Startled

David woke to the sound of muffled giggles. His vision was blurry at first, but when it cleared, he was met with a face staring down at him—bright eyes, a playful smirk, and unmistakably feminine features.

Startled, David let out a shout, jerking back so fast he nearly toppled off the bed. "What are you doing here?!" he yelled, clutching the blanket like a shield.

The girl burst into laughter, clutching her stomach. "Relax, superstar. It's not what you think."

Just then, Jason barged into the room, his face etched with confusion. "What's going on here?"

David pointed an accusing finger at the girl. "Jason, who is this? And why is she here?"

Jason blinked, then sighed. "Oh, for crying out loud. That's my twin sister, Chloe."

David's jaw dropped. "Wait. What?"

Chloe flashed him a mischievous grin. "Surprise!"

"You didn't think to mention you have a twin?" David asked Jason, still trying to wrap his head around the situation.

Jason shrugged. "You never asked. But wait—how do you know her?"

David ran a hand through his hair, feeling more awkward by the second. "Uh, we… met at the supermarket. A couple of days ago."

Chloe laughed again, clearly enjoying the chaos. "He bumped into me—literally—and almost knocked over a stack of bananas. Quite the first impression."

Jason smirked, shaking his head. "Sounds about right."

David muttered something under his breath, feeling the heat rise to his cheeks. "Well, nice seeing you again, Chloe. But, uh… can I have a moment to get ready?"

Chloe rolled her eyes but complied, leaving the room with a playful wave. Jason lingered for a moment, raising an eyebrow at David. "You're handling this really well, by the way."

"Don't start," David grumbled, throwing a pillow at him.

After a quick shower and a borrowed set of Jason's training gear, David joined him in the car. The ride to the training ground was uneventful, though Jason couldn't resist teasing him a few more times about Chloe.

"You've got a knack for awkward situations, don't you?" Jason said, glancing at David as they pulled into the parking lot.

"Just drive," David muttered, slouching in his seat.

Training that day was tough but manageable. Wayne Rooney had the team working on tactical drills and set-piece routines, keeping the intensity just high enough to prepare them for the match against Huddersfield without overexerting anyone.

David pushed himself hard, as always, despite the lingering fatigue from his gaming marathon two nights ago. Rooney's watchful eye didn't miss a thing, though.

"Good work, Jones," the coach said as David nailed a free kick during a practice drill. "Keep that focus up."

Jason, on the other hand, seemed to be in peak form, breezing through the drills with his usual confidence. "You alright there, mate?" he asked David during a water break.

David nodded. "Yeah. Just need to catch up on some sleep."

"Maybe less gaming and more resting, eh?" Jason quipped with a grin.

David rolled his eyes. "Noted, mum."

The session ended with a brief team talk, Rooney reminding everyone of their roles for the upcoming match. "Stay sharp, stay disciplined. And Jones," he added, looking directly at David, "I expect big things from you tomorrow."

David nodded solemnly. "You've got it, coach."

After training, David headed home, eager to relax and recharge. His muscles ached, but it was the satisfying kind of soreness that came from knowing he'd put in the work. He cooked himself a quick meal, settled onto the couch to watch some highlights of Huddersfield's recent matches, and made a mental note of their key players.

By the time he crawled into bed that night, his body felt heavy with exhaustion. He closed his eyes, his mind already buzzing with anticipation for the game day ahead.

The next morning, David woke up feeling refreshed and ready. The nervous energy he usually felt before a match was replaced by pure excitement. Today was a home game—always a boost—and he couldn't wait to hit the pitch.

His pre-match routine was meticulously planned. A light breakfast of scrambled eggs and toast, followed by some light stretching and a playlist of his favorite pump-up songs. He could feel his adrenaline building as he packed his bag and donned his Derby County tracksuit.

As he stepped outside, the crisp morning air hit his face, sharpening his focus even more. He started jogging to the stadium, his thoughts already on the match.

"Let's do this," he muttered to himself.

The jog to the stadium felt like a blur, his mind running through every possible scenario for the game. By the time he arrived, he was fired up, ready to give it his all.