After the press conference, Izan and Arteta exited the room.
The rest of the squad was already making their way to the hotel.
As the two walked together toward the exit, Arteta glanced at Izan, giving him a nod of approval.
"Great job today," Arteta said.
"The team's starting to feel your presence."
Izan smiled modestly, but there was a gleam in his eyes.
He knew his performance had been pivotal, but he also knew that it was just the start.
"Thanks, Coach. I'm just doing my bit."
Arteta chuckled.
"Keep doing it, and you'll be one of the stars of this league, trust ." he continued ahead leaving Izan to his thoughts.
Once outside, Arteta addressed the squad as they waited in the parking lot.
"I would have liked to give you a day or two off, but things have co up back in London. We need to head straight to the airport," he announced.
A few players groaned at the news, clearly hoping for a bit more downti.
Saka, who had been looking forward to hitting the beach, sighed dramatically.
"I was gonna visit Venice Beach," he muttered to Gabriel Martinelli, who gave him a sympathetic look.
"Yeah, I was thinking about checking out so local spots too," Martinelli agreed.
"Guess that's not happening now."
"Yes. It's not happening and I hope it stays that way. I don't want to reach Colney and realize we left so of you in LA",
Arteta said while eyeing Saka, Zinchenko, and Martinelli for their escapade causing the rest of the players to laugh.
(Reference ch 380).
As they made their way back to their hotel, a few players chatted amongst themselves about missed opportunities in LA.
Izan, however, remained focused, a bit eager to return to London since all that moving for the Tour had done him in.
When they arrived at the hotel, they were told that their luggage had already been sent directly to the airport.
So players frowned, knowing they'd have to wait for their bags when they arrived.
"They couldn't even let us grab a quick change before heading to the airport?" Ramsdale grumbled.
Arteta smiled patiently, understanding the frustration but knowing the logistics had been arranged for efficiency.
"We're on a tight schedule, lads. We'll make sure everything's sorted once we land in London."
The squad spent a few more minutes gathering themselves and talking with teammates before piling back into the buses that would take them to the airport.
As they drove, the chatter in the bus grew louder, with players discussing interests, the match, and their excitent for the upcoming season.
Arriving at the airport, the sight of Arsenal's private Emirates plane waiting on the tarmac signaled the end of their ti in LA.
The players could finally relax a little, but the excitent of the season ahead was always there, just beneath the surface.
As they boarded the plane, Izan found his seat, his mind already racing ahead.
The season was starting, and he knew the real challenge was just beginning.
.......
The plane touched down smoothly at London Stansted Airport, signaling the end of Arsenal's preseason tour in the United States.
The players stretched and yawned as the aircraft taxied to a stop, exhaustion evident on their faces.
Though preseason had been intense, it had also been an experience—both in footballing terms and as a team-building exercise.
But now, it was back to business.
The real season awaited.
As they disembarked and cleared customs, the team's bus was already waiting to take them to London Colney.
Most of the players had left their cars at the training ground before flying out to the U.S., so it was their final stop before heading ho.
The mood on the ride was relaxed, with players scrolling through their phones, replying to ssages, or catching up on sleep.
Izan leaned against the window, watching the almost familiar English landscape pass by.
It was good to be back.
The Premier League opener was fast approaching, and after his performances in preseason, expectations would be sky-high.
Upon arrival at Colney, the players wasted no ti in retrieving their cars.
So were eager to see their families, others just wanted to collapse into their beds.
A few teammates lingered outside, chatting as they unlocked their vehicles.
Saka, standing by his car, grinned as he watched Izan step out of the bus without heading toward a parked vehicle.
"Man, it's crazy. You can take on an entire defense, and score free kicks like it's nothing, but you're still not even allowed to drive."
The comnt imdiately got a reaction from the players nearby, with a few chuckling at the jab.
Izan rolled his eyes but smirked.
"At least I don't have to worry about parking tickets or petrol prices, unlike so people."
Martinelli laughed, shaking his head as he loaded his bags into his car.
"You got him there, Bukayo."
Saka raised his hands in surrender. "Fair enough, fair enough." He then opened his car door and slid in.
"See you at training, kid. Enjoy your chauffeur service!" With a teasing grin, he revved his engine and pulled out of the lot, leaving Izan shaking his head.
Izan tapped the call button, lifting the phone to his ear, but before the line could even connect, a shift in the air made him pause.
The faint hum of an approaching vehicle reached his ears, distinct from the sounds of his teammates' cars pulling out of the lot.
It wasn't the distant rev of an engine speeding past on a main road—it was close. Purposeful.
He lowered his phone slightly, eyes flicking to the side.
A sleek, dark-colored car rolled into view, its tires gliding smoothly over the pavent.
The headlights flickered briefly in the fading evening light before dimming as the car slowed to a stop right beside him.
His grip on his phone tightened, his thumb hovering over the screen.
His driver? No, the silhouette behind the wheel was too familiar.
The car door didn't open imdiately.
Instead, the window rolled down in a slow, deliberate motion, revealing a face he hadn't been expecting to see here.
Green eyes locked onto his blue.
Sharp yet unreadable.
Olivia.
The sounds around him—the distant laughter of his teammates, the hum of departing engines.
All faded into the background, drowned out by the sudden tension wrapping around him like a taut string ready to snap.
She didn't speak at first. Just watched him.
Izan felt his pulse quicken slightly, though his face remained unreadable.
He wasn't sure what unsettled him more—the fact that she was here or the fact that, for a split second, he couldn't figure out why.
His grip tightened around his phone, and finally, he lowered it completely.
"Need a ride?" Olivia's voice finally broke the silence, smooth as ever but carrying sothing underneath.
Izan smiled, straightening his posture.
Of course. It was always like this with her.
......…
The car's interior was quiet, save for the low hum of the engine and the occasional sound of Olivia tapping her fingers against the steering wheel.
Izan sat in the passenger seat, his head leaning back as he looked out at the passing streetlights.
He was still wrapping his head around everything that had happened over the past few hours, but one thing stood out the most—Olivia being there.
He turned his head toward her, frowning slightly.
"Wait… how do you even know the road to Colney?" His voice carried genuine curiosity rather than skepticism.
"You've never been to London before, have you?"
Olivia's lips curled into a knowing smile, her eyes never leaving the road.
"I ca with the driver," she answered easily.
"Told Miranda I'd pick you up, so he parked nearby while I handled the rest."
Izan raised an eyebrow. "Handled the rest?"
She shot him a brief side glance, amusent flickering in her green eyes.
"I have an EU license, Izan. I can drive anywhere. Well, most places. Plus, I rembered the route, and worst case, there's always GPS." She tapped the screen lightly before returning her hand to the wheel.
Izan humd, nodding slowly as he processed the information. It made sense, sure, but it still caught him off guard.
His brain was still on autopilot, expecting her to be wrapped up in school commitnts back ho. Then it hit him.
"Wait," he muttered, straightening in his seat.
"You finished your first year already, didn't you?"
Olivia smirked. "Took you long enough."
Izan huffed, shaking his head.
"I was wondering what you were doing here instead of, I don't know, stressing over exams or sothing."
"Nah, that's all wrapped up." She gave a slight shrug. "Figured I had ti, so why not?"
Her words were casual, but Izan didn't miss the way she gripped the wheel just a little tighter.
Whatever the reason, she'd made the effort to be here. And right now, he wasn't going to question it.
"I'm Glad you ca," Izan said, staring at Olivia.
A/n: Okay guys. Next chapter is R-70 so if you aren't 70. Scoot.
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