Teenage Fever // Jude Bellingham

34

Walking through school the next day had felt a little different. The second I had stepped foot into the building, I had felt like I was being constantly judged.

I guess that story had spread faster than I had expected.

I had received some brief glances of boys, some of them having looked into my face for the first time.

They hadn't really been bothering me though. What had actually been annoying was the nasty looks some girls had given me. Girls I had never talked to or didn't even know.

On the other hand though, it had been kind of enjoyable to watch the whole thing going down. Because to be honest, I loved causing drama. I loved the attention. It was pure entertainment to hear the shit people talk about you.

What I hadn't been excited to hear though were the articles from those stupid gossip magazines.

Because as soon as Jude had shared that picture of me, conforming that he was dating someone, all of them had resurfaced those pictures that someone had taken of us in the tunnels a few weeks ago at one of his games to connect them with us.

Additionally to that, there appeared some more pictures of us from the game in Munich that were made when I had told him about the party. They were eating up the fact that he leaned down to me like that, which did create a really close proximity but actually hid my face.

So i guess they could still keep up the 'mysterious' image they had created of me. Seems like they hadn't found my instagram yet. Which honestly, I wasn't sad about.

"Tia?" Jude's voice ripped me out of my thoughts, his hand softly squeezing my thigh making me look over at him again.

"Hm?" I questioned confusedly, making him repeat himself.

"I asked if you were alright. You seem a little absent." His eyes briefly glanced at me before returning back onto the road.

"No, I'm fine. Just thinking about some stuff." I admitted, giving his hand a reassuring squeeze.

He was quiet for a moment before eventually speaking up again. "Are you nervous?"

I sighed. We were currently on our way to Jude's place, where we'd meet up with his parents. They had flown in this morning when I was at school, and they'd be staying for a few days to visit him. Hence, I had agreed to use the opportunity to meet them. For the first time. So yes, I was nervous.

"No..." I trailed off, looking elsewhere to avoid the glances he was giving me from time to time. Ain't no way I was admitting that.

"You're a shit liar." He commented, grinning to himself while pulling into the underground parking lot of his living complex.

I waved him off to not give away anything, examining myself in the mirror above my car seat one last time before we both got out of the car and made our way upstairs.

For once, I was actually wearing something that didn't look like it came straight out of Jude's closet too. I had put on a pair of loosely fitting jeans, and a simple grey long sleeve top to look a little more...casual, I guess.

In the end, it turned out that all my worries had been absolutely unnecessary. I don't think I've ever met someone who is as sweet and welcoming as Jude's mom.

Instead of focusing on spending as much time as possible with her son like I had expected, she had spent the whole time asking me questions about myself and talking to me about literally anything. Jude was the topic once or twice, but honestly, I'd feel neglected if I were him.

But I think he on the contrary was just glad to see me get along with her as well as I did. She had even more than once expressed how fond of me she was. I swear, she was the cutest. No wonder Jude was such a good guy, when he had been raised by a literal saint.

His dad had been a little more quiet, but also involved himself whenever it got to getting to know me more. And I simply appreciated every effort, no matter how small. They had been nothing but nice to me, and that I was thankful for.

After having met his parents, I honestly couldn't wait to meet his brother. Unfortunately, Jobe had school to attend just like me, but Jude talked about having him flown out for the weekend since he hadn't seen him for a while.

"Charity event?" I asked, chewing on another piece of pineapple as I searched through his Netflix hoping to find something we could both agree on watching. "Like, with fancy dresses and shit?"

He nodded, confirming my vague expectations of a formal event like that; a event he had just asked me to attend as his plus one.

Don't get me wrong, I thought that the idea of dressing up all fancy with him was cute - but a charity event meant publicity.

I mean there isn't really much to reveal anymore, apart from my identity of course. And that's what gave me a stomach ache.

Although to be fair, I've literally chose the way the attention would affect my life all on my own - by choosing him.

"I don't have 'fancy dresses and shit'." I thought out loud, setting down the bowl with the pineapple cubes to sit up from my position in his arm to look down at him.

"We'll go shopping." He shrugged, seemingly not understanding where the problem was with this.

"Formal dresses aren't exactly cheap." I stated, which made him roll his eyes.

"Not this again." He complained, "you know that I don't care about money."

"But you've just paid those flights last week! How am I ever supposed to make any of that up to you." I argued back, during which he just seemed unbothered and instead reached up to tug a strand of my hair behind my ear.

"You can make up to it by simply being my company next week." A subtle smirk formed on his lips, "but I can actually think of a few other ways to pay me back." He glanced down at me straddling him by now, making me grin back at him.

"Alright, you won." I eventually gave in, fake rolling my eyes at him before leaning down to kiss him.

happy women's day!!! treated myself to The Weeknd nosebleeds fr 🥱