What If…

Disclaimer: I don't own Bend It Like Beckham.

Chapter one: Things Aren't Right Here

"Joe!" A familiar voice called out to me as I stood on the pitch, watching the players.

I turned around and smiled as Jess ran towards me. "I'm going! They said I could go!" She yelled as we embraced.

The players yelled at me, making me turn to look at them.

"Sorry," Jess said. "I forgot."

"It's okay now. I'm not your coach anymore. We can do what we want." I started leaning in towards her, yearning to kiss her.

"Joe…" She said softly, turning her head away.

I took a step a step back, looking around. "Your dad's not here, is he?"

She laughed slightly and looked at me with those beautiful eyes. "No… It's just…"

"Just what, Jess?" I asked. I had a really bad feeling about what she was about to tell me.

"We can't… I can't do this."

"Why not?"

She took a deep breath. Her seriousness was starting to scare me. "In order to let me go, I had to make a deal with my parents."

Oh no… This wasn't going to be good. "What deal?" I asked her.

She sighed. "I agreed to get married."

My mind was screaming. My heart pounded in my chest. "Jess…"

"To Tony," she added.

"That bloke? I thought he was just your mate…"

"He is but he's doing this to help me. He's doing this so I can play football in America."

"But that doesn't mean-"

"I'm sorry, Joe. I have to go…" She gave me a sympathetic smile and walked away. I stood there watching her walk away from me, maybe forever. That couldn't happen…

AN: Okay, so this is my first Bend It Like Beckham fic so go easy. Not too easy, I like brutal honesty. So please, R&R! Thanks, MonsterChild.