If you want to read 20 Chapters ahead and more, be sure to check out my P-Tang12!!!
_____________________________
(A/N: Don't forget to give those power stones to Skyrim everyone!)
...
And carrying a quiet piece of Brighton with them as the city slowly vanished in the rearview mirror.
The road leaving Brighton curved gently upward as the coastline slowly disappeared behind them.
For a while neither of them said much.
Not because the silence was awkward.
Quite the opposite.
It was the kind of quiet that settles naturally between two people who are comfortable enough not to fill every second with conversation.
The sea had already vanished from view now, replaced by rolling hills, small villages, and long stretches of countryside roads that cut through southern England like ribbons of grey asphalt.
Inside the car, the atmosphere felt calm.
The interior of the BMW X5 hummed softly as it moved along the highway.
Leah leaned her head lightly against the seat and stretched her legs out in front of her.
"You know," she said after a moment, "I always forget how nice the drive back is."
Francesco glanced briefly toward her before returning his attention to the road.
"The drive to Brighton is nice too."
"Yes," she said thoughtfully. "But when you're going there, you're excited."
"And when you're coming back?"
She smiled faintly.
"You're relaxed."
He nodded.
That was probably the perfect way to describe it.
Behind them, Cheddar had fully settled into the back seat. The dog had stretched himself across the passenger side cushion, nose resting on the armrest near the window.
Occasionally he lifted his head to look outside.
Trees rushed past.
Fields.
Road signs.
None of it seemed particularly interesting to him.
After a few minutes he simply sighed and went back to resting his head again.
The car merged onto the larger motorway heading toward London.
Traffic wasn't too bad.
A few family cars.
Delivery vans.
The occasional truck moving slowly in the outer lane.
Francesco drove comfortably, one hand resting loosely on the steering wheel while the other shifted occasionally between the wheel and the center console.
The steady rhythm of the road settled in.
Miles passed beneath the tires.
The countryside rolled by outside.
Leah eventually turned slightly toward him.
"So," she said casually, "what's the plan when we get back?"
Francesco shrugged.
"Unpack."
"Very exciting."
"Then I probably have a light training session tomorrow."
"With the team?"
"Yeah."
She nodded slowly.
"Back to real life."
He smiled slightly.
"Back to real life."
After about an hour and a half of driving, the gentle rhythm of the motorway began to break with the appearance of blue signs announcing the upcoming service area.
Leah spotted it first.
"Food," she said immediately.
Francesco glanced toward the sign.
"You're hungry already?"
"I woke up early."
"You woke up late."
"Still counts."
He chuckled quietly.
The car slowed as he exited the motorway and followed the ramp toward the rest area.
It was one of those large British motorway service stops where dozens of vehicles parked in neat rows and travelers wandered between convenience stores, cafés, and restaurants.
Francesco guided the BMW into a parking spot.
The engine shut off.
For a moment the quiet felt almost strange after the constant hum of the road.
Cheddar lifted his head immediately.
Adventure time.
Leah opened her door and stretched her arms above her head as she stepped out.
"Oh wow," she said. "I didn't realize how stiff I was."
"You fell off a paddleboard yesterday."
"You're never letting that go, are you?"
"Probably not."
She rolled her eyes playfully.
Meanwhile Cheddar jumped down from the back seat and began sniffing the ground with intense curiosity.
The service area bustled with life.
Families traveling between cities.
Couples stretching their legs.
Truck drivers drinking coffee beside their parked rigs.
The smell of fried food drifted through the air from inside the building.
Leah glanced toward the restaurant signs.
"Okay," she said, pointing. "Lunch."
Francesco locked the car and followed her.
They entered the building where bright lighting and the sound of casual chatter filled the space.
The food options ranged from fast food counters to small café-style restaurants.
Leah scanned the menus like a professional strategist.
"Burgers?" she suggested.
"You always pick burgers."
"They're reliable."
Francesco shrugged.
"Fair."
They ordered their food and found a small table near the window.
Cheddar waited patiently beneath the table, watching every movement with quiet hope.
Leah unwrapped her burger and took a bite.
Then immediately closed her eyes in satisfaction.
"Okay," she said. "Road trip food always tastes better."
"That's scientifically proven."
"Is it?"
"No."
She laughed.
Outside the window, cars continued arriving and leaving.
The midday sun hung high above the motorway.
Travelers came and went with the constant flow of long-distance driving.
Cheddar eventually received a small piece of bread from Leah.
"Don't tell the vet," she whispered to the dog.
Cheddar accepted the secret offering with great enthusiasm.
Lunch lasted about thirty minutes.
Not rushed.
But not overly slow either.
Eventually Francesco stood and stretched slightly.
"Ready?"
Leah wiped her hands with a napkin.
"Ready."
The BMW returned to the motorway shortly after.
The engine's low rumble settled back into the background again as the miles continued to pass.
The sky had grown brighter now.
Sunlight reflected across the road in long shimmering streaks.
Leah rolled her window down slightly, letting fresh air drift inside.
Cheddar's nose appeared between the front seats as he sniffed the breeze enthusiastically.
Francesco laughed.
"You're enjoying the trip, aren't you?"
The dog wagged his tail in response.
The afternoon passed in comfortable stretches of conversation mixed with quiet moments.
They talked about small things.
Leah's upcoming seaon with Arsenal Women.
Francesco's upcoming season with Arsenal F.C.
Plans for another holiday.
Which city they might visit next.
At one point Leah pulled out her phone and began scrolling through the photos from Brighton.
She turned the screen toward him.
"Look at this one."
It was a picture of Cheddar covered in sand on the beach.
Francesco laughed.
"He looks proud of himself."
"He was proud."
She swiped again.
"Here's the paddleboard disaster."
Francesco grinned.
The photo captured the exact moment Leah had slipped sideways into the water.
Her expression was half shock, half laughter.
"That's definitely staying," he said.
"Absolutely not."
"Oh yes."
"You're not allowed to show that to anyone."
"No promises."
She narrowed her eyes playfully.
"You're evil."
"Just honest."
About another hour later, Leah shifted slightly in her seat.
"Okay," she said.
"What?"
"We need another stop."
"Already?"
"Yes."
Francesco glanced at the upcoming motorway sign.
Another service area appeared about five miles ahead.
"Perfect timing," he said.
The BMW exited the motorway once again.
This rest area was slightly smaller than the first but still busy with travelers.
Francesco parked the car.
"Two minutes," Leah said, already stepping out.
"Sure."
She hurried toward the restroom area.
Cheddar jumped out of the car again, stretching dramatically before trotting beside Francesco.
The dog took his time sniffing the grass near the parking lot while Francesco waited.
The air felt cooler now.
Late afternoon had begun to settle over the countryside.
After a few minutes Leah returned.
"Okay," she said. "Now we can continue civilization."
"Glad to hear it."
Cheddar climbed back into the car.
The engine started again.
And the final stretch of the journey began.
The countryside gradually began to change as they drew closer to London.
Open fields gave way to suburbs.
Small towns turned into busy roads.
Traffic thickened.
More cars.
More buses.
More movement.
The skyline of the greater London area slowly appeared on the horizon.
Leah looked out the window thoughtfully.
"Back to the chaos."
Francesco smiled.
"It's home."
"Yes," she admitted softly. "It is."
The BMW merged through the busy roads smoothly as Francesco navigated the familiar route.
Soon they crossed into the quiet green neighborhoods surrounding Richmond.
The streets here were calmer.
Tree-lined.
Elegant houses tucked behind gates and gardens.
The evening sun cast long golden light across the road.
By the time Francesco turned into the driveway of his mansion, the sky had begun to soften into the colors of early evening.
The gates opened automatically.
The BMW rolled slowly up the long driveway.
Finally the car stopped in front of the house.
The engine shut off.
For a moment none of them moved.
The trip was over.
Leah exhaled softly.
"We're home."
Francesco nodded.
"Yeah."
Behind them, Cheddar wagged his tail excitedly.
Home meant his yard again.
And probably dinner.
Francesco opened his door and stepped out.
The evening air in Richmond felt calm and familiar.
Their Brighton holiday had officially ended.
The evening air in Richmond felt calm and familiar.
For a few seconds after the engine of the BMW X5 went silent, the quiet wrapped around them like a soft blanket.
The journey was finished.
The long road from Brighton back to London had slowly carried them out of holiday mode and back toward normal life.
But the memories of the sea, the beach, the bright sunshine, and the small wandering streets still lingered somewhere in the back of their minds.
Leah leaned her head back against the seat for a moment longer and exhaled.
That deep kind of exhale people make when they finally reach home after traveling.
"Okay," she murmured softly. "I'm officially tired."
Francesco chuckled as he unfastened his seatbelt.
"You slept half the drive."
"That was strategic energy conservation."
"Sure it was."
Behind them Cheddar was already standing up in the back seat, his tail wagging excitedly like a metronome set to maximum speed.
He knew exactly where they were.
Home meant space.
Home meant toys.
Home meant food.
Most importantly, home meant his yard.
Francesco opened his door and stepped out into the driveway while Leah climbed out on the other side.
The evening sun was dipping lower now, casting long golden shadows across the garden and the stone pathway leading to the front door of the mansion.
It was one of those peaceful Richmond evenings where the air carried just a hint of coolness after a warm day.
Cheddar barely waited.
The moment Francesco opened the back door the dog jumped down with a burst of energy and sprinted toward the house like he had an appointment to keep.
"Hey!" Leah called after him, laughing. "Slow down!"
Cheddar ignored that completely.
Naturally.
Francesco walked around to the back of the car and pressed the button to open the trunk.
The rear hatch lifted slowly.
Inside sat their suitcases and bags from the trip.
For a moment he just stood there looking at them.
It was funny how luggage could feel heavy not just because of what was inside, but because it meant the end of something.
End of the beach mornings.
End of lazy breakfasts.
End of walking along the pier with no schedule waiting.
But that was the rhythm of life.
Trips ended.
New days began.
Francesco grabbed the first suitcase and lifted it out.
Leah walked over and picked up the second one.
"You take that one," he said. "I'll grab the bags."
She nodded.
"Deal."
Together they walked toward the house.
The front door opened with a familiar click.
Inside, the house welcomed them with quiet stillness.
It always felt slightly different when they returned after being away for a few days.
Not empty exactly.
Just… waiting.
Cheddar had already run ahead into the living room.
The moment they stepped inside they heard the unmistakable sound of a toy squeaking.
Then another squeak.
Then the thump of paws racing across the hardwood floor.
Leah laughed.
"He missed this place."
Francesco kicked the door closed behind them.
"I think he missed his toy more."
They stepped into the living room just in time to see Cheddar proudly carrying his favorite squeaky toy across the rug like a victorious hunter returning with prey.
The toy squeaked again as he bit down on it.
Leah shook her head with a smile.
"You're ridiculous."
Cheddar wagged his tail happily and flopped down on the carpet to chew his toy with full concentration.
Mission accomplished.
Leah looked at the suitcases in their hands and sighed lightly.
"Okay," she said. "One more task before we collapse."
Francesco nodded toward the staircase.
"Unpacking."
"Unpacking," she repeated with dramatic reluctance.
They carried the luggage upstairs toward the bedroom.
The house was quiet except for the faint squeaking sounds drifting up from the living room where Cheddar continued his intense battle with the toy.
Inside the bedroom, Francesco set the suitcases down near the foot of the bed.
Leah dropped hers beside his.
For a moment they both just stood there looking at them.
"Alright," she said finally. "Let's get this over with."
Francesco unzipped his suitcase first.
The familiar smell of travel and folded clothes drifted up slightly.
He began pulling things out one by one.
T-shirts.
Training gear.
Casual clothes.
Some items went neatly back into drawers.
Others were tossed straight into the laundry basket sitting in the corner of the room.
Leah opened her suitcase next.
Her packing style was a little different.
More… creative.
"Wow," she muttered as she pulled out a sweater. "How did sand get inside my bag?"
Francesco glanced over.
"You went to the beach."
"That's not helpful."
She shook the sweater lightly before tossing it into the laundry basket.
One by one the contents of the suitcases disappeared.
Clean clothes returned to closets.
Dirty ones landed in the growing pile inside the laundry basket.
At one point Leah pulled out the small velvet pouch containing the bracelet she had bought in Brighton.
She held it up briefly.
"Still worth it."
Francesco smirked.
"Still expensive."
"Still beautiful."
She placed it carefully on the dresser.
Eventually the last few items were unpacked.
Francesco zipped his now-empty suitcase closed and slid it into the wardrobe.
Leah did the same with hers.
The bedroom slowly returned to its usual tidy appearance.
Except now there was a very full laundry basket waiting to be dealt with later.
Leah looked at it and groaned softly.
"Future problem."
"Definitely future problem," Francesco agreed.
They both sat down on the edge of the bed at the same time.
For a moment neither of them moved.
The exhaustion from the drive and the travel began settling into their muscles.
Leah leaned back on her hands.
"I don't want to cook tonight."
Francesco laughed quietly.
"That makes two of us."
She reached into her pocket and pulled out her phone.
"Good," she said. "Because I'm ordering something."
"What are we getting?"
She was already scrolling through a delivery app.
"Pizza."
Francesco nodded approvingly.
"Excellent choice."
She tapped through the menu with the speed of someone who had done this many times before.
"Pepperoni?"
"Yes."
"Mushrooms?"
"Also yes."
"Extra cheese?"
He looked at her like the answer should have been obvious.
"Always."
"Good answer."
A few quick taps later she placed the order.
"There," she said. "Food in about thirty minutes."
Francesco leaned back on the bed.
"That's perfect."
Downstairs Cheddar's toy squeaked again loudly.
Leah laughed softly.
"Someone else is hungry too."
She stood up and stretched.
"I'll handle his dinner."
Francesco remained on the bed, listening to her footsteps as she headed downstairs.
The house felt warm and peaceful again now that they were home.
In the kitchen Leah grabbed Cheddar's food container and his bowl.
The dog appeared instantly at her side like he had been summoned by magic.
"Ah," she said, looking down at him. "There you are."
Cheddar sat immediately.
Very good posture.
Very polite.
Very hungry.
Leah poured the dog food into his bowl.
The familiar dry rattling sound echoed lightly across the kitchen counter.
Then she grabbed a small dish and poured some milk as well.
"There you go," she said as she placed both bowls down on the floor.
Cheddar didn't even wait.
He dove into the food like it was the greatest meal of his life.
Leah smiled and leaned against the counter for a moment watching him eat.
A few minutes later Francesco wandered downstairs too.
He stopped in the doorway.
"Pizza ordered?"
"Yep."
"Cheddar fed?"
She pointed toward the floor where the dog was still happily eating.
"Also yep."
Francesco nodded approvingly.
"Efficient."
Leah folded her arms and leaned back against the counter beside him.
For a moment neither of them spoke.
The kitchen lights cast a warm glow across the room while the quiet sounds of Cheddar finishing his meal echoed softly from the floor.
The dog's bowl clinked lightly against the tiles as he pushed it around slightly while eating the last few bites.
Outside, evening in Richmond had fully settled in.
The sky beyond the kitchen window was slowly shifting from gold into deep blue.
A few streetlights along the quiet road had already turned on.
It was the kind of calm evening that made the house feel even more peaceful after a long drive.
Leah let out another tired breath and rested her head lightly against the cabinet behind her.
"I swear," she murmured, "every holiday ends the same way."
Francesco raised an eyebrow.
"How?"
"Excited when it starts… sad when it ends… and completely exhausted when you finally get home."
"That sounds accurate."
Cheddar finished the last bite of food and immediately moved to the small dish of milk beside it.
He lapped at it enthusiastically.
Leah glanced down at him and smiled.
"At least someone's happy."
Francesco chuckled quietly.
"He's always happy."
Cheddar finished his milk in record time, then looked up at them with bright, hopeful eyes.
Leah pointed toward the living room.
"Go play."
That was all the permission he needed.
The dog trotted away happily, his paws tapping lightly across the floor before disappearing back into the living room where his toys waited.
A few seconds later the familiar squeak of the toy echoed again.
Leah laughed under her breath.
"He's got more energy than both of us combined."
Francesco nodded.
"That's because he didn't drive three hours today."
Leah stretched her arms above her head slowly.
"My legs feel like I ran a marathon."
"You paddleboarded badly yesterday."
"Stop bringing that up."
He smirked.
Before she could respond, a sound suddenly echoed faintly through the house.
Ding.
Leah lifted her head.
"Was that the gate?"
Francesco already knew the sound.
Their front gate had a small bell alert connected to the security system whenever someone arrived.
"That'll be the pizza."
Leah immediately brightened.
"Perfect timing."
Francesco reached into his pocket and pulled out his phone.
A few taps later he opened the security app connected to the CCTV cameras around the property.
The live feed from the front gate appeared on the screen.
Sure enough, a delivery scooter waited just outside the gate.
A man wearing a delivery jacket stood beside it holding a large insulated food bag.
Francesco nodded.
"Yep. Food's here."
Leah pushed herself upright from the counter.
"I love modern technology."
Francesco tapped the remote gate control on the screen.
Outside, the tall iron gate slowly began sliding open.
The delivery man glanced up in mild surprise before pushing his scooter forward through the entrance.
Francesco slipped his phone back into his pocket.
"He's coming up."
Through the front windows they could see the small headlight of the scooter moving slowly along the driveway toward the house.
A minute later the scooter stopped near the porch.
The engine shut off.
Footsteps approached the door.
Then.
Knock knock.
Francesco walked over and opened the door.
The delivery man stood there holding two pizza boxes.
"Good evening," he said politely.
"Evening," Francesco replied.
The smell of fresh pizza drifted into the hallway instantly.
Leah appeared behind him almost immediately.
"Oh thank god," she said dramatically.
The delivery man smiled slightly.
Francesco reached into his pocket and pulled out his wallet.
"How much?"
The man told him the total.
Francesco handed him the payment and added a small tip.
"Keep the change."
The delivery man's face brightened.
"Thank you very much, sir."
"No problem."
He passed the pizza boxes over.
"Enjoy your meal."
"We definitely will," Leah said.
Francesco closed the door as the delivery man walked back toward his scooter.
Inside the house the smell of warm pizza immediately filled the air.
Leah took one of the boxes from his hands.
"You are my hero right now."
"I didn't make it."
"You opened the door. That counts."
They carried the boxes into the living room.
Cheddar immediately appeared again.
The dog sniffed the air suspiciously.
His tail began wagging.
Francesco pointed toward the dog bed.
"Don't even think about it."
Cheddar sat down obediently… but his eyes never left the pizza boxes.
Leah laughed.
"He's hopeful."
"Too hopeful."
They sat down on the large couch in the living room.
The television remote rested on the coffee table.
Leah placed the pizza boxes down and opened one.
The smell of melted cheese and pepperoni spread through the room.
"Oh wow," she said. "That looks amazing."
Francesco grabbed a slice immediately.
"Road trip rule."
"What rule?"
"Pizza tastes better after a long drive."
Leah grabbed a slice too.
"I agree with that rule."
They ate quietly for a moment.
Cheddar stared intensely from across the room like a very polite but very determined food inspector.
Leah pointed at him.
"Don't even try it."
The dog slowly laid down again… still watching.
Francesco reached for the remote and turned on the television.
"What do you want to watch?"
Leah chewed thoughtfully.
"Something easy."
"Define easy."
"No documentaries."
"Okay."
"No sports."
He looked mildly offended.
"Seriously?"
"Yes."
He scrolled through the streaming options.
Finally he found a movie neither of them had seen yet.
"This one?"
Leah glanced at the screen.
"Sure."
He pressed play.
Soon the opening scene of the movie filled the television screen while the quiet soundtrack played through the living room speakers.
They continued eating their pizza while watching.
It was the perfect kind of evening after a long trip.
No plans.
No responsibilities.
Just food, a movie, and the comfort of being home.
Cheddar eventually gave up on the pizza dream and returned to chewing his toy near the rug.
The squeak occasionally mixed with the sound of the movie.
Leah leaned slightly against Francesco's shoulder as the film continued.
"I missed this couch," she murmured.
"You were gone three days."
"Still counts."
Another slice of pizza disappeared.
Then another.
At some point Leah stretched her legs across the couch and pulled a blanket over them.
The movie continued.
The house felt quiet and comfortable.
But halfway through the film, Francesco felt his phone vibrate lightly in his pocket.
He pulled it out and glanced at the screen.
A message notification.
From Jorge.
He opened it.
Jorge was his agent, the man who managed everything outside football itself.
Interviews.
Commercial work.
Photoshoots.
Endorsements.
All the things that came with being one of the biggest stars at Arsenal F.C..
The message was short.
Jorge:
Welcome back. Tomorrow we start again. Interviews in the morning, photoshoot in the afternoon. I'll send the schedule soon.
Francesco stared at the message for a second.
Then he sighed softly.
Leah noticed immediately.
"What?"
He showed her the phone screen.
She read the message.
Then she leaned her head back against the couch dramatically.
"Oh no."
"Yep."
She groaned.
"Off-season work begins, again."
Francesco chuckled slightly.
"Interviews. Photoshoots. Probably a sponsorship shoot somewhere too."
She shook her head with sympathy.
"Your relaxing holiday lasted… what… a week?"
"Week and a half."
"Luxury."
He typed a short reply back.
Got it. Send the schedule.
Then he placed the phone on the coffee table again.
Leah looked at him.
"You excited?"
He thought about it for a moment.
Then he shrugged.
"Part of the job."
She smiled faintly.
"Still sounds exhausting."
"Not as exhausting as paddleboarding."
She grabbed a pillow and lightly smacked him with it.
"Stop bringing that up!"
He laughed.
The movie continued playing while they finished the last slices of pizza, as outside the quiet night of Richmond settled fully around the house.
______________________________________________
Name : Francesco Lee
Age : 18 (2016)
Birthplace : London, England
Football Club : Arsenal First Team
Championship History : 2014/2015 Premier League, 2014/2015 FA Cup, 2015/2016 Community Shield, 2016/2017 Premier League, 2015/2016 Champions League, Euro 2016, Premier League Champion 2016/2017, and 2016/2017 Champions League.
Season 16/17 stats:
Arsenal:
Match: 55
Goal: 87
Assist: 5
MOTM: 14
POTM: 1
England:
Match: 1
Goal: 1
Assist: 0
MOTM: 0
Season 15/16 stats:
Arsenal:
Match Played: 60
Goal: 82
Assist: 10
MOTM: 9
POTM: 1
England:
Match Played: 2
Goal: 4
Assist: 0
Euro 2016
Match Played: 6
Goal: 13
Assist: 4
MOTM: 6
Season 14/15 stats:
Match Played: 35
Goal: 45
Assist: 12
MOTM: 9