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Trent’s heart sinks as Ukraine put a third goal in the back of the net and with it Scotland’s chance of qualifying seems much less likely. Something in the back of his mind hopes, hopes, that they might get lucky. But it’s a case of too little too late and with the final whistle the score ends 3:1 to Ukraine. Trent watches some of the Scotland players fall to the pitch floor, some pressing their hands to their heads and wishing perhaps they’d done more, that the match has ended differently. The camera pans to Andy and he’s clapping but he looks dejected and shattered. Trent can’t imagine how he feels. Especially after how their season at Liverpool ended. It seems like Andy can’t possibly lose anything else. He shuts the TV off because he’s not sure his heart can take watching the post-match interviews, can’t face hearing Andy try to make the best of things.
It’s only an hour or so after the match finishes that Trent’s phone is ringing with a FaceTime call from Andy. He sits up, accepting the call as he does. It’s only as Andy comes into view that Trent remembers he didn’t get changed after finishing training this afternoon. He’d got back to his room, tired and had flopped onto the bed and accidentally fallen asleep. He’s not entirely sure that Andy would appreciate seeing Trent sporting an England kit right now. He drops the phone face down onto the bed and stands, tugging off his shirt as he does.
“Trent?” Andy asks, sounding confused and a little hurt.
“Sorry, just a moment!” Trent tosses the shirt to the floor and frantically looks around for something else to wear. He reaches for a zip up hoodie he finds strewn on the desk and puts it on, getting back onto the bed and picking up the phone. He smiles at Andy and calms his breathing as he settles on his side, holding the phone in front of him.
“Hey, sorry about that.” Andy shrugs.
“That’s okay.” There’s a pause in which Trent wishes he wasn’t on the other side of a phone call and he could just pull Andy against his side.
“I’m really sorry.” Andy sighs, runs a hand through his hair.
“Nah, it’s okay. Really. With everything going on in Ukraine I think I’d have felt weird about winning. I don’t even think it was necessarily the game even, I think it’s just another loss after everything else we’ve been through these past couple of weeks. There’s only so many fucking losses you can take, you know?” Trent nods.
“Yeah I understand. It’s like, you know in football you’re going to lose sometimes. But it feels like, as a team especially, we’ve been experiencing a lot recently, and a lot of not nice stuff.”
“Yeah.” Andy tucks his knees against his chest and rests a hand against his head. His skin is pale and the dark circles under his eyes are pronounced. If Trent was there he would pull Andy against his chest and run his fingers through his hair. It wouldn’t be much but it would be better than whatever he can do on the other side of the phone.
“Anyway, how are things for you?” Andy asks, attempting a smile, “It seems like you’ve settled in well with the other lads. Declan Rice?” Trent nods.
“Yeah it’s been good. Dec’s been nice. Everyone has.”
“I have to admit I was a little worried, you know? What with Jordan not being there as well. I thought you’d be a little lonely being the only Liverpool one there.” Trent laughs.
“Were you really? Like I don’t have any friends from other teams?”
“No, it’s not like that. I was just worrying about you Trent …”
“More like you just wanted to think about me, as you always do.” Trent raises an eyebrow and Andy laughs.
“Um, don’t go getting big-headed now. You don’t consume all my waking thoughts.”
“If I don’t I should do.” Trent rolls onto his back, holding the phone in front of him. Andy frowns at the screen.
“Is that my jumper?” Trent frowns himself, looking down at the hoodie he pulled on earlier.
It is indeed Andy’s. The number 26 is neatly stitched below the Liverpool logo.
Trent can’t remember exactly how he acquired it- if Andy left it at his house one day, or whether Trent just took it from somewhere. Somehow, one day he found it in his room and decided it was his to keep. He’s worn it enough by now that the fabric is soft from wear.
“Oh.” Trent says, biting his bottom lip. Andy didn’t exactly know that Trent had this particular item of clothing in his possession and Trent was hoping to keep things that way. “I … I guess it is.” He pulls the hood further over his forehead as if he could disappear into it.
“I knew I’d lost one somewhere! They made me pay for another one!” Trent internally cringes, opens his mouth to say something before noticing Andy’s smile. “I wouldn’t have minded half as much if I knew you’d taken it.”
“I didn’t exactly mean to.” Trent offers. Andy waves a hand.
“Nah, don’t worry about it. I’m just glad I know where it ended up. It suits you anyway, it’s sweet seeing you in my number.” Trent’s feels his cheeks heat up and he tucks his hand into the sleeve of the jacket and tosses it over his face.
“Stop, please.”
“And sweater paws as well! Fucking hell Trent, can you stop being so cute when you’re all the way there and not here right now?” The with me is heavily implied.
“Fucking hell, can we stop talking about this now?” Trent rolls back onto his side with an awkward laugh.
“Hey, you were the one who decided to wear my, stolen jacket.” Trent starts to say something else but Andy cuts him off. “Ah! No, we’ll stop this now. But when you’re back I want you to wear it on the first day of the new season training so everyone knows how obsessed with me you are.”
“No! No way!” Trent scoffs.
“Would I really be so mean?” Andy laughs.
“Um, definitely!”
“Yeah, you’re right.” Andy sighs, closes his eyes for a moment. He looks back to the screen and Trent smiles at him. His hair peeks out randomly from under his, Andy’s, hood and he looks so soft and Andy’s heart aches, wishes he was there with him.
“You okay?” Trent asks.
“Yeah, just … thinking.” Andy sighs. “When are you back?”
“A week or so, I think.” Trent is terrible at knowing when he’s supposed to be doing things and Andy rolls his eyes.
“Anyway, I’ll get going now. Let me know when you’re back and in the meantime I’ll be labelling all of my clothes so they don’t mysteriously go missing again.”
“Hey, this isn’t missing anymore. You know exactly where it is.” Andy laughs.
“Fucking hell Trent.” He says with a shake of his head. “Thanks for cheering me up.”
“Anytime.” They fall silent and this would usually be the point in their conversation when Andy would take hold of Trent’s wrist, pull him close against him, Andy’s hand resting against his waist.
“Alright, bye then. See you soon.” Andy says. Trent nods, smiles.
“Yeah, bye.” He smiles again and Andy nods before ending the call. Trent rolls onto his back again and opens the camera on his phone. He takes the most ridiculous selfie he vaguely thinks he may regret when it gives Andy leverage to use it against him in the future, one with the hood of Andy’s jacket pulled down low on his forehead and his usual wide smile. He quickly types out a caption and send it to Andy before he changes his mind.
Thanks for letting me steal this, it’s perfect. Can’t wait to see you soon and steal more stuff. I’ll let you know when I’m up to in training and when I’m back because I know you’re that obsessed with me *eye roll* *red heart emoji* xxxx