Love Me Like A Champion

Chapter One: Blocked him on snap       "GOALLLLLL!!!"       The roar that erupted from North Fall University Stadium felt like an earthquake tearing through. It thundered from the stands, rolled across the green pitch, and exploded into the open sky above Manchester.       Red and white confetti burst into the air. Drums pounded. Whistles screamed. The scoreboard blinked once then settled.       UNITED ROYALS 2 - MANCHESTER UNITED 1       The match was over. The crowd went insane. On the sidelines, the Twinkle Cheerleading Club leapt into synchronized motion, pom-poms flashing under the stadium lights. Their leader, Wendy Savage, was already screaming herself hoarse.       "That's my big brother!" Wendy yelled, jumping so hard her blue ponytail whipped wildly behind her. "That's my brother! Did you see that strike?!"       The girls around her laughed and screamed louder, feeding off her excitement.       Wendy was impossible to miss. Nineteen years old, electric blue hair styled into a high ponytail, glitter dusted across her cheeks. She was beautiful in a bold, fearless way. She clutched her pom-poms to her chest, eyes shining.       "He never misses," she said breathlessly. "Never."       On the pitch, Xander Savage stood frozen for half a second after the goal, his chest rising, sweat clinging to his skin, heart still pounding from the sprint that had led to the strike. Then his teammates crashed into him.       "You're the baddest!" one of them shouted, wrapping an arm around his shoulders.       "That curve?" another laughed. "That bloody curve?!"       Xander stumbled back with a small laugh, hands lifting instinctively as if to steady them all. His dark hair was damp, falling messily over his forehead. His jersey clung to his torso, number 9 bold against his back. He didn't look like someone who had just ended a match. He looked calm.       "That was beautiful, mate," the team captain said, gripping his shoulder. "Absolutely amazing."       Xander exhaled slowly. "It was just instinct."       "Just instinct," someone scoffed. "You're unreal, Savage."       Across the pitch, Freya Woods adjusted her camera lens, fingers moving fast but steady. She had been tracking the ball seconds before the final goal, body already angled, breath already held.       "Shkrrt" The camera made its noise.       She caught the strike mid-air, the way Xander's leg swung, the tension in his calf, the very moment his foot met with the ball.       "Shkrrt" She caught the goalkeeper's despair. She caught the crowd erupting behind him, frozen in jubilation. Freya lowered the camera slightly, her lips curving in quiet satisfaction.       "Perfect," she murmured to herself.       She had been on the sidelines the entire match, she was North Fall University's Creative Arts department year 2 student. The Sports Department knew her name, so did most of campus. Freya Woods didn't miss moments, she captured them.       Her short curls framed her face in soft rebellion, bouncing as she moved. She wore ripped black jeans and an oversized hoodie that was accessorized, camera strap slung across her chest. At nineteen, she was doing well for herself.       She lifted the camera again, zooming in on Xander as he turned toward the stands. That was when she caught the handshake.       Xander jogged toward the sideline where Wendy had broken formation, already leaning dangerously over the barrier.       "XANDER!" she screamed.       He laughed and met her halfway. They clasped hands, twisted their wrists, bumped fists, then knocked knuckles twice before pulling apart. That was their signature handshake.       Freya snapped the shot instinctively. Something about the intimacy of it made the image powerful.       "That's his sister?" a voice beside her asked.       Freya glanced sideways.       A fellow photographer, older, nodded toward the cheerleader. "The blue-haired one. You must be new on campus not to know her."       Freya adjusted her focus again. "Yeah. Must be really new. Wendy Savage is famous in her own right."       "Runs that cheer club excellently," the photographer said. "Savage blood, I guess."       Freya hummed, eyes still trained on Xander. On the field, Xander ruffled Wendy's hair before stepping back.       "You did great," Wendy said, eyes bright. "That second goal? Crazy!"       He smiled softly. "You were louder than the crowd."       "Obviously," she said proudly. "I should..."       Behind them, the rest of the stadium surged forward. Students poured closer to the barriers, phones raised, voices overlapping.       "XANDER!"       "SAVAGE!"       "THE PRODIGY!"       "CAMPUS GOD!"       The chants rolled like waves. Xander straightened slightly, shoulders squaring in habit. He lifted a hand in acknowledgment, nodding once to the stands.       Freya caught that too. "Shkrrt"       He wasn't showy. He didn't blow kisses or pound his chest. He simply walked and people reacted. Girls began flooding toward him almost immediately, security barely holding them back.       "Xander, picture please!"       "Just one!"       "I love you!"       He stopped for a few, polite as ever.       "Sure," he said calmly.       "Of course."       "No worries."       Freya watched through her lens as he leaned down slightly so a shorter girl could fit into frame, arm hovering respectfully around her shoulder without touching. Another girl giggled too loudly, pressing closer than necessary.       Xander stepped back gently. "Careful," he said. "You don't want to trip."       His tone was soft. Almost shy.       "He's still the same." Freya muttered under her breath.       The photographer beside her smirked. "Not what you expected?"       She shook her head. "His backhanded smiles."       "Savage's always been like that," he replied. "So arrogant and rude. Well, what can you expect from a rich person that is famous?"       Freya zoomed in as Xander smiled politely at another fan. Her lips curved faintly.       The announcer's voice boomed over the speakers.       "Give it up for your United Royals, and your match-winning striker-XANDER SAVAGE!"       The stadium erupted again. Xander lifted his hand once more, nodding toward the crowd, eyes scanning instinctively until they stopped. For half a second, his gaze landed on Freya. The lens hovered between them. Xander blinked, breaking eye contact first.       Freya exhaled slowly, unaware she'd been holding her breath. She checked the screen. The shot was perfect.       Around them, the celebration continued. Music blasted. Teammates laughed. Wendy danced with her squad. Girls screamed Xander's name until their voices cracked. And Freya Woods lowered her camera, watching the campus god bask in a victory he made look effortless.       ***       "You blocked me on all social media and even deleted my number?" Xander pulled Freya to a corner, holding her arm tightly.       Freya shoved him, freeing her arm. "Yes I did. You just noticed today? Tells me I wasn't wrong to have done that."       "Is that what you're saying? And who said I just noticed today? Lol." Xander looked around, laughing painfully. "I've been sending messages thinking maybe something happened to you, just for me to check my snap and I can't find you."       Freya took a step back. "I came to see Wendy." She said, trying to calm her nerves. "Her photos are ready."       "You're the worst talking stage I've ever come across." Xander snapped. "You are everything bad they say you are."       Freya frowned then turned to walk towards the gate. The mansion was big. It was the biggest she'd ever seen, even in movies. It was more like a castle. This was actually her first time nearing the Savage mansion. She was around the neighborhood covering for a child's birthday party.       Xander leaned on the wall, watching her. "Drop the photos with the security and leave." He said, his voice commanding. "I don't want to see you anywhere close to me, don't take me pictures during games. Stay away."       That made Freya laugh for two straight minutes. She turned slowly and looked at him. "I've never been around you. You're not a catch for me, you're not my type."       "Oh darling, your type doesn't exist. You play every boy on campus. You don't take anyone seriously." Xander snapped. "Who the hell do you think you are?"       "Freya Woods." Freya winked at him then dropped the photo album on his chest, slightly hitting him. She walked away without looking back.