ɢᴏᴏᴅ ᴛɪᴍᴇꜱ ɴᴇᴠᴇʀ ꜱᴇᴇᴍᴇᴅ ꜱᴏ ɢᴏᴏᴅ

PART FOUR - CHAPTER ONE; DECLAN RICE

PART FOUR – CHAPTER ONE;

DECLAN RICE

19th June – 22nd June

The feelings after the Scotland match including the imposed quarantine of Mason Mount & Ben Chilwell after coming into contact with Billy Gilmour after the match, as well as the build up to the next match at Wembley on the 22nd June against Czech Republic.

A goal from Sterling in the 12th minute after an assist from Grealish wins them the game, with Declan Rice subbed off at the 46th minute for Jordan Henderson, to rest him, and the same for John Stones in the 79th minute for Tyrone Mings.

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Dec was having a good week so far, the best he could given the circumstances. He had enjoyed his rest day, him and Daisy once again hanging out together, enjoying the time that they had together. He did think about seeing if Mason wanted to hang out too however those plans were stopped before they started.

He had got back into training the day after, a rejigged training session to what they were used to. Liam and Josh leading them out in their warm up, with Sophia's spare tablet firmly held in Josh's hand as he addressed the team.

"As you know Mason and Ben came into contact with Billy Gilmour after the Scotland game who subsequently has tested positive for Covid so for precautionary measures they have been separated from the group and will be training away from us and will not be rejoining the group until we get the all clear" Josh said before continuing,

"Also as you may see Sophia isn't here either" he pointed out the obvious amongst the group "she had an impromptu performance meeting with Mason yesterday at his request after the team's performance the night before so for precautionary reasons she also has to be isolated".

Liam piped up with a smirk "so we all know that those poor two lads are not going to be training lightly with Coach Hunt on their case".

A chorus of laughter radiated out amongst the group, Dec couldn't help but smile as he thought how Mase and Ben would be running around that pitch double time if Sophia had her way.

"So we will keep you updated when we find out any more about the three of them but until then training will be as usual, just if Sophia needs to speak to you about performance as we are still recording it on here" Josh said lifting up the tablet "she will request a zoom call to speak with you".

Dec was quite satisfied with that and was happy to go about training, he was less happy when Hendo beat him in a foot race, but it just motivated him to beat him next time. He had this new lease of life during this camp, thriving to achieve the best, not that he didn't always but it felt different this time round.

But then again maybe it was based on the fact that as the camera flashed at him and then he saw her beautiful green eyes and her stunning smile that she was the reason he was trying to achieve it all.

*

Daisy couldn't contain the laughter from spilling out of her mouth as she sat up upon one of the tables in the gym, tears in the corners of her eyes as she watched him all animated amongst his friends.

It wasn't new for her to hear Declan rapping, if anything he rapped at least once a day to something or other, however he really was showing off at the moment. Charlie was filming him as Daisy had given up taking photos, she couldn't hold the camera straight to get a decent photo, so instead she just sat and watched him.

Alex had come through and sat down next to Daisy, she was checking on a few of the long-term niggles that the players had and without Sophia on hand to look at things she knew the boys would push them.

"What is he like" Alex said while laughing as Daisy smiled at her.

"He just doesn't care" she shrugged her shoulders still laughing "it's one of the things I love the most about him" she said as her eyes looked back at Dec.

Like a magnet John was immediately making his way over to Alex, slipping himself between her legs, still facing towards the gym with his back to her chest.

"Do you remember when you would happily sing like that and be the centre of attention baby?" Alex asked John, her arms wrapping around his shoulders as Daisy smiled at them.

"Ibiza John and home John are too different things, and you know that love" he smirked at her as Daisy laughed.

"Honestly Dais if you could have seen him singing away to Abba, knowing all the dance moves to Dirty Dancing, I mean he even sings a blinding version of Your Song" Alex said as she watched John's cheeks flush ever so slightly, yet his smile grew bigger as one of her hands came up to run her fingers through his hair.

"This is something I need to see" Daisy said as she nudged into his side as he let out a loud laugh.

"Get me drunk on sex on the beach and I'm him" he said pointing to Dec who was now doing some kind of dance with his rap that had Daisy burst out laughing too.

"I'm sure we can make that happen on the last night of camp" Alex said as John smiled before looking towards Daisy.

"Before you listen to every word she says Dais, she's just as bad as me" he said, squeezing his hand down on Alex's thigh as she chuckles into his ear, enjoying the intimacy of the moment.

"That I don't doubt" Daisy said smiling between the two of them "you two are like two peas in a pod, made for each other" she said with a smile as Alex smiled back.

"Well that's funny as we were only saying the same about you and Dec the other night" Alex said as she saw Dec starting to make his way over towards Daisy as she turned to look at him.

"I'm knackered now" he said as he pulled at his t-shirt puffing out breath before stopping against her knees, smiling at her.

"I'm not sure that was what the coaches said when they told you all to work out the last of your energy" said Daisy as Dec smiled at her.

"I'm just being inventive Dais" he told her, before his fingers reached up towards her neck, his fingertips delicately lifting up the necklace that was peeking out of her t-shirt.

He lifted the small 'D' pendant, allowing it to now sit on top of her clothes, on view for everyone around them, as his eyes looked back up at hers, a grin on both of their faces, his fingers still lightly on her skin feeling her heartbeat racing faster.

If she wasn't so sure that she couldn't love him more than she already did, then she would think that she was falling more and more in love with him every single day.

*

Daisy couldn't help but smile as she watched Dec be clapped off the pitch as he was substituted off at the 46th minute. It was already spoken about that he probably wouldn't be playing the full match if England got ahead.

So after Sterling's goal it was a matter of time before he would be finding his seat on the bench. However, Gareth didn't want to pull him off at half time, he wanted him to get the applause and praise that he deserved.

Daisy clapped her hands and cheered loudly as his eyes scanned up to where she was sat as his boots hit the steps towards his seat, a smile on his face as he looked at her as she smiled back at him. She was so proud of him, and she couldn't wait to tell him later. She couldn't wait to let him know how everyone was so proud of him.

Well almost everyone.

She couldn't help but notice the way Laura smirked when his name was called out to be substituted off, or the way she whispered something into Sadie's ear who held her hand over her mouth as Laura laughed. She also couldn't help but notice the look both Harri and Ruby gave Laura, the frown etched on Harri's face as she shook her head at her, like she was biting her tongue from saying something.

She couldn't help but think that something was happening back home with Laura that she wasn't aware of, but she didn't allow herself to focus on that now, she only wanted to focus on him.