#coyb

Cole Palmer and Christopher Nkunku

Goal scorer and assist giver

warnings: ⚠️alcoholism⚠️

a/n: pretend your mothers name is hellen 💀💀part 2 of I can be your new Home. here is part 1:

prompt: in which after coffee, jessie goes home with the reader and it’s her turn to comfort the reader about a situation going on in her life.

"Game day tomorrow? How you all feeling?" Magda asked the girls who were out for coffee as you all sat around a round table outside. The London air was crisp and warm and the trees were finally starting to show their fall colours. It was a good time of the year, you loved august.

"You can drop the captain act, Mags." You joked, sipping a flat white. "Maybe I just actually care. Man United is a good team, I want to make sure no one is stressed." She said, smiling at you lightly.

Magda knew you weren’t great with your own emotions, she was always kind to you about it.

"Well I feel like we’re gonna kick some red devil butt." You said, lifting your coffee in the air. "Here here!" Guro echoed in her best, sarcastic british accent.

You all drank your coffee and talked, took teasing pictures of each other, and eventually you told the group you had to go. "Have to have my weekly call with Hell-en." you told the girls. The younger ones laughed, thinking the nickname for your mother was clever, the older girls rolled their eyes, believing you should try to fix your relationship with your mum. "Wait. I’m missing something here. Hell-en?" Jessie asked, confused. "Oh right, you don’t know about her. I’ll explain in the car, want me to drive you home?" You asked Jessie. "Yeah, sure."

She stood up and zipped her coat up before saying bye to the girls and walking towards your car with you. You guys settled into the car, you in the drivers seat. You subconsciously did the one hand on the wheel, and looking back thing to pull out of the driveway. Jessie visibly shivered. "You cold?" You asked her. "Nope. Now tell me what Hell-en means." Jessie asked.

"Helen is my mother. I don’t get along with her. She was deep into the addiction lifestyle by the time I was 10 and was just never really around. A year ago, she called me and told me she wanted to fix our relationship. She asked for one call a week, so I agreed out of the goodness of my heart… that’s a lie it took me two months to agree to an every week call. Anyways, it’s awkward, and long, and I hate it and I’m always in a bad mood after the call, which means that I’m in a bad mood when I go to bed, which means I’m in a bad mood for training or the practice the next day." You told her, eyes on the road. "Ahh, so that explains the reason why once a week you’re such a grump before the games." Jessie laughed. "Yep. That’s it." You smiled.

There was a little silence that was broken by Jessie putting her hand on top of yours who was resting on your thigh. "I’m sorry though. I’m really sorry. You deserved better, you were really young." Jessie said.

You bit the inside of your cheek, a bad habit you had developed, your heart pounding so loudly you were sure could hear. "Your heart is beating fast." Jessie said, almost a whisper. "Yeah. I know." You said quietly, not meeting her eye. The atmosphere was very tense, but not uncomfortable, just full of nerves. "Yours is beating hard too, Jess." You said, switching lanes. Her hand was still on yours. "Yeah. I know."

You had to move your hand to switch gears, it shocked her a bit as the car has been silent for five minutes. She took her hand back, and before you knew it, you had placed yours on her thigh, rubbing your thumb on her skin gently.

"Go to your house." Jessie said, breaking the silence. "What?" You asked, confused. "You said you’re always in a bad mood after the calls. Let me make it better. Call your mum, and i’ll cook for you. We can watch a movie and just chill. I have everything I need for tomorrow in my bag so I can even stay the night. Or I can just get a cab back-" Jessie started saying.

"No! No. You- yes. Yeah you can come to my house and stay over. That’s great. That’s good." You said quickly. Looking over to smile at her and pulling your hand away.

You couldn’t let the undeniable feelings you had for Jessie take over. Not right now.

You quickly took the exit to get off the highway and then made your way into London. You turned onto your street and then parked your car. "You’ve never been here, have you?" You asked Jessie, opening the car door for her. "Nope." She smiled, grabbing her bag. "Well it’s not much but it’s nice. It’s the best home i’ve ever had, easily." You said, not meaning for it to sound as sad as it did. "Well I’m happy you’re letting me see the place." Jessie smiled as you walked into the apartment complex. "Don’t be. I bring a lot of girls back here." You joked, but she didn’t catch it, instead her face scrunched up adorably. "I’m kidding, Jess." You laughed, throwing an arm over her shoulder, causing her to lay her head on your shoulder. "Oh. Good." She said, laughing softly. "Only my mothers have been here. And by my mothers i mean P and Magda." You told her, now on the third floor of the apparement building. "Really? Why?" Jessie asked, following you to the end of the hallway. "I don’t know. I like my personal space I guess. It’s also a little small so not great for gatherings." You told her, putting your key in the door and pushing it open.

Your apartment was really nice. Small, but cozy. Upon entry, to your right, was a kitchen with a marble island. Parallel to the door, there were huge windows exposing the city of London. You had a couch and a TV to the right, and a desk to the left. Farther to the left was the bedroom, with a washroom connecting it. The area was tastefully decorated in white tones, made homey with accents of colours.

"Why am I surprised that it’s not horribly messy?" Jessie laughed, taking over her shoes and her coat. You laughed and took her jacket, hanging it up in the closet. "Well… I don’t know. I guess I am messy at training but I like it clean at home." You said. "Want water?" You asked her. She nodded and you filled up too glasses. "Do you mind if I shower later. We showered at training but is it just me or do the showers there give you the ick?" She said. "No! I get what you mean! Sometimes I feel so dirty after I shower there. Feel free to use it. And anything else. My mums gonna call in about ten." You told her. "Okay. Well I’ll shower while you’re on the call?" Jessie said, making it sound like more of a question. "Yeah. Definitely. Oh there’s clothes in the dresser in case you want something else to wear." You told her with a smile. "And there’s a towel here…" you got one from a closet. "… the conditioner and shampoo are new and-"

"Y/n. It’s okay. I’m good." Jessie said, placing her hand on your stomach gently.

You were taller than her, it was a low bar, but as she stood 5,4, you were about 5,6. "Okay." You breathed out, her touching making you dizzy. "I think your phones ringing." She said, pulling her hand away.

You looked down at the counter, and indeed, the name Hell-en was written on your screen. "Great. Uhm the water warms up quickly, don’t worry."

She nodded and walked towards your room as you answered the call.

"Hey mom." You said, trying your best to give her some kind of enthusiasm. Jessie smiled at you as she closed the bedroom door and you smiled back. "Hey sweetie! How was your day? Big game tomorrow!"

She said the same thing everyday, even when the game wasn’t big.

"It was good. I- well I had training and I went out to get coffee with some of the girls." You told her, sitting up on the counter. You heard the shower turn on. "That’s great. I’m happy you’re happy there." She said gently. "I hear the shower. Is there someone there? A boy?" She asked, hopefully.

You had never come out to her. You never felt the need. You felt as though she didn’t deserve to know you. But everyone knew you were gay, you posted about it on social media, being a big activist for the community and having dated a footballer before. So if she really wanted to know you, she could have just looked it up. "Mom…" you said simply, pinching the bridge of your nose. "Okay! Okay! Actually I have a favour to ask you." Your mother said.

It would be a lie to say you hadn’t been waiting for it. 12 months of talking to your mother on the phone and she hadn’t asked you for anything yet. It was fishy. But you tried your best to be calm and not jump to conclusion. Concentrations on the sound of the shower, the sound they told you that Jessie was right there. "What is it?" You asked her gently. "Listen… I’m in a little financial trouble. Just a small bit! I just need… like… the equivalent of 300 pounds." Your mother said.

You were shocked. The apartment was silent other than the sound of water. "You still there?" Your mom said. "Not for long! Not for fucking long Helen! You call me telling you want to rebuild our relationship! You call me!" You yelled into the phone, not realizing the water had stopped running. "You never wanted a relationship with me! You wanted someone to call in case you ever fuck up again! You wanted somebody to give you cash." The door of the bathroom creaked open. "What is it now? Can’t pay the bills?! Need to bail your drug addict boyfriend out of jail?! TELL ME!" You yelled, tears running down your face and shaking your body.

Jessie was standing in the doorway now, a towel around her and wet hair dripping. She has been alarmed by the yelling. "Honey… I’m just a little short-" Helen started saying. "Save it. Save it. Don’t call me again." You hung up the call and slammed your phone against the counter, back turned away from Jessie.

You heard footsteps and you turned around, seeing Jessie walking towards you. "Y/n…" She said softly, coming up to you and putting her hand on your jaw, using her thumb to wipe your wet cheek.

"I’m sorry. I didn’t want you to see that. That’s not me. I don’t yell." You said, sniffling. "I know you don’t. I know you. It’s okay." She said. "I want to hug you but you’ll get all wet." She laughed.

You laughed and sniffled but didn’t care, pulling her in and hugging her. Her head left a wet spot on your shirt, but you didn’t care. "Go get changed, I need to too." You smiled. She walked back to the washroom and you went to your bedroom. You pulled out a grey hoodie and sweatpants for Jessie and and blue sweatsuit for you. You tossed the clothes to Jessie who changed in the washroom as you changed in your room. "Movie?" You asked.

"Definitely." She said. She sat down on the couch and took the remote, scrolling through netflix as you made coffee in the kitchen. "Any particular movie?" She asked. "Nope, I’m open to anything." You told her, pouring you both a cup. "Oh coffee! Thank god. I love Niahm but every time I go over to her house she gives me tea and I can’t take it anymore." Jessie laughed. You smiled at her and handed her a cup. "So… you and Niahm?" You asked, trying to be subtle. "No! No. We’re just friends. Really." She said quickly. "Oh. Okay." You smiled, looking at the TV. She had picked a movie called Into the Tall Grass. "We should talk about the car. And the call with your mum." Jessie said, her eyes still on you as yours were on the TV.

"Mhm." You said, looking back to Jessie. "My mother wanted money. 300 pounds. I didn’t ask why. It doesn’t matter anyways because she’s not getting it. I’m not digging her out of the hole she dug herself in. No, scratch that. The hood she dug both of us in. I just got myself out of that pit. And it’s not my job to get her out." You told her. She nodded, listening you calmly. "I agree. I don’t want you getting hurt." She said to you, moving closer to you a little. Her legs were crossed on the couch, facing you, and your forearms were resting on your thighs as you leaned forward. "And the car…" you said, leaning backwards and turning your head to look at her. "I think you have a pretty big chokehold on me Fleming." You told her, making her blush. "I think you have one on me." Jessie answered, running a hand through her loose, damp hair. "But I can’t date you. You just moved here. You need to get settled in before we could even try to be together."

"That’s not what I want. I’m settled in. The only thing that feels unsettled is that I haven’t kissed you yet." Jessie said.

Her words caught you off guard. You had never once thought you would hear such bold words from Jessie. "Does it now?" You teased, sitting up and crossing your legs so that you mirrored her position. "Yeah. It feels wrong." She said.

"I don’t know how to be with somebody." You told her, entwining your fingers on the backboard of the couch. "Then we’ll learn together." Jessie said.

You looked into Jessie’s eyes, unfamiliar with the feeling of never wanting too look away. You didn’t think, for once, you let your mind go empty. You got closer to Jessie and pushed her gently down on the couch, your body hovering over hers. You looked at her lips, and then kissed her. Your lips tangling, your hand slipping under her hoodie gently as your other hand held your body up over hers. She moans lightly, the feeling of your cold hand taking her by surprise. "Sorry," you giggled into her mouth. "It’s okay" she laughed, not stopping the kiss.

However when air ran out, you had to move off from on top of her. "Feeling satisfied?" you teased her. She took her turn to push you onto the couch, laying her head onto your chest. "Yeah."

Dele: "Now is the Time to Talk"

Trigger warning: Sexual abuse, addiction and mental health.