Crossing Hearts- A Maidstone Love Story

Chapter 34

At 9:30 in the morning, Jasper's alarm buzzed sharply, jolting him awake. He stretched lazily, feeling a sense of excitement wash over him. Today wasn't just any day—today, he was going to Old Trafford with Alessia to watch Manchester United vs Fulham. Though he wasn't a United fan himself, he couldn't wait to see the joy on Alessia's face as she watched her favourite team play live.

He rolled out of bed, his leg still in a cast but more manageable as he shuffled into the bathroom to shower. After drying off, Jasper stood in front of his wardrobe, thinking about what to wear. He didn't want to show up in full Manchester United gear, especially since he didn't support them. He glanced at his Chris Smalling England shirt and smirked. Smalling played for both Manchester United and England—wearing the England shirt would be his way of subtly supporting United without going full-on fan mode.

Once dressed, Jasper headed downstairs to find his dad, Matthew, already in the kitchen, sipping coffee.

"You ready for today?" Matthew asked with a grin.

"Yeah, can't wait," Jasper said as he poured himself a bowl of cereal. "Alessia's going to lose it when she sees the stadium. She's been talking about this game for weeks."

Matthew chuckled. "Well, I'm sure it's going to be a day she won't forget."

After a quick breakfast, Jasper grabbed his coat, limped to the front door with the help of his crutches, and was ready to go. Matthew took the keys and opened the car door for Jasper, helping him into the passenger seat. They pulled out of the driveway and began the short drive to pick up Alessia.

At exactly 10:30, they arrived outside Alessia's house. Jasper looked out the window just as Alessia bounded out of the front door, her face glowing with excitement. She was wearing the Manchester United shirt Jasper had bought her for Christmas, and around her neck was the necklace he had gifted her months ago. On her wrist was the bracelet with the 'J' charm, and her promise ring sparkled in the morning light. She waved excitedly at the car, holding the tickets tightly in her hand.

"Hey!" she said as she slid into the back seat, grinning at Jasper. "Ready for the big game?"

"Definitely. You look like the ultimate United fan today," Jasper said, giving her a smile. "I love the outfit."

"Thanks! I had to wear everything you got me. It feels like good luck," Alessia replied, her eyes sparkling. "And you—wearing an England shirt to a United match? Very clever."

Jasper shrugged. "I mean, Smalling plays for both, so this counts, right?"

Alessia laughed. "I'll allow it."

Matthew glanced at them through the rearview mirror, a knowing smile on his face. "Alright, let's hit the road. We've got a long drive ahead of us."

The four-hour journey to Old Trafford went by faster than expected. The car was filled with the excited chatter of Jasper and Alessia, discussing their favourite players, match predictions, and whether or not United could pull off a win. Jasper couldn't help but admire how passionate Alessia was about football, and even though he wasn't a die-hard United fan, he felt a rush of excitement himself.

They parked the car and made their way through the sea of fans toward the stadium entrance. Alessia clung to her ticket like it was gold, her eyes darting around, taking everything in. Jasper couldn't help but smile at her excitement.

Once they passed through the turnstiles, Matthew suggested grabbing some lunch to kill time before the game started. "How about we get something to eat?" he asked. "The game doesn't start for another hour and a half."

"Good idea," Jasper agreed.

They found a nearby food stall and ordered some burgers and soft drinks. The three of them sat at a table, eating and chatting as the buzz of the stadium surrounded them. Alessia was practically vibrating with excitement, talking a mile a minute about which players she hoped would score and how much she loved being there. Jasper, despite his lingering thoughts about Leo from the day before, felt himself relax. Alessia's happiness was infectious.

When they finally made their way to their seats, they were perfectly positioned to watch the players warming up on the pitch. Alessia was on the edge of her seat, pointing out different players and commenting on their form.

"Look! There's Smalling!" she said excitedly. "And De Gea! Oh my God, I can't believe we're actually here."

Jasper smiled. "You deserve it, Alessia. Happy birthday, again."

"Thanks, Jasper. Seriously, this is the best present I've ever gotten," she said, giving his hand a quick squeeze.

As the game kicked off, the atmosphere inside the stadium was electric. Alessia was on her feet, cheering with the rest of the crowd as Manchester United pressed forward. Jasper enjoyed watching her reactions more than the game itself, seeing her face light up with every near goal.

But by halftime, Manchester United were 1-0 down, and Alessia's enthusiasm had dimmed slightly. She crossed her arms, frowning. "I can't believe we're losing to Fulham. This is not how today is supposed to go."

"Hey, it's only halftime," Jasper said reassuringly. "Plenty of time for them to turn it around."

"I hope so," Alessia muttered.

During the break, Jasper excused himself to go to the restroom. On his way back, he stopped by a food stall to get Alessia a drink and a snack, hoping it would cheer her up.

"Here," he said, handing her a soda and a bag of crisps as he returned to their seats.

Alessia smiled gratefully. "Thanks, Jasper. You're the best."

The second half of the match was intense, with Manchester United fighting hard to get back into the game. Alessia was back on her feet, cheering and shouting encouragement to the team. Finally, in the 75th minute, United equalised, sending the crowd into a frenzy. Alessia screamed in delight, grabbing Jasper's arm and shaking him excitedly.

"Yes! I knew they'd come back!" she yelled.

As the game wore on, United scored again, making it 2-1, but Fulham managed to equalise in the dying minutes, leaving the final score at 2-2. Alessia was disappointed but still buzzing from the excitement of the match.

"Well, at least it wasn't a loss," she said, trying to stay positive as they made their way back to the car. "I had the best time, Jasper. Thank you."

"I'm glad you enjoyed it," Jasper replied, smiling. "It was fun watching you get so into it."

Matthew drove them out of the stadium parking lot, and the long journey home began. Halfway through the drive, they stopped at a Pizza Express for dinner. The restaurant was packed with other fans, all chatting about the match and dissecting the plays. Jasper and Alessia recapped their favourite moments from the game while they ate, laughing and teasing each other about their football knowledge.

"You've got to admit," Jasper said, grinning, "that equaliser from Fulham was pretty impressive."

Alessia rolled her eyes playfully. "Don't remind me. I'm still annoyed we didn't win."

After finishing their pizza, they got back into the car for the rest of the journey home. By the time they pulled up in front of Alessia's house, it was dark outside, and the street was quiet.

"Thanks again, both of you," Alessia said, turning to Jasper and Matthew. "This was the best birthday ever."

"We're glad you had fun," Matthew said.

Alessia leaned over to give Jasper a hug and a quick kiss on the cheek. "See you at school tomorrow," she said with a warm smile before stepping out of the car.

Jasper watched her walk up to her front door, a soft smile on his face. Despite the ups and downs of the weekend, today had been perfect.

When Jasper and his dad got home, Jasper headed straight for his room. His body was tired from the long day, and his mind was still replaying moments from the match. As he lay down in bed, he smiled to himself, already looking forward to seeing Alessia again tomorrow.

Within minutes, he drifted off to sleep, his thoughts filled with the memories of the day.