Page 122 of Play On

I’m walking to the stadium from the Uber drop-off point on Olympic Boulevard, timing my arrival to coincide with when the Stonebridge United team will take to the pitch for warm-ups.

And I’m about to give Noah the surprise of a lifetime by showing up at his first friendly of the season.

It might be chilly and dark outside—after all, it’s winter in Melbourne—but I feel nothing but a warm rush of emotions surging though me. I’m wearing Noah’s jersey underneath my new Stonebridge United jacket.

HIS JERSEY.

Goosebumps sweep over me. I’m so excited. I can’t believe I’m here. I actually did something I wanted to do, not caring if my parents think less of me for doing so.

I know I’m not in butterfly mode now.

I’m a woman who wants to be there for the man she loves.

And I’ll give Noah the support he has been missing since the day his father passed away when he was sixteen.

The chilly breeze causes my hair to blow back. The large stadium is in front of me, a magnificent sight, all lit up in lights and glowing bright in the night sky. It’s set in Olympic Park,which is east of Melbourne city centre. The Yarra River runs alongside it, and the Melbourne Cricket Ground is on the other side. My heartbeat ticks upwards with each step I take towards the rectangular, modern-style stadium.

I still feel behind on sleep—it was hard to get a good sleep on the aeroplane, and I had to sort out times to text Noah so he wouldn’t be suspicious of my lack of responses to his texts—but now I’m running on pure adrenaline.

And a desire to see Noah play football.

I pass by other football fans, wearing a mix of team shirts, scarves, and hats supporting Stonebridge United and Oakleaf Palace, the team Stonebridge United are facing today in the friendly. I’ve already texted Camden and told him I was on my way. He knows the location of my seat, so when he sees me, he’s going to point Noah in my direction. I’ve also texted Bella, Aimee, Nicholas, and Amelia in a Connectivity Group Chat I created so I can give them updates and send them pictures of Noah on the pitch.

I take an excited breath as I reach the stadium, retrieving my phone from my stadium-approved size-A4 bag. I take a few pictures because the building really is spectacular. I do a few selfies, too, and I love how happy and excited I look. My face has a rosy glow from the cold, and I can see how I’m beaming in each picture.

I make my way to the queue to enter the stadium, pulling up my ticket info on my phone. I listen to the conversations around me and hear people discussing Noah multiple times. What a rush that is! I can’t get enough of hearing how highly they think of him and how important he is to the squad. Pride is already brimming over in me with each word, and I can’t even imagine how I’m going to feel seeing him on the pitch!

My ticket is scanned, my bag is searched, and then I’m inside the stadium. I get a programme, of course, but I won’t bother toget anything to eat and drink until after I see Noah warm up. I can’t miss a minute of that. That’s why I made a point to get here as soon as the stadium opened for fans.

I wind my way through the concourse, trying to soak up as much of this incredible atmosphere as I can. As I get closer to the entrance area for my seats, my anticipation for this moment builds. This is about to happen. I’m about to see my boyfriend on the pitch, in person. I’ll be supporting him, cheering for him, and marvelling at watching in person the elite player he has worked so hard to become.

I reach the entrance, and as soon as I step out into the stadium, seeing the green turf all lit up by lights, any fatigue I had goes sailing right out of me.

I feel absolutely electric now.

I keep going down the steps, closer to my pitch-side seat, and I have no regrets about the money I spent for the entire trip. Zero. This is going to be the best thing I have ever done, I know it is.

I reach my seat row—with only a barrier between me and the pitch—and have the urge to pinch myself to make sure this is real.

I notice the people sitting in my row are dressed in Stonebridge United gear, and I smile at them as they rise so I can move into my seat. “Hello,” I say cheerfully.

A man in his fifties smiles at me. “I see you’re wearing the right colours today.”

I grin. “I am a Hawks fan through and through.”

The other man with him—who has a Camden Tremblay scarf draped over his coat—smiles in approval. “Just what we like to hear,” he says with a nod.

I take my seat and start snapping a few more pictures. Then I stand up and take a few selfies with the pitch in the background.I select the best one and send it to the aptly named “MISSION: SAUCY SHORTS DOWN UNDER” chat group:

I am inside!! Moments away from surprising Noah. I am so excited!!!

And it might be eight o’clock in the morning in England, but already responses are coming in:

Amelia: SQUEEEEEEEE THIS IS SO EXCITING I WISH I COULD BE THERE TO SEE HIS FACE!

Nicholas: She really is shouting, BTW.

Bella: I am so so excited for Noah! Camden confirmed he knows you are there right now and will point him in your direction. He just texted me from the dressing room. I wish I could be there to see this!! But I’ve got the Stonebridge United game up on the app, and I’m keeping my eyes peeled for you!!

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