"And Ben, this is our chill out zone" Mason explained to me. It was my first day at Chelsea and I knew Mase would show me the ropes. "This is where the physio happens and in-between training sessions we hang out"
"It's mental here" I looked around...
"So what's wrong with your ankle?" I asked, trying my hardest to be polite.
"I keep having problems with my ligaments" he said rubbing his right ankle.
"I've read you have had problems with your foot before?"
"Yeah" he huffed. "It is what it is a suppose"
"Fucking hell you sound as negative as me" I rolled my eyes and grabbed some different creams and oils out of my cupboard. This actually caused Ben to let out a little laugh which I was shocked about.
"How long have you been at Chelsea then?" He asked as I was massaging his ankle.
"6 years" I half laughed.
"Guess you do your job right"
"That's the only way to keep your job here" I laughed. "That and being liked"
"So you're liked around here?"
"That's one of the ways to keep your job" I shrugged. "I do what I'm contracted to do but I stick around after the hours I'm paid for. I play fifa with the guys or hide and seek around the club, or I sit and talk for them, listen to their problems whether that be football or with their personal lives - I think that's what really keeps me the job" I explained.
"Guess I better take notes" he laughed.
"You play football and earn what 100,000 a week? I'm stood here massaging your foot for like 10 quid an hour" I raised an eyebrow. "You see the difference?"
"If you hate it here so much why don't you just leave?" He asked.
"Because it's like a weird dysfunctional family here. When I hate them, goddam I hate them so much but when I don't see them for a week I miss them so bloody much. That's why I haven't left" I explained.
"So you won then premier league with Chelsea?"
"Twice"
"Try to one up me already" he winked.
"Trying to flirt whilst I am massaging your foot ain't going to work on me darlin" I rolled my eyes.
I put some music on through my speaker and continued to work on Bens foot in silence. He didn't say much either, just scrolling through his phone.
"Ow" he said as I was manipulating his foot.
"Maybe if you spent more time looking after your ankle rather than your hair that wouldn't of hurt"
"What's wrong with the hair?" He felt his hair with his hand.
"Too much gel"
"You think?"
"That was me being polite" I smiled. "Looks like your all done here Benjamin"
"I prefer Ben" he said, putting his sliders back on.
"I'll see you later, Benjamin"
Bens POV
"Sending you in for an hours physio with Jaymie on your first day was harsh from the gaffer to be fair" Mason laughed as we were playing pool in the chill out room. It was myself and Mason against Tammy and Christian.
"She does seem like a total bitch when you first meet her don't get me wrong but she's a good person to have on your side if that makes sense" Tammy said.
"I don't think she likes me" I laughed. "She told me I wear way too much hair gel" Which caused the guys to erupt in fits of laughter.
"That ain't even that bad" Christian said. "When she first met me she told me my head was so square that I looked like a Lego man and that my accent sounded like a whining horse"
"Oh"
"But now I would say she is one of my best friends here at Chelsea" he said. "She just doesn't like to be nice to people when she first meets them incase they fuck her over" Christian said.
"I agree" Tammy said. "Once she took 2 weeks off work when her Dad died and the atmosphere around the club wasn't the same, she just kinda brings us all together and makes us feel comfortable"
"So Jaymie literally is my best friend" Mason said. I heard him before on international duty mention someone called Jaymie a couple of times but obviously I thought he was talking about a guy. "When she first came to Chelsea she got quite close to one of the players and she told me that she thought he was the one. The first guy she had sex with, the first guy she went on a date with, the first guy she told she loved. And then one day he knocked on her office door and told her he was moving to Madrid and that was it. I don't think she has ever really trusted a footballer since"
Before I could respond her office door opened and she walked out in her full Chelsea tracksuit and a pair of fresh white air forces.
"Oi Jaymie, don't you think we should welcome Ben to London tonight?" Tammy shouted.
"I'm sure he's been to London before" she walked over to the pool table and took the cue out of Masons hand and potted the black ball on her first try.
"Just be at Masons house for 9, pre drinks there" Tammy patted her on the back.
I left the training ground and made my way back to my new house. There wasn't much inside , just a tv, a few kitchen appliances, a bed and my clothes. I suppose Jaymie was right, ive been to London thousands of times in my life and I didn't need an introduction at all. I suppose it was just some of the guys way to get us all on a night out.
I changed into a plain black t-shirt which I matched with some khaki coloured trousers and some white trainers. It didn't take my long at all to get ready so once I sprayed myself with some aftershave I got myself an Uber to Masons place.
"The main man" Mason pulled me into a hug. "Your first official night out as a Chelsea boy"
"I guess so" I half laughed. It still felt strange saying that I played for Chelsea, having been at Leicester for so long. I poured myself a drink and joined the guys who were just chatting amongst themselves in the garden.
"So do you think Jaymie will come?" I asked.
"Why? Is someone out to impress?" Tammy teased.
"To be fair she is the person I have spent the most time with out of everyone at my time so far here" I shrugged.
"I think you've got your answer here bro" Mason showed me his phone.
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@jaymiecarter: new season, same old me
@masonmount : Chelsea's finest
@cmpulisic : @masonmount I think you mean London's finest x
