HOWEVER, MICAH still did feel a little pang on game day when he had to sit on the bench and watch the other team members run out onto the field. It wasn’t like he was alone on the bench; there were many others who weren’t selected. But Micah was the only rookie. It wouldn’t have been so bad if Daril had been there with him, but Micah was also honest enough to admit to himself that if he had been selected and Daril hadn’t, he would be on the field without any second thought of rejecting the chance to play in order to sit with his buddy in solidarity.
Hunched in his Dockers gym clothes—trackies and jacket—he still tried to look the part. Even if injury or changeover brought any of the benchers onto the field, he knew he would be pretty far down on the list. He didn’t even have his uniform underneath just in case.
His mobile buzzed in his pocket. A message from Declan.
Just remember the cameras are always watching you. Look like you belong, and you’re happy to be there.
Micah grinned to himself and sat up a little straighter. He felt a bit better knowing Declan was still looking out for him and dispensing advice as he saw fit. He wondered if Dec had seen him from the commentary box, or maybe even as the cameras were setting up. The man was still taking time out of his busy schedule for him, even though he wasn’t—officially—his mentor anymore.
How’s that, boss?
A few seconds later, a response. Much better. Even Simon agrees.
Simon was there? Micah couldn’t imagine he would be that excited, especially seeing it wasn’t a Richmond game. But it did mean he could maybe catch up with them afterwards. And drown his sorrows at being such a shit player that he wasn’t selected for their first game of the season, no matter what anybody else said.
Well, Simon knows all about being Mr Sunshine, Micah wrote.
Hey, that’s my fiancé you’re talking about.
Micah laughed softly to himself. I know. I was at the engagement party, remember?
Start paying attention to the game, and get off your phone before you get in trouble.
Micah stuck his phone back in his pocket. Dec was right. It probably didn’t look too good for the rookie to be ignoring what was happening on the field, especially if he wanted the chance to be on it next week. It was time to be a model member of the team.
The siren sounded, the first ball bounced, and Micah stood and cheered.
THE DOCKERS were resplendent in victory, although Micah felt that he really couldn’t join in as he hadn’t been part of the game. He made sure to find Daril after the victory circle. He was drenched in Gatorade, which was part of the “welcoming ceremony” every player went through after their debut.
“You smell like oranges,” Micah told him.
“I smell like victory!” Daril crowed.
This led to more cheers and backslapping all round. Micah slipped away back to his locker and started collecting his stuff. As he checked the time on his phone he realised he had quite a few missed messages. The usual suspects were all accounted for: Emma, Carl, Jack, his parents and brother and….
Kyle.
Micah’s hand involuntarily shook a little, and he sat down, overcome with how much feeling a name on a screen was causing him. This was the first time in over a month since he had heard from Kyle. At first they had still e-mailed each other constantly, even though they were broken up, but it hurt too much, and Micah went to the drastic measure of unfollowing Kyle’s feed on Facebook so he wouldn’t feel the stab of pain whenever Kyle’s face appeared on his timeline. He suspected Kyle did the same, as they never commented on or even liked each other’s updates again.
But here he was now, texting him.
Hey, hope you’re well. Sorry you didn’t start today. Next week, huh?
Micah’s fingers flew over the screen as he typed his response. That’s what I’m hoping. How are you?
Good! Settling in. Made new friends. Working hard. Sorry I haven’t been in touch.
It’s okay. I know how busy it is.
Yeah, I know you do. Moving’s hard. But it’s been worth it.
Micah wasn’t convinced that he could say the same thing just yet, but maybe Kyle was setting a precedent for him to follow, in which his time in Perth would start improving. Thanks for thinking of me.
Cool. Don’t be a stranger.
You too.
By now the other players were infiltrating the change room, and Micah realised after a while that Kyle had probably stopped texting. He was just about to put his phone away when it buzzed again. He almost lost his grip, he was so excited at the thought of Kyle’s response, but it was just a message from Declan. Want to meet at Gate 3 in 20?
Sure. See you there.
HE FOBBED off after-game drinks. Some of the players seemed pretty impressed he was meeting up with Declan Tyler. A couple of the older guys said to pass on their hellos, as they had played with Dec at the end of his career and the beginning of theirs. Declan Tyler had everyone’s respect, it seemed. Micah hoped one day they would feel the same way about him.
Simon and Dec were already waiting for him. Simon was swinging on a gate, and Dec was telling him he was going to fall off and break something. Some things never changed.
“Oh, hi!” Simon yelled, and the gate slammed shut with him on the other side.
Dec rolled his eyes, and brought Micah in for a hug. “Hey, how are you?”
“Good.” Seeing the two of them in the flesh again made him feel much happier than he had in a while. Almost like the way things had been last year before life and work intervened.
“Oi!” Simon yelled, and rattled the iron gate unhappily. “I think I’m stuck.”
“Of course you are,” Dec murmured.
“A little help, please!”
It took Simon pushing on the gate and Dec and Micah pulling on it from their side to finally release Simon. Instead of walking through like a normal person, Simon jumped on the gate again, and rode it out, whooping.