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Ashley’s still sleeping the next morning when I head down to breakfast, so I sneak out as quietly as I can, and arrive in the dining room just as they’re setting out the food. I’m just about to fill my bowl with Cornflakes when my phone buzzes in my pocket. It’s Charlie. I thought she was cutting off all contact with me before the game, since we’re playing against each other tonight. It must be important if she’s broken her own rule.
I open her message to see a picture of a half-finished Snickers bar with the caption Breakfast of champions. I shake my head and text her back We’ll see about that. I can’t believe she’s sledging me already. I consider texting her about the interview last night but really want to tell her how it went in person. And then Charlie replies Sorry. Wrong person.
I text Charlie back What do you mean wrong person?
That text was meant for someone else Have to go No more contact til after the game now
See what I mean? That’s the Charlie I know. She must have meant to text a team-mate and accidentally sent it to me instead. I send her Good luck today and she replies with You too. I mean it - no more texts!
I shove my phone into my pocket and put the bowl back. I’ve changed my mind about breakfast and decide that maybe a big breakfast is exactly what I need since we have two games today. I grab a plate, filling it with bacon, eggs, and two pieces of toast, and pour myself a glass of orange juice.
I’m almost finished eating by the time the first of my team mates arrive. The room quickly fills with chatter and I begin to relax. I get a couple of ribbings about my interview last night, and the back page of the newspaper today which reads Backyard cricketer puts rep teams on notice which is all in good fun. I know Karen was worried about what the rest of the team would think about me being singled out but so far, no-one seems to care.
“You’re practically a local hero,” Ashley says as she shovels cereal into her mouth. She could seriously rival Charlie with her eating habits.
“I’ll be a local zero if I stuff up,” I reply.
“You won’t stuff up,” Brydie says.
I finish my juice. “You don’t know that.”
“Yes I do. You’re Alice Henderson. Maryborough’s best female batter, according to the paper,” Ashley jokes.
“Only female batter,” I correct her. “You sound like Charlie.”
Ashley grins, and ducks her head and then jumps up from the table. “Gotta go. See you on the bus,” she calls as she rushes out of the breakfast room.
“She’s in a hurry,” Shari says as she sits down at the table. “Where’s she off to?”
We all shrug. The talk at the table turns to the new Super League teams and which ones we’d all like to play for. I get nervous thinking about the Super League coaches watching our matches, looking for potential rookies, so I decide to head down to the oval early to hit some balls in the nets by myself. I need to clear my head before our game against Cities this morning.
As I walk through the lobby of the motel, I spy Charlie and Ashley outside, laughing. Ashley hands something to Charlie, and Charlie shoves it into her pocket.
“Busted,” I say, as I burst through the doors. I’m only joking, but the look on Charlie’s face makes me think I’ve caught them doing something wrong.
She looks flustered, which is unusual for her. “What are you doing out here?”
“I could ask you the same thing. What happened to your rule about not fraternising with the enemy?” I joke.
Charlie’s face goes a blotchy red and Ashley looks at the ground. “Ashley was just giving me some interview questions,” Charlie says.
“Interview questions?” I ask.
“Answers,” Charlie says, shaking her head.
“Charlie asked to interview me for her next article,” Ashley explains.
I look at each of them and they’re both looking back at me with weird smiles on their faces.
Charlie steps away. “I should get back to my room. Get my stuff ready for today.”
“But I want to tell you about the podcast,” I reply.
“No fraternising,” Charlie says, turning and hurrying away. “I’ll talk to you after the game.”
“Bye,” Ashley calls after her. Then she turns to me and asks, “Are we going on the bus already? I haven’t packed my kit bag.”
“I’m going down early,” I reply.
“Okay. See you down there then,” Ashley says. She rushes off inside, and I wonder why on earth they’re acting so weird. And why Charlie has broken her rule of not talking to opposition players twice this morning.