~offside~

~kick-off~

The first day of pre-season always brought chaos.

The changing room buzzed with conversation as players returned from their summer break, swapping stories, laughing, and comparing holiday photos.

Jude Bellingham sat on the bench, lacing up his boots.

He'd missed football.

He'd missed Dortmund.

What he hadn't missed...

Was Erling Haaland.

As if summoned by the thought, the dressing room door swung open.

"There he is."

Erling walked in carrying his boots over one shoulder, greeting teammates as he made his way across the room.

The second his eyes landed on Jude, he smirked.

"Bellingham."

"Haaland."

Silence.

The rest of the squad exchanged knowing looks.

One of the younger players quietly muttered, "Here we go."

Neither Jude nor Erling took their eyes off each other.

"You've been practising that haircut?" Erling asked.

Jude raised an eyebrow.

"You've been practising missing easy chances?"

A chorus of "Oooh!" echoed through the room.

Erling laughed.

"One minute back and you're already talking."

"You started it."

"I said hello."

"That wasn't hello."

"It was in Norwegian."

"You don't speak Norwegian when you're insulting me."

"I multitask."

Jude shook his head.

"You're unbelievable."

"And yet you always look happy to see me."

"I look annoyed."

"Exactly."

Before Jude could reply, the manager stepped into the dressing room.

"If you're both finished."

The room immediately fell silent.

"We're on the pitch in two minutes."

⸻

Training started exactly how Jude expected.

With Erling trying to win everything.

Sprint drills.

Erling won.

Passing drills.

A draw.

Shooting practice.

Jude curled a shot into the top corner.

Erling immediately stepped up.

His effort crashed into the exact same spot.

Jude folded his arms.

"Copycat."

Erling picked up another ball.

"I was showing you how it's done."

"You copied me."

"I improved it."