Year/Job
Chudley Cannons Chaser
"Don't ask me for my autograph, ask me about the rage inside me." |
Travis
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Nova
Apr 26, 2024 8:33:40 GMT -8
Post by Sam Spade on Apr 26, 2024 8:33:40 GMT -8
Sam had never been asked by a coach not to train before. It was antithetical to his entire ethos, but Coach made it clear that if Sam brought Stella to the team facility the Friday after her record setting performance that launched them into fourth on the table, the place would be magically locked up and impossible to enter.
“We’re approaching the finish line on the season, it’s more important now than ever that we train—” the last bit was cut off when Sam winced in pain for just a second. His ribs had been bruised in the match against Puddlemere and while the staff healers had quickly mended it, repeated contact in later games had made it a nagging issue.
“You both need a break, Sam,” Coach said. “You can’t take us to the finish line on the injury list.”
The next morning, Sam awoke a half hour earlier than normal to the bathroom light shining in his eyes from the doorway. He checked the clock: 1:34. When Sam entered the master bathroom, he found Stella already getting ready for the day’s slate of training.
“Hey,” he said, his eyes still adjusting to the light. “Why are you up so early?”
Estrella Quinn
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Year/Job
Chudley Cannons Seeker
Everything good happens after midnight. |
Steph
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Nova
Apr 26, 2024 9:44:39 GMT -8
Post by Estrella Quinn on Apr 26, 2024 9:44:39 GMT -8
When Stella joined the Cannons, the hope was that they could keep up the momentum they started to build in the last two years, but she had to keep reminding herself that she was only just a rookie. She would take her first season to get in the swing of things, get to know her team, and try her best.
But damn, she had an exceptional rookie season and it felt so fucking good. She went from being the last pick of her draft class to catching the snitch in under three minutes - the fastest all season- and setting a rookie record. The Wizard Sports cover for their swimsuit edition was nice too. And now that they were in the top four, she could see the prize right in front of her. It helped her ignore the sore muscles that kept screaming at her to slow down.
“Good morning,” Stella smiled at Sam’s sleepy face in the reflection of the mirror in their bathroom. It was uncharacteristic of Sam to be dragging his feet when they had a full day ahead of them. She stopped to give him a kiss on the cheek as she reached around him to grab her clothes from the wall hanger. “I couldn’t stay in bed anymore. I figured I might as well get ready for our workout. Did I wake you up?”
The truth was that she was so sore that it kept waking her up. Would she ever admit it to Sam? Hmm, maybe if it meant that he would lavish her with even more affection.
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Year/Job
Chudley Cannons Chaser
"Don't ask me for my autograph, ask me about the rage inside me." |
Travis
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Nova
Apr 26, 2024 9:55:58 GMT -8
Post by Sam Spade on Apr 26, 2024 9:55:58 GMT -8
Seeing Stella up so early and excited to start their long day of training, it was difficult for Sam to tell her no. But heaved a small sigh, then clutched his hand to his side as that sigh sliced through his rib cage, then he said, "I was thinking maybe we can do something a little lower key today. Maybe take a break from training?"
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Year/Job
Chudley Cannons Seeker
Everything good happens after midnight. |
Steph
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Nova
Apr 26, 2024 10:16:35 GMT -8
Post by Estrella Quinn on Apr 26, 2024 10:16:35 GMT -8
“That’s funny,” Stella said as she pulled her sports bra over her head and she laughed, completely convinced that he was joking. But when she was done getting dressed, she finally looked at him and realized he was being serious. She reached up to place the back of her hand to his forehead. “Why? Are you sick?”
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Year/Job
Chudley Cannons Chaser
"Don't ask me for my autograph, ask me about the rage inside me." |
Travis
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Nova
Apr 26, 2024 10:33:13 GMT -8
Post by Sam Spade on Apr 26, 2024 10:33:13 GMT -8
Sam shook his head and took Stella's hand. "I feel fine," he laughed. "Come on, I want to show you something."
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Year/Job
Chudley Cannons Seeker
Everything good happens after midnight. |
Steph
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Nova
Apr 26, 2024 10:51:21 GMT -8
Post by Estrella Quinn on Apr 26, 2024 10:51:21 GMT -8
Something had to be wrong, right? Sam stuck to his schedule with military precision. Stella let him pull her along and she asked, “What is it? Should I be nervous?”
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Year/Job
Chudley Cannons Chaser
"Don't ask me for my autograph, ask me about the rage inside me." |
Travis
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Nova
Apr 26, 2024 11:01:46 GMT -8
Post by Sam Spade on Apr 26, 2024 11:01:46 GMT -8
Sam was going to tell Stella that they had been banned from the practice field for the day, but he didn't want her to feel like she was being punished for her own accomplishment. IF they couldn't bond over training, maybe they could find a way to still make the early morning hours special.
"Get dressed," he said, hastily slipping into a pair of jeans. "It's a little cold outside."
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Year/Job
Chudley Cannons Seeker
Everything good happens after midnight. |
Steph
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Nova
Apr 26, 2024 11:49:05 GMT -8
Post by Estrella Quinn on Apr 26, 2024 11:49:05 GMT -8
Stella kinda already felt like she was being punished and she couldn’t even figure out why. She quickly changed into a pair of jeans and her black Chudley Cannons hoodie.
“Where are we going?”
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Year/Job
Chudley Cannons Chaser
"Don't ask me for my autograph, ask me about the rage inside me." |
Travis
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Nova
Apr 26, 2024 12:01:08 GMT -8
Post by Sam Spade on Apr 26, 2024 12:01:08 GMT -8
"Come on," Sam said, slipping a fresh shirt over his head and then reached out for Stella's hand.
He led her out of the penthouse and up the stairs through the heavy security door that led to the roof. The early morning sky was still black, the stars impossible to see above the city lights. At this time of morning Sam felt like they were only the people in the world, that's why he loved their extra trainings.
On the roof was a makeshift little hangout spot, a group of tattered old lawn chairs in a circle around scattered beer bottles. Sam grabbed a couple of the chairs and scooted them near the edge of the roof. "Sit with me," he said. "Let's watch the sunrise together."
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Year/Job
Chudley Cannons Seeker
Everything good happens after midnight. |
Steph
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Nova
Apr 26, 2024 12:24:26 GMT -8
Post by Estrella Quinn on Apr 26, 2024 12:24:26 GMT -8
Stella had never been up to the roof of the building. She sometimes still felt like this was Sam’s home and she belonged in her own little apartment in another part of London where she didn’t have the luxury of a penthouse roof. They didn’t talk while he pulled the chairs along and it was killing her. Did he not want to train her anymore?
“But Sammy,” she started out as she took a seat and looked over at him. “The sun doesn’t come up for another four hours.”
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Year/Job
Chudley Cannons Chaser
"Don't ask me for my autograph, ask me about the rage inside me." |
Travis
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Nova
Apr 26, 2024 12:36:54 GMT -8
Post by Sam Spade on Apr 26, 2024 12:36:54 GMT -8
"Yeah," Sam said. "We've never really taken the time to enjoy it together though, right? We're always up at this time of day but we haven't appreciated the world around us. I thought it would be nice just be together this morning.
He dropped his head, then he said, "The truth is Coach asked me not to come in today. He thinks we're working too hard, and I don't know. It's not even about the training for me anymore. I just want to be with you at this time of day."
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Year/Job
Chudley Cannons Seeker
Everything good happens after midnight. |
Steph
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Nova
Apr 26, 2024 13:04:39 GMT -8
Post by Estrella Quinn on Apr 26, 2024 13:04:39 GMT -8
“Oh,” she said and then sighed. “Why didn’t you just say so? I thought maybe… I don’t know.”
Stella finally felt her shoulders relax and she leaned back against the chair. She looked up at the dark sky and smiled. “Remember when we first started training together? We would sit on the grass and look up at the sky and I always had this feeling. Like we were the only people in the world.”
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Year/Job
Chudley Cannons Chaser
"Don't ask me for my autograph, ask me about the rage inside me." |
Travis
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Nova
Apr 26, 2024 13:16:35 GMT -8
Post by Sam Spade on Apr 26, 2024 13:16:35 GMT -8
Sam smiled. "Yeah. When we started training together it was like...finding this new level that I'd always known I had, but never knew how to access. All it took was finding a way to shut the world off and just be with you."
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Year/Job
Chudley Cannons Seeker
Everything good happens after midnight. |
Steph
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Nova
Apr 26, 2024 13:47:57 GMT -8
Post by Estrella Quinn on Apr 26, 2024 13:47:57 GMT -8
“I want to feel like that forever.” Stella turned her head to face him. His hair was a bit messy from just getting out of bed and the moonlight gave him an ethereal glow that made her heart race. “When we’ve won five championships and the world is crazy around us, I hope we still enjoy early mornings like this. You’re my best friend, Sammy.”
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Year/Job
Chudley Cannons Chaser
"Don't ask me for my autograph, ask me about the rage inside me." |
Travis
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Nova
Apr 26, 2024 14:01:25 GMT -8
Post by Sam Spade on Apr 26, 2024 14:01:25 GMT -8
Sam sighed a heavy breath. "That whole time I thought that Quidditch my life, I didn't realize that I was just waiting for you." Sam reached out between the chairs. "You're my best friend too, Stella. I want to do everything with you forever. I promise I'll never forget how to stop like this and enjoy the world with you."
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