𝐖𝐈𝐋𝐃 𝐑𝐎𝐒𝐄

babes, i loved seeing you at the match! can't believe it happened way before we had anticipated, seeing each other i mean. i really thought we were gonna drag this 'i wanna see you' and 'i wanna see you too' until the end of our lives. my heart is still in pieces, i still can't wrap my head around argentina taking that final away from us! but oh well, all the luck in the world to spain bringing the cup home! when you're done being busy with the press tour... or, you know, with a certain english boy, you know where to find me. come see me, and don't let go like you already promised!

Thrill of my life. Still can't believe it happened. I'm telling you, we are soulmates, it was meant to be. We can't stay away from each other for too long, it's been decided by the laws of the universe. Next time, we'll see each other for more than a couple hours. I'm talking full blown sleep over because one day is never enough. Yeah, I was so upset for you guys. I know how much the team and the fans wanted it. Guess we just have to cheer extra loud for Spain this year. Wow... can't believe you would call me out like that. Am I really so obvious? But you know me, I cling to you like glue. You're stuck with me in this life and the next, no one coukd never take your place.

the best part of having a mother-in-law that loves you, beside them loving you, is the bake goods that she makes! the vegan lemon loaf that she made this morning, gone. lets just say i'm going to be getting the most out of my gym membership while she is out here. now she might have asked me what i else would like so if any of you have suggestions, please give them to me! i need all the baked goods. maybe you will get some...probably not, you never know. @limelightblvdstarters

Does your mother-in-law want to adopt a twenty four year old red head? Asking for strictly professional reasons, of course. No, that's seriously so sweet though. She must think the absolute world of you to go our of her way and start baking these sweet treats. Those things take time and if she's willing to put in all that effort, she loves the hell out of you. As far as suggestions go, I don't think you can ever go wrong with a classic chocolate chip cookie, right?

TEXT:: Sadie

SADIE: You're always so kind to me. Thank, Tom. I've been a huge fan of your work for years now and admired so many of your perfomances. If you're even the slightest but impressed with my work, I know I must have done well.

jude felt his chest tighten with every word she spoke. not in the painful way it had after the final whistle, but in a way that left him feeling exposed, seen. nobody had ever been particularly good at comforting him when it came to football, most people either treated him like he was invincible or rushed to tell him why everything would be fine. sadie did neither, she simply listened, she understood. somehow, despite never growing up in dressing rooms or stadiums, despite not living and breathing the sport the way he had since he was old enough to kick a ball, she understood exactly what this loss meant to him. he found himself staring at her while she spoke, hanging onto every word as though they were the only thing keeping him from sinking completely into his disappointment. the mention of murals and children carrying his name made him let out a quiet laugh, shaking his head in disbelief. "that sounds insane when you say it out loud." his smile grew slightly. i still feel like the same kid who used to annoy everyone by kicking a football against the garage door for hours." he looked down briefly, his thumb tracing absent circles across the back of her hand. "it's strange. i spend so much time focusing on what i haven't done yet that i forget about any of that." his voice softened. "i forget that there are people watching, kids watching. i don't know if i'm half the role model people think i am, but hearing you say all that…" he paused, swallowing hard. "it helps a whole fucking lot." his eyes never left hers as she confessed how invested she'd become because of him. the admission made something warm bloom in his chest, cutting through the disappointment that had followed him since the match ended. a small grin tugged at his lips when she called him the pretty boy she met in london. "pretty boy?" he repeated, feigning disbelief. "that's all i am now?" the teasing only lasted a second before his expression softened again. he reached up and gently brushed his knuckles against her cheek. "for what it's worth, london would've been a lot lonelier without you too." his voice dropped lower. "i don't think i have ever told you that." when she admitted she had a thing for him, his smile widened despite himself and he ducked his head slightly as if suddenly embarrassed. "a thing for me?" he murmured. "good. because i was starting to think i imagined all those signs." the joke was quiet, but the affection behind it was impossible to miss. he shifted closer after settling into the seat, immediately wrapping an arm around her shoulders as she leaned against him.

A warmth grew in her chest and Sadie couldn't help but wonder when the constant echo of his presence became so comforting, not that she minded, of course. In fact, she quite liked it and that alone was a unique feeling. Jude wasn't simply a man she knew, he had become extremely real, very quick. A person who exposed his emotions and spoke so freely, he had burrowed his way into her heart so naturally, she had barley felt the impact until he was looking at her with those expressive features and suddenly, she realised she was done for. Seeing him tonight, all that passion and then the ultimate loss had humanised him so much that she realised, she wanted to be the one he ran to with things grew difficult. If he wanted that too, she wouldn't run or hide away. She'd stay and she'd continue to hold his hand through the good times as well as the bad. A soft laugh fell from her lips, eyes sparkling when she realised her words had made an impact. "Beyond the trophies and the titles, I'm pretty sure soccer started as a game made to unite people." She shrugged, never once taking her eyes from him. "That's what you do and you are still that kid who used to annoy everyone by kicking a football at the garage door." She admitted with a small, teasing grin, her hand squeezing tightly around his own. "And you know what? It paid off, you're living that little boys dream right now." Sadie voice softened, her eyes wide and full of hope. "I know you said you remember watching the tv and wanting to play for England." She reminded him, moving closer into his orbit and sharing the heat from his body. "There's going to be future soccer players doing the exact same thing with you, Jude." She promised. "So for the future Jude Bellingham's of the world, be a little kinder to yourself, okay?" The words fell freely from her tongue, so full of honesty she could only hope he would carry with him for as long as he needed it. "You inspire and you teach... you might not always see it, but it lives in you, Jude." Now that she was speaking so openly, Sadie found it impossible to stop. "I'm so proud of you. Not just for today, but for every day I've known you." Her eyes softened. "You taught me that kindness isn't conditional." As he repeated her own words back to her, Sadie's cheeks flared with a scolding heat. Embarrassment lingered and her eyes suddely found the ground beneath their fear extremely fascinating.  "Not just a pretty boy." She all but whispered, looking at him through her lashes, wondering if he knew how much his gentle touch effected her. "But you have to admit, you are easy on the eyes... I can barley look away." The boldness of the words shocked even Sadie, but she smiled innocently and brushed her hand over his chest, right where his heart lay. "No, you never told me." She confirmed after he said London would have been lonier if she hadn't been around and her heart blooming with hope at his confession. "Next time either of us decide to take a trip to London, let's promise to invite the each other." She proposed. "Wouldn't want to know the city without you." Her smile brightened. "Shut up." Sadie could feel her cheeks burning scarlet and ducked her head to avoid his gaze. "This is the part where you're supposed to say you like me too, but I guess that can wait." She laughed, leaning into his touch. "Really? That would have been a shame. I've loved being here." His head against her own, all her defences fell away. With his arms creating a barrier around them, Sadie had never felt so safe. "For what it's worth, I'm really glad you invited me." There was no hesitation in what she said. "Not only have I discovered my new favourite sport, but I've loved spending all this time with you."

jude let out a quiet laugh, but there was no real humour behind it. the sound was hollow, weighed down by exhaustion and disappointment. his shoulders sagged as they continued walking, his fingers tightening around hers as though he needed the contact to keep himself grounded. around them, people continued moving through the stadium grounds, but everything felt distant, blurred together into meaningless noise. for the first time in weeks, maybe months, football wasn't the only thing occupying his mind and somehow that made everything hurt even more. he listened carefully as she spoke, hearing every word, appreciating every attempt she made to pull him out of the darkness threatening to swallow him whole. but it was difficult, god, it was so difficult. "everyone keeps saying that..." he murmured after a long silence. "that i'm young, that i'll have another chance, that i'll be back." his jaw tightened slightly. "and maybe they're right, maybe i will be." he shrugged helplessly. "but nobody knows that for sure, do they?" his eyes drifted toward the pavement beneath their feet. "4 years is a long time, sadie. people act like it's guaranteed, but it's not. players get injured, managers change, teams change, everything changes." he swallowed hard before continuing. "i've watched enough football to know that some players spend their entire careers chasing moments like this and never get another opportunity, some never even get one." a humourless smile touched his lips. "so when people tell me not to be upset because i'll have another world cup, it almost makes me angrier. because what if i don't? what if this was the best chance i ever get?" he exhaled sharply through his nose and shook his head. "i know that probably sounds dramatic." his gaze lifted toward her, finding comfort in the familiar blue of her eyes. for a few seconds he simply looked at her, taking in the softness of her expression, the concern she wasn't even trying to hide. "the worst part isn't even losing." he admitted. "it's knowing how good we were. knowing what we could've done." his voice cracked slightly before he looked away. "i keep replaying everything in my head. every pass, every mistake, every moment i should've done something differently." a small laugh escaped him, bitter and frustrated. "i've probably replayed the entire match a hundred times already." he rubbed the back of his neck with his free hand, exhaustion finally beginning to show through the composed exterior he'd maintained all evening. "when i was a kid, i used to sit in front of the television and imagine what this would feel like. playing for england, hearing the anthem, walking out in front of the whole world." his eyes softened slightly at the memory. "and i always imagined winning. nobody dreams about getting knocked out, nobody dreams about sitting in a dressing room afterwards wondering where it all went wrong." he paused, his gaze drifting toward the stadium towering behind them. "when that whistle blew..." he stopped himself for a moment, collecting his thoughts. "i don't know. it felt like somebody ripped something away from me. it sounds stupid because it's only football, but it doesn't feel like only football right now."

For the first time in a long, Sadie found herself lost for words. Here was this brilliant man, walking side by side, holding her hand, airing out his truth and all she wanted was to hide him from the tragedy that taunted every fiber of his being. It took a minute, but eventually she gathered her thoughts well enough to begin a conversation she hoped would help. "Jude, it's not dramatic to allow your emotions to present themselves. This isn't just a job to you, it's your world" She assured softly, needing to validate his emotions now more than ever. "You're allowed to be hurt and it's okay to be frustrated with the outcome of something that matters to you." She continued, brushing her thumb against the back of his palm. "People aren't machines. If you're sad, showing it only means your brave enough to allow me to see it and believe me, I'm honoured that you feel safe enough to speak so freely with me." Her blue eyed gaze met the dark irises she'd grown to adore and she offered him a gentle smile. "There are no easy answers here." She confessed with a sigh. "As much as I want to, I can't fix this for you and I certainly can't tell you what's going to happen in the future." Sadie continued, kicking the ground beneath her feet. "I don't know where you'll be in four years time or if you'll be playing in another world cup." She shrugged. "What I do know is how much of an impact you've made this time around." Her gaze turned soft, gentle and calm the more she spoke. "I knew nothing about soccer until you entered my life, but since meeting you, I've noticed a shift." Like day at night, the thoughts hit so suddenly, she almost physically stumbled from the impact. "People are painting murals of you on buildings. Grown adults are having children and giving their baby your name." A soft laugh fell between them. "You inspire people. You made your country proud. There's a reason people were so quick to join in and sing Hey Jude. That doesn't go away because of one game." She willed him to believe it. "You might not be raising that trophy this year, but somewhere in England, there are going to be kids kicking a ball around and they're going to be pretending they're you." Eyes shining with pride, Sadie could truthfully say she had never met a man like him before. He was one of a kind and she could hardly believe he was still holding her hand like a lifeline. "The wound is fresh and I know you might not feel this way, but you did your best and you guys have the talent." Pausing for a moment, she looked around, the blue sky still beaming down golden sun rays. "Not every success is measured by first place."

being at the world cup was a dream come true. jude had never felt happier in his life. he was meeting people from all over the world, sharing the pitch with players he had admired for years and representing his country on football's biggest stage. on top of that, he was surrounded by his closest friends every day. it felt like he was living the life every young boy dreamed of, and he knew how lucky he was to be there. but that was before the match against argentina. jude had known it would be difficult. any world cup knockout match was. what he hadn't expected was how helpless it would make him feel, from his perspective, everything seemed stacked against england, every decision felt like it went the wrong way, every break seemed to favor the opposition, and with tens of thousands of argentine supporters filling the stadium with deafening noise, it often felt as though england were fighting an impossible battle. that night, everything that could go wrong had gone wrong. being eliminated from the world cup was painful enough, but knowing how talented this england squad was made it even worse. he genuinely believed they could have won it all. he had imagined lifting the trophy, bringing it home, celebrating with his teammates and with the supporters who had believed in them from the very beginning. watching that dream disappear in a matter of minutes felt devastating. the atmosphere inside the dressing room was unlike anything he had ever experienced. nobody was shouting, nobody was angry, the silence was worse. a few players sat with their heads in their hands, others stared blankly at the floor, the occasional sound of a locker door closing echoed through the room, only making the silence that followed feel heavier. nobody knew what to say, there was nothing to say. jude stepped out of the shower and quietly dried himself off, he hadn't spoken a single word since the final whistle, he got dressed mechanically, barely paying attention to what he was doing. when he finished, he shut his locker with a dull thud and left his england shirt hanging inside. normally, he would have folded it carefully, normally, it would have meant something. tonight, he couldn't bring himself to care. maybe one of the staff members cleaning up later would take it, maybe it would end up in storage somewhere, maybe someone would keep it as a souvenir. at that moment, none of it mattered, his thoughts were a mess and he wasn't even sure what he was supposed to feel anymore.

When she'd been invited to the world cup, the last thing Sadie had expected was for her to have actually become so invested in the sport. It wasn't exactly the soccer that caught her attention in an iron clad grasp, but more so the person on the pitch giving his all to the game. She saw it in the small moments he felt no one was watching, how his eyes shined brighter and a small smile always threatened to break free against his lips. This match was different to the one she's watched days prior, the odds weren't swayed in his favour and when the final whistle blew, signaling the end of the game, she felt the exact moment her heart shattered. Before now, she hadn't cared about goals, fouls or red cards, there had been no need. Then suddenly he entered her world and all of that stuff seemed to matter again. From the crowd, she watched as the look of anguish washed over his sharp features and all she wanted was to run out from the stands and wrap him up in a protective embrace and comfort him, but she couldn't. It wasn't allowed and even if it had been, Sadie highly doubted he would have wanted such an emotional moment to play out on such a public stage. As everyone began to leave, she took that as her queue to follow and walked through the stadium, passing by loud fans and tired workers. Her mind focused on one goal and one goal only: she had to find Jude. As much as he loved the team he'd played with, the atmosphere that surrounded the players would be one of sorrow. An inescapable, terrible mood would hover over the England team for the next few days, at least. He needed a friendly face to remind him that while it might not feel like it right now, this wasn't the end of the world. He would continue to play and he would go on to do amazing things, but it was more than okay if he needed a moment to grieve the game he'd been so optimistic about winning only a couple hours ago. Sport was competitive and everyone who played faced the same outcome should the sun go down on their one bight day. Logically, she knew that, but logic didn't matter when the person you cared for was hurting so deeply. Sadie felt it in her bones and hated the thought that she couldn't necessarily fix this for him. All she could hope now was that he would be open to her presence. So she weaved through bodies and pushed past people with an absentmind "sorry." entirely unphased by the disgruntled protests, none of it mattered. She needed to get to him.

It's pretty cool, isn't it? Now that you've done it, you can do it again but just with another story. Oh, that is something I didn't know about you. A real theater kid. But I get what you mean. I was kind of the same, I guess, but I was twelve. Let's just manifest it now, that one day we will work together again but it being on Broadway or the West End. It was obvious that you all were so close, you could see that interviews. And I'm sure that you made some friends for life there. No, Max was definitely one that needed to stay alive, after everything she went through, she deserved it. I actually thought Steve would die or maybe Will. Oh really? Well at least you managed to keep your cool and didn't spoil a single thing. It's just funny to see all those conversations. No, indeed, a good two more weeks and it's all over. Why thank you, I do take pride in that.

Look at the two of us. We really are theater nerds at the core. No wonder we get along so well, we're practically the same person in two bodies. Ten and twelve, we were so young when we got up on those stages. Do you ever look back at the younger version of yourself and wonder where all that bravery came from? Keeping my fingers crossed. You know how much I loved working with you on Spiderman, working with you in a theater capacity would be a real dream come true. Max really did struggle so much. I just wish El hadn't been the one to die, you know? Millie wss heartbroken and I hate that. A lot of people thought it would be Steve, but I think that was too obvious, you know? Besides, if they killed Steve, they would have probably had to kill Dustin and no one has the heart for that. Will dying would have made sense seeing as he was connected to the Upside Down. Two weeks seems so close, yet so far. How are you enjoying The Odyssey press run? I'm so jealous you're in a Nolan movie.

nobody said you wanted to reject me, but that's honestly where my mind went because that's what it felt like at the time, forgive me if i got the wrong idea. really? why not? i don't think i'm particularly good at showing people how i feel sometimes, but i promise i'm working on it. and, sadie, you don't have to explain yourself to me, it's alright, i promise. i know you were busy with stranger things, spiderman and about a hundred other things, you've got a hectic life and i respect that. i'm cute? thank you, i do try. you can insult me as much as you like, by the way. i'll always find a way to take it as a compliment, it's a gift. hopefully people stay in love with me for a long time yet, i'm loving seeing people obsessed with me, it's cute. alright then, i'm changing your contact name. i do think you should add a heart emoji or something equally embarrassing so i can continue living in my fantasy world. and look, it's the world cup, of course i'm going to give everything i've got, of course i'm going to do everything i can to help england win, but i promise i won't change who i am, i'll always be me. i told you i was going to use our secret celebration! you noticed, didn't you? now, in my defence... haaland is one of the most lovable people on the planet and one of my best mates, i practically have a contractual obligation to flirt with him whenever we play each other, can you forgive me? i promise i won't do it with any of the argentina players tomorrow. a kiss on the cheek, though? that's a dangerous negotiation tactic, because i'd probably give you whatever you asked for after that. also, i need to meet your sister immediately, i'm convinced she's lovely and i'd very much like to know what you've been telling her about me. hold on, are you saying you want me all to yourself? because i can't say i'd complain about that. honestly, that sounds a bit like a dream. you absolutely have the power to make me blush! you don't know the lads, sadie, they're idiots, complete idiots, they live to take the piss out of me. i tried to keep it under control, but it clearly didn't work, eventually i had to admit i was acting like an idiot because of you and now they call you "miss bellingham" and, unfortunately for me, they find it absolutely hilarious. baby girl it is, then. what are you going to call me? and i have to be honest, i think i'm going to need quite a lot of kisses after tomorrow's match. you know... if you decide to come.

Hopefully you realise that wasn't the case now. Sorry I made you feel like that way though. Really, I didn't even realise you were asking me out in that way, you know? As stupid as it might sound, I don't know. As a footballer, I thought you just invited people to games because you wanted to make friends. I realise that probably sounds stupid. You're definitely getting better at making your motives known now. Yeah, I know I do, but I wanted to explain so you didn't think I was purposefully trying to avoid you. That wasn't true and I would hate for you to think it might have been. Maybe I need to be better at communicating my feelings too. Come on, don't play dumb. You know you're cute. That damn half smile thing you do proves that. Can't see any reason people wouldn't still love you after all this. Not only are you a great player, but you're a genuinely nice person and that's really shown throughout this tournament. A heart could be cute. Should it be white seeing as you've played in that colour during the matches I've attended? Yeah, I have a feeling that nothing could change you and that's a great feeling. Knowing who you are and being unwilling to change even through your success really shows your character. I'm proud to know you. Forgiving could be pretty hard after you made me so jealous. I think you're going to have to find a way to make it up to me. No bromance with Argentina players? Might be for the best. I've heard all about your dreams rivalries over the years. You'd do whatever I want? Now that could be a very dangerous thing. You're revealing your weaknesses to me, Jude. Is that wise? Sorry, I'm putting a strict rule in place that you can never meet my sister. She would embarrass me and right now, you think I'm cool. Is it too bold of me to say that? Yes, I want you all to myself. Do you think that's something you could manage? Now, do I use these powers to make you blush for good or evil? Wait... your team are calling me "Miss Bellingham?" Man, they move quick. Do they know we haven't even been on an official date yet? If you keep sweet talking me like this, maybe one day soon I'll get to call you mine. In the meantime, how do you feel about baby or handsome? I'll be there tonight. Might even live up to your expectations and give you a few kisses afterwards, if you're lucky.

why does everyone drive like it's their first day on earth? it feels like the entire world is always against me when i'm driving, and before anyone says anything— i'm a safe driver ever, i promise. the funniest part is that i passed the test on first try, and somehow i have a record of almost getting into accidents despite being careful. to sum it up, i need a chauffeur or a designed carpool buddy. perks are that i'm a good listener, top tier music, and the biggest perk is me! it's a win-win for everyone. @limelightblvdstarters

I've noticed this too and don't even start me on the traffic in New York. I'm not entirely convinced the people in that city have actually passed their tests at all. It feels more like everyone has stolen a car and drives blind. Sorry to hear about all your almost accidents. From here on out, I hope you're able to avoid all that danger and find the chauffeur of your dreams. As much as I would love to offer my assistance, I'm not sure I would be the best person for the job. Can I drive? Sure. Can I drive well? That's an entirely different conversation and I don't want to be the reason you get injured.

If I didn't love the work that I was doing... I don't think that I'd still be writing music. And that's a day that I hope never comes cause it's such an outlet for me. Gets all the gross feelings out. Like a real purge of emotions. I think it makes me heathier, too. I've had a few crash outs in my time... it's just never been about work, ha. I'm looking forward to seeing the new Spiderman and what you'll be doing in it. There's so much speculation about your role. It kind of makes me giggle. How you managed to keep it so secret... you're a stronger woman than I am. I would have folded right away.

Some people can't help themselves when it's all they know. Fortunately, you're one of the most creative people I know and I love that you're always so passionate about what you create. It's like free therapy for you and it's nice that you actually have an outlet to work through your feelings. Babe, we've all had our fair share of crash outs, I'm sure they were all extremely valid. Thank you. Not long now until all is revealed and I'm so excited for people to finally see it. You know, when I was younger I would've struggled too, but Stranger Things really trained me for this kind of thing. There's no secret I couldn't keep now. I'm like an iron clad door.

that's the funny thing, we've all collectively accepted sweet caroline without really questioning why. i don't think anyone could give you a proper answer anymore. you're absolutely right that it's american, which makes it even stranger, but i suppose football fans have never been known for their logic. as long as it gets everyone belting out "so good, so good, so good," nobody seems to mind where it came from. i do watch football outside of the world cup too! not obsessively, but i keep up with it throughout the season. the world cup just has a completely different atmosphere, though. the whole country's watching the same match at the same time and that's got a bit of magic to it, right? if england ever win the whole thing while we're together, you can forget everything i've said about dignity because i'll probably be the one dragging you onto a table.

So, what I'm hearing is any song could become a British anthem so long as it's catchy enough? That makes so much sense now, because while I was living in London, I realised pretty much everyone over there as adopted Mr. Brightside as their own. I'll admit, you guys sing with such passion, I'm almost jealous I'm not singing right alongside you. Well, not normally. Jude Bellingham invited me to the last game and I sang Wonderwall with the crowd at the end and so I guess for a couple hours, I was an honorary English girl. Okay, I get you. A healthy fan expierence then. Some soccer fans actually scare me, but it's nice knowing some people can be casual about it. The world cup brings your country together then? I hear it does the same for many people around the globe. It's a pity America never really picked up the whole soccer thing on the same level. For your sake, I'll be rooting for England to win. I want to see you jumping up on a table. You can try and drag me along, but I'll probably be too busy laughing and recording you.

yeah but i'm not celebrating too early in case someone decides to schedule something, but right now i'm choosing to believe this is actually happening. the thought of seeing you again has genuinely put me in the best mood. i'm already preparing myself for one of those hugs where neither of us lets go for an unnecessarily long amount of time. i've missed you so much, sades. and you're right, we don't need some elaborate plan. nothing too exciting will happen but it'll still end up being one of my favourite weekends of the year. just hurry up and get here already, will you? i'm tired of only getting to hug you through a phone screen. it was great, are you kidding? i got to annoy louis for days... my favourite hobby.

Millie, don't talk that into existence. You might jinx us and that would be a disaster when I have already decided we're both free for the foreseeable future. So, you already know how this is going to go. Once I have you in my arms, I'm refusing to step away. Who needs to work anyway? I should just follow you around gor the rest of our lives. That's what I always love the most about our friendship, even the smallest moments feel significant. I know I'll have more fun lounging around with you for hours than I would going to some huge elaborate event with anyone else. You're my day one for a reason and nothing could ever change that. Okay, okay, I'm on my way. You always did thrive off bullying that man. I mean, you treat him like a brother, so I expect nothing less.