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CHARLOTTE POV.
JANUARY 15, 2022
I waited in the parking lot as he changed out of his football uniform, and he came rushing, apologizing for having me wait so long. He opened the passenger door for me and I sat down in the seat, promptly putting my seatbelt on. I told him my address, and he began driving. I looked out the window, admiring the London skyline as we drove along the highway. 
"London's a beautiful city, isn't it?" Mason asked. I turned to see him looking at me, smiling. 
"Yes, for sure. Spain's beautiful, but I missed London so much." I nodded, while drawing on the window. It was so cold outside, the window had fogged up. Realizing what I was doing, I immediately forced myself to a halt and apologized. "Sorry. Didn't mean to get my fingerprints all over your window. It's just a bit of a habit I've had ever since I was young." 
"Don't worry about it. My niece and nephew do it all the time in the back seat. I'm used to it." He pointed toward the back seat, and sure enough, I could see fingerprints on the window, as well as other traces of children. There was a small coloring book, as well as some toys laid out. He must really love them, huh. 
"Where in Spain were you?" 
"I did three years of studying abroad at the University of Valencia. So for most of my time I was in Valencia. I did my first year of university here in England at Oxford, then I was in Valencia for my last three years."
"Oxford, huh? You didn't tell me you were a smartypants." 
"Why, did I seem like the dumb blonde?" We both laughed— we had the same sense of humor.
"If you were in Valencia, you must have watched some football. After all, the football club Valencia is located there, and from my understanding, Spain has a big football culture, does it not?" 
"I suppose." I replied somewhat halfheartedly. "So, what do footballers do in their free time? Other than go on lavish vacations and add to their sports car collections?" I asked.
"Please. That is such a stereotype. Not all of us are obsessed with money, you know?" 
"Hey. I would be obsessed with money too, if I made thousands of dollars a week. But in all seriousness, what do you do in your free time? The only footballer I know is Phil, and well, he just fishes. Don't tell me you fish, too." 
"I don't. Is that a good or bad thing?" 
"Good. I can never quite wrap my head around the notion of fishing. All of it is so odd." 
"That, we can agree on. I think in my free time... Well, I think I probably spend most my time at home, getting some rest. Sometimes I'll hang out with my niece and nephew, or with the lads from Chelsea or the national team. But they all have their families and girlfriends, so. I spend most my time at home, usually." 
"Ah, a bit of a homebody?"
"Yeah, well. I guess things turned out that way." 
We continued to make small talk until eventually, we arrived in front of my front doorstep. He got out of the car before me and opened my door for me, although I told him he didn't have to. He walked me to my front doorstep and I said first, 
"Thank you for driving me all the way home. You must be so tired after your game. Thank you, really. It was very kind of you." 
"It was my pleasure." He smiled and said, "it was nice meeting you, Charlotte. Hopefully I'll see you again sometime." 
With that, he got back in his car and drove away. I was left pondering the meaning of his words.