Chapter 25: Mindset II
David woke up the morning after returning home, his mind still clouded with the aftermath of the Middlesbrough match. The draw had left him feeling unsettled. The missed chances. The pressure of trying to live up to expectations. He rolled over in bed, staring at the ceiling, unsure of how to shake the unease that had settled into his chest. At just 16 years old, David had already become one of the youngest players to ever sign for Derby County, but with that came an overwhelming weight—a constant feeling that he had to prove himself, match after match.
After a few moments, David realized he couldn't just lie there, brooding. He needed to clear his head. Jogging had always been a way for him to escape the pressures of football, a time when he could focus on nothing but his own thoughts. With a heavy sigh, he pulled himself out of bed, threw on his joggers, and laced up his sneakers. The morning air was crisp, the kind that seemed to reset his mind the moment he stepped outside.
David jogged through the unfamiliar streets of Derby, taking in the new sights and sounds. He wasn't quite used to the city yet, the streets still feeling like a foreign landscape despite the excitement of his new life here. As he jogged, his thoughts kept drifting back to the match the day before—the mistakes he made, the chances he missed, and the weight of playing for a club with such a rich history and passionate fanbase. He couldn't shake the feeling that he wasn't living up to what people expected of him.
As he ran through an unfamiliar part of town, David spotted a group of teenagers gathered on an open patch of grass. They were playing a pickup game of football—five-a-side. The makeshift goals were marked by jackets, and the energy of the game was infectious. David slowed his jog, watching the game for a moment. The laughter, the competitive spirit—it reminded him of what football used to be for him.
One of the boys, a teenager with a messy haircut, spotted David as he jogged by. His face lit up with recognition.
"Wait... is that David Jones? The new wonderkid from Derby County?"
David's heart skipped a beat. He wasn't used to being recognized outside the stadium. In the blink of an eye, several other teens had noticed him and rushed over.
"No way, it's him!" one of them shouted.
David smiled awkwardly, unsure of how to handle the sudden attention. "Hey, guys," he said, trying to remain grounded. "How's the game going?"