Leo took the bus home, his mind a tangled mess of thoughts.
The idea of training with Wigan's U21s for a trial still gnawed at him.
It wasn't a guaranteed contract. He wasn't in yet.
But Dawson believed in him.
That counted for something, right?
The familiar sight of his apartment block came into view, and Leo pulled his hoodie over his head, bracing against the evening chill.
The climb up the stairs felt longer than usual, his body heavy with exhaustion—both physical and mental.
When he reached the door, he pulled out his key, but before he could unlock it, it swung open.
Sofia stood there, arms crossed, eyebrows raised.
Leo blinked. "You're home early."
"Yeah, figured I'd surprise you two," she said, stepping aside to let him in.
"Besides, I wanted to hear how things went."
Leo walked in, kicking off his shoes before dropping his bag onto the floor.
Mia wasn't in sight, probably holed up in her room.
Sofia closed the door behind him.
"So?" she pressed, following him into the living room.
"How'd it go?"
Leo let out a breath, running a hand through his hair.
"They didn't even care that I was leaving," he admitted.
"The head of the academy barely looked at me. Didn't even know why Wigan wanted me."
Sofia's lips pressed into a thin line, her green eyes darkening.
"Figures," she muttered. "Typical. That's why they are doing badly in the league. They just don't care anymore."
Leo shrugged. "Not like I expected anything different."
He looked at her. "Dawson came, though. Basically told them he didn't need their approval."
Sofia scoffed. "That guy doesn't waste time, does he?"
Leo shook his head with a small chuckle.
"Not at all." He hesitated before continuing.
"But it's not a done deal yet. I have to go on trial first."
Sofia frowned slightly. "Trial?"
"Yeah. One month with their U21s. They wanna see if I'm actually worth it."
Sofia crossed her arms again, thinking. "So they're still testing you."
Leo nodded. "Pretty much."
She exhaled, tilting her head as she studied him.
"And how do you feel about that?"
Leo hesitated, then sat down on the couch.
"Scared," he admitted. "But… I want to do it. Dawson says we have two weeks before I join, and he wants to prepare me."
Sofia raised an eyebrow. "He's training you himself?"
Leo nodded. "Yeah."
She was silent for a moment, then sighed.
"Well… if you're serious about this, I'll support you."
She leaned against the armrest of the couch.
"But you better not start slacking in school just because you think you're gonna be a pro footballer."
Leo smirked. "Come on, Sof. You know me."
Sofia gave him a pointed look. "Exactly."
Leo laughed, shaking his head. For the first time in a long while, something about the future excited him.
"Just take it slow, Leo," Sofia said.
"No need to rush. You've got time, so let things play out the way they're supposed to."
Leo nodded, but in truth, patience had never been his strong suit.
He had spent years being ignored, his name barely remembered by coaches or teammates.
Now, for the first time, someone had taken an interest in him—someone who saw potential where others hadn't.
How could he just sit back and let things 'play out'?
His eyes flickered toward the corner of the room, where his sack rested against the wall.
Inside lay his ball and a few cones—tools he had carried for years, even when no one believed he would need them.
Now, they felt more important than ever.
Without a word, he stood up, grabbed the bag, and slung it over his shoulder.
Sofia arched a brow. "Where are you going?"
Leo tightened the strap. "The pitch."
She exhaled through her nose, shaking her head. "Of course you are."
Then, after a pause, her voice softened. "Don't overwork yourself."
Leo smirked. "No promises."
She rolled her eyes but didn't argue as he walked to the door.
The night air was crisp, the streets quiet.
The floodlights from the small pitch near their apartment cast long shadows over the worn-down grass.
It wasn't much, but it was enough.
He dropped his bag, pulled out his ball, and set up the cones.
Then, he began.