Love Me Like A Champion

Chapter One: Blocked him on snap

"GOALLLLLL!!!"

The roar that erupted from North Fall University Stadium felt like an earthquake tearing through. It thundered from the stands, rolled across the green pitch, and exploded into the open sky above Manchester.

Red and white confetti burst into the air. Drums pounded. Whistles screamed. The scoreboard blinked once then settled.

UNITED ROYALS 2 - MANCHESTER UNITED 1

The match was over. The crowd went insane. On the sidelines, the Twinkle Cheerleading Club leapt into synchronized motion, pom-poms flashing under the stadium lights. Their leader, Wendy Savage, was already screaming herself hoarse.

"That's my big brother!" Wendy yelled, jumping so hard her blue ponytail whipped wildly behind her. "That's my brother! Did you see that strike?!"

The girls around her laughed and screamed louder, feeding off her excitement.

Wendy was impossible to miss. Nineteen years old, electric blue hair styled into a high ponytail, glitter dusted across her cheeks. She was beautiful in a bold, fearless way. She clutched her pom-poms to her chest, eyes shining.

"He never misses," she said breathlessly. "Never."

On the pitch, Xander Savage stood frozen for half a second after the goal, his chest rising, sweat clinging to his skin, heart still pounding from the sprint that had led to the strike. Then his teammates crashed into him.

"You're the baddest!" one of them shouted, wrapping an arm around his shoulders.

"That curve?" another laughed. "That bloody curve?!"

Xander stumbled back with a small laugh, hands lifting instinctively as if to steady them all. His dark hair was damp, falling messily over his forehead. His jersey clung to his torso, number 9 bold against his back. He didn't look like someone who had just ended a match. He looked calm.

"That was beautiful, mate," the team captain said, gripping his shoulder. "Absolutely amazing."

Xander exhaled slowly. "It was just instinct."

"Just instinct," someone scoffed. "You're unreal, Savage."

Across the pitch, Freya Woods adjusted her camera lens, fingers moving fast but steady. She had been tracking the ball seconds before the final goal, body already angled, breath already held.

"Shkrrt" The camera made its noise.

She caught the strike mid-air, the way Xander's leg swung, the tension in his calf, the very moment his foot met with the ball.

"Shkrrt" She caught the goalkeeper's despair. She caught the crowd erupting behind him, frozen in jubilation. Freya lowered the camera slightly, her lips curving in quiet satisfaction.

"Perfect," she murmured to herself.

She had been on the sidelines the entire match, she was North Fall University's Creative Arts department year 2 student. The Sports Department knew her name, so did most of campus. Freya Woods didn't miss moments, she captured them.

Her short curls framed her face in soft rebellion, bouncing as she moved. She wore ripped black jeans and an oversized hoodie that was accessorized, camera strap slung across her chest. At nineteen, she was doing well for herself.

She lifted the camera again, zooming in on Xander as