Alex walked through the big glass doors.
It was not a dream this time. He was not a visitor. He was not a competition winner.
He was, for now, a member of the Arsenal first team.
Antoine was injured. His ankle would take three weeks to heal. And the manager, Steve, had decided that Alex was the new backup. The official, sixteen year old, school suit wearing backup.
His life was a runaway train. He was just trying to hold on.
He walked into the first team locker room.
And there it was.
His locker was not the temporary one in the corner anymore.
They had given him a real one. A permanent one, with a new number. Number 38. FINCH.
It was slotted right between BASTIAN and HARRY.
He was sitting between the giant German defender and the captain of England.
Alex just stood there, looking at it. His heart was doing a little flip.
"Morning, kid."
Alex jumped. Harry, the captain, was sitting on the bench, already in his kit. He was smiling.
