been one month since I came to London. One month of accompanying Al across England and Wales for her matches.

One month which means... Australia made it to the World Cup final. Under my baby's leadership. No matter how many posts and stories I uploaded on Insta, it doesn't justify the amount of pride I am feeling.

It's her first World Cup as a captain and Australia already made it to the fucking final. They didn't even lose a single match. Not a single match and were on the first position on the points table.

Our families flew over from Australia to watch the final except for uncle cause he was already present here for the past few matches. His eyes seemed to be twinkling with pride ever since and I am sure mine were too.

And Lucian came along with them, I would have been surprised if he missed this match.

We all sat in a VIP booth, courtesy to uncle and Al, with Lucian beside me after I forced Austin to move back.

And no matter how much I try to ignore it I just can't miss the way Maria's eyes linger on Lucian a little too long than usual. They never talked with each other except a simple acknowledgement. Besides Lucian is never the type to talk much anyway.

I kept glancing at Lucian to see if he was looking at her or not but no, nothing, not even a single hint that he was interested or something. Thank fucking God for that. He better not be the slightest bit of interested in her or I will kill this fucker, my best friend or not.

Trying to not think much about them, I focused back on the game as Australia won the toss and chose to bowl first. Good decision, baby.

I glanced at Lucian while dad and uncle were arguing about whether she made the right decision or not. "So...what are your predictions?"

Lucian's gut feelings are so fucking right every single time. If he has a feeling that this particular team will be winning or this decision will be better then it is. No wonder he was so successful.

His eyes were focused on the ground as both the teams walked out for the national anthems. "You don't wanna know."

"What? Why? You think India is gonna win?"

He gave me a side glance and we all got up for the national anthems. "Australia didn't even lose a single match and I gave a feeling this is the night they will lose."

"Fuck off", I hissed. "You are being pessimistic. So what if we didn't lose any match?"

"India lost two matches in the group stage, Australia didn't. Our overconfidence might be our downfall."

"Fuck you. We are not gonna lose. This World Cup is ours." I growled lowly.

"I hope we don't. But my gut feeling says otherwise."

I gritted my teeth and became silent as India's national anthem started playing followed by Australia's.

"If we lose I am taking it out on you." I threatened when both the anthems ended and we all sat down.

"You should be blaming your wif--" He stopped abruptly seeing the murderous look on my face.

He cleared his throat and leaned back. "Kidding. We will win."

Giving him one last glare I focused on the match.

.

.

.

Fucking Hell.

A target of fucking 320. It's not that huge for a fifty over match but still...any target over 300 in a World Cup final is bound to make you anxious.

Fuck.

I was tapping my feet nervously on the floor when dad stopped infront of me and ran his hand over my head. "Don't worry, we will chase it. It's not that huge."

"Hell, yeah...we will." Uncle added and everyone agreed with him.

Lucian extended a bar of chocolate he eating to me. "It will calm you down."

I gave him a blank stare. "You know I don't like chocolate much."

He rolled his eyes and continued eating it. "Yeah cause you are an idiot."

I ignored him as uncle took his offer of eating the chocolate instead. Like Lucian, uncle loves anything that is chocolate.

Everyone became silent the moment the Australian openers took their place on the pitch.

Cassie was one of the opening batter and I watched with bated breathe as the first ball hurled a little too close to her bat and back into the wicketkeeper's gloves.

Come on, Cassie. You can do better.

And I jumped on my feet in excitement when she hit the next ball for a beautiful cover drive.

And for the next few overs, I didn't sit down and leaned over the railing, watching the match.

They were playing well until the other batter got bowled in the tenth over. Fuck.

The Indian fans cheered and clapped as the Australians became completely silent.

But soon they started to clap the moment Althea stepped out on the ground and walked to the pitch. They trusted and loved her a lot.

Cassie said something to her and they both fist bumped before Al took her place on the striker's end and I sighed when she defended the first ball.

Uncle soon joined me and placed his hand on my shoulder and squeezed it. "Sit down, Calix. Have trust in her."

"I do...I...just..."

"There are forty more overs to go, you will get tired. Sit down."

I nodded and finally sat down and Lucian offered me his chocolate once again just to fuck with me.

And he just smiled mischievously when I glared at him.

I moved out to the railing and clapped the hardest as my baby scored a splendid half century and waved her bat around to acknowledge the crowd and glanced to where we all were and smiled widely and I gave her an air kiss which they obviously captured and displayed it on the big screen making me blush.

Australia was playing good with only two wickets down.

But all good things come to an end...

We were in a such a good position even though we lost another wicket but Althea was still out there playing on seventy eight. She was our hope.

And then it happened so quickly, the fast bowler, who was bowling for India...I don't know how it happened but she bowled a bouncer and Al didn't see it coming and when she saw, it was too late, she couldn't duck and the ball hit her straight under her ear. And she fell down face first on the pitch.

Gasps went around the whole ground and a deadly silence him engulfed us every player and umpires rushed to her and they slowly turned her over on her back and pulled off her helmet.

Cold dread trickled inside me. Considering where she has been hit... that's... that's a fatal spot.

Years back we lost Philip Huges, an amazing Australian cricket in the same manner, a very, very similar manner. He became unconscious and never woke up.

Baby, no.

We all rushed out to the railing as she laid there with her eyes closed, not moving.

Come on, baby. Get up. Come on. Show me you are okay...

Behind me dad was shouting at uncle, "You can't go down there, Westly! She will be okay..."

Fuck. Althea, get up. Don't give up on me yet.

"Oh..." Lucian's tone had a dangerous edge to it. "That bowler is so fucking dead."

Dad seemed to be the only one who was not panicking. "It's not her fault... it's no one's f-fault." His voice cracked.

And tears welled up in my eyes. "Get up, Al." I muttered to myself.

The team doctors crouched down near her, checking her pulse and what not and then finally, finally, she moved.

Very slowly, she rolled over and her eyes fluttered opened. Fuck. I almost had a heart attack. I thought I fucking lost her.

I sighed deeply in relief as they helped her to her feet and the doctors asked her a number of questions which she seemed to be answering quite well. Not any severe concussion hopefully.

A few minutes went by before the doctors said something to her and she hesitated before nodding slowly and then she was walking off field.

Thank God. She better not have continued playing or else I would have gone down and dragged her away.

"Oh, this is a huge, huge blow to Australia." The commentators voice filtered in from the television that was fixed in the booth. "Their captain is retired hurt on seventy eight, walking off field. And by the looks of it, she won't be coming out to play again. This might cost Australia the World Cup."

Fuck the World Cup. I just want her to be okay.

Her eyes met mine and she looked absolutely devasted and gave her an assuring smile before she went inside the pavilion.

The game resumed but we all hardly had any interest in it. We were all worried about her.

Two wickets fell in quick succession and everyone crossed their fingers in anticipation. The World Cup was slipping from our fingers but we didn't care anymore. We all just wanted her to be alright but if we lose then she will definitely won't be okay. Fuck.

We were four wickets down and a couple of overs later, another one fell down. Shit.

But thankfully, after that they seemed to pick up a rhythm and the two batters played carefully and build up a fifty runs partnership but...one of them got caught behind.

We lost six wickets. Now only the bowlers were left there to bat. Everyone lost their hope.

Suddenly, there was a round of applause and I watched in horror as Althea walked back out, all geared up. What the fuck. She should be fucking resting.

Everyone was clapping for her bravery. "Althea Coleman is back out there to save her team. Can she win Australia this World Cup?" The commentators discussed among them.

"What the hell is wrong with her?!" Uncle hissed. "Someone fucking tell her to go back. What the fuck is the coach doing?!"

The coach has nothing to do with it, I know how Althea is, how determined she is. It must be her choice.

Fucking hell, baby...you are going to give me a heart attack.

For the rest of the match we were on the edge of our seats. Every ball that went a little too close to her made us gasp.

But she fucking didn't give up. She played and played and scored a century. The crowd cheered and applauded for her but she didn't even bother to acknowledge them, she was too caught up in the game, only when her partner told her that she completed her century then only she just raised her bat. No taking off of the helmet or anything.

And then it came down to the last ball. Six needed off one. A boundary was needed, not just any but a six. She had to hit a six.

The Indians took their time setting the field, dispersing all their fielders to the outer circle.

And then the bowler took her run up and bowled the delivery and Althea hit it, she tried her best but the ball bounced once on the ground before touching the boundary which means it was a four. Not a six. Australia lost the match by two runs.

India won the World Cup.

The Indian fans went crazy as fireworks exploded in the sky. Afterall it was their first Women World Cup win.

Althea stood frozen there before she dropped to her knees, her bat falling beside her.

Her partner moved to her and crouched down next to her and placed her hand around her shoulder, assuring her.

And she just removed her helmet and placed her head on her teammate's shoulder and broke down.

My heart clenched so hard. She worked so fucking hard for this, for the World Cup, since months. And she came back out to play even after she got hurt only to lose it in the end.

Her other teammates joined her on the field, hugging each other, consoling each other but she was in the worst condition. Crying.

Fuck, baby.