“I just thought you had your hands full already.” Nolan glanced towards the front of the bus to where Craig had just boarded.
“You don’t know what you’re talking about, arsehole,” I seethed. My hands were clenched. I knew I was dangerously close to pummeling our right-winger. Which wasn’t good. Not so early in the season. And not before such an important match.
I stood up and pushed past Alan. I knew my limits. And Nolan seemed hell bent on pushing me to the brink. “Where are you going?” Alan asked as I stepped over his feet to get down the aisle.
“Away from his shit,” I said, heading down the stairs to the lower level of the coach. I found an empty seat near the support staff. The players typically rode on the upper level of the coach. Down here was usually reserved for Millwood and his staff.
“Everything all right, Bradley?” Mario asked when he saw me.
I put my earbuds back in and turned on my music. I gave him a thumbs up rather than answer. I needed to be in the right headspace today. I had to prepare mentally for the match. I couldn’t think about Morgan. I couldn’t think about Nolan Dubios and his bullshit.
I had to prepare.
I had a game to win.
THE FIRST THINGyou hear when you step onto the pitch is the noise.
It’s deafening.
It’s impossible to ignore.
The crowd could be your best friend.
Or your worst enemy.
The fans loved and hated with equal passion. And when you had their affection, it was a drug unlike any other. Their adoration was consuming.
And right now, for this moment in time, the fans fucking adored me.
My name rolled off their tongues like a mantra.
“Lucas! Lucas! Lucas!”
It fed me. I had an insatiable appetite for everything they gave.
I couldn’t allow myself to think about a day when they no longer loved me. When I wasn’t the man they shouted for.
Today was certain. There was only today. This match.
That was it.
I walked calmly towards the center of the pitch. It wasn’t raining in London. Instead the sun was out and the sky was blue. A perfect day to play some footie.
The ball boy beside me was shaking like a leaf. I could feel his little hand sweating in mine. I gave it a squeeze.
“It’s loud isn’t it?” I asked him.
He looked up at me, eyes wide, and nodded. “It hurts my ears.”
“Only a few more minutes and it will all be over. But think of the great story you can tell your mates at school on Monday,” I reminded him. He grinned up at me and seemed to relax.
“Lucas! Lucas! Lucas!”
My name could be heard above the cacophony of Barnet fans. The Chester fans that had made the trek to London were the die-hard. The dedicated. They loved the hardest. They expected the most from you.
And I would give them exactly what they came for.
I wore the yellow band of captain. I had been surprised when Jack handed it to me in the dressing room.
