as that. He doubted Olivia would want to meet his other parent, considering how the first meeting went.
Sighing again, he made his mind up, "I'll ask her dad but there's no guarantees."
Once Olivia left Cyrus's office she went straight back to the locker room, her aim was to be in and out before training finished - that way she'd be able to avoid her teammates.
She had changed out of her kit and was just putting her hoodie back on when she heard a commotion. Too late.
"Hey Liv." Abby said sitting down in her wooden cubicle next to Olivia. "Are you okay?"
"Yeah, I will be." Olivia looked over at her and attempted a smile.
"Look, I'm here if you need anything."
"Thanks Abbs."
As she continued to stuff her things into her bag, the whispers in the locker room were becoming harder to ignore. It wasn't all the players but the small group weren't exactly quiet.
Abby could see that the not so subtle whispering was getting to Olivia. "Just ignore Liv," she leaned over to her, "they're just being petty."
In response she just nodded her head, it was the only thing she thought she could do. She wasn't going to give them the satisfaction of seeing her cry.
She zipped her bag up and swung it over her shoulder before saying a brief goodbye to Abby and making a quick exit.
After Olivia left, the select group decide to vocalise they're opinions for everyone to hear and that's when Abby lost it.
"You know what!" Abby bellowed still facing her locker. "You all need to grow up!" She shouted turning to face the centre of the room, now she had their attention. "All of you! We're a team, this isn't how a team behaves."
"Well maybe you should get the whole team here to talk to then." One of the other players said matter of fact.
"Huh. So you think this is Liv's fault?" She asked, turning to look at the players lining the edge of the room. "Not a single one of you have any clue what she's going through. Did any of you stop to think about why she brings her little brother with her?"
"Because she the favourite," one of the players muttered but Abby heard.
"No! Your so wrong! Jesus! She's the youngest player on this team but one of the most mature., by far."
"You say we're a team, if that's true why don't we know what's going on."
"Yeah, by sounds of it you must know. So enlighten us captain." The goalkeeper spat.
"You know, it's not for me to tell. She's 20 years old, have a think, which of you would have dragged your 5 year old brother everywhere you went at that age." She looked around again at all of them. "What I can say is this, if any of you," she pointed at the players who'd interrupted or made remarks, "and I do mean any of you, have another dig at her, I'll be the last of your problems. I hope we're all clear about this." Without giving them a chance to answer Abby turned to grab her things and left.
2 weeks later
"Wee! Ahh! Again, again! Again Jelly!" Michael giggle as a flew through the air on the swing.
"Hold on tight." Gerry said pulling the swing backwards.
Olivia sat and watched the pair of them playing at the park, as she dialled Fitz's number.
"Hey, Livvie..." Fitz answered out of breath.
"Sorry, are you busy? I'll call back, sorry."
Before she had a chance to do anything she heard Fitz's voice again.
"Livvie. Not, interrupting. I'm out running, it's ok."
When Olivia didn't respond, he checked to see if she'd already gone.
"Olivia? You there?"
"Yeah, I'm still here."
"Good. How are you? How's Mikey?" He asked finding a bench to rest on.
"I'm good, we're both good. We're actually at the park right now, with you're dad."
"How's that going, is he..."
"Fitz Mikey adores your dad. He's been so good with him." She cut him off.
"And you?"
"No complaints here. I like him Fitz, but that's not why I called. I wanted to ask you something."
"Okay, ask away." He smiled into the phone.
"I know it's only been a couple of weeks and we talk all the time. I mean you're probably busy, but Mikey has been asking for you. More like when he can come see you, in your new home. I tried to talk him round but he's adamant that you promised. Like I said I tried to talk him round."
Fitz sat and listened to her rambling, thinking it was the most adorable thing. In honesty he'd been wanting to ask them both to visit him but didn't want to seem too clingy and desperate. After all, like Olivia had said, it had only been a couple of weeks.
"Well, when does he want to come? What about this week? I'm pretty much free." Fitz asked, hoping this meant she'd be there soon.
"I don't know Fitz, I'm pretty slammed this week. I can't miss any of the mid-week training and we have a pre-season friendly match on Friday evening. I'll just tell him we'll sort something." She sighed knowing Michael would be disappointed.
"No. I mean, what about if..." He stopped still trying to figure things out in his head.
"Spit it out Fitz." Olivia chuckled into the phone.
"Well what about if, I head your way on Friday. It's a few hours drive back to mine, I know you'll be tired so I'll drive and then drive you both back on Sunday."
"No Fitz, I can't ask that."
"You weren't asking," he smiled as if she could see him. "I'm offering."
"I don't know,"
"Livvie... I'm offering."
"It's just," she began but was cut off. Fitz could hear Michael in the background.
"Libs who's there?" He said pointing up at her phone.
"It's Fitz." She smiled at Michael, briefly looking over his shoulder to see Gerry approaching them both.
"Fitzy!" He squealed in delight. "Jelly! Fitzy is there."
Initially Gerry looked around, thinking that Fitz was here, but when he saw Olivia on the phone he knew what Michael had meant.
"Jelly?" Fitz questioned. When he had introduced them to his dad Michael had barely said a word. "He's talking to him now?"
"I told you, he adores your dad." Olivia replied smiling at the sight of Gerry now holding Michael in front of her.
"Libby, I speak to Fitzy now?" They were interrupted again.
"Yeah ok bud, but only if it's ok with Fitz."
Fitz smiled again, as if they could see him. "Hey Liv, lets keep it a secret. This weekend I mean, I want to surprise him, if that's ok with you."
The week flew by and before Olivia knew it, it was Friday morning and there was a knocking at her door.
Thinking that Fitz was going to be there later, as planned, she made no hurry to answer.
She opened the door distracted, as Michael slid across the floor behind her.
"Hi."
That's when she focussed on who she was opening the door to. Immediately she walked into his arms, holding onto him perhaps a little too tightly, but she didn't care.
"I thought,"
Fitz cut her off, instead capturing her lips with his. He couldn't wait any longer, since they'd made plans for him to come back, he'd been waiting for this.
Breaking away from him, breathlessly, she repeated what she'd started.
"I thought you weren't coming until a little later."
"I wanted to surprise you too." He said smiling down at her. Briefly pecking her lips again.
Wordlessly they walked into the house and stood waiting for Michael, Olivia knew he'd slide past again, he'd been doing it for the past hour, after he'd found out that he would be spending some time with 'Jelly' today.
They heard the soft pitter patter of his feet before he flew past again. In that moment they saw him do a double take, before trying to stop himself.
"Fitzy! Libs! Look Libs Fitzy!" He screamed with delight barrelling towards them.
"Hey bud." Fitz said catching him and lifting him up in one movement.
"Fitzy!" Michael smiled at him, clearly delighted to see him. "Look Libs!"
"Mikey... Your sister said you wanted to visit, so..."
"I love you Libs,' Michael said, interrupting Fitz to reach over to Olivia. He pulled her in close to hug her and Fitz didn't waste any time holding onto her too.
"I love you too Mikey." Olivia replied kissing his forehead.
I was such a sweet and tender moment that Fitz alarmist felt bad for interrupting, but he wanted to tell Michael the plan for their weekend together.
Before he had a chance to speak Michael started again.
"Fitzy..."
"Yeah?"
"Libby is playing tonight. And I get to watch, with my friend Jelly."
Fitz looked down at Olivia, who was now snuggled into his side. He hadn't realised that she'd invited his dad to her game.
"You asked my dad?" He gently asked her.
"Well, Mikey did yesterday. They've become really close Fitz." Olivia looked up at him, trying to figure out how he was feeling.
It didn't take long because in a split second she saw him grinning widely.
He was so happy to hear that, it was all he'd wanted. "I'm glad Liv."
"Fitzy can come too. Libs, I want Fitzy. Please!"
