timeless | mason mount

xiv

JUNE 1, 2024. 
AUTHOR POV.

Charlotte didn't tell Frenkie what had happened that night with Mason. After hours of contemplation, she came to the conclusion that telling him would do no good. There was no purpose—it wasn't like she had reciprocated his drunk confession, so she had no obligation to tell him. 

Now, she was at Wembley, waiting for the Champions League final to start. There were still four hours before kickoff, and the players from both teams had arrived at the stadium. After finishing interviews with the managers from both teams, Charlotte stood in the tunnels, coordinating with the crew for how the post-match interview would be conducted.

"There's going to be chaos." The director explained to her. "Honestly, we don't even know who you're going to interview—you'll probably just end up interviewing whoever we can catch." 

Charlotte nodded, and she was focused on reading and memorizing the script until she heard a voice behind her calling her name. She turned around to see that it was Ben—he was probably here to support his friends on the City side. 

There was a lingering awkwardness between them due to the events that had unfolded in Manchester—it was hard to believe that they had once been close friends. 

"I'm assuming you're here to watch the Champions League final?" Charlotte asked, filling in the silence. 

Ben nodded, putting his hands in his pockets. "I thought I might as well. I live in London anyways, so."

"Well, if you'll excuse me, I have to get ready for—" but Ben cut her off before she could get up and leave. 

"Mason feels terrible about what happened. He remembers everything from that night—" it was Charlotte's turn to cut him off. 

"Ben, seriously. I don't care. And if he needs to say something or talk to me, tell him to grow up and come do it himself, instead of asking you to be his messenger owl." 

She walked away before turning around to add on, "Preferably sober." 

~ 

Phil had a few moments he could spare with Charlotte before he had to go to the dressing room and start getting ready for warmups. 

"You nervous?" Charlotte asked, smiling. "This reminds me of Porto in 2021." 

"We lost at Porto." 

"That's not the point." She said, punching him softly in a joking manner. "You'll be great. You better be, so that you can be my post-match interview. I would much rather interview you than Jack or something." She cracked a joke to try and lighten the mood—she could tell how nervous he was. 

"That would be something, wouldn't it? Both of us, pursuing our dreams together." 

"I already have interview questions prepped for every single scenario. I even have one that's not scripted by the director." 

"Do tell." 

"Foden on the half turn, that's all I'm gonna say." She smiled slyly, raising her eyebrows. Phil burst out into laughter and said, 

"You always know how to cheer me up." 

"I have known you since birth, you know." She then pulled him into a hug and said, "I'm sorry I couldn't watch last year in person. I didn't miss a minute of it on TV though, you know."

"I know." 

"Go make me proud." She said as he headed to the dressing room.