Alex stood there, his mind a total blank.
He was on the training pitch. It was cold. He was covered in mud. And he was holding a white letter.
A lion was on the front of it. Three lions.
England. Under 21s.
He walked, his legs feeling like they were not his, back to the locker room. He was a ghost.
The room was almost empty. Mark was there. He had finished his extra running. He was covered in sweat, his face red. He was angrily trying to clean his silver boots.
"What is that?" Mark grunted, not looking up. "A bill? You get detention? Did you forget to do your homework, Professor?"
Alex did not say anything. He just... handed Mark the letter.
Mark wiped his muddy hands on his shorts. He took it. He read it.
His face went through about five different emotions.
First, confusion. "What is this?"
Then, his eyes got wide. "England... Under 21s?"
Then, he looked at Alex. He looked at the letter. He looked back at Alex.
"You," he said. It was not a question.
