Jack has a crush, innit | jack x julián

Jack has a crush, innit

"He's a bit shy, the new guy."

"Julián", Jack reminded Phil. He was good at remembering names, even if he couldn't quite pronounce them correctly. He thought about the Argentine player they'd met earlier that day and smiled. "He's cute, though."

Phil made a short noise that sounded like he was trying to contain his laughter. Jack slowed down his pace and looked at his teammate.

"What?"

"Don't go getting a new crush, Jackie."

Jack rolled his eyes and pushed Phil, but just a little, he didn't want him to trip and fall, he only needed to distract him from the incriminating blush that had crept to his cheeks.

-.-

It was a great match. No, scratch that. It was a fantastic match. So much so that someone had sneaked in a few bottles of beer and Ilkay and Kevin hadn't protested when they saw them. Jack himself was jumping around singing to the Coldplay tune that someone had put on the speakers.

Phil let him go not before handing him a new bottle and then he went to join the video Riyad was surely filming for his Instagram story. Still bouncing a little to the beat of the next song, Jack found Julián sitting on his bench checking something on his phone. He had taken off his dirty shirt and cleats, and didn't seem in any hurry to hit the showers.

Jack didn't consider his plan very thoroughly, admittedly he wasn't known for ever doing that, and plopped on the space right next to Julián, startling him a little with the sudden movement. Julián smiled pleasantly at him anyway.

Jack was definitely not getting distracted by Juli's naked chest, not in the slightest. He also wasn't focusing way too much on the faint freckles that seemed to cover his pale skin on the oddest of places. Maybe he should do something before getting punched in the face.

"Don't you drink, Jules?"

Julián's eyebrows pinched in confusion and Jack mentally cursed the language barrier. Why couldn't he have paid more attention to Spanish classes during high school? He wasn't going to give up so easily though, so he pressed the beer bottle into Julián's hand.

Julián understood then and chuckled a little, grabbing the bottle and taking a swig of it before giving it back to Jack. He licked his lips and Jack felt his throat dry.

"Do you like beer then?"

He apparently got enough of those words to at least nod. Jack was rattling his mind for something else to say that Julián might understand, but then everything halted to a stop when Julián spoke.

"You like alcohol yes?"

Jack chuckled and nodded. In any other context, Julian's question might have sounded rude, but Jack could see behind the great effort he was putting in communicating with him. There was even a soft tinge of pink at the top of his cheeks that wasn't there before. It made him look delicious, but Jack wasn't about to confess that to anyone. He waited for Julián as he obviously tried to gather words in his brain.

"You have to try Fernet. Is a drink de my city. De Córdoba. Is very good."

Jack couldn't help the surprise that showed on his face, that was the longest he'd heard Julián talk in English, or in any language for that matter. There was a proud kind of smile to his face and Jack was surprised with something like longing tugging at his heart strings. What had this little Argentine man done to him?

"I would love to try Fernet. You have to get me some."

Julián smiled even wider. Jack was certain he didn't get all of those words, he didn't have the best accent for any beginner in the language and he knew it. In any case, his enthusiasm was probably clear enough and Jack was okay with that.