Chapter 14: After the match
David's heart still raced as he walked down the tunnel, adrenaline pumping from the roar of the crowd. His shirt stuck to him, his legs ached, and his lungs burned—but none of that mattered. He'd just scored the match-winner in his debut, and the thrill of it was coursing through his veins.
"That was something, kid," Jason Knight called, jogging up behind him with a grin.
David glanced over his shoulder and smirked. "What, the goal? Standard, mate."
Jason laughed, clapping him on the back. "Yeah, alright. Just try not to break your arm patting yourself on the back."
"Too late," Curtis Davies chimed in, catching up to them. "That finish, though. Class. Keep it up, and you'll be doing press conferences every week."
"Is that right?" David said, his smirk widening.
"Yeah, don't get used to it," Jason teased. "One goal doesn't make you Messi."
David shrugged, pretending to brush imaginary dust off his shoulder. "Don't need to be Messi. I'm the first David Jones."
The banter flowed easily, the camaraderie lifting everyone's spirits as they walked down the tunnel. But then Wayne Rooney's voice cut through the chatter, and the players straightened instinctively.
"David," Wayne said, his tone warm but measured. He was smiling, a rare and genuine expression. "Knew you had it in you, lad."
"Cheers, boss," David replied, his tone light but confident. "Told you I wouldn't let you down."