Chapter 179: Reality Check
November 17th, 2010
The Crawley locker room buzzed with tired but happy energy.
The smell of sweat and liniment hung in the air, mixing with the sound of voices all talking at once, everyone replaying the wild final minutes of the match.
The 1-1 draw felt like a win.
They'd gone up against a team expected to crush them, and they hadn't backed down.
Reece Darby clapped Max Simons on the back, grinning. "Told you we had it in us, skipper!"
Off to the side, Dev quietly unlaced his boots. He was exhausted, every muscle sore, but it was the kind of tired that felt worth it.
They hadn't just survived out there, they'd proved something.
Then, the door opened, and Niels walked in.
The room fell silent in an instant, the chatter fading into a quiet, nervous hush. The players stood waiting expecting the usual post-match routine.
A handshake.
A quick word of praise.
Maybe a nod that said, well done.
They were ready to celebrate.
