Chapter 31

Alex's POV

Personally, for me, the season was going really well, I was scoring quite a few goals and I felt happy despite not playing as much as I wanted to. To be honest I don't know what else I can do to convince the boss to play me, I'm working hard in training, coming off the bench and making an impact but I never seem to get a starting place in the league. The Euro's are in the summer and I'm 26 now, I should be doing more with my career if I want to leave some form of legacy, which I do. Christian's over and we're discussing both of our careers, his has somewhat come to standstill and I'm really trying to get across the message that he needs to get out of Notts County for the benefit of everyone involved. The manager that signed him has since moved on and it's really not done him any good especially as he had a broken ankle when the new one came in, clearly injuries run in the Oxlade-Chamberlain family. Neither of us can work out what the hell to do with ourselves and careers, normally in times like this we'd call on Dad but even he doesn't  know what to suggest; the thing is in this industry, if nobody wants you you're just stuck there until something changes and if you're not playing it's very difficult for someone to work out whether you're the player that's going to improve them. Not to mention the inconvenience of being in Manchester which is such a ball ache, I miss my family, I miss my friends, I miss London. Mads was also still over, somewhere in the house, probably in the gym absolutely killing herself, she had a really important game this weekend, if she played well she might get in the national team which might make her finally realise that she is talented. I was going to watch because it was in London and I was due to be on international duty at the time which was slightly annoying as Perrie had 2 shows in Manchester - typical. That also meant I was only going to be able to get to one show the entire tour, looks like I wasn't joking when I said I wasn't coming to the tour if Forget You Not wasn't on the setlist. Still I knew Perrie understood and whilst she was disappointed she wasn't going to be angry about it, we both had careers in which our schedules were so tight, as she said, we had an entire life together, my career wasn't even going to last another 10 years. 

Perrie's POV

This tour has genuinely been one of the best ever, I'm having the time of life and don't want it to end even though when it ends it means it's nearly Christmas, my favourite time of the year. Me and the girls were sat talking about our Christmas plans and how we were going to do promo for the Christmas song Leigh had written. I'm really happy for Leigh, it seems like she's finally getting the credit and acknowledgement she deserves. We were about to go on our way to Manchester for which I would usually be beyond excited for but Alex has gone in the opposite direction as it's the international break; don't get me wrong I'm beyond proud of him to come back from such a terrible injury and already be competing at the highest level, it's just a shame it's come at the expense of seeing each other. 

I'd just woken up from a nap, honestly they're so underrated, they make time go quickly, you literally go to sleep in one place and then wake up in another. I'm sat messaging Alex when I really should be getting ready, as should he, he literally has a game in less than half an hour. I've got my laptop ready to watch him play, he's starting which is exciting and I tell him that I need to get ready so I can give the game my full attention. 

I'm dressed and sat getting my hair done whilst watching the game, England are way on top but it's still 0-0. Alex is playing really well and has already had a shot saved. There's something so strange about watching your boyfriend play, I really don't like football, I don't know what's going on but the stress and the want for someone to succeed overrides all of this and creates an emotion that I literally can't describe. It's about 10 minutes in and Alex has just scored, I swear I've never screamed so loudly in my life, there's literally tears in my eyes. I'm so proud of him, I know how much this means to him, and everyone involved. If I needed any extra motivation to give everything today, he's just given it to me. 

Manchester was so loud, they were incredible and I'm on cloud nine whilst on facetime to Alex. I've told him just about every 2 minutes how proud of him I am and he keeps laughing at me before telling me I need to go to sleep so I've actually got the energy to perform tomorrow. Mads has got a game tomorrow and I know he's going to watch like the supportive big brother he is, ideally I'd go too but that won't be happening. 

Alex's POVI've just been slapped as I've attempted to wake my younger sister up, honestly I don't know why I put up with these levels of abuse. It's not my fault she sleeps for England and has to be at the ground for 11. She eventually makes her way downstairs eating a banana and looking slightly more rejuvenated than she did 20 minutes ago; she was determined to make this England squad. 

I've dropped Mads off but kick off isn't until 1pm so I'm meeting Matt and Christian in a cafe and then we'll all go together. Matt's been my best mate since we were 9 and Maddie was 2 so she's never known a life without him, essentially he's her third big brother, as if she needed anymore protecting. We're all sat together, having a catch up that's completely unnecessary because it's been about 2 days since I've seen the pair of them. We then get back in my car and make our way back to the ground where we meet Mum and Dad and Mads is warming up. It's strange, the only time I see a proper smile on her face is on a football pitch or at Christmas. She's the fiercest of competitors though and I often have to remind her to just have fun whilst she's playing, despite the 10 year age gap between me and her and the five year one she had with Christian we never took it easy on her so she learnt to lose from a young age. There was no way I was letting my younger sister beat me at anything but she reaps the benefits now. 

She's just led her team out, captain for the day and glances towards us to make sure we were here on time; the lack of faith she has in our time management is rude. She's in her element, the number 8 on her back, a tribute to Andres Iniesta, her hero. For someone so small she amazes me, she doesn't back out of a single challenge, fights her way through and singlehandedly wins midfield battles. She's having one of the best games I've ever seen her as she forces the keeper into a good save through a long shot. I quickly text Perrie to ask her how she is and look up as Mads plays the ball through the left back and centre back for the right winger to slot into the bottom corner. 20 minutes later and she's still running the show, playing balls either side, over the top and carrying the ball out of defence to force her team forward. I look at Dad, pride beaming out of him as he looks at me and says "see, this is what you're meant to be doing" before laughing,  cheers Dad, I'm trying. She's just picked the ball up on the edge of her own box and she's away, skipping past 2 challenges and looking for someone to pass to but none of her teammates can keep up with her so it looks like she'll have to go on her own. And that she does, she jumps over another challenge before dropping her shoulder to see the last defender off, just the keeper to beat as she slides it past the keeper. She turns and looks at us, a smile on her face at the realisation of what's she's just done. But seemingly, just as her fortunes are starting to turn she goes in for a 50/50 and lets out a scream. Mads isn't one to stay down, none of us are, and she's smacking the ground in pain. I have flashbacks to that night at Anfield and pray that my little sister is okay, I look at the rest of my family, worry etched onto their faces, we all know this isn't good. 

Perrie's POV

 I've just come off stage after soundcheck to 4 missed calls from Alex and 2 from Matt. What the fuck has happened. I ring Alex back and get no reply, please God let him be okay. I ring Matt and wait patiently for someone to pick up. At last, the familiar voice of my boyfriend's best friend can be heard and I fire 700 questions at him. To my relief, Alex is okay but Mads isn't, Matt can't confirm what's wrong but by the worry in his voice and the fact that Mads is in hospital I'm presuming it can't be good. I swear that girl can't catch a break not to mention the fact Alex has game tomorrow. 

After the game, I finally get to talk to Alex, he's worried and scared for Mads, there's dark circles under his eyes. He knows what it's like and he thinks she's got the same injury he had, that kept him out for a year and he had professional treatment, lord knows how long it will take Mads to recover, mentally as well as physically. 

I talk to Alex until 3 in the morning, he wasn't going to sleep and nor was I until I knew he was somewhat calmer. He's coming to the show in two nights and I couldn't be more excited but I do need some sleep so that I can put on a good show for him. I know there's four of us on stage but I like to think that he's only watching me; not because I'm jealous or anything but when I'm watching his games I only tend to watch him. I finally drift off to sleep thinking about him.

A/N I'm not sure what I think about this chapter but hey I updated again. also I hope you're all doing okay despite this weird time and can we please talk about yesterdays insta stories, the way Pez pulled his ear, I swear I nearly peed myself

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