ICHM, Chapter Three: Wembley

[tempered-rose.livejournal.com]

Title: I Couldn’t Help Myself, Chapter Three: Wembley
Characters: OFC’s, OMC’s ; John FREAKING Terry & Frank Lampard
Rating: PG-13
Words: 1957
A/N: FINALLY, a chapter with players in it! Well, technically it’s THEM so that really shouldn’t count…lol. Thanks for those who’ve commented on the previous parts, y’all rock =-D Keelie, I hope you catch the Bill Engvall thing in here ;-) and uh Sammy *bats eyelashes* you’re mentioned *blushes*



Chapter One: London Calling | Chapter Two: That Night



It had been a good two weeks, Jessica had to admit that. She had learned a lot, and also reviewed a lot about things she already knew, but it was still nice to actually see things she’d only read about in books or had looked up on the Internet.

It was now Thursday and she was sad but also excited. They were leaving on Saturday and tomorrow was their ‘free day’ (‘but only in groups of three’ Professor Loudon said in her mind). However, it was the day that she finally got to see it. What she had so longed to see, what she had always wanted to see: Wembley Stadium.

She’d liked the Tower of London, even if she hadn’t seen Anne Boleyn’s ghost. She had liked seeing Kensington Palace and Hyde Park. She had enjoyed the tour of Buckingham Palace. She’d laughed at Tyler throughout the whole science museum trek—all in good humor of course—and she had enjoyed getting souvenirs for her family from all over. She even hadn’t minded so much the little sprint to Harrods.

But…this was Wembley. This. Was. Wembley.

Wembley—where England trained. Wembley, where England played. Wembley, it was Wembley!

Jessica demanded that she have the window seat on the way to the stadium. Tyler had just shrugged and pulled out his Gameboy. Jessica, however, was throwing him statistics left and right about the stadium including (but not limited too): the year it was built, the additions made to it, how many people it could seat, and the personal profiles of all the greatest players ever to step foot in there. Tyler had just rolled his eyes at half of it, he was more preoccupied with getting Buster to level nine.

Upon seeing it for the first time, Jessica all but pressed her face against the glass. She took in the sight of the steel arch bending over the entirety of the stadium.

“Look Tyler! Look at it!” She pushed on his shoulder and Tyler cursed. So much for Buster; he’d been killed by a purple alien. “It’s so beautiful!”

“Yeah. Ain’t nothing more pretty than a pile of steel. Gorgeous.” Tyler deadpanned and Jessica scoffed at him.

“You just don’t understand…” She patted his arm sadly and turned back to oogle the legendary arena. Tyler rolled his eyes and packed up the Gameboy. It was like she couldn’t stop staring at the stadium for fear it would disappear on her.

“Everyone, Jessica,” Professor Loudon stood after the bus parked. “This is Wembley Stadium. This is where England’s national soccer,” Jessica and the driver made a noise of disgust, “team play.”

“What are we doing here?” Jenna complained loudly from the back but Loudon ignored her.

“Let’s go!” Jessica was climbing over Tyler in her hurry to touch the wall of it.

Loudon chuckled and shook his head. “Follow the leader.”

All yawning, save a few, they marched towards one of the entrances. Flags and pennants were fluttering in the breeze. The day was overcast, threatening rain, and it was slightly chilly.

Not many people were about, it was still early in the morning. Jessica didn’t care, she just wanted to touch it. Tyler had his hands in his pockets while walking next to Emily who was holding onto his arm.

They got inside and Jessica was looking all around, memorizing every detail. Not even Jenna and Cassidy’s whining about the lack of culture that this trip was could bring her out of her study.

However, when a voice that was so distinctly English caught her ears and made them prick up, she stopped looking at one of the pennants and focused on two members of the English national squad. The two men stopped and looked at the group. Jenna and Cassidy quit whining and looked one of them up and down and immediately struck their ‘come hither’ pose that he totally ignored.

“Right, well…we’ll just be leaving…” One of them said and pushed the other one towards the door.

“Oh come on John, don’t want to mingle with the Americans?” Jessica said before she could stop herself. She clamped a hand over her mouth and felt her face turning red. John looked at her and studied her closely, well, more closely than he had been before. Tyler looked at her bemused while everyone else gaped at her, including Loudon.

“Miss, you’re my hero.” The other one, Frank Lampard, said grinning brightly. “Not everyone makes the Captain speechless.”

“I’m sure that’s not true…the Spaniards seemed pretty good at doing that in the last friendly.” Jessica spoke just to say something for a response.

“Mate,” Frank turned to John, “you gotta talk to this bird more. She knows the game.”

“How do you know? You only known her two seconds.” John muttered, eyes still on Jessica.

Frank looked back at her and grinned. “I have a feeling.”

“You better trust his feelings JT,” Jessica said, more at ease now that she had recovered from her outburst. “He is the one that helps Stevie all the time.”

Frank’s grinned lessened slightly. “See John? She knows.”

“Maybe.” John tilted his head to the side. “What about the last friendly?”

“Well…” Jessica cleared her throat, hoping everyone would quit staring at her. “You lot did not have a good game. Sure it was good for Beckham, but…well…no goals? Not even from you Frank. And to let Villa score like that…” She shook her head and had a small smirk on her face.

“Despite the fact that she likes Spain, I like this bird.” Frank said and nudged John’s shoulder, giving him a look. “Catch you round town mate. Everyone, enjoy Wembley.” He nodded once at Jessica and then headed out.

The rest of the crowd that hadn’t watched him walk out, Cassidy and Jenna, turned to John and Jessica. Tyler was eyeing up John while Emily watched her friend’s boldness with great admiration.

John looked at Jessica and made a quick decision. “So, who’d like a tour of Wembley?”


Throughout the tour, John made sure that Jessica was right near him. He told himself it was because he wanted to hear her opinions and not just because he wanted to study the woman up close.

While taking a break the others looking out at the pitch, John and Jessica leaned against the wall and watched.

“How long you been a football fan?” John asks while Jessica stares at the W-E-M-B-L-E-Y painted on the chairs.

“Since I was sixteen. You have my best friend to blame for it.” Jessica answered without looking at him.

“Maybe I should send her a parcel to express my gratitude.” John muttered mainly to himself but Jessica grinned.

“She wouldn’t like it so much I think. She doesn’t cheer for the Premiership, you see. Now, if you got Raul or Guti to send it…that’d be a whole other story.”

“Just Madrid?”

“Yep, just Madrid.” Jessica smiled fondly at the mention of her friend.

“And you? Are you ‘just Madrid’?” John didn’t know why he was asking so many questions of a stranger, but he found he couldn’t stop.

“Oh no.” Jessica shook her head. “I love Madrid, I do, but that’s not my main team. They are for La Liga, but…” Jessica lifted her shoulder in a shrug.

“There’s one club that takes your heart.” John finished and for the first time she looked over at him.

“Yeah.”

“Now there’s no way I would get this right. It’s not Chelsea, is it?” John rubbed at a spot over his eye.

Jessica grinned and shook her head. “No way, I’d rather eat dirt from a sewage plant than ever cheer for Chelsea.”

John scowled but nodded. “Who has the honor?”

“Oh, you’re just gonna love this.” Jessica smiled brightly.

“Oh no, don’t tell me…” John pulled an absolutely mortified look. “Don’t tell me Liverpool.” When Jessica nodded proudly, he continued. “Oh well that’s it. You were such a nice looking girl as well. Shame.”

“You shouldn’t live to be so eccentric.” Jessica said to him before turning back to watch Tyler and Emily looking at something on the field. “Of course, I will remember that. John Terry thinks I am pretty.”

“Humph.” Jessica grinned at John’s disapproving noise. “I do have to thank you though.”

Jessica turned back, confused.

“For not, oh what’s the American term? Freaking out? When seeing Frank and me.”

Jessica laughed. “Na, I wouldn’t do that. I figure you get hounded enough as it is. It’s great to meet you and all, but…the memory would serve just as well.”

“Still, thank you.”

“Eh, forget about it.” She waved her hand, dismissing the subject.

“Jessica, have you seen enough yet or can we go now?” Tyler yelled over to her. “Loudon won’t leave till you say so anyway.”

“Gimme a minute, I’m enjoyin’ the atmosphere.” Jessica yelled back making Tyler roll his eyes and go back to walking with Emily down the sideline.

“You know, the atmosphere is so much better when there is an actual match…” John slid his hands in his pockets.

“Oh I bet it is, I’d love to see it then.” Jessica sighed happily.

“Who would you rather see England play? Your beloved Spain?” John asked, undeniably curious about this girl.

“Ohhh that’d be a good match. Plus, I could see Nando…” She wiggled her eyebrows suggestively and laughed at John, who rolled his eyes. “Oh come on, you have to admit he’s a good striker.”

“No I don’t.” John replied and Jessica pouted. “But I will. He’s decent.” She just looked at him, waiting. “He’s pretty good.”

She nodded smugly. “Beggars can’t be choosers. Of course, I like Villa too.”

“Of course.” John agreed sarcastically. “But you must like Steven.”

“Well, duh Sherlock. I love him.” Jessica started prattling off statistics about the Liverpool captain.

“You know, for a Yank, you sure know a lot about football.” John and Jessica had started walking in Loudon’s general direction.

“I do try and keep up with it. It’s hard though, because typically American’s aren’t interested in it. I would like to come live over here though one day. Not just for the football, but because I could.” Jessica shrugged. “Not like you really care about that though.”

“Why wouldn’t I?” John asked, confused.

She laughed humorlessly. “Because, you’re John Terry. You’re the captain of England and, dare I say, Chelsea. You don’t care about some American girl you just met’s plans for the future. You just met me!”

When she put it like that, it did seem pretty remarkable. But nevertheless, he was interested.

“What are you doing tomorrow?” John found himself asking.

“What?” She stopped and he looked at her.

“Let me prove to you that I care.”

“I was going to Madam Tussauds with my friends. It’s our free day tomorrow.”

John nodded, thinking. “Do you have your mobile? I’ll give you my number, and if you want too, you can chat me up tomorrow. It’s my act of faith.”

“So certain I’ll call, aren’t you?” Jessica pulled out her phone anyway and handed it to him. He put in his number and gave it back. “Don’t worry, I won’t sell it to the tabloids.”

“I know. You’re not the type.”

“Better be careful how you say that, I could just be.” She winked and then started for her professor. “Thank you for the great tour by the way. Learned a lot.”

John nodded and waved as she smiled at him. The tour left, thanking him on the way out for his trouble. A few minutes later and he was alone.

“Weird day, this.” He told himself. He shook his head and silently prayed that he did receive a call tomorrow.