Golden days☀️

Chapter two

After training, Conte calls all the players and delivers a little speech:
"We have a lot of new faces, we need to find them a place in the field and outside. You'll have to help them fit in, and i'll give you a hand.
We'll start with a retire. Two days at the centre to prepare our next match. Choose your roommate and pack, see you in the morning."

Chris nervously looks around, trying to understand how his teammates react. Everybody starts talking in pairs to find a roommate.

Brozo comes over to him, and Chris involuntaily takes a step back.
The midfielder puts his arm on the dane and smiles. Chris doesn't like that smile, it's fake.
"Hey Blondie,how about a room together? We can get to know each other so we'll be better on the field.
Or, we can hope you get better. You kind of suck now"
Chris tries to make up the courage to answer that no, he really doesn't want to share a room with him.
Conte beats him to it and says:
"That's a great idea Brozo, you should really do it"
At which the midfielder responds:
"Then it's settled Blondie, we're gonna be roomies!"
With a last (too strong) squeeze to Chris' shoulder, Brozo leaves.

As soon as he's out of sight, D'Ambrosio and Skriniar reach Chris, having seen what happened but not being able to do anything because the coach directly asked Chris to bunk with Brozo.

D'Ambrosio is the first one to talk:
"Hey Chris, is everything good? I thought i saw Brozo earlier give you a hard time and now you and him are roommates. Do you want to bunk with me instead? I'm sure Skriniar won't mind, given the reason"
Skriniar nods with a sweet smile on his face.

Chris thinks about it and decides to give Brozo a chance, after all it's just the first day and he doesn't want to be seen as the "whiny one".
"Thank you, both of you, really
But...i want to fit in, give him a chance to get to know me "
He says smiling and blushing. D'Ambrosio wants to insist, tell him that he doesn't have to put up with Brozo's behaviour if he doesn't want to.
He doesn't have the chance because the staff is sending them home early to pack and have a good night sleep.

When Handa sees Chris waiting for the bus, he offers to give him a ride home and, after some convincing, the blonde accepts.
The ride is quiet, with only a few words spoken by the two players; they're both really tired and they quickly wish each other good night.
Chris changes into his pjs, packs what he'll need for the next two days and falls asleep as soon as his face touches the pillow.

The next morning, Chris is even more nervous than the day before. If that's even possible.
The thoughts of having to share a room with Brozo and the fact that he still doesn't really feel like he belongs, make him anxious.

He is drinking a glass of apple juice when his phone rings, an unknown number appearing on the display.
"Hi Chris! It's me, D'Ambro. How are you? All good?"
"Hi, yeah sure. You too?"
"Yeah yeah, can't complain. How about i give you a ride to the centre? I know you haven't had the chance to buy a car yet, so i thought my car is better than the bus"
Chri smiles and allows himself to think that D'Ambrosio may really want to be his friend.
With this new confidence, the dane replies
"That sounds great D'Ambro. I'll bring you some danish cookies i have left, as a thank you"
"You know you don't have to Chris, but i'm not one to refuse cookies.
See you in 20"
"Bye,thanks again"
With that the phone call ends, and Chris relaxes on his sofa.
Fifteen minutes later he grabs his things and the cookies and waits for his ride outside.
He can't help but smile a little.
Maybe it's not gonna be as bad as he thought.

His train of thought is interrupted when D'Ambrosio arrives, stopping in front of him and exiting the car to hug the blonde.
He holds him and Chris instantly feels better. He knows himself, the lack of physical contact in the last few weeks worsened his anxiety.

The Italian breaks the hug and says
"Ready?"
Eriksen nods and climbs in his seat.

D'Ambrosio noticed how the midfielder relaxed during the hug, so he makes a mental note to himself.
"Chris doesn't mind physical contact with me, and it seems to calm him."

He starts the engine and drives.
They talk about each other's previous experiences while eating the danish cookies, and even if D'Ambrosio is the one who talks the most, he can see Chris getting more comfortable and open.

He just hopes that the ritire and Brozo won't ruin the confidence the blonde is starting to show.