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Imani arrived at the training ground just before noon, her camera bag slung over her shoulder as she prepared to capture another day of the England team's behind-the-scenes moments. The crisp autumn air was sharp, and the buzz of the players warming up on the pitch helped distract her from the lingering anxiety that Gio's message had stirred.
But as she stepped out of her car, her stomach dropped. Leaning casually against the fence, as if he belonged there, was Gio.
He was dressed in his usual smug arrogance—hands in his jacket pockets, a confident smirk plastered across his face. "Imani," he called out, straightening as she froze in place. "I figured this was where you'd be. Thought it was time we had a chat."
Her breath hitched, but she didn't let herself falter. "You can't be here, Gio," she said firmly, her voice carrying more strength than she felt. "You need to leave."
"Come on," he said, taking a step closer. "We've got unfinished business. Don't act like you can just ignore me."
Before she could reply, a voice cut through the tension. "Oi! She said leave."
Imani turned to see Trent striding toward them, his face set in a hard glare. Behind him, Bukayo and Jude weren't far behind, their usual easygoing demeanors replaced by something far more serious.
Gio's smirk faltered as the players closed in. "Who are these guys, your bodyguards?" he sneered.
"Something like that," Jude said coldly, positioning himself between Imani and Gio. "What part of 'leave' don't you understand?"
"Mate, you're out of your depth here," Trent added, his tone low and dangerous. "If you don't walk away right now, this is going to become a problem for you."
Gio hesitated, glancing between the players and Imani, whose confidence seemed to grow with every word from her friends. He sneered again, but it was weaker this time. "This isn't over, Imani."
"Yes, it is," she said, her voice steady.
As Gio finally turned and stalked away, the tension slowly began to drain from the group. Imani felt her shoulders sag with relief, but her knees wobbled slightly, the adrenaline leaving her lightheaded.
"You alright?" Jude asked, his voice softening as he stepped closer.
"Yeah," she said, though her voice wavered. "Thanks, guys. I didn't know what I was going to do."
Trent placed a reassuring hand on her shoulder. "You don't have to deal with people like him alone. We've got you."
Jude nodded. "Come on. Let us take you home. You shouldn't have to sit here and think about this all day."
Imani hesitated, but the warmth in their eyes told her she could lean on them just this once. "Okay. Thanks."
They drove her home in comfortable silence, Trent behind the wheel while Jude sat in the back with her, keeping an eye on her as if to make sure she wouldn't crumble. When they arrived, Jude walked her to her door, waiting until she was safely inside before heading back to the car.
Later that night, Jude sat in his room, his phone in his hand. He stared at the blank text box for a moment before taking a deep breath and typing.
IMESSAGES: Jobe 💙
Jobe, I know we don't talk about her, but I think you need to know something. Imani had a rough day. Gio showed up at training, and it wasn't good. She's okay, but she needs support. If you still care about her—and I know you do—you should reach out. She needs people who've got her back right now.
The three little dots appeared almost immediately, and Jude's chest tightened.
Jobe 💙 What happened exactly?
Jude exhaled. He didn't know where this would lead, but if anyone could help Imani in a way that went deeper than friendship, it was Jobe. He just hoped his brother was ready to step up.
A/N: I'm so sorry guys for not updating. Who knew A-levels would take up so much time 😪
