SCORE | haalingham

Part 1: The Accident

(Just a quick note based on this chapter- IT DOES GET BETTER! I noticed my writing in this one was sloppy and I can't be asked to fix it. Just trust me 🥹 HAVE FUN READING!!)

The clattering of boots against the perfect pitch echoed around the empty stadium.
My eyes darted from player to ball, ball to player. It was as if we were a pack of wolves dedicated solely to hunting a fearful deer- wondering who would get it first- claim their prize.

Unlike the rest of my "pack",
I was quick.

I swept up the ball from our defender, leaving him spinning on his heels. And in one quick motion, my foot reeled back. My razor sharp teeth were inches away from that deers pristine fur! My foot thrust forward into the ball, sending it soaring into the air like a rocket taking off.

I was already halfway through pivoting to celebrate when a tall shadow blocked the blinding fluorescent lights...

Erling Haaland.

The ball bounced off of his shoulder with a thunk and ricocheted straight into the side of my face.

I fell to the floor.

Training was always rough. We shoved each other, punched, pushed- anything you can think of, we did.

So I was used to having black eyes from accidents like this. With a huff, I put the ice pack back up to my purple face, wincing at the cold.

My eye tracked the number on my shirt hanging just above my locker, lightly tracing every curve and straight line. 22. Something about seeing that number gave me a strange sense of hope and direction, distracting me from the swelling pain in my other eye.

The door to the changing room creaked open gently...

My head twisted towards the sound quickly.
Erling Haaland made everything around him look small. I may be used to the injury, but I am not used to a tall, meaty Norwegian guy.

"I'm fine." I said, turning back to looking at my shirt.
At every injury, he made sure to check on me. It's as if he were my crutch- my lifeline.
Four training sessions ago, I got my toe demolished by our center back when he accidentally dug his metal studs into my boot. Erling was the first person to help me up when I fell to the ground.
That's what best friends are for, right?

"...Are you sure? It looks like you got into a fight with a cricket bat." Erling crossed his arms and chuckled, leaning up against the doorframe. I looked back at him briefly,sporting a raised eyebrow at the weird analogy.I looked just long enough to notice the bead of sweat trickling down his bicep. My head snapped down towards my unlaced boots.
A wash of gentle heat pulsed over my face.
Did someone turn up the thermostat?

"I'm alright... I just.." My eyes narrowed and my brows turned upward. "...I'm worried about the game against Hoffenheim. I don't feel prepared."

Haaland shuffled over to my side, sitting down with a sigh. His leg brushed against mine as we sat in silence for a moment.
"Jude, you worry too much." He spoke, putting his hands on his knees. "Do you remember that game against Freiburg?"

I nodded hesitantly. "Yeah, I mean- who could forget? We won 4 nil."

Haalands head remained forward, but his eyes were locked onto me. A small grin crept onto his face. "Exactly! If we can beat them like that, then we can beat anyone like that."

I smiled, looking up at him.
"Maybe I'll score a goal or two."

Haaland laughed, putting an arm around me before shaking me slightly. "Let's not get that cocky, ey?"

The same heat from before returned but ten times worse.
To make matters worse, he noticed.
"You're a little hot- sure you don't need more than an ice pack?"

I scrambled upwards. "No- no I'm fine." I quickly grabbed my coat from inside my locker before beginning to step away-
His hand grabbed mine.
"...Good luck for tomorrow."

I looked back at him. Then down at our hands that seemed like they fit together.

... I pulled away.
"Yeah... you too."