The roar of the crowd was replaced by the bass of a pop song vibrating through the living room floor. The pressure of the title race had vanished, leaving the warm, chaotic buzz of a house party.
It was Ethan's 16th birthday.
A week had passed since the final-day miracle against Harrington, and the town was still riding the high. Ethan's living room was packed with his family, his Crestwood teammates, and kids from school. The U16 league trophy, which Coach Shaw had let him keep for the weekend, gleamed on the mantelpiece like a holy relic.
Ethan, holding a paper cup of soda, felt a strange sense of calm amid the noise. This was the perfect celebration, but it felt like a goodbye.
"There he is! The birthday boy! The man of the hour!"
The front door opened, and Callum walked in, not with his usual solo swagger, but with his arm around Mia's shoulders. The "maybe" had clearly become a "yes." Mia, no longer just "the girl in the red hat," smiled and waved. She looked far more relaxed than Callum's previous dates.
"Happy birthday, mate," Callum said, pulling Ethan into a one-armed hug.
Mia gave him a warm hug too. "Happy 16th, Ethan. Nice trophy," she added, nodding toward the mantel.
"Thanks," Ethan smiled. "Thanks for coming, both of you."
A moment later, Mason appeared in the doorway, looking very uncomfortable. He was holding a small, awkwardly wrapped present and staring at the crowd like they were a high-press midfield he couldn't escape.
"Mason! Get in here!" Ethan called, waving him over.
Mason grunted and shuffled into the room. "Happy birthday, Eastfield," he said, handing the gift to Ethan. "This is from all of us."
Ethan was confused. "All of us?"
"Me, Cal, and Mia," Mason clarified. "Mostly her idea. I just paid."
Ethan tore off the paper. It was a framed photo, but not a professional team picture. It was a candid snapshot taken right after the final whistle. It showed just the three of them. Ethan, Callum, and Mason in a mud stained, exhausted, joyous embrace, with the scoreboard in the background reading CRESTWOOD 2 - HARRINGTON 1.
Underneath, in simple text, it just said "Champions."
Ethan stared at it, hit by a sudden wave of emotion. "It's... brilliant," he said, his voice thick.
"Mia's idea," Callum repeated, beaming. "Got to remember the good old days when you're a big-shot superstar, eh?"
"Right," his mum called out, pushing through the crowd with a grin. "Cake!" She emerged holding a large, rectangular cake. The room burst into a ragged "Happy Birthday." As she set it down, Ethan noticed the decoration. On one half, in red and black icing, was the Crestwood badge. On the other half, in the blue and white stripes of West Bromwich Albion, was their crest. The two were connected by an iced, dotted line.
It was the perfect summary of his life half here, half already gone.
"Make a wish, love!" his mum said. Ethan looked at the cake, the trophy, Callum and Mia, and Mason. He thought about the future, the intimidating new changing room at West Brom, the talented rivals, and the pressure of a pro contract. His wish was simple and desperate.
I wish I'm good enough.
He blew out the candles.
Later, the crowd thinned, and the three friends found themselves on the back steps. The cool night air felt refreshing. "So, for real," Callum said as the party mood faded. "When do you actually go? Like, for good?"
"Six weeks," Ethan said. "Pre-season starts July 1st. I move into my digs the day before."
Six weeks. The words hung in the air. It wasn't a "future" anymore; it was a date. It marked the end of their last summer.
"Gonna be weird," Mason said, staring into the dark garden. "No one to pass to."
"Hey!" Callum protested. "We'll be fine,"
Mason continued, ignoring him. "We'll defend the title. But it's... not going to be the same."
"It'll never be the same," Ethan said quietly.
He looked at his two best friends. His 16th birthday. He was a champion. He was a signed scholar. He was living the dream they all shared. But as he sat there, on the edge of his new life, he felt more like a kid than ever, terrified of what was to come.