#best hotels in brisbane

[gunnerfc]

Double Trouble | Kyra Cooney-Cross & Matildas!Reader [Platonic]

Summary: Matildas camp becomes a bit more chaotic now that you and Kyra are reunited after you were out for an extended period of time with an ACL injury 

Warnings: there's like one really dirty joke lol

WC: 2.2K

AN 1: wish I could take credit for the dirty joke but i heard it ages ago from some youtube video 

AN 2: in hopes of helping Arsenal fans distract themselves from the game today…

You thanked your cab driver as he pulled up to the hotel the Matildas would be staying in for the upcoming camp in Brisbane. You, despite playing Australia, were one of the last ones to arrive that day due to misplacing your plane ticket. Despite arriving late to the hotel, the team still sitting in the lobby due to a room error the hotel staff made. 

As you entered the lobby, you immediately spotted your teammates, one in particular. You sped up your walking just as Kyra lifted her head when she heard suitcase wheels rolling across the floor. The midfielder quickly jumped from her seat as you two embraced in a tight hug, squealing loudly together. You could hear a few groans and whispered “oh no’s” from some of the older girls on the team which made you and Kyra laugh. 

You and Kyra had a bit of trouble making a reputation within the national team, always finding yourselves in some sort of trouble. The team had been free for your pranks and jokes for a while as you were out with a harsh ACL injury. Now that you were back, you and Kyra had a lot of time to make up for and you would not be holding back. 

“I’ve missed you so much!” Kyra all but yelled in your ear before you two pulled away from each other. 

“Didn’t have too much without me, I hope,” you joked as you took a seat next to Charli, quickly giving her a side hug.

“Of course not,” Kyra replied with a teasing grin on her face that you knew all too well. You were glad to be back with the national team after your injury but you were even happier to get to spend time with one of your best friends. 

“Okay, guys! They got everything sorted out, here are your room assignments. When I pair you up, you can come get your keys and head to your rooms before dinner,” a staff member spoke loudly to get your attention as they walked toward the group. 

They read off their list, pairing up those who were there and leaving everyone else who wasn't there yet for a later time. The staff member was almost done calling out names, only you, Kyra, Alanna, and Mary were left. You were silent hoping that you would get a room with Kyra, making it easier to plan pranks.

“Y/N, you’ll be rooming with…” the staff member read off, pausing as she saw the hopeful glint in your eye. “Alanna,” she finished as she held out two hotel room keys.

You groaned, throwing your head back when she didn’t say Kyra’s name. Alanna dramatically gasped at your actions, hitting you in the arm as she stood up. You rolled your eyes at her but she could see in your smile you didn’t mean anything mean.

You followed the blonde to the elevator, making small talk about her life in Manchester and the things you did while you were out. When you made it to your room, you claimed the bed near the window and got started on putting your things up. 

“What time did they say dinner was,” you asked as you got your training bag ready for training tomorrow morning.

“If you and Kyra had been listening, you would have heard them say seven thirty,” Alanna playfully scolded, throwing you a pointed look when you mocked her.

Dinner came quicker than you thought and you found yourself sitting at a table with some of the other younger players, all of making jokes instead of eating. You and Kyra took turns telling jokes, trying to see who could make your teammates laugh harder. You eventually won after telling a dirty joke, something you were known for on the team. Even in moments when you should be serious, you had a dirty joke ready to go.

Dinner ended without much excitement other than the jokes told and everyone found themselves back in their rooms, ready to hit the training grounds bright and early. You told Alanna goodnight after you were both in bed, both of you falling asleep pretty quickly. 

You groaned some hours later when the alarms you both set went off, the sun peeking in from the curtain hitting your face, making you squint your eyes as you rolled over to turn your alarm off. You let Alanna sleep for a few minutes longer as you went to the bathroom to get ready, hurrying as fast as possible so you could meet Kyra. 

Alanna groaned as you softly shook her shoulder before she sat up, her hair all over the place. You laughed at her bedhead before she shoved you slightly as she got up to get ready. You yelled out to her that you were going to find Kyra as you passed the bathroom, opening the door and coming face to face with the midfielder you were hoping to see. 

The two of you chatted in the hallway before heading toward the conference room that had been turned into a dining hall for the team. “I dare you to tell Steph a dirty joke while we eat,” Kyra knew you would be able to get a reaction out of the captain, one of your usual victims. 

“Say less,” you smirked as you two entered the room, most of your teammates already sitting down with their food. A joke came to your mind as you got your breakfast, grabbing a glass of milk as well as some water. The milk would be useful later for your joke.

You and Kyra joined her fellow Arsenal teammates as well as Hayley and Macca at a table off to the side. You received a chorus of sighs when you sat down causing you and Kyra to laugh at your teammates. The two of you kept your jokes to a minimum as you ate, Kyra giving you a look every so often as she waited for you to say something inappropriate to Steph.

You took sips of the glass of milk you had, prepping it for the joke you were going to tell the defender. You waited until there was a small sip left and everyone at the table was done eating so you had their full attention. 

You gave Kyra a teasing smirk before turning to face Steph, waiting for her to end her conversation with Caitlin. “Hey Steph,” you laughed lightly when she turned away from Caitlin, her focus now on you.

“Do I even wanna know what you have to say,” the captain sighed, earning a quiet round of laughter from everyone else at the table.

“What did the virgin say to her boyfriend after her first blowjob,” you laughed as you took the last sip of milk, keeping it in your mouth instead of swallowing. 

Steph groaned at your words, already shaking her head as she waited for you to finish the joke. Others at the table mumbled things like “oh my god” or simply started chuckling at the first half of your joke. 

“I love you,” you said as you spit the milk back into the glass in front of you. Steph brought her hands to her head in disbelief at your words. 

Your joke earned you loud laughs from Kyra and Hayley as Caitlin and Macca sat across from you with their jaws dropped. You laughed harder at their faces, using a napkin on the table to wipe your mouth. Kyra lifted her hand for a high five which you gave her as she pointed with her other hand toward Steph who refused to meet your eye. 

You didn’t get the chance to get told off by your captain before a staff member told everyone to get their things and head for the bus. You quickly disposed of your trash before you and Kyra headed to your separate rooms to gather your training gear. You met back up with some of the younger players as you headed for the lobby, retelling the joke you told Steph earning another round of laughter. 

You and Kyra sat together on the bus, much to everyone else's dismay. You two spent the whole bus ride messing with Charli and Mary who were sitting in front of you. You two laughed as Charli turned around in an attempt to hit you, though she missed as you quickly moved away. 

The two players in front of you were grateful when the bus pulled into the stadium, thankful to be away from the double-trouble duo that was you and Kyra.

Everyone was quick to change into their boots and training tops before everyone was headed for the pitch. You were one of the first ones out the door and took the opportunity to hide around a corner to scare some of your teammates. You let a few of the pass before you heard Ellie and Hayley coming through the tunnel, knowing they would be great targets. 

You waited until their voices were close to you, yelling loudly as you jumped around the corner. Ellie’s loud scream alerted everyone else as Hayley started swearing at you as she hit your arm multiple times. You laughed each time she hit you, their reactions to the scare were comical. 

“Camp was so much nicer when you weren’t here, y’know,” the winger huffed as she walked past you, throwing her middle finger up as you laughed harder. 

During training, you and Kyra were kept separate the entire time. Everyone knew if you two had even a second together you could come up with some prank that would get everyone. Each time you even attempted to go in her direction during breaks, someone would pull you back by your shirt. 

The only time you had to be near Kyra was when you were doing scrimmages. You two were more focused on trying to trip each other rather than playing the ball. The team couldn’t be mad at the two of you, knowing how long it had been since you two got to spend time together. Plus, they found it extremely funny each time one of you tripped the other. 

Training went on for a bit longer before Tony decided to call it a day. You and Kyra made your way back to the locker room while trying to wrestle, her arm wrapped around your neck as you tried to keep her other arm pinned to her body. You moved your hand to tickle under her arm, the midfielder quickly pulling away from you as she started laughing. 

Everyone changed quickly before making their way back to the bus, ready to take showers before relaxing a bit before dinner. You and Kyra took your seats, this time everyone made sure to leave the two seats in front of you empty so no one would have to suffer whatever you two came up with. 

The bus was quiet on the way back to the hotel but that didn’t stop you and Kyra from hatching a plan to prank Alanna. It was risky to prank your own roommate but you knew her reaction would be worth it. Everyone took their time exiting the bus and making their way through the lobby, too exhausted to do much. 

Though the same could not be said for you and your best friend, the two of you were bouncing with excitement. You two waited to take the elevator, letting Alanna have enough time to get to the room and start her shower. You giggled as you rode the elevator up to the tenth floor, already picturing how the blonde defender would react to your prank.

Kyra quickly tossed her things into the room she was sharing with Mary before you both entered your hotel room. You were as quiet as you could be as you sat your things down softly as Kyra grabbed the hotel ice bucket. You two rushed down the hallway to where the ice machine was, giggling to yourselves as you filled it up and rushed back to your room.

Kyra propped the door open so you could make your exit quickly as you quietly opened the bathroom door. Steam had fogged up the large mirror and Alanna’s phone was lying on the counter blasting music as she took a shower. Kyra stood at the bathroom door, her phone ready to record. 

You held your laugh in as you stood on your toes to dump the buck of ice into Alanna’s hot shower. The blonde shrieked as the cold ice hit her body and you quickly raced out of the bathroom and into the hall, Kyra laughing as her phone caught Alanna’s loud swearing. You two fell to the floor as you could still hear Alanna’s voice, not-so-kind words escaping her mouth.

You two rushed to Kyra’s room just as Alanna opened the hotel door, clad only in a towel as she dripped water onto the carpeted floor. She quickly looked up and down the hallway expecting to see you and Kyra peeking around the corner. She cursed when she didnt see you, quickly closing the door before someone saw her. 

You and Kyra laughed as the midfielder watched through the peephole. You were glad to be back at camp with the national team but mainly you were happy to spend time with Kyra. The team may suffer when the two of you are together, but they'd be lying if they said the two of you didnt make camp a bit more exciting.

[sunshine-theseus]

El Viaje | Sam Kerr x Reader

Words: 2.3k Summary: Sam’s done her ACL and the journey proves to be tough

“Sam? It’s 12:30 in the morning, what’s wrong?” my voice is groggy and hoarse as I pick up the phone.

Nothing is said in reply but a small shuttering gasp trickles through the speaker. I was very familiar with that sound. The one of Sam trying not to cry. It alarms me, so I scurry to sit up against the hotel headboard and turn on the lamp, as if it will make me concentrate better on the conversation.

“Chicka? What happened? Shouldn’t you be in training?” the Chelsea team had travelled to Morocco for some hot weather training, leaving them only 1 hour ahead of London but 9 hours behind Brisbane, so the timing was odd.

“I-” she chokes on her words and my heart clenches, as if I could feel whatever pain and sadness she was feeling.

“I won’t be going back to training. Not for a while.” my fiancé’s usual candour isn’t anywhere to be seen as she drags out the admission.

“Sam what are you going on about?”

Another one of those almost silent cries escapes her mouth.

“Sam please telling me what the fuck is going on or I’ll call Emma.” I grow even more worried as I flick through all the possibilities of what could have happened in my mind.

“Can we facetime? I want to see your face, it’ll make me feel better.” I’m requesting the facetime call before she can even finish, and it takes no time at all for me to be met with her face.

Her solemn, tear stained, lip quivering face. I nearly start crying just looking at her. I’ve only seen her look so defeated a small number of times, but it never gets easier. I desperately want to magically transport to Morocco and just hold her.

“Oh Sam, please tell me what’s wrong.”

“I did my ACL.” The words don’t process in my head for a moment. She can’t possibly have said what I think she said.

“What?” it’s a whisper of disbelief but her face shows me everything I need to know. I feel sick as I stare into her eyes. Eyes that are usually so full of light and joy, dark and sullen in pain.

“I’m flying to Morocco. Next flight out.”

“No, we leave the day after tomorrow, it’d be a waste.”

“Sam-”

“You’re spending time with Sharn and Tameka, I’ll be okay.” The mention of my best friend and our Matildas teammate nearly makes me want to laugh.

“I’ve been here for 5 days; I went to their game last night, they’ll understand. Sharn’s coming to England in a couple months anyway. Say the word and I’ll fly out, whenever you want.” I can see the fight on her face.

“Please fly home, to England. I need you.” Tears well up in her eyes and I can feel them fighting on my waterline as well.

“Of course chicka.”

-

My flight gets in an hour before the team’s is supposed to. I sit in the secluded hallway I know they’ll eventually make their way down, leg bouncing non-stop and hands sweating. I’ve seen Sam injured, I’ve nursed her back to health, I’ve done everything you can imagine, but an ACL is different. Worse in every way.

Soon I begin to hear the chatter and footsteps often associated with the Chelsea team and rapidly stand up to greet them. Emma is the first one around the corner, closely followed by Jessie and Zećira. Each of them greet me and pass on a sorrowful smile before continuing down the hall.

It takes a little longer for Sam to make her way around, surrounded by Millie, Guro, and Erin; all of them are laughing and smiling at something Erin said. It takes me a few seconds but I’m taking off down the hall to meet the group who don’t notice me until I’m right in front of them. Where I usually would pick Sam up and spin her around, I have to stop myself, the crutches serving as a reminder to why I’m back early.

“Chickadee!” she smiles at me with that beautiful, joyful smile I’m used to, and I can’t help but lean forward and press a kiss to both her cheeks. Eventually she presses her own lips to mine, clearly sick of waiting.

“How’re you feeling?” Sam rolls her eyes, knowing I’m going to start fussing over her, and the girls around us laugh.

“I’m good. Millie’s been nursing me.” The friendly giant blonde grins proudly at us at the comment.

“Good, but now you have an actual nurse to look after you.” I grab Sam’s bag that Erin has a hold of, and the backpack that’s in Guro’s hand.

-

When we get home, I heave both lots of our bags through the house before cautiously trailing behind Sam who makes her way to our bedroom. She drops down onto the bed and I get nervous at the way her leg bounces as it absorbs the shock. I kneel down to start untying her shoes as she peels off her Chelsea travel jacket.

“I can do it you know?” Sam was ever the stubborn individual, and rarely wanted to accept help.

“Let me look after you.” I press a soft kiss to her injured knee before I continue taking off her shoes and socks.

I grab one of her oversized sweaters and shorts for her to slip into then head into our bathroom, running the warm water into the tub. I light some candles and turn off the lights, knowing she prefers the mellow light in times like these, before I hear her making her way on her crutches. It takes a little adjusting but I eventually help her slip into to sudsy water, then leave her to relax as I order some food for dinner.

Not long after I exit the room, I hear a splash and a groan of frustration, and race to see what’s happened. Sam’s body is still deep beneath the surface of the water but there’s a large puddle that slowly disperses at the base of the tub.

“What happened?” I pull my towel off the rack and begin to clean up the mess.

“I tried to get out.” the defeat is clear on Sam’s face, and it helps dampen the flame of anger that bubbled in my chest.

“Sammy-”

“I can’t do that, I know. I just… I don’t want to rely on you for everything.”

“Darl, I know it’s hard, and it will be hard for the next 9 months, but I’m here for you. I want to help you. You’re not alone.” Gently, I run a hand through her drying hair, occasionally massaging her scalp.

I can see the cogs turning in her head as I wait for an answer. The only thing I get is her leaning over and resting her head on my shoulder. It’s not comfortable for either of us but it’s the gesture that matters.

~~~~~

A few days later Sam has to go in for surgery. I have a shift at the hospital, so I drive her in, and take a goofy photo of her before she gets prepped, before I start my rounds. I find it hard, lacking my usual charm and overly-kind demeaner as I visit Carl, a 63 year old Irish man who came to spend a few years in England after retiring from teaching history in Australia, before going home to Ireland. He doesn’t stop talking. I don’t mind though; his stories never disappoint. He came in for a hip surgery but due to some complications he’s had to stay a little longer, and come in for regular stays every few months.

“You’re worried about something.” He likes to study me as I move around.

“Not when I’ve got you, hey Carl?”

“You’re pouring yourself a cup of tea. You don’t like tea. Which is appalling by the way.” I relax my shoulders and take in a deep breath. He knows me too well.

“It’s my fiancé-”

“Sam! Oh how is she!? I love young love.” A warm and reminiscent smile flitters across his face.

“Yes, well, she tore her ACL during training in Morocco. She has surgery today.”

“Bloody hell the poor thing! She’ll be okay love.” Carl pats my arm in reassurance, and I hate to admit I feel much more at peace.

-

Around 4 hours into my shift, I get called to take over a new patient for one of the other nurses who had to leave after their surgery. I walk down the fluorescently lit hallways, my shoes squeaking against the linoleum. Sam should just about be finished surgery too.

I pushed open the dark wood door but come to a stop when I see who’s snoring in the bed. My fiancé, ever so peaceful and beautiful, yet still looking so tired. There are band-aids over different points of her knee, barely propped up with a roll of cloth.

I check her vitals, not yet giving her more pain meds, and take a seat beside her. I take her hand in mine, rubbing my thumb back and forth over the dark vein, and admire her. Despite the hospital attire and the ruffled hair that falls out of her hair-tie, she looks so handsome.

-

I get paged to visit a few other patients before Sam gets the chance to wake up, but by the time I get back, basically the whole Chelsea team is sitting around her room or in the hall.

Jessie’s the one talking Sam when I walk back through the door, vials and food in hand.

“Time for lunch and meds!” I scoot in beside Emma and LJ to have access to her IV after she finishes the food, the girls around us greeting me.

“Chickadee! You’re here.” Sam reaches a hand out for me and puckers her lips but I stand back.

“Nuh uh. Here we’re nurse and patient, not fiancés. Now I need you to eat some food so I can give you your medication.” I can see her desire to fight back on her face, but I know she won’t ignore the orders when I’m actually on the clock.

When she finishes the horrid food, I put clean gloves on and fill the new needle with morphine, then turn back to her. I have to fiddle with the IV for a moment but eventually manage to inject the medicine.

“You might get sleepy; I’ll be back soon to see how you’re doing and adjust the dose if need be, okay? There’s the emergency button if you need me sooner.” I bid her and the team adieu.

~~~~~

I don’t get to take Sam home with me after my shift, instead having to pick her up the next day.

While she’s wheeled out to the car, crutches resting on her lap, I carry her brace and compression bands and whatever else she’s been given. Sam sits across the backseat, making sure to keep her knee elevated, and I make sure to drive as safely as possible.

-

When we get home, we find ourselves in bed, Sam’s head resting on my chest as I play with her hair, Derry Girls playing on the TV.

“I love you so much, thank you for being my nurse.” A kiss is pressed lightly to my collar bone and I smile.

“I’ll always look after you, my beautiful girl.” She looks up at me with those big chocolate brown eyes and I think I fall in love with her all over again.

I lean down and attach my lips to her’s but as we pull away, she turns serious.

“You owe me a lot of kisses for refusing to kiss me in the hospital.”

“Of course darling.” I simply kiss her again. Anything for my beautiful girl.

~~~~~

“You don’t have to baby me Y/N for fuck sake!” so much for ‘thanks for looking after me’.

“I’m not babying you Sam! I’m making sure you don’t push yourself too far!”

“I can lift things without you hovering over me!”

“You were trying to lift boxes that I can barely lift at full health!” she was really getting on my last nerve.

“I just want you to leave me alone for 5 fucking minutes! God I’m so sick of you!” that makes me pause, pain encapsulates my heart and tears floor my waterline.

My mouth opens and closes but nothing comes out. What am I supposed to say to that? So I turn around, picking Helen up on my way, and head to our bedroom. The door slams shut behind me, rattling the walls, the artwork threatening to drop and shatter to the floor. Not dissimilar to my heart.

I hear Sam groan but nothing else echoes down the hall for a while. Until I hear a crash. Without a thought I’m opening the door and rushing across the wood floors to find the girl I’m angry at.

All I find is her sitting on the ground, surrounded by piles of wood. She’s untouched.

“Sam…” it’s more of a sigh of relief than anything else.

“I just- I wanted to make it myself to apologise. And also to prove myself right.”

“You don’t need to make a whole fucking bookshelf for me. You shouldn’t. Your words hurt, but I don’t want you hurt.” I slowly help her get up, although it’s a struggle.

“I’m really really sorry. I didn’t mean it, that I’m sick of you. I could never be sick of you. You’re too kind.” A kiss is pressed to my cheek.

“And pretty.” Another to my opposite cheek.

“And perfect.” She kisses my lips, love flowing between us as I kiss back.

“I don’t deserve you. You’ve done nothing but take care of me and I’ve been all ‘Oscar the Grouch’ on you.” I lead her over to the couch and pull her against me.

“You could turn into Oscar the Grouch and I’d still love and take care of you. I will find you in every lifetime, and love you endlessly.”

[maxsimagination]

𝘀𝗲𝗰𝗼𝗻𝗱 𝗺𝘂𝗺 - 𝗸.𝗴𝗼𝗿𝗿𝘆

summary: harper plays match-maker & inadvertently manages to get her mum to go ask a girl out.

𖦹 masterlist

"𝗛𝗘𝗬 𝗞𝗔𝗧, 𝗬𝗢𝗨 seen harps?"

i knocked on katrina's hotel room door, but there was no response so i walked in. i was going to take harper down with me so katrina could get ready, but immediately stopped in my tracks when a saw the scene before me. harper was on the bed, katrina curled around her, both sound asleep.

my heart melted seeing my two favourite people together like that. as much as i wanted to let kat sleep longer, i knew i had to wake her up. coach wanted us down in a half hour for a team meeting about the game.

"kat, you gotta wake up now." i sat on the edge of the bed and placed a hand on her arm, shaking her a bit. she came to after a few moments of me shaking her lightly. kat's groggy face turned to look at who was tearing her from her sleep. "hey sleeping beauty." i grinned down at her. "mm, i jus' need five more minutes."

"we have that meeting soon, you gotta get up, min." everyone in the team called her mini, or min, because of her short stature, but i was an exception. i called her kat, only on occasion did i switch it for mini.

"fuuuuckk." she drawled out. eventually she sat up slowly and got up. the small child next to her had shuffled around and woke up at the slight commotion near her. "hey harps." i ruffled her her a bit and she giggled at me. i picked her up and smoothed down her clothes before katrina walked out of the bathroom, her hair fixed and looking slightly less tired.

"let's head down, yea?"

i only received a light mumble in response, kat's way of agreeing. we knew each other in and out by now, we'd been best friends for years. probably from the first time we met years ago at her then club, brisbane roar, and soon after mine.

i had signed a deal with the club, contracted for 5 years. katrina had already been there for a year or two when i joined, but her contract ran out two years before mine did. she moved from there that year, signing with some other club over in england, leaving me behind.

unbeknownst to me, she did a stint with the club in england but then moved to a sweden club which i would later sign with. it was a big offer from them and a big sign for me, having to move from australia to sweden and play for vittsjö gik. but i quickly decided it was the best decision i'd made in my life when i saw katrina on the training field at my first session. we were inseparable and attached at the hip again, we went everywhere together.

i had, very, quickly caught some sort of feelings towards the older woman when we first met and didn't know how to feel about that fact, choosing to ignore the butterflies that made chaos of my abdomen when i saw her.

i never knew if she had felt the same, and didn't want to ruin what bond we had together so i never said a word. now here we are, at national camp together, about 10 years later. it was a messy situation, especially on my end, but i made the most of it, loving every moment i got to spend with katrina, and her little harper.

"thank you for looking after harps, yn." she brought me out of my little daydream with her gratitude. "it's all good, kat. i love the kid as much as anyone." harper wriggled around in my arms at my words.

we had made it to the meeting room then, and joined the rest of the team to take a seat.

——

it felt like a whole year had gone by after we left that room. my butt had gone numb from how long i was in that seat for. harper was in my arms again as me and kat walked out and towards the cafeteria. i honestly thought i could eat a horse, my last meal was at breakfast, almost 5 hours ago. i grabbed what i could fit onto my plate and raced over to a table and placed everything on the surface. katrina handed harper off to me while she went to get her's and harps lunch.

we sat in comfortable silence eating our food, me more so devouring. i finished everything on my plate and was finally full. both kat and harper were still eating, and both were laughing at me and my content sighs after eating for two people. "shut up, i was starving." i send a joking look to kat and she laughs some more at me.

"mama. water, please." harper's voice catches us both off guard, and we both just stare at her as she looks at me and makes grabby hands for my water bottle.

"did she..?" i trail off in a silent question to katrina. "yea.. she did." i went white as a sheet, body frozen. i finally found it in me and passed harper my water bottle. the kid latches onto it and drinks some. i was still shocked and hadn't uttered any words other than confirming what we'd both seen with kat.

my brain seemed to malfunction as my mind told me i needed to leave. i grabbed my plate, making some sort of excuse to get out of the room.

i bolted, heading for my own room this time. i flopped down on my bed, mind racing a million miles and hour. harper called me mama! i was elated but also worried at the same time. what if kat didn't want her kid to think of me as her second mum? my nerves and anxiety were called to the forefront and i kept asking myself questions without answers.

it felt like two seconds but there was a knock on my door, and suddenly it opened. i shot upright, and seeing it was kat, flopped back down.

i couldn't even look her in the face as she walked over. "yn. are you okay?" "umm, yes?" it came out more as a question rather than a statement. "you're not. you were white as a ghost before." a split second of reckless thought sent me over the edge and i blurted. "harper called me mama." i didn't know what i was doing, i just needed to air that statement.

"yea, about that. i'm sorry, i didn't know she saw it like that." "you're.. sorry?" i was confused. did she not want me to be a mum to harper? "yea, i didn't think you wanted things to be like that."

surely she's joking. "kat.." i sat up and took a deep breath.

"katrina, i would love to be a mum to harper. i never told you any of this, and it's been at least 4 years of me bottling up my feelings. i have liked you so much, for the longest time. i have wanted nothing more to hug you as more than friends for the longest time. but i never said anything because i didn't want to ruin our friendship. you're like my best friend. but i want us to be more."

shit. i just ruined it didn't i? i looked up at katrina tentatively, scared to see her expression.

surprisingly, it wasn't one of hate. she almost looked.. relieved? "oh thank god." that was a new one. she sat down next to me so we were eye level again.

"i am so glad you said something, i would have gone another few years without saying anything. i like you so much more than friends, yn. i can't even begin to explain how thankful i am to have you in my life, to help me with harper, or to just be with me when i need a shoulder to cry on."

what she says catches me off guard, i fully expected her to shun me and tell me she wasn't interested.

"wait.. really?" she nods with a smile. "yes really. you mean so much to me-" i cut her off by pressing my lips to hers. she freezes up but just as quickly, kisses me back. her lips are soft, sweet, they taste like caramel. i had my hands on either side of her face. she moves hers down to wrap around my waist. everything around us stops moving as we continue in our own little world. finally we break apart to take a breath.

"katrina-lee gorry, do you wanna be my girlfriend?"

"always, yn yln."

[allthingsgofestival]

Last Dinosaurs

Names (L to R): Sean Caskey, Michael Sloane, Lachlan Caskey

Hometown: Brisbane, Queensland, Australia

First kiss:

Sean: Dizzy

Michael: After school

Lachlan: Revelational. It revealed things.

Favorite teachers at school:

Sean: Mr. Robertson. He was cool but I’ll say he used to trip over a lot in class all the time. And I just found that really funny. And I was one of the best students in the class so I didn’t get in trouble.

Michael: In primary school, Miss Ryan. She was no bullshit and she was really nice.

Lachlan: Mr. McMahon, English teacher but really passionate. He left an impression on all of us.

Put one of your songs in a high school movie: "Eleven" in Dunston Checks In when he’s just going crazy and destroys the hotel.

What you'd write on each other's jerseys:

Lachlan: Arsehole

Michael: Draw a dick

Tumblr Class of 2023 @ All Things Go

📸: Brooke Marsh

[sunsetkerr]

SAMMY'S GIRL | s.kerr

summary: headcanons on your relationship with sam.

pairing: fem!reader x sam kerr

notes: love these, let me know if you want more. send any asks/thoughts/questions about sammy's girl that you would like to, I would love to chat xx

knowing sam since you were kids (like 7-8)

you hated soccer (refused to call if football)

your family was mad about real football (afl, obviously)

and sam played footy with you at the same club

but when she first started playing soccer at age 12, she fell in love with it

consequentially, forcing you- her best friend

into loving it too 

(no matter how much you refused)

bye bye afl

she would talk nonstop about players who she loved 

Ronaldo this 

ronaldo that

who the fuck is ronaldo

you didnt care

you were just glad sam was happy

you only really started to care, when you realised how talented sam was

even though you hated soccer

you showed interest for her

because wow, she was good

you would go to her games on saturday mornings 

wore her club jumper to games

and would sit in the car on cold mornings with her parents

honking the horn if she scored

sometimes cheering out the window

you gradually learnt more and more about the game from sam

it became her entire life

and because sam was your entire life, it became yours too

at sleepovers you both would stay up and watch games

her nudging you awake when you were falling asleep

her shaking you awake if her favourite player scored or there was a dodgy penalty/free

you detested staying up late for soccer games, but if it made sam happy you would do it

as you got older and went to high school, sam was being taken more seriously

local news outlets were getting hold of how talented she was

scouts started coming out to her games

it was suddenly all about sam and her talent

(about time)

you watched her first game for the matildas in 2009 against Italy when she was subbed on

you cried when she stepped on the pitch, screaming as loud as you could

she heard you

that night, hugging her after the game, you realised that sam wasn't just your best friend

you continued to support her as you went through school

sam was playing more and more

it was getting harder to stay in contact

she was flying around the world with the matildas, playing game after game

training after training

match after match

but you didnt mind

because you knew that she would always come back to you

and she did

you spent the time that she had off together

spending december holidays together

christmas at your place, new years at hers

every moment that sam was home she spent with you

thats when she realised that you were more than her best friend

on the night of sam's first goal, she tied the game against north korea

you cried again

you couldn't help it

you were just so proud of her

she backflipped on the pitch, something she had been practicing since you were little

(something she had been trying to teach you do to since you were little)

afterwards, she ran over to near where you were sat in the stands with her family and celebrated with you

you knew you loved her in that moment

that night, in her room

you kissed

you were sharing the hotel bed, both crammed into a king single

like you had done all throughout your childhood

and you told her how proud of her you were

leaning into the silence, sam kissed you 

after you both just stared at each other

"I'm sorry" she said

"don't be" you whispered back

and you never spoke about it the next morning

sam went off to play world cups

you stayed home and watched every game you could

messaging her phone throughout

she gained more traction, she was only getting better and better

and she knew that you were always behind her

you were her rock

you kissed again after sam's first world cup

it was on your 17th birthday

it was just the two of you, everyone else had left for the night

"when do you leave again?" you asked her

"I fly to Brisbane next week" she told you

you didnt say anything after that for a while

just sat in silence

you laid facing each other once again, just like you had the year before

and it was unspoken what you both wanted to happen

you moved your head closer to hers

she did the same

"I dont want you to go" you whispered

"I know, but I have to"

"I know" 

more silence

"I'll miss you" she said

"I'll miss you more" 

in that moment you made up your mind

and you kissed her

"I really like you sam" you told her

"I really like you too"

from then on, you both were unofficially together

there were no labels for your relationship

but everyone already knew that you both were a package deal

sam and y/n

y/n and sam

so no one suspected a thing

it went on like this for years

you went into your 20s together

watched sam become more and more successful

she made strides in her career and was signed to perth glory and then to sky blue

she won awards on awards

scoring more goals than majority of other players

she was a star

sam was traded to chicago

that hit you guys hard

but you weren't together.. so?

what could you do?

you spent every moment you could talking to sam when she was awake

vice versa

sams world involved two things: football and you

no matter the awards or the accolades, you were the biggest prize in her eyes

she thanks you profusely in her young australian of the year speech

she is so grateful every day to have you

as you were trying to stumble your way through uni

sam would try her best to fly you out to games so she could see you

call her selfish

she doesn't care

she just wanted to see you

in 2019 she was signed to chelsea

and whilst you were over there watching a match

the country went into lockdown

you were stuck in London

going home wasn't an option at that point in time

so you stayed with sam

and even after lockdown was lifted

you stayed with sam

you both realised the going back and forth was stupid

you loved each other

she told you so

you were watching an old football match

sam engrossed in the game, trying to watch for technique 

when you completely broke her out of her trance by screaming at the ref for a shit free kick

she watched as you shouted at the tv

and then she said without thinking

"I love you"

with the biggest, goofiest grin on her face

you just stared at her, eyes wide

she had told you that she had loved you before

but you both knew that this was different

and so you said "I love you too sam"

that night you finally discussed labels 

and sam officially asked you to be her girlfriend

you quite liked having the title after however many years of waiting

but she was worth the wait

so you moved all your stuff over to London when you could and started your life in London with sam

travelling back to Australia when you needed to

or when you missed home a little too much

and you watch every game that you possibly can

and now.. you even call it football

[iinsertblognamee]

hello new york

summary ― sam gets signed to play for the western new york flash team

pairing ― sam kerr x reader

warning/s ― fluff, mentions of injury

masterlist

Not even two days after arriving back home from Cyprus did your world completely flip. 

Sam had been offered a sport in the Western New York Flash team playing in the National’s Women Soccer League. It was a big deal and you knew she had to take it - even if it meant leaving the country for the first time without you. 

Logically you both knew you would be able to come over and visit, as well as play in the Asian World Cup in a few months. But this was different to last time, this wasn’t just on the other side of the country, it was the other side of the world. 

Bags were packed within the week and after the win against Brazil in Brisbane when it was time to fly home, you went one way and Sam went another. 

You never got used to Sam not being around, but you got the hang of long-distance fast enough. You both had block-out times every day where you would both be contactable. You had all her games in the calendar, ready to watch them regardless of the time over here. 

It felt a lot longer than a month before you saw each other again. It was hard seeing each other for the first time and not being able to hide away, training for the Women’s World Cup taking over. Thankfully you were given the nights in your shared hotel to make up for lost time. 

The games were rough, your ankle playing up in the second game causing you to sub off halfway through the game. You watched on the sideline as your team won 3 - 1 to Jordan. Turns out your ankle was now placed as a stress fracture, being benched for the rest of the World Cup. It sucked, sitting there watching the girls go out and play but you knew (from last time) not to push yourself and let it heal properly. 

After many talks with your physio, you were given the all-clear for air travel, deciding to use your break to head back over to New York with Sam. Tickets were booked (although you had to change Sam’s booking so that you two could be together on the flight over, which she didn’t know about) the excitement of your plan helped you through the annoyance of not being able to play. 

The World Cup ended as fast as it came, the team saying their goodbyes as they all started making their way to wherever they were heading. It had taken Sam three seconds to realise what exactly she was looking at when you handed her the tickets and passports. Her arms wrapped around you as she spun you around. 

“You’re coming with me? To New York?” you nodded your head in response, laughter leaving both your lips and she brought you in for a kiss. 

“God, I love you so so much”. 

After a meeting with your physio, Sam asked every question under the sun to ensure it was okay for you to come and all the information she would need over there, you were off. You held Sam’s hand through lift off, taking her mind off the flight by telling her stories she had missed while being away. 

The flight was hard on your body, the pressure of the plane as well as not being able to move around and use it caused your ankle to swell up. Sam massaged it as best as she could, asking for ice to create an ice pack for you and when you cried, she brought your head into her neck, rubbing your back trying to soothe you in any way possible. 

You managed to pass out during the 7th and 8th hour on the flight, your armrest between you and Sam up, so you could lay on her without either of you being stabbed. Sam continued to watch your face, looking for any sign of discomfort as she played with your hair. The lady who was sitting in the aisle seat kept looking over at the pair of you, Sam waited for the comments to start, she didn’t care what this lady had to say. Her girlfriend was in pain. 

“You two make a lovely couple” 

Sam almost missed it the way she whispered it, being mindful of you asleep in her lap. Sam looked up at the lady to see a small smile on her face. 

“Thank you” 

She throws her hand in the air to say no need to thank me before adding “You two remind me of me and my husband, back when we were young” 

Sam smiles in response, looking back down to you, pushing the hair that had fallen off your forehead. A few seconds pass, Sam thinking the lady was uninterested anymore, as she looked back up. 

“Is she the one?” a small glint in the lady’s eye causing Sam to let out a small laugh, nodding her head. 

“Yeah, she’s the one”.

[fructidors]

one thing about me is i very firmly believe that brisbane hotel sutra is the best mountain goats song of all time. this may not be objectively true but there is nothing on this earth which could stray me from my devout belief in its truth

[louisisalarrie]

Hey lovely. Wanted to ask you this as you work in the industry but who funds Louis’ tour? Is that the record company or is he doing it himself? And who pays his band, manager etc? I’m just curious as to how much support he’s getting from his record label or if he’s really doing a lot of self funding.

Hello, my love! I’m gonna try and explain this the simplest way possible so I don’t get into too much jargon and make you read a 3,000 word essay hehe. Also, contracts can all vary, but this is the most standard way of touring when it comes to big artists. Let’s goooooo!

Okay, SO, when a big artist (or band) go on tour, they will 99.9% of the time have a contractual Agreement with a concert promoter, this includes the likes of Australian exclusive promoter TEG (who Niall is touring Australia with this year), international promoter Live Nation (Harry toured worldwide with them, Louis did Australia/Asia with them and probably worldwide too because of global deals), Australia/NZ exclusive promoter Frontier Touring (T Swift for Australia, but she was with Live Nation in the US) and there are many other promoters worldwide too. You’ll see on some specific marketing material that the artist and promoter put out, it will have their logo at the bottom of the tour poster, and shows they are what is called a “sponsor” or the concert promoter for this tour. See examples of this below:

^ niall’s Australian tour with TEG live on the bottom right

^ one of Harry’s US posters with Live Nation at the bottom

^louis’ Singapore tour poster, also with Live Nation at the bottom

So basically, what these concert promoters do, is sponsor the artist. That means, the booking agent/tour manager will sign a contract with whichever promoter offers the best deal, and will tour with them. The reason why they sign up for a tour with a promoter, is because the promoter provides a safety net, and takes care of a lot of the things that come with touring that the artist and their team don’t wanna think about organising, and so they let them do it for them. This includes stuff like paying and organising crewing teams and riggers and those guys, work Visas to get into the country, marketing, venues and available dates for shows, catering, sound/lights/backline/LED, rent costs for the venue, security, flights, accommodation, etc., which is negotiated per the contractual Agreement.

The tour manager of the artist also works really closely with these guys to approve any staging, catering, or locally rented lighting rigs and all that specific fun stuff that the artist doesn’t travel with, but is particular about to make the shows/tour exactly how they want them (this will be in their production rider and hospitality rider that they supply the promoter with).

Let’s say, for example, Niall really wants to stay in a specific 5 star hotel in Brisbane, he wants a flight to Aus at a very particular time on a very specific date, he wants to bring 40 crew members with him, he needs a specific set of lights and a particular sound desk at each show (bc he’s my little drama queen). Him and his team are super busy on the other side of the world, they just don’t have time to organise all of that. It would be constant emails and phone calls back and forth with quotes, availability, submitting 40 work Visa applications, multiple suppliers saying “yes we can do that” and “no we can’t”, time zones, etc., so why not sign up with a promoter and let them do it for him?

So now, we get into the money side of things. Sure, niall knows he will make money if he tours without a promoter, he knows he’ll sell tickets in Aus, and he knows that he’d probably come out with a profit. But apart from not wanting to organise and spending a heap of money on all of this stuff, is it worth touring if he doesn’t think it’ll be sustainable and he’s basically lost money from doing it? No, it’s not. SO promoters know this, and they all fight for artists to sign with them, by offering up the biggest guarantee they can. This is often a guarantee vs ticket sales scenario.

So, if TEG were like “hey niall, we’ll guarantee you $800,000 to tour with us, or, 80% of ticket sales, whichever amount is higher”. A guarantee means he’s not relying on ticket sales alone. He knows that if none of his shows sell out and less people come than he thought, he’s still gonna get $800,000. Or, if he sells a heap of tickets, he gets more than that, yay! But if Frontier Touring were like “nah, come with us, we’ll give you $700,000 vs 90% of ticket sales, he’d have to consider the fact he might not make as much money, unless he really trusts that all of his shows sell out. So they usually go with whoever can give a higher guarantee.

Now, within these deals, sometimes the higher the guarantee, the more the artist has to pay for themselves (I’m keeping this at like… what a Harry/Niall/Louis level deal would kind of be, not like an Elton John level or something, because that would probably vary entirely). So, Niall has been guaranteed this insane amount of money, but TEG are then like “well… we’ll do all of this and you know you’re making money, but we do have a budget. So you can pay for your flights and work visas, and everything that you want that is above our budget cap, but we will try to keep everything under budget unless you approve to pay more for a specific thing you want”. Ya know? So yeah, Niall is like “hell yeah dudes, sounds good. Sign me up”. And then it’s all a bunch of finance organising etc., but yeah. Usually the smaller the band, the more they’ll pay for if they go with a promoter, because the promoter doesn’t want to take too many risks on them and still needs to make money. They’ll still get a guarantee, but will have to sort out more by themselves, and not treated exactly like royalty like Harry would be.

So long story short, the concert promoter funded Louis’ tour, and probably organised just about everything. The concert promoter sends the money to Louis’ agent (whether it be the guarantee or higher due to ticket sales), and they divide that amount to him, his manager (which is usually 15-20% but can differ with how famous the artist is), anyone else involved in contracts for % of touring, and then happy days. The tour is over and everything has been a lot easier than the tour manager(s) having to organise it all by themselves, and risk losing a bunch of money in doing so.

Thanks for the q, anon! Let me know if you need clarification on anything xx

[niallerspayno]

Moments - Chapter Seven

Masterlist

February 11th, 2015

The Brisbane night presses quiet against the windows of your hotel room, the weight of the conversation you’re about to have making your chest tight. When the knock comes, it startles you out of your pacing. You cross the room quickly, opening the door to find Liam and Niall standing there.

“Hey,” you say softly, stepping aside.

Liam gives you a small, steadying smile, but Niall avoids your gaze, his hands shoved deep into his hoodie pockets. They step in, and you close the door behind them, motioning toward the small couch by the window.

“I thought it’d be best to talk. Together,” you explain, your voice tight with nerves.

The tension in the air is almost suffocating. Liam sits first, his posture upright, elbows on his knees as he watches you carefully. Niall slouches into the far corner, pulling at the strings of his hoodie, his discomfort obvious.

You stay standing for a moment, unsure where to start. Your fingers fidget with the hem of your shirt, and the silence stretches too long.

“I don’t even know how to say this,” you admit, letting out a shaky breath as you lower yourself to the edge of the bed.

Neither of them speaks, both waiting, their expressions unreadable.

“It’s about the baby,” you finally say. The words hang heavy in the room.

Niall stiffens immediately, his jaw tightening. Liam doesn’t flinch, his calm gaze steady, though you can see the flicker of emotion behind his eyes.

“I’ve been trying to figure out what to do,” you continue, your voice faltering. “And I just— I can’t make this decision alone. I need to know how you both feel.”

Niall is the first to react. “What can we even say?” he blurts out, leaning forward, his hands raking through his hair. His blue eyes are wide and panicked as they finally meet yours. “It’s terrifying, alright? I don’t have a clue how to be a dad. I’ve barely figured out how to be myself.”

The words tumble out of him fast, defensive, but there’s no mistaking the raw honesty behind them. He shakes his head, his voice softening. “But if you’re keeping it—if that’s what you decide—I’ll try. I’ll do my best, I swear.”

The vulnerability in his voice twists something inside you, but before you can respond, Liam speaks up.

“I’ll support whatever decision you make,” he says, his voice measured and steady, though his gaze shifts quickly between you and Niall. “But I want you to think about yourself, too. This life—it’s not easy. Not for you, not for any of us. If you’re not ready, it’s okay to say that.”

He pauses, his voice softening. “But if you are… if this is what you want… we’ll figure it out. Together.”

His calm reassurance steadies you more than anything else, but it also tugs at emotions you’ve tried to keep buried. For a moment, you can’t speak, your throat tight with unshed tears.

“I’ve been thinking about it nonstop,” you admit, your voice shaking. “And the truth is, I’ve always wanted to be a mum. I just… I haven’t had any long-term relationships. I didn’t think it would ever happen for me.”

You look down at your hands, fingers twisting in your lap. “I know this isn’t how I imagined it. And I know it’s not ideal. But I can’t imagine two better people to be the potential father of my child.” Your voice catches, and you glance up at them, tears pooling in your eyes. “That’s why I’m keeping it.”

The room is silent for a moment, the weight of your decision settling in.

Niall leans back, exhaling audibly. “Alright,” he says, his voice quieter now. He nods slowly, like he’s still processing but wants to reassure you. “Alright. We’ll figure it out.”

Liam shifts closer, moving from the couch to sit beside you on the bed. His hand rests lightly on your shoulder, warm and grounding. “You’ve got us,” he says softly. “Whatever you need, we’ll be here.”

You let out a shaky laugh, wiping at your cheeks. “It’s not going to be easy, is it?”

Niall cracks a small, lopsided smile, the tension in his shoulders easing slightly. “Since when has anything been easy with us?”

Liam’s lips twitch upward in agreement, and you feel a faint warmth settle over the three of you. It’s not perfect, not by a long shot, but it feels like a step forward.

For the first time in days, the knot in your chest loosens just slightly. You still have a long way to go, but as you sit with them now, their words lingering in the air, you believe—just for a moment—that maybe you can do this.

…

March 3rd, 2015

The Tokyo hotel suite is unusually quiet for a post-tour evening, save for the muffled hum of the city beyond the windows. You sit curled on the couch in your room, the remnants of a piece of dry toast and a half-empty glass of water on the coffee table in front of you. Eight weeks along, and morning sickness doesn’t just stick to mornings anymore. It’s relentless, a constant reminder of how much your body is changing—and how much you’re keeping to yourself.

You press your hand against your belly, the gesture instinctive. Though your stomach looks the same, the knowledge of what’s happening inside you has made every part of you feel different. It’s not just nausea or exhaustion; it’s the sheer weight of it all. The boys don’t deserve the added stress, not when the tour schedule is already unrelenting.

A soft knock at the door pulls you from your thoughts.

“It’s open,” you call out, your voice weak but steady.

The door swings open, and Harry’s head pokes through. His curls are tousled, and he has that easy smile he always wears when he’s trying to cheer someone up. “Thought you might need some company.”

Before you can respond, he steps fully into the room, followed by Louis, who’s balancing an armful of snacks and drinks.

“Delivery service,” Louis announces, his voice teasing as he sets everything down on the coffee table. He holds up a can of ginger ale like it’s a rare treasure. “Heard this stuff helps.”

You manage a tired smile. “Thanks. You didn’t have to.”

“Oh, please,” Louis says, flopping onto the couch beside you. “You think we’re just going to let you wallow in here alone?”

Harry sits across from you, his concerned gaze taking in your pale face and the dark circles under your eyes. “How are you really doing?” he asks softly.

You shrug. “I’ve been better. The morning sickness doesn’t seem to care what time it is anymore.”

“That’s why we’re here,” Louis says, popping open the ginger ale and passing it to you. “To make sure you’re not suffering in silence. And to keep you entertained, of course.”

Harry nods. “You’ve been taking care of everyone else for years. Let us return the favor, yeah?”

The sincerity in his voice makes your chest tighten. You swallow the lump in your throat, taking a sip of the ginger ale. “Thank you,” you whisper.

The three of you sit there for a while, the conversation light and easy as Louis keeps cracking jokes. He even tries to convince you to let him write a “pregnancy anthem” for the band, complete with ridiculous lyrics about pickles and cravings. You laugh harder than you have in weeks, the weight on your chest easing just a little.

…

Later that night, you’re lying in bed, trying to settle your queasy stomach when another knock comes.

“It’s open,” you groan, wondering if Louis has returned with more unsolicited “pregnancy advice.”

This time, it’s Niall. He steps inside cautiously, his hands shoved into the pockets of his hoodie.

“Hey,” he says, his voice soft. “Heard you weren’t feeling great.”

“That’s putting it lightly,” you mutter, though there’s no real bite in your tone.

He crosses the room and sits on the edge of your bed, the mattress dipping under his weight. “Anything I can do?”

The question is simple, but the sincerity in his voice makes you pause. “Honestly? Just being here helps.”

Niall nods, his blue eyes meeting yours with quiet understanding. “Well, I’m not going anywhere.”

For the next hour, he distracts you with stories—some real, some wildly embellished—about their early days as a band. His impersonations of Louis and Zayn are so spot-on that you laugh until your stomach hurts.

When he leaves, you feel lighter.

…

March 4th, 2015

The next morning, as you’re trying to force down some tea and crackers in the kitchenette, Liam finds you. He’s freshly showered, his hair still damp, and he has that steady, comforting presence you’ve always associated with him.

“You look exhausted,” he says gently, pulling out the chair beside you and sitting down.

“Thanks,” you say dryly, managing a small smile.

He chuckles softly. “I didn’t mean it like that. You’ve got a lot on your plate. I just wanted to check in.”

You sigh, the weight of his concern disarming you. “I’m okay. Just tired. And the morning sickness is… a lot.”

“You’re doing more than okay,” he says firmly. “But you don’t have to do this alone. We’re all here for you.”

His words bring a lump to your throat. Liam has always been the caretaker of the group, the one who makes sure everyone is okay. You lean into that now, letting his steady reassurance ease some of the weight on your shoulders.

…

By the evening, all five boys and Paul are in your room. Zayn is sketching quietly in the corner, his usual calm presence grounding. Louis and Harry are bickering over a card game, while Liam flips through his phone. Niall sits cross-legged on the floor, strumming his guitar softly, the sound filling the room with a soothing hum.

“You’re all ridiculous,” you say fondly, glancing around the room.

Louis grins. “Yeah, but we’re your ridiculous family.”

Paul sits down beside you, giving your shoulder a gentle squeeze. “And your job right now is to take care of yourself. Got it?”

You nod, emotion swelling in your chest. It’s not easy, but for the first time in weeks, you feel like you’re not carrying the weight of this alone. You have them. All of them.

And somehow, that makes everything feel a little more manageable.

…

March 25th, 2015

The air in the Jakarta hotel feels heavier than usual, a mix of silence and disbelief hanging over the group. It’s not the kind of tension born from an argument or miscommunication—it’s the aching finality of goodbye.

You sit on the edge of your bed, staring blankly at your phone screen. The texts from Zayn earlier in the day still sit unanswered. He had asked to talk to you alone, but you hadn’t mustered the courage to face him yet. Now, as the clock ticks closer to his departure, you know you’re running out of time.

When you find him, he’s in his room, his suitcase half-packed on the bed. The sight sends a pang through your chest. Zayn looks up as you step inside, his dark eyes soft but guarded.

“You came,” he says, his voice quiet.

“I couldn’t not,” you reply, closing the door behind you. “I just… I don’t know what to say.”

Zayn exhales, rubbing the back of his neck. “You don’t have to say anything. I just wanted to see you before I left. I thought you’d understand.”

And you do. Zayn has always been the quiet one, the one who kept the weight of the world on his shoulders without complaint. If anyone would understand his need to step away, it’s you.

“I’m going to miss you,” you admit, your voice wavering. “We all are.”

“I’m going to miss you too,” he says, his gaze dropping to the littlest hint of a bump just starting to show under your shirt. A faint smile tugs at his lips. “You’re glowing, you know that?”

You laugh softly, brushing away the tears threatening to fall. “Yeah, that’s what they say when you’re throwing up every morning.”

Zayn chuckles, the sound bittersweet. “You’re going to be an amazing mum. I know this isn’t what you planned, but… you’ve got this. And the others—they’ll look out for you.”

You nod, swallowing the lump in your throat. “Thank you, Zayn. That means a lot.”

He steps closer, pulling you into a gentle hug. His arms are warm and steady, and for a moment, you let yourself lean into the comfort of it.

“I’ll still be around,” he murmurs against your hair. “Not like before, but… you’ll always have me if you need anything. Promise me you’ll reach out, okay?”

“I promise.”

When you pull back, Zayn’s expression is resolute, though his eyes shine with unshed tears. He’s made his decision, and as much as it hurts, you respect it.

The goodbye is quiet, but it lingers in the air long after you leave his room.

Back in the common area, the rest of the boys are sitting together, their moods somber. Liam is the first to look up when you enter, and without a word, he gestures for you to join them. You sit between him and Louis, who immediately throws an arm around your shoulders.

“It’s not going to be the same, is it?” you whisper, glancing at Harry, whose usually bright eyes are clouded.

“No,” Liam says softly. “But we’ll get through it. Together.”

As the night stretches on, the group draws closer, leaning on each other in a way they haven’t had to in years. And for the first time in a long while, you realize how much these boys are more than colleagues—they’re family.

…

April 4th, 2015

The concert wraps up, and there’s a rush of excitement in the air. The final show before the break. The band is buzzing with adrenaline, but there’s also an undercurrent of exhaustion. You all know the two-month gap ahead is a much-needed rest—though, of course, there will still be the usual interviews, award shows, and events to attend. But for the most part, you’ll have time to breathe, to rest, and to figure out what comes next.

The dressing room is full, a mix of chatter and laughter, but you can’t help but notice the shift. This is the moment when everything will slow down for a bit, and that means different things for everyone. For you, it means a chance to focus more on your pregnancy, now that you’re officially past the first trimester.

Paul’s voice breaks through the noise, calm and grounded, always keeping things in order. “Alright, everyone,” he starts, his usual authority lacing his tone. “Two months. We’ve got the downtime, and I expect everyone to use it wisely. You’ll still have interviews, and there are a couple of events you’ll need to attend, but mostly it’s about taking care of yourselves. No burning out.”

The room quiets a bit at the mention of the break, the weight of the upcoming time off sinking in. You lean back against the couch, a little exhausted but grateful for the rest. You’re definitely going to need it, especially with your pregnancy being a bigger focus now.

“Yeah, and I’m sure we’ll all be in London for most of it,” Liam chimes in, looking over at you with a soft smile. His gaze lingers for a moment, though, like he’s trying to read your thoughts, but you know he won’t press.

“Sounds perfect,” Harry adds, his tone light but with a hint of relief. “I’ve got a few things I want to work on at home, but mostly I’m just looking forward to some downtime.”

“You know I’ll be back in my flat,” Louis says with a grin, stretching his arms above his head as if the idea of relaxation is exactly what he’s been waiting for. “But if anyone wants a chaotic night in, you know where to find me.”

The chatter turns to specifics, people talking about what they’ll be doing in between the occasional work obligations. But your mind starts to wander as you think about what these two months will mean for you. You’ve got to take care of yourself, and the baby, and while the break is going to be nice, you’re still adjusting to everything happening in your life right now.

Niall looks over at you, catching your attention as he tilts his head. He’s been quieter than usual tonight, and you notice that the usual teasing smile he has isn’t there. He’s been a little more serious since you told him about the pregnancy, and though he’s supportive, there’s an edge of concern in his eyes.

“So,” he starts, his voice a little softer than you expect, “have you thought about what you’re gonna do during the break? Besides just… relax and all that?”

You glance at him, meeting his eyes, feeling the weight of the question. It’s a fair one, and you’ve been thinking about it a lot. The pregnancy is still so new to you, but you’re feeling stronger every day. “Yeah, I’ve been thinking about it,” you answer honestly. “I need to take care of myself. The baby’s gonna start growing faster now, and I want to make sure I’m doing everything right.”

Liam looks at you, his brow furrowing slightly. “You’re doing great,” he reassures you. “And whatever you need—physically, emotionally—we’ll be here for you. Right, lads?”

The others nod in agreement, but it’s Paul who breaks the silence next, always the one to keep things grounded. “Just remember,” he says, voice steady as always, “you’ll need to keep an eye on things. You’re well past the risky first trimester, but you’re not in the clear yet. It’s important to stay on top of everything—appointments, check-ups, that sort of thing.”

You nod, feeling a mix of relief and pressure. You’ve got this, but there’s a lot of responsibility that comes with it.

“Yeah, I know,” you reply, the words sounding a little stronger now. “I’ll be careful. I think… I think this break will be good. Time to rest, and time to get more serious about what comes next. For me, and for the baby.”

Niall’s expression softens, and he leans forward, elbows resting on his knees. “You know we’re here for you, right? If you need anything—anything at all—don’t hesitate to ask. You’re not in this alone.”

You look around the room, meeting each of their eyes in turn. The weight of everything still hangs there, but there’s comfort in knowing you have this support. From the boys, from Paul—everyone who’s been there for you since the moment you found out you were pregnant. You don’t have all the answers, but you have the people who will help you figure it out.

“Thanks,” you say, your voice steady now, with more confidence than before. “I really appreciate it. And… I’m going to be okay. We’re going to be okay.”

The group exchanges glances, and then they all nod in unison. There’s no perfect roadmap ahead, no guarantees, but in this moment, there’s peace in the uncertainty. You know what you’re facing now, and you know the journey will be hard, but with these people beside you, you can take it on.

“We’ve got you,” Liam says softly, standing up and moving closer to you. “We all have your back, always.”

You smile, the first real smile in days, as you let their support sink in. There’s still a long way to go, but for the first time in a while, you feel like maybe—just maybe—you can do this. You’re not doing it alone anymore.

Next chapter

[door2doorservices]

Airport Shuttle vs. Private Transfers: A Complete Guide for Travelers

When it comes to getting from the airport to your destination, travelers have a range of options, from budget-friendly airport shuttles to high-end private airport transfer services. This guide will help you understand the differences, benefits, and options available so you can choose the right service for your needs.

What is an Airport Shuttle Service?

An airport shuttle is a shared transportation service, ideal for budget-conscious travelers who don’t mind a bit of extra travel time. Here’s what you can expect:

Shared Ride: Airport shuttles pick up multiple passengers from various locations, such as hotels or designated spots, en route to the airport or from the airport to various destinations. Expect multiple stops for pick-ups and drop-offs.

Pre-Booking Required: Passengers generally book in advance, providing details of their flights and destinations. Some services may have flexible schedules to accommodate passenger needs.

Affordable Option: Compared to private transfers, shuttles are budget-friendly, making them ideal for solo travelers, groups who don’t mind sharing a ride, or those looking for cheap airport transfers from Gold Coast to Brisbane.

Perfect For: Travelers seeking cheap airport transfers on the Gold Coast or door-to-door airport shuttle services with a flexible schedule.

Private Airport Transfers and Limousine Services

Private airport transfers or limousine services offer an exclusive and tailored experience, catering to passengers looking for convenience, privacy, and comfort.

Exclusive Ride: Private transfers mean you have the entire vehicle to yourself or your group, with no extra stops along the way.

Professional Drivers & Luxury Vehicles: Passengers can expect professional chauffeurs, high-quality vehicles, and personalized service. Options may range from sedans and vans to luxury limousines, giving passengers flexibility based on their needs.

Direct Door-to-Door Service: A key benefit is the door-to-door service, which can be scheduled at any time. This is especially valuable for travelers who prioritize a fast and direct route, whether it’s a transfer from Brisbane Airport to the Gold Coast or a return trip.

Perfect For: Those looking for gold coast private transfers, gold coast personal transfers, or a ride share from Brisbane Airport to the Paradise Country Farm or Southport to Gold Coast Airport.

Comparing Airport Shuttles and Private Transfers

Choosing the Right Service for You

Your choice between an airport shuttle and a private transfer largely depends on your travel needs and budget.

Budget-Friendly Option: Choose an airport shuttle if you prioritize affordability and don’t mind sharing a ride. This is ideal for solo travelers or those looking for cheap couriers and cheapest airport transfers on the Gold Coast.

Comfort & Convenience: If you value privacy, flexibility, and comfort, a private transfer or limousine service will better suit your needs. This is ideal for families, business travelers, or anyone seeking door-to-door couriers and premium transportation options like gold coast transfers or Brisbane airport transfers to the Gold Coast.

Frequently Asked Questions

1. Can I get a same-day courier from Brisbane?

Yes, there are same-day couriers in Brisbane that offer fast delivery services, ideal for urgent shipments.

2. What’s the best way to get from Brisbane Airport to the Gold Coast?

For those prioritizing cost, an airport shuttle is an affordable choice. For direct, no-stop service, consider private transfers.

3. Are rideshare services available from Brisbane to the Gold Coast?

Yes, rideshare from Brisbane Airport to the Gold Coast is available, offering a balance between cost and privacy.

Key Takeaways

When deciding on an airport shuttle or a private transfer, consider the following:

Budget: Airport shuttles are budget-friendly, while private transfers offer premium service.

Travel Time: Private transfers offer a quicker, direct route.

Convenience: Door-to-door service is a significant benefit of private transfers, providing a hassle-free experience.

Whether you’re booking a Gold Coast airport transfer service for your family holiday or need a courier company in Brisbane for urgent deliveries, understanding these options will help ensure a smooth and stress-free journey.

Popular Services to Consider

Gold Coast Couriers

Quick Couriers

same day delivery

Brisbane Courier Services

Delivery Services in Brisbane

Choosing the right transport is key to a seamless trip, so assess your priorities and budget for a pleasant experience, be it an airport shuttle, private transfer, or door-to-door airport transfer service!

Facebook, Instagram, Twitter/X, Pinterest, Tumbler, wordpress, Medium

Support Aussie Businesses with Airport Transfers

[yinandyanglifestyle]

Sydney is GOTH

Especially the buildings.

by: Icie

Namaste wonderful souls and dear readers, 

There were may wonderful things about Sydney that I liked when I visited there for 3 days. And boy, do I love that city! It truly is a global city worth going to and I love how it has embraced art.

Oh yes, I will still talk about art, but this time it's going to be about the living, highly functional art, which is called architecture. Specifically, about the gorgeous 100-200 year old buildings in Sydney.

We begin on one cold day as my partner and I walked down Hyde Park to reach AGNSW. I saw something grand that caught my eye. I can spot a Gothic tower anywhere and that right there are gothic cathedral-like twin spires trying to reach the sky.

AND IT'S GOLD.

I told my partner, "let's take a look at that cathedral for a spur of the moment side-quest before heading to AGNSW". He agreed and lo and behold: St. Mary's Cathedral.

Great! it was 8:30 AM on a Saturday, meaning there's no church service. So we went close to the steps and saw other tourists taking pictures of this beauty that was made by inmates back in the 1800s. I couldn't resist taking pictures! I love the Gothic style as much as I love Art Nouveau. The people who created this marvel didn't skip on the details. There was beauty in the fences, the doors, the columns, and the windows.

It was so amazingly beautiful.

The best part of this whole cathedral is, we could go inside to take pictures!

It was far more golden inside the building than it was outside.

Later in the day, I found another Gothic offshoot building. When I spotted the Registrar General's Building, I hoped that there would be more Gothic beauties around the city.

Surprise!

The hotel we stayed at was a quirky Federation Gothic building peppered with Art Deco and 1980's elements making it an eclectic haven for people who looked for something out of the ordinary. It was next to a small theatre that showed kitsch things as well, but damn, were they beautiful! We definitely enjoyed our stay. Alright, I wanna move to Sydney now just because of the buildings. And that was just day 1 of our trip.

On the last day of our trip, I saw more Gothic inspired buildings. I wondered why that was the case? I looked up the time when Sydney was founded and I connected the dots to my Art History lessons.

Ah.

Yep.

Victorian People loved reviving old styles and anything Gothic. Their love moved from England to Australia because it was the style of the time mostly because the old timey governor Lachlan Macquarie who, as a Victorian Scot, loved Gothic stuff. But this type of architecture in Australia had some twists. Australian Gothic is so gold and compact, not as tall as the ones in Europe (I assume. Feel free to correct me), a little simpler, and somewhat lighter.

Then I started seeing those small Gothic monuments and details everywhere.

I didn't complain. I love this style! I wanna move to Sydney and see more Gothic Revival buildings every day. Gosh, Brisbane only wishes we had buildings like these.

As per Somaly,

🌟 Thank you for your time to read and support our writing. 

🌟Thank you for being part of our community. 

🌟 Thank you for your likes, shares, comments, and follows.  

🌟Send a lot of love, hugs, peace, miracles, and blessings to you and your family.

[shelleytheodore]

CV

SHELLEY THEODORE Born in Brisbane, Australia Lives and works in London, Barcelona and France https://shelleytheodore.tumblr.com/ https://www.axisweb.org/p/shelleytheodore/ EDUCATION 2012 MA Visual Art (Fine Art), Camberwell College of Art, University of the Arts, London 1995 Bachelor of Fine Art (Hons), Goldsmiths College, University of London 1992 Dept of Continuing Education, Goldsmiths College, University of London, Certificate in Art 1980 Bachelor of Social Work, University of Queensland, Australia SELECTED EXHIBITIONS AND PUBLICATIONS 2022 Artist Feature Special Issue: Best Artists of 2022 Magazine 43, Hong Kong 2022 Magazine 43 Film Friday featured artist April 2022 https://magazine43.substack.com 2021 Deptford X Festival, Art in the open Supported Application Guide shapeslewisham introducing@shelley_theodore 23 March 2021 Deptford London 2021 Post Analogue Labyrinth IV, virtual exhibition, https://www.artsteps.com/view/ 6092eeaca33cc06fe89a823f 2019 Post Analogue Labyrinth Ill, as part of DEPTFORD X FRINGE, AAJA Deptford 2018 Post Analogue Labyrinth 11, Sister Midnight Records 4 Tanners Hill London Gaze, Axisweb: Contemporary Art UK Network, online exhibition Aesthetica Issue 81, p157, Artists' Directory, Published on Jan 24,2018 2017 Drawing Open, 26 -28 May, No Format Gallery, Arch 29, Rolt Street, Deptford 2016 Prison Drawing Project, Dean Road Prison, Scarborough, UK Artrooms Fair 2016, Melia Whitehouse Hotel, London 2015 Uncertain States Annual, Mile End Art Pavilion, Mile End 2014 Pala, an online digital program of artist's film and video works curated by Laura Mansfield 2013 Bloomberg New Contemporaries 2013, Spike Island, Bristol, and ICA, London 8 STUDIOS FROM HERE, Faircharm Studios, Deptford Postcard From My Studio, Acme Project Space 44 Bonner Road, Bethnal Green, London 2012 Crash OPEN, Charlie Dutton Gallery, 1a Princeton Street, London The Salon Art Prize Exhibition 2012, Matt Roberts Art, 25b Vyner Street, London Jerwood Drawing Prize Exhibition 2012, Jerwood Space, London No Now, Space Station Sixty Five, Kennington Bend over Shirley, Beaconsfield Contemporary Art 2011 CCW Artist Moving Image, HMV Curzon, Wimbledon 'Chain letter' worldwide exhibition 2011, GIBSMIR family, Zurich, Switzerland. Flash in the Pan, curated by Naomi Sidefin and David Crawford, Beaconsfield Contemporary Art The Unsung Heroes of the studio, ASYLUM, The Chapel, Caroline Gardens, Peckham 2010 Peckham Space Open, Peckham Space, Peckham Deptford X Fringe Award, Deptford X Fringe Nunhead Open Art Exhibition, The Surgery, Nunhead 2009 Creekside Open, selected by Mark Wallinger, APT Gallery, Deptford Creekside Open, selected by Jenni Lomax, APT Gallery, Deptford 2008 London Art Fair, Islington, Beverley Knowles Fine Art 2007 London Art Fair, Islington, Beverley Knowles Fine Art RESIDENCIES 2022 Studio Residency, San Quirze Safaja, Barcelona 2021 Photography Workshop with Architect Lisa Harmey and architecture students University of Cardiff, UK 2015 'Backs to the Future' Residency, FIVE YEARS 66 Richmond Studios, 8 Andrews Road, E84QN 2014 2014 LUX Critical forum, London 2012 Gasworks Curatorial Workshop, Gasworks 2011 Urban fabric 2 (UF2) Paradox Conference, Crawford College of Art and Design, Cork, Ireland 'Sculptural Drawing Collaboration', The Woodmill Project Space, Bermondsey

[wherespaulo]

Ripper Runs along Australia’s City Waterfronts

Jan 30 – Feb 10, 2023

On my way to New Zealand for some trail racing with Race2Adventure I thought I’d stop off en route in Oz for a couple of weeks. It was a chance to explore some of the Australian cities I’d missed in 2016. Not a running vacation as such but that’s always a great way to explore and feel grounded in a new city, especially when jogging alongside likeminded locals.

Brisbane

Brisbane was an obvious choice since it was my first port of entry into Australia after my flight from New York, plus I hoped to catch-up with my cousin whom I’d not seen since my previous trip to Australia in 2016. In the event she was unable to meet up since she was working nights in her job as a maternity nurse.

My hotel, the Royal in the Park, was in a great, secluded spot on the edge of the botanical garden, university, and Brisbane River -- perfect for accessing the riverside footpaths, Bunya Walk, City Reach Boardwalk and Bicentennial Bikeway, which I gladly did for my five mile morning runs followed by bonzer brekkies at the River Bar and Kitchen. A buzzing city with lots of modern high rise development along the river’s north shore, the Goodwill Pedestrian Bridge made for easy access to the south shore and a completely different, low-rise chilled vibe for running along the Clem Jones Promenade. I was surprised how quickly I acclimated from NYC’s freezing winter temperatures, the slight breeze from the river seemingly taking the edge off Sunshine Coasts heat and humidity – being able to acclimate to extremes of hot and cold is something I’ve developed since living in NYC after moving from the more temperate climes of the UK.

At the numerous Irish bars I continued my search for the elusive and iconic ‘pie floater’, an upside down meat pie submerged in the mushiest of peas. I’d been hooked since my first taster in a small Manhattan Australian café and had started my search for the real thing on home turf during my 2016 Australia trip. But alas, I live in hope as the dish still continued to evade me.

Cairns

I’d initially hoped to fly my mate Topul over from Papua New Guinea for a quick catch-up since Cairns is very close, but I’d had trouble contacting him – I was worried that his email and social media accounts might have been hacked, so was never sure it was him I was conversing with.

I arrived in the wet low-season so it seemed very quiet in the high humidity which it seemed you could cut with a knife. But lunch and cocktails were beckoning so I quickly discovered Ochre alongside the marina – run by well-known chef Craig Squire, it was hands down the best restaurant of my whole Australia trip! Over the next few days I would visit this place many times, sampling the excellent quinoa salad, tenderloin steak and frozen cocktails amongst other things.

I discovered Cairns Esplanade, an excellent path along the seafront, full of joggers, for my five mile morning runs with brekky afterwards at Muddy’s overlooking the ocean. The regular downpours provided a welcome respite from the heat and humidity.

Near the start of the 4.4 mile hike up Lumley Hill and Mount Whitfield from the botanical gardens (red and blue arrow circuit) I had an enlightening conversation with a guy coming the other way. He informed me that this was the ‘singles trail’ where chance encounters were rife, claiming that he’d once caught a couple in a delicate position on the summit. And he seemed to be on a mission for more voyeurism. I was skeptical but felt duty bound to keep my eyes open for the rest of the hike, just in case. Suffice to say the only brief encounter I had on the summit was with a beautiful, iridescent butterfly, seemingly intent on making my acquaintance. During my travels through the woods I do seem to have garnered a connection to the butterfly spirit and was grateful for its presence, surmising it was an angel sent in disguise.

I booked a boat trip to the un-spoilt Fitzroy Island, hoping to get some snorkeling in on the edge of the Great Barrier Reef. Encased in a giant condom-like black lycra suit on Nudey Beach (not actually a ‘nudey’ beach) to protect me from any stingers (jellyfish) rather than any transmittable disease, I headed for the water, only to find my snorkeling cut short by a leaky snorkel. Luckily there was a bar close by where I could extricate myself from the lycra capsule and chug a couple of excellent thirst quenching IPA’s.

Perth

I’d never been to the remote west coast so this was a must, but it was an inauspicious start as the day before I arrived a teenager was killed by a bull shark in the Swan River.

Although still hot, I was grateful for the west coast’s low humidity during my five mile morning runs alongside the Swan River. Together with the extra incentive to get back to my hotel, The Alex, for the amazing buffet brekky including marmite/vegemite and cheese puff pastry swirls, it was a perfect recipe (excuse the pun) for speeding me up – as with the pie floater, only the Australians could be so bold as to put these things on the menu!

Always up for sampling the local plonk, I booked the Swan Valley Wineries Tour with d’Vine Tours. With about 15 of us on a small bus and an entertaining driver, we visited three wineries (with lunch at one), a brewery and a chocolate factory. By the end of it we were all fair dinkum sozzled and singing along to the drivers play list.

On Cottesloe Beach the shark nets looked robust, but I only dared dip my feet in after that shark attack, and laying on the beach while reading was limited without an umbrella. It wasn’t all bad since I’d recently discovered ‘beach strolling’ where I could stretch my legs, take in the views and ponder the meaning of life, all while attempting to translate the mysterious language of the crashing wave, a language which has so far eluded me.

I strolled through miles of sandy trails that run through Perth’s beautiful botanical gardens. With its dry, Mediterranean type summer climate, the trees are typical of a dry forest region with many eucalyptus and pines amongst others, and inhabited by noisy flocks of large Carnaby’s black cockatoo’s which seemed to have fun bombarding me with squawks and pinecones.

A quick train trip to Freemantle, Perth’s old town which became the primary destination for transported convicts from 1850, was a worthwhile detour. As I strolled alongside quaint Victorian style architecture in the scorching sun, with their resplendent verandas, I couldn’t help noticing how many had been taken over by public houses – and after a quick visit to one of them to quench my thirst, I pondered the age old mystery of why such a beer drinking nation sells so many tasteless brews.

[maxsimagination]

𝘄𝗲𝗹𝗰𝗼𝗺𝗲 𝗵𝗼𝗺𝗲 - 𝗰.𝗴𝗿𝗮𝗻𝘁

summary: charli and reader have been dating for years, and finally get selected to play together in the world cup.

𖦹 masterlist

"𝗛𝗘𝗟𝗟𝗢?"

"hi yn, it's tony gustavsson, coach of the matilda's. how are you?"

"i'm good tony. what can do for you?"

"i was just calling to deliver some great news. you've been selected to play for australia in the world cup."

"wait actually? are you joking?" tony laughed at that.

"no this is very real, yn. we have already informed your current club and you'll be flown over to brisbane next week. how does that sound?"

"oh my- that sounds amazing tony! thank you so much!"

"no worries, yn. i'll see you then."

——

it had been a week since that phone call, with tony telling me i'd been called up to play for the nation. i had been elated, the first person i'd told was my mum and dad. they were just as happy as i was. i knew who was already on the squad and one name stood out to me.

charlotte grant. my girlfriend.

i hadn't told her about being selected, i wanted to keep it a surprise and show up unannounced. we hadn't seen each other in over a month because of the two different clubs we were with.

charli and i had been close since we were 15, playing in adelaide together. we instantly became best friends when we met and eventually i had broke the silence and asked her out. she said yes immediately and we had been like the 'it' couple ever since.

our bond was tested when charli moved to rosengard at 18, and i stayed at adelaide. we saw each other in the under 20s national teams, but now we were 21 and 22, she'd moved to vittsjo gik, and we had aged out of the younger teams.

our days consisted of calling whenever we could, each one of us taking turns to stay up into the early hours of the morning just so we could talk for longer. it wasn't an ideal situation but we made it work. so when i got the call up for the matilda's i was so excited that i got to see charli again and we could play together again.

a week had passed since the call and it had felt like torture every second i had to wait. my bags were packed at least two days before my flight was scheduled and i was practically bouncing off the walls of my apartment. this was about to be the best couple of months in my life.

my parents dropped me off at the airport that day, both of them getting a bit teary as i walked through the gateway. i knew it was sad for them but i was still overcome with happiness.

this was my dream, my first world cup. i pulled my phone out when i was boarded on the plane, i had a text from charli. 'call soon? lmk x' i smiled down at her text, she had no clue i was coming up to see her. i typed my response back out to her; 'not now, love. i'm super tired x'. i hoped it was enough to keep her satisfied until i landed in brisbane.

it was meant to be just under a 3 hour flight so i put my headphones in and turned on some music. i ended up falling asleep, only waking up to the air hostesses letting people know that we were landing in just over 30 minutes. i was till a bit tired so i put my headphones away, tucked my phone into my pocket and closed my eyes again, just to see if i could get a couple more minutes of sleep.

i did fall back asleep and the hostess had to wake me up to get off the plane.

"i'm so sorry, thank you for waking me." she was a nice lady and didn't mind having to get me up. i grabbed my bag from the overhead storage and walked towards the exit. i got through security without a hitch and headed to collect my suitcase.

i was standing by the moving row of bags when an older man walked towards. "hey, yn right? i'm tony."

"oh hi tony, yea i'm yn, i didn't know you were meeting me here." "yea i thought i'd take you to the hotel and training myself. you can meet all the other girls then." we grabbed my suitcase when it came through and headed outside to a black car mercedes which took us to a hotel.

"we'll take you to your room so you can get changed and into something better for training then we'll head back out to meet the team. sound good?"

"yea sounds good." he showed me into the hotel and the lady at the front desk gave me the key card to my room. i managed to drag my suitcase into the room and tony said he'd wait in the lobby for me. i shoved the suitcase on the bed, shut the door to my room and pulled out some exercise gear i had on the top of the pile in my bag.

a quick shower was in order to get rid of airport germs and i was changed in no time. i grabbed my phone and key card and headed back down to the lobby.

"okay i'm good to go." tony stood up and we headed back out to the mercedes which was still there, waiting for us. it was only a short drive to the field we were training at but the nerves were seeping in at the thought of seeing charli again for the first time in over a month. tony must have been able to tell something was up.

"you okay?" "yea, i'm just nervous. i haven't told charli i got selected so this is a surprise for her." tony nodded along in agreement.

"i'm sure she'll love to see you again. the girls tell me she doesn't stop talking about you." i smiled at his words, hoping they were true. we had arrived at the facility and got out. tony led the way and showed me into the stadium. i could already see the players warming up on the field.

"alright girls, listen up! there is one more person i'd like you to meet." i stepped out from behind tony as he said his next sentence. "please welcome to the team-"

"YN!" he was cut off before he could say my name. it was charli that had screamed out and was now barreling towards me full force. i grabbed onto her when she hit me, twirling her around a couple of times before putting her down.

she wasted no time in grabbing my face and smashing our lips together in a long awaited kiss. "you didn't tell me you were selected!" she pouted at me.

"it was a surprise for you. did you like it?" she grinned. "absolutely." tony cleared his throat and we pulled apart. "as charli so eloquently put it, this is yn yln. go join the girls yn." me and charli walked back to the group of other players and charli went around to everyone, introducing me to every single person.

i don't think i've seen her this happy before, but it made my heart happy.

[top10millionairedatingsites]

How to Date a Millionaire in Australia: Secrets to Attracting Wealthy Partners Down Under

Australia is home to a growing number of millionaires, from successful entrepreneurs and corporate executives to real estate moguls and investors. Cities like Sydney, Melbourne, Brisbane, and Perth are hubs for the wealthy, offering a vibrant mix of luxury lifestyles, exclusive events, and high-end social circles.

Dating a millionaire in Australia isn’t just about enjoying lavish perks—it’s about connecting with a high-caliber individual who values ambition, intelligence, and authenticity. If you’re looking to attract and date a millionaire in Australia, you’ll need to know where to meet them, how to present yourself, and what it takes to build a meaningful relationship.

Understanding the Millionaire Mindset in Australia

Australian millionaires are typically self-made, as the country has a strong culture of entrepreneurship and investment. Many have built their wealth through business, technology, mining, real estate, and finance. While they enjoy luxury, they often appreciate down-to-earth personalities, intelligence, and emotional maturity in a partner.

Unlike in some countries where wealth is openly flaunted, Australian millionaires often prefer a more laid-back yet sophisticated approach to life. They value partners who are independent, well-spoken, and able to hold meaningful conversations beyond materialistic topics.

If you want to date a wealthy Australian, you need to show that you can complement their success. They are often busy with their careers and expect their partners to be understanding, supportive, and adaptable. Being someone who brings value to their life—rather than just benefiting from their wealth—is crucial.

Where to Meet a Millionaire in Australia?

Finding and dating a millionaire in Australia starts with being in the right places, online and offline.

Luxury Dating Apps

Exclusive dating platforms such as Luxy, MillionaireMatch, Seeking, and Raya cater specifically to wealthy singles and those looking to date them. These apps provide access to financially successful individuals who are actively searching for a relationship.

Elite Social Events & Networking Circles

Millionaires often attend business networking events, charity galas, and exclusive social gatherings. Some of the best places to meet wealthy individuals include:

Sydney: Exclusive events at The Star Sydney, charity balls at the Opera House, and yacht parties in Darling Harbour.

Melbourne: High-profile racing events like the Melbourne Cup, private club events, and luxury restaurant openings.

Brisbane & Perth: Investment and mining industry events, high-end golf tournaments, and waterfront business networking mixers.

Getting involved in these circles by attending fundraising events, corporate summits, or art exhibitions increases your chances of meeting a successful and wealthy partner.

Luxury Venues & High-End Hotspots

Wealthy individuals often frequent fine-dining restaurants, luxury hotels, and exclusive clubs. Some key locations where you might meet a millionaire include:

Sydney: Quay, Aria, The Ivy, Crown Sydney’s VIP lounges.

Melbourne: Vue de Monde, Club 23, Crown Towers.

Brisbane: Blackbird Bar & Grill, Eleven Rooftop Bar.

Perth: Wildflower, Mello House, The Waiting Room at Crown Perth.

Upscale golf clubs, private yacht parties, and members-only clubs are also popular among Australian millionaires. Frequenting these locations naturally increases your chances of meeting someone wealthy.

Business & Professional Circles

If you have a strong career, you may cross paths with millionaires through industry conferences, real estate seminars, and investment forums. Many wealthy Australians are active in startups, property development, and corporate leadership, so networking within these industries can open doors to high-value connections.

How to Attract a Millionaire in Australia?

Attracting a millionaire requires positioning yourself as a high-value partner. Here’s how you can stand out:

Confidence & Charisma

Confidence is one of the most attractive qualities. Australian millionaires don’t want a partner who is overly dependent or insecure. Instead, they are drawn to those who exude self-worth, independence, and charm. Walk into a room with poise and certainty, and you’ll instantly make an impression.

Style & Presentation

Wealthy individuals appreciate partners who take care of themselves and dress elegantly. Australian fashion is classy yet effortless, so focus on:

Well-fitted, high-quality clothing (think minimalist luxury, designer pieces, and elegant evening wear).

A well-groomed appearance with attention to detail (hair, nails, and accessories matter).

A balance between sophistication and natural charm—Australians prefer style that feels authentic rather than overly flashy.

Intelligence & Engaging Conversation

Millionaires appreciate intellect and stimulating discussions. Being well-read and knowledgeable about topics like business, finance, travel, and current affairs will help you connect on a deeper level. Conversations should be engaging, not focused solely on luxury and money—show curiosity, ambition, and depth.

Independence & Ambition

Having your own career, passions, or business aspirations makes you more attractive. Millionaires respect individuals who have their own goals and don’t rely on them financially. Demonstrating that you’re ambitious, driven, and self-sufficient will make you stand out.

Emotional Maturity & Low-Drama Attitude

Australian millionaires, like all high-achievers, have stressful careers and demanding schedules. They appreciate partners who are understanding, supportive, and emotionally stable. Being someone who can bring balance to their life—rather than unnecessary drama—makes you an ideal companion.

Building a Genuine Connection

A wealthy partner is looking for someone who adds real value to their life. To build a meaningful relationship:

Find common interests. Whether it’s travel, business, fine dining, or fitness, shared passions strengthen relationships.

Respect their time. Many millionaires have busy schedules, so being flexible and supportive rather than demanding is crucial.

Be authentic. Pretending to be someone you’re not will eventually backfire. Confidence in who you are and what you bring to the table is key.

Avoiding the Gold Digger Stereotype

Many millionaires are cautious about being used for their wealth. To avoid being labeled as a gold digger:

Don’t make money the focus of conversations. Instead, engage in meaningful discussions about ambitions, values, and experiences.

Show that you bring value. Offer emotional support, share your insights, and show appreciation without expecting financial perks.

Have your own financial stability. Even if you desire a partner who provides, being financially independent earns respect.

Turning Dating into a Long-Term Relationship

To make the relationship last, focus on:

Communication & shared values. Discuss long-term goals and ensure compatibility.

Supporting their ambitions. Millionaires appreciate partners who encourage their growth rather than just enjoying the luxury lifestyle.

Keeping the romance alive. Thoughtful gestures, weekend getaways, and special moments keep the connection strong.

Final Thoughts

Dating a millionaire in Australia is more than just luxury—it’s about forming a genuine connection with a high-caliber individual. By focusing on confidence, intelligence, elegance, and emotional maturity, you can attract and keep a successful partner.

Whether you meet them through luxury dating apps, social events, or business circles, the key is to offer more than just looks—bring value, ambition, and authenticity into the relationship. When built on mutual respect, trust, and shared experiences, a relationship with a millionaire can be deeply fulfilling and long-lasting.

Would you like any adjustments or additions to tailor this further to your vision? 😊

[brisbanecleaningandpestcontrol]

Hire Trained and Experienced Commercial Cleaning service in Brisbane

Could Your Business Benefit From a Spotless Commercial Cleaning? Yes, Read The Caption to See How - BCCPC

We are trusted, uniformed, and highly reliable commercial cleaning company in Brisbane CBD. We offer professional commercial cleaning services in Brisbane.

The benefits of spotless commercial cleaning for your business:

➡️ A cleaner space means more productivity. Employees work better when the environment is clean and organized. 💼 ➡️ First impressions matter. Clients notice a clean office, and it gives a positive, professional vibe. 🤝 ➡️ Better air quality. Dust and allergens? Gone. Your team breathes easier. 🌬️ ➡️ Fewer sick days. Clean spaces reduce the spread of germs and bacteria. 💪 ➡️ A business that cares about details. A clean office says a lot about your company. 🏢

At Brisbane Commerc

Brisbane Commercial Cleaning and Pest Control is a trained and experienced commercial cleaning Brisbane service. Irrespective of the type and size of your commercial space, we have the expertise to provide commercial cleaning in Brisbane. We are highly competent in providing cleaning solutions for commercial spaces such as:

Offices

Shops

Educational Institutions

Restaurants, Hotels and Pubs

Warehouses and Factories

Nightclubs and Bars

Retail Stores

Gym and Health Clubs

Movie Theaters and Entertainment Halls

Transport Stations

Shopping Centers

Studios and many more

We are one of the leading commercial cleaning companies Brisbane that covers the most number of sectors, including education, transport, all types of factories, retail and shopping centres, communal areas etc. Hire our commercial cleaning services Brisbane and portray a professional image for your commercial spaces and offices. We are trusted, uniformed, and highly reliable commercial cleaning company in Brisbane CBD.

Why Choose Brisbane Commercial Cleaning and Pest Control?

We tailor our commercial cleaning Brisbane service to suit your requirements

We have adopted safe working practices, including the latest machines, tools and products for cleaning.

Our corporate cleaning Brisbane service is fully geared up to meet the regulatory requirements of all types of our clients.

We follow the strict COVID-19 protocol to provide customised cleaning services, including commercial carpet cleaning Brisbane.

We are one of the trusted, uniformed and highly reliable commercial cleaning companies Brisbane.

Brisbane Commercial Cleaning and Pest Control is the top provider of commercial cleaning Brisbane every company is looking for! Every member of our team is chosen on their qualification and experience. Hence, no commercial space poses a challenge for them. We follow flexible working hours. We can undertake cleaning activities at the off-hours or on holidays. Hence, we are one of the favourite commercial cleaning companies Brisbane for most of the business owners and corporate offices.

Are you looking for commercial cleaning or office cleaning in New Farm?

You’re at the right place; we provide professional, efficient, fast, and reliable commercial cleaning services with 100% customer satisfaction. Our team of experts is highly experienced and fully trained to meet your commercial and office cleaning requirements.

Commercial spaces are where you spend a lot of time while working and it’s part of your regular life, dirty commercial spaces not only put a bad impression on your visitors or employees but that can also make you sick.

We believe that choosing Brisbane commercial cleaning and pest control means choosing the best commercial cleaning New Farm service. We design our services as per your requirements and find out what are the most suitable services you will need to make your commercial spaces look just like new. Then our highly trained, polite, and trustworthy commercial cleaning experts will start the process of cleaning and make sure you get the highest standard of cleaning services.

Regardless of the type or size of building your business occupies, We have got you covered with our exceptional services.

Our commercial cleaning Brisbane services cover a huge number of commercial spaces such as Offices, Shops, Educational Institutions, Restaurants, Hotels and Pubs, Warehouses and Factories, Nightclubs and Bars, Retail Stores, Gym and Health Clubs, Movie Theaters and Entertainment Halls, Transport Stations, Shopping Centers, Studios and many more