The Sexy Rugby Star

Chapter 6

Zoe is collecting me in half an hour to go to the rugby club to watch the game. Not overly excited about it but I promised her I would go. She has been begging me for weeks now, so I gave in and agreed to go with her.  She told me to wear something cute as the weather is really hot today. I decided to wear my long strapless maxi dress with a pair of sandals. I pulled my hair up into a messy bun and put a little makeup on. Grabbing my bag and heading downstairs just as Zoe comes in.

She quickly greets our grandparents and pulls me from the house. She goes on to say that Noah again was asking about me last night when she saw him at Travis place, they are all friends apparently.

“I don’t get why everyone keeps telling me the same thing. Noah asking for me, he will just be making conversation.” I say to her as she parks the car.

“I think he has a crush on you" she tells me.  I burst out laughing.

“You are funny.  I saw him yesterday at the gym, it didn’t seem like he was that interested, he is just being friendly. So, please just drop it" I tell her as I climb out the car.  She shakes her head saying. “watch this space. I’m telling you he has."

We drop the conversation as we head around to get a seat in the stand. Zoe stops to talk to a few people on the way introducing me, I recognise some of them from around town but never really spoke to them.

I spot Alesha sitting with her mum, Sophie and Alice in the stand as we make our way over.

“Callie. How you getting on working for Gary?" Alice asks as we sit in front of them.

“Its really good. Going to be meeting clients next week" I tell her.

“Oh. I’ll make sure the paperwork is ready for you then.” She winks at me.  Just as the small crowd starting clapping and cheering as the teams come out onto the pitch.

“is that Noah?” I whisper to Zoe as I spot him running out behind an older version of him, his dad.

“Yeah. His dad Stuart is coach and his little brother, Liam plays on the team as well. Xander, Alesha’s brother, is over there and Zack and Travis are there" she points out each of them as she talks.  I nod my head as I get butterflies watching Noah throwing the ball. Every time he moves his muscle flex and it’s the sexiest thing I’ve ever seen.

He’s way out of my league though. There is a few girls here all cheering for him, so he clearly has a fan base and won’t be interested in me. They are all skinner than me and way prettier. I don’t even know why I’m thinking about it, I need to concentrate on my career if I’m wanting to make a name for myself and get rid of the constant reminder of who my mother is.

At half time I head inside to use the bathroom, just as I was finishing in the cubicle I hear the door open and a bunch of giggling girls.

“did you see the way he ran up the pitch, oh god he’s so hot" one voice says, wonder who they are talking about.

“Yeah. I prefer his brother Liam though.” Another voice says, so the first was talking about Noah.

“But did you see who is with Zoe. Her slutty cousin Callie. She is so like her mum, its disgusting. She should never have come back here.” The first voice said.  Once they leave I get out of the cubicle and wash my hands. Looking at my reflection in the mirror, my eyes are red from holding back my tears.

This is why I didn’t want to come back. People like those girls who don’t actually know me for me. They only know me as her daughter. It’s been like this all my life and I really don’t think I can cope with it. I’m not a strong person, I’m weak and run away from my problems. It’s what I do.  I don’t do confrontation. I’m a runner, literally.

Heading back out I make my way over to Zoe as I pass the group of girls that were cheering on Noah, pretty sure they were the girls in the bathroom.  They turn to look at me and burst out laughing. I just keep my head down and try ignore them. I speed up my walking and go to join Zoe in the stand again.  She can clearly see something is bothering me.

“God I thought you got lost, you were away for most of the second half" she chuckles. I hadn’t even realised I was away that long.

“Zoe, I’m going to go. I knew it was a bad idea coming.” I say as I gather my bag and jacket and stand getting ready to leave.

“No. Stay. What’s happened?” she pulls my arm to make me sit again.  I just shake my head but don’t take my eyes of the group of girls. “Callie" she says to get my attention as I zoned out.

“I should never have came back home. I should have stayed away.” I whisper as I drop my head. I don’t need these tears to fall, that’s what they girls want.  Zoe wraps an arm around my shoulder to comfort me, but it just makes it worse.

As I sniffle I pull out a tissue from my bag to wipe my tears. Just as the final whistle blows and the crowd erupts in cheers and applause.  I can hear those girls shouting out to Noah. I lift my head and instantly make eye contact with him, he was smiling the most dazzling smile, but it soon dropped. I tear my gaze away as I stand with my bag in hand.

“I’m going to go home ok. I’ll walk or jump in a cab or something.” Of course Zoe brought me, so I have no transport.  I quickly make my way out of the stand and rush out of the club grounds.

It’s not until I’m far enough away I let the tears drop and a sob escapes me. I have to hold onto the wall to keep myself steady. I really do feel like collapsing and not getting back up.

I need to get a grip. Why do I let it bother me? I’ve put up with it for so long, it shouldn’t affect me this way. The last three years at college were bliss. I didn’t need to think about the town gossips one single bit. Nobody knew me when I moved there, and they only found out about me with the information I gave them. Which wasn’t very much.

Tina was the only one who knew the whole story and she never judged me, so why can others not be the same. Painting me with the same brush as my mother for her doing things before I was even old enough to walk or talk. Those girls are ages with me, so they clearly have been told about me by their parents or someone that was here at the time.

I eventually made it home, I walked all the way and now my feet are killing me. My grandparents aren’t home which I’m thankful for. I go straight up to my room and call Tina. She will make me feel better and always knows the right thing to say to me.

After a good hour of talking with Tina, I’m not as upset and I’m not sobbing anymore. I change out of my dress and slip on my training gear. A run might help clear my head. I can only hope.

Just as I’m slipping on my shoes Zoe calls me. I reluctantly answer.

“Callie, did you get home ok?” she asks as I hear loads of cheers and chatter in the background.

“Yeah been home for over an hour. I ended up walking the whole way.” I tell her as I grab my headphones and get ready to leave.

“that’s a hell of a walk. I bet your feet are sore.  We’re all going out to the pub for a few drinks. Please come" she pleads.

“No. I’m just going to stay in tonight. I can’t hang out.” I tell her as I leave the house.

“Why? You need to let your hair down and we’ve still not celebrated you getting a job and moving back home, even though that was a month ago." she pretty much shouts through the phone and I can just imagine her pouting as well.

“Zoe. Please, just drop it. There is no need to celebrate because I’m leaving again. I’m going back. I can’t stay here. It hurts too much" I whisper down the phone, as a tear runs down my cheek.

“Callie. What do you mean you are going back? You can’t. This is your home. Callie. Don’t do anything, I’ll be there in 20 minutes. Stay where you are" she shouts and hangs up not giving me a chance to reply.

I huff and go back inside the house. I make myself a snack as I chill out in the kitchen playing on my phone.  I check out jobs in the area near college, I see a few that I’m qualified for and they are close to the apartment that I was staying in with Tina. Luckily Tina hasn’t found another flatmate so I know I can move back there.

Just as I was finishing writing down the details of the jobs to call on Monday, Zoe barges in the house and I know she’s not alone with the number of footsteps behind her.

“no way. You are not moving away again Callie. We only just got you back.” Zoe says as she sits at the table in front of me. I look up to see Travis, Zack and Alesha all standing around the kitchen.

“I have to. It was a mistake moving back.” I say as I fumble with the notepad in front of me.

“Its only been like what a month or something. You haven’t given it a chance. You’ve just started working, Callie. You can’t just leave. ” Zack says as he comes to sit beside me.

“I know. But today just proved that I can’t do it.” I say as I slump in my seat.

“What happened at the club? You went to the toilet and were away for ages then came back, and I know you had been crying” Zoe asks as she reaches over for my hand.

“The same thing that happens everywhere I go. People talk and I heard everything they said, and they are right with what they said not all of it but most of it.” I say as I look up to see her concerned face.

We sit and chat for a while and I tell them what the girls said in the bathroom. To say Zoe was angry would be a slight understatement. Even Travis was angry, and I’ve only met him a few times. After much persuasion from them all I agreed to go out with them tonight. I really don’t want to go but when you have your two cousins and they’re better halves bullying you to go, I didn’t have much choice. Hell, I suppose I can let my hair down, I deserve to have some fun in my life.