Illicit Affair • Ben Chilwell

Mystery Date

March 2021

Ben and Scarlett had been sneaking around for three months now. Their friends were still clueless not having any idea the two spent most of their nights together. Ben had just arrived at training, the sun was shining but there was a chill in the air. He made his way into the facility to get ready for practice. Christian was standing at Mason's cubby both of them only needing to put on their boots.  Ben noticed them talking quietly about something, and he wouldn't lie, it made him a bit nervous. He and Scarlett did have a few scares thinking the boys knew, but nothing ever came of it, and if they did know Mason wouldn't stay quiet.  

"You two look like you're up to trouble," Ben joked.

"We're asking for trouble. Mason wants to set Scar up on a date. I think it's a bad idea," Christian informed.

Ben tried to look unbothered, but it felt like his heart stopped. What was he supposed to do in this situation? He couldn't protest too much, and he certainly couldn't say nothing at all.

"I think it would be good for her, and it's not like I'm sending her out with a stranger," Mason defended.

    "Do you think she would go for it? She seems pretty content to me," Ben shared as he began putting his things in his cubby.

    "Yeah, I do. What does she have to lose? If it works out, she could have a boyfriend. If it doesn't, nothing has changed," Mason explained.

Ben's skin crawled at his friend's words. if Scarlett was going to have a boyfriend, it would be him. He did wonder who he was trying to set the girl up with, so he asked.    

"I'm not telling you. You'll tell her, and for this to have a real shot at working she can't know," Mason gave an all-knowing grin.

        On the drive home after training, Ben would normally call Scarlett. They would talk about what they had planned for that evening, but after finding out about Mason's plans, he didn't want to talk to anyone. He put his phone on silent and when he got home he piled up on his couch. Scarlett, Alex, and Madders had all tried calling him, but he let them go to voicemail. He couldn't stop thinking about Scarlett or the mystery date, it was driving him crazy. He felt conflicted, they weren't dating, but he was feeling something more towards her.

    Scarlett, however, was reluctantly getting ready for her mystery date. She didn't want to go and was very vocal about that to Mason. It went in one ear and out the other, as he went around her closet trying to find the best outfit for the occasion. She was annoyed he was trying to control her love life and Ben wasn't answering his phone.

She changed into the outfit Mason picked out. Black ripped jeans, a black tube top, a white and light blue flannel, and her light blue dunks. The same shoes Ben talked her into buying a few weeks ago. She kept questioning her friend about where she was going and who she was going with, but he wasn't budging. It was 5 o'clock and time for them to leave, but Scarlett was making such a fuss he had to carry her to the car like she was a toddler.

"When you have fun on this date, I'll expect an apology tomorrow," Mason spoke.

She rolled her eyes and pulled out her phone to text Ben. "Mason's forcing me to go on a mystery date, I'd much rather be with you🥺," She typed, then sent the message. She became even more curious when she became familiar with her surroundings as they passed Harrods.

"Aww, Mase, are you my date? Are you taking me shopping," She teased.

"No," He chuckled, "We're almost there." They kept driving past Hyde park, and a few minutes later he pulled over to the curb.