Jason Knight awoke to the soft glow of sunlight filtering through his bedroom window. At 18, he already had the world at his feet—well, at least that's how it felt sometimes. Blinking the sleep from his eyes, he stretched and glanced at the peaceful figure beside him. His girlfriend, Emma, was still fast asleep, her blonde hair fanned out over the pillow.
Sliding out of bed quietly, Jason headed to the kitchen. He prepared a breakfast bowl of oats topped with fresh fruit and a protein shake to go alongside it. He loved starting his mornings on a healthy note, especially with a big match just a couple of days away against Huddersfield. As he sat down to eat, Emma appeared in the doorway, yawning.
"Morning," she said, her voice soft and groggy.
"Morning," Jason replied, giving her a smile. "Want me to make you something?"
She shook her head and stretched. "No, I'm good. But I need to talk to you about something."
Jason set down his spoon, instantly curious.
"I have to go to London for a bit," she said. "My cousin needs some help with a few things. It's just for a while."
"Oh," Jason said, a hint of disappointment in his voice. "When are you leaving?"
"This afternoon," Emma replied. "I'll be back soon, though. Promise."
Jason nodded. He wasn't thrilled about her leaving, but he understood. After all, he had football to focus on. "Alright. Safe trip. Call me if you need anything."
She leaned in, kissing him on the cheek. "I will. Thanks, love."
After Emma left to pack, Jason grabbed his bag and headed outside. His new car, a sleek black Audi, gleamed in the driveway. He couldn't help but feel a surge of pride as he slid into the driver's seat. A year ago, he could only dream of having something like this.
As he drove to the training ground, he reflected on how much had changed recently. Derby County had been on fire since Wayne Rooney took over as coach. The team's performances had skyrocketed, and Jason himself had become a regular starter. Apart from the last match, which they'd lost, their form was impeccable.
His thoughts drifted to David Jones, the 16-year-old wonder kid Rooney had brought in. Jason had always thought he was talented, but David was on another level. His speed, ball control, and relentless drive were unmatched. Jason couldn't help but admire his work ethic and determination.
"I bet he's going to be so pumped today," Jason thought as he pulled into the parking lot. "Training's back, and a match is coming up. He'll be raring to go."
But as Jason walked into the locker room, his optimism was quickly dashed. There, slumped on one of the benches, was David. His eyes were bloodshot, with dark bags underneath, and his usually sharp demeanor was replaced by a sluggish, half-conscious state.
Jason tapped him on the shoulder. "Oi, Jonesy."
David jolted awake, shouting, "Not another goal!"
The entire locker room erupted in laughter.
"Relax, mate," Jason said, suppressing his own chuckles.
David groaned, rubbing his face. Jason handed him a pack of gum.
"Here," Jason said. "You look like you need it."
David muttered a quiet "Thanks" and popped a piece in his mouth.
"What's up with you?" Jason asked. "Didn't sleep well?"
"Yeah, sorry about this," David replied, his voice hoarse. "I didn't get much rest last night."
"Right," Jason said, unconvinced but deciding not to push.
Fortunately, today's training was light. The team went through basic drills and shooting practice. Despite his exhaustion, David managed to perform decently, though he was far from his usual standard.
As they wrapped up, Rooney called out, "Make sure to get some rest, Jones. We've got an early session tomorrow."
David nodded, looking sheepish. The team dispersed, and Jason was about to head to his car when he heard a knock on his window.
David was standing there, looking hesitant. "Hey, Jason. Can I come over? I need to test something."
Jason raised an eyebrow but nodded. "Sure."
When they arrived at Jason's house, he pointed toward the guest bedroom. "You need to rest, David. Let me show you the room."
But David walked straight into the living room, where Jason's PS4 was set up. He turned it on without a word.
Jason sighed. "Wait… Is this why you didn't sleep last night? Because of games?"
David hesitated, then admitted, "Well, yeah. Kind of. But it's not just that."
Jason shook his head. "David, you know that's not good for you."
"Just one game," David insisted. "I need to test something. Then I'll rest."
Reluctantly, Jason joined him. As the game loaded, David immediately selected Barcelona.
"Wow," Jason said. "Didn't know you were a Barca fan."
"They're the best team in the game," David replied. "I need them for this."
"You're already good. Why pick the best team?" Jason asked, choosing Real Madrid.
David looked at him dead in the eye. "I am good, aren't I?"
The match began, and David was relentless. By the end, the scoreline read 7–2 in his favor.
"Happy now?" Jason asked, throwing his controller onto the couch. "You beat me. Will you go rest now?"
David muttered something under his breath.
"What was that?" Jason asked.
David sighed and turned to him. "Alright, I'll tell you. Last night… I was playing FIFA online against someone. Her username's NotZoeyBlack. She destroyed me. Like, over and over again."
Jason's eyebrows shot up. "Wait, how bad are we talking?"
"The first game was 9–3. Then 10–1. Then 7–0," David admitted, his voice dropping with each number.
Jason burst out laughing, clutching his sides. "You? Mister Wonder Kid? Thrashed at FIFA? Oh, this is gold!"
David glared at him.
"Sorry, sorry," Jason said, wiping tears from his eyes. "Maybe it was just the team difference. Don't think too much about it."
David nodded, though his expression remained troubled. He finally took Jason's advice and headed to the guest room.
As he lay in bed, Jason's words replayed in his mind: team difference. But then he remembered something: midway through their matches, Zoey had switched to a lineup of unknown players—and still beat him 8–3.
David groaned, covering his face with a pillow. "I'm taking this to my grave," he muttered before finally drifting off to sleep.