Happy St Patrick's Day ☘️ to anyone who celebrates 🥳
Charlie's POV:
We were on the team walk ahead of the semifinal game against Sweden. I was walking with Leah, when Mum came over and walked on the other side. I turned to look up at her and she grinned. "I have some good news", Mum said, looking around before smiling down at me. I looked up at her grinning and asked "have you got the papers ?". Mum nodded and I grinned widely, looking between her and Leah. Leah pulled me into her and said "I'm glad to hear it, when are you going to ask her ?". Mum looked over upon hearing Leah's question, because she didn't know either. I grinned and replied "I was thinking after the Sweden game, when me and Ellie come onto the pitch". Mum and Leah both nodded agreeing with me and we continued our walk.
After the walk, I grabbed my backpack from the room and Mum pulled me back before we both left the room, and handed me an envelope. I smiled widely and put them into my bag. Mum tried to peer into the bag, to spot who's jersey I had in the bag. "Go away", I pulled the bag close to my guest. Mum chuckled and picked me up. "Put me down", I screeched, which Mum ignored and carried me down to reception where the team were waiting to get on the bus. Keira looked over at us as we approached and Ellie squirmed in her arms, wanting to join in what we were doing. Mum put me down and picked Ellie up tickling her. Ellie squirmed and screeched to get away from Mum. We made our way out to the bus and Keira took Ellie back from Mum. I decided I'd sit beside Keira this bus ride. When Keira sat down with Ellie in her lap, I hopped onto the seat beside her. Mum huffed and crossed her arms over her chest, frowning down at me. Before Mum could say anything, Keets was right behind her and exclaimed "move it Bronze", gently shoving Mum out of the way. Mum sighed and sat down in the seat behind us. She instantly stood up again when no one was in the aisle and stood beside me. She then grinned and picked me up, causing me to squeal and then sat in my seat, before I could start protesting she sat me on her lap. I leaned back against her chest and looked over to see Keira grinning over at me. "You two are very alike", she said. I gasped and pretended to be horrified and replied "what an insult". Keira chuckled while Mum gently punched my arm, which I followed up with a sad face, pretending that her punch had hurt. Ellie looked over and frowned "no sad Lottie". I nodded and Ellie wriggled in Keira's lap, until she could lean over and gave my arm a hug, cutely wanting me to feel better. I grinned and hugged Ellie back. Mum and Keira smiled down at us, and then we all felt the bus pull away. We were on our way to the game now.
Mum put her headphones on, while I played with Ellie and Keira. Ellie was in a very happy mood, despite the nightmares she'd been having. I looked over at Keira and said "what are we gonna do for Ellie's birthday ?". Upon hearing her name, Ellie turned to look up at me and Keira and said "Ellie", pointing at herself. We both chuckled and nodded and Keira replied "yes, you're Ellie", before turning to look at me and replying to my question "I'm not sure yet, I need to talk to mum about it, it's actually on the day of the final". I nodded and then replied "wouldn't it be cool if you guys were in the final and it was Ellie's birthday, that would be a birthday to remember", Keira nodded and said "we'll try our best". I nodded and leaned against Mum again.
We pulled into the stadium, and I pulled the ear defenders out of my bag, making sure Keira didn't see the envelope or the jerseys. I handed them to her and she held onto them, before she had to put them onto Ellie's ears. Mum took her headphones off and once the bus stopped, the team started to get off. I stood up to let Mum up. Mum grabbed 3 masks from one of the staff members. She handed one to me, secured one on Keira's face and put one on hers. Keira put Ellie's ear defenders on and grabbed her bag, and headed off the bus. Mum turned to me and held out her hand for me to take. I grabbed her hand and she gave it a squeeze. We made our way down the stairs and off the bus. Mum waved at some of the fans as we passed, but I kept my head down and followed Keira into the stadium. Once we made it to the changing room, I put my backpack safely under Mum's cubby. I raced over to Leah who was about to make her way outside to the pitch. Mum walked with Keira and Ellie behind us. I looked around for G, to do our new routine of us chasing each other. I don't know how G did it, and then played the game, but she didn't seem to mind. Leah had spotted me looking for her and steered my shoulders around so that I could see G, talking to Alex. I grinned up at Leah, before racing over and jumping onto G's back. G yelped and I slid off her back as she turned around to chase me. I weaved in and out of players on the pitch, while G chased me. I then ran over to Keira who was holding Ellie as they looked around the stands. I knew that G wouldn't pounce on me, while I was next to Ellie. G stopped in front of Keira and grinned. I don't know why she was so happy with herself, she couldn't catch me. But I was so wrong when I felt two arms wrap around my waist and pick me up. I screeched and looked over my shoulder to see Millie holding me and Rach laughing at me. Georgia approached me and began tickling me, knowing my weak spots. The three of them eventually stopped, when we realised we had to go inside to get changed. Millie gave me a piggy back all the way back. I hopped off her back and went over to my backpack. Mum was currently changing her jersey. I whipped out the two jerseys and hid them under my hoodie. I went over to Keira who was entertaining Ellie while she put her jersey on. I kneeled down and said "Ellie, come here", Ellie squealed and raced over to me. I stood up and held out my hand and off we went to change into our jerseys. I made sure to put Ellie's jumper back on and then we went back into the changing room. Ellie ran over to Keira again while I took my backpack from Mum who was holding it out for me. Mum checked her phone and nudged me over to Keira. "Mum is waiting behind the subs bench for these two nutcases", Mum told Keira, and upon hearing me being called a nutcase I gave Mum a punch to her arm. Mum chuckled and held out her hand. I grabbed it and with Keira following behind us we made our way over to the subs bench. I turned to Mum and said "after the match, you have to come get us, Keira can't because I need to get the envelope out", Mum nodded smiling and leaned down and quietly said "she is going to love it". I nodded and then Mum lifted me over the barrier. I leaned over and wrapped my arms around Keira's waist after she had said goodbye to Ellie and whispered "I love you, good luck", Keira squeezed me and pressed a kiss to the top of my head, before she raced off to the warm ups. Mum passed Ellie to Nana and then leaned over to give me a hug "go get a goal Mum", I whispered. Mum nodded and replied "I'll try", before she was off, following after Keira. I turned to my Nana and said "I have some big news to tell you Nana". Nana looked down at me, with Ellie in her arms and asked curiously "what ?". I grinned and replied "after the match I'm asking Keira to adopt me", Nana squealed and a few people around us looked over at us, but I didn't care and Nana replied "oh Charlie she'll be over the moon, now go tell Tracy, she might start crying". I nodded and made my way over to the rest of our families to tell them the news.
