Jay walked mindlessly through the Trafford centre, meandering in and out shops with no real idea of what she was looking for. Every now and then something would catch her eye, but nothing quite enough to make her buy it. She'd always enjoyed clothes shopping, especially in Paris, but today her head was so full to the brim with thoughts of Jack that she just couldn't concentrate.

Finally, she picked up a pink dress and smiled. It wasn't her usual style, and certainly at the top end of her budget, but if she was going to meet Jack's family then she wanted to look decent. She just hoped that Jack's parents would give them their seal of approval. From what he's said, they had absolutely loved Tasha. No much to live up to there, she laughed inwardly to herself.

She was about to take the dress to the till to, when she got the sensation as if someone were watching her. It was slightly unnerving. She looked around and saw two girls, roughly about 16 years old, trying to be inconspicuous behind a clothes rail.

'See, It's definitely Grealish's girlfriend, I told you' she heard the first one whisper loudly.

When she looked at them properly, Jay realised that it was the same girls that she'd seen in the last few shops she'd been in. They weren't even looking at the clothes, they were just staring at her.

'I've never been more jealous of anyone in my life' groaned the other one, as they got even closer to Jay.

'Imagine, she even gets to smell him every day. I bet he smells so good. What aftershave do you think he wears?' asked the first girl. They were still clearly trying to talk quietly, but failing miserably.

'Usually Sauvage, and yes he does smell amazing' replied Jay suddenly, amused by them.

The girls looked horrified that she'd heard what they were saying.

'Oh my God, I'm so sorry' said the second girl.

'Don't worry about it' Jay reassured her with a friendly smile.

'You're much nicer than that Tasha was' said the first, clearly trying to win her favour.

Jay faltered, what was she supposed to say to that? Besides, now other people were now paying attention to her and listening in to what she had to say to the girls. She knew she had to tread carefully.

'I'm not nicer, just different. Tasha's lovely actually' she said diplomatically, but she felt so uncomfortable. 'Anyway, it's really nice to meet you, but I need to go' she put the dress down, and tried to excuse herself.

'Is Jack picking you up?' Asked the girls, wide eyed

'Sadly not, he's still at training' Jay said quickly, before heading for the door. She didn't stop, and headed straight to the taxi rank. This was one part of being Jack's girlfriend that was definitely going to take some getting used to.

*****

As Jack and Jay had predicted, the jungle drums were beating loudly around the Etihad. Their allegedly confidential relationship agreement was today's main topic of conversation amongst the support staff, which meant that by the end of the day, the news of their official status had already been leaked to the media.

Jack gave the photographers a cheeky grin when they asked him about Jay on the way out of training. By the time he'd got into his car and checked his phone, his publicist had sent him a link to an online article The Sun had published comparing Jay with Sasha.

Jay couldn't believe it when he forwarded it to her. She felt particularly disgusted at having to open a link to The Sun, but she needed to see the piece for herself. Whilst the photos of Tasha were from professional modelling shoots, the ones they'd got of Jay were awful in comparison. There was a still from her and Jack in their French interview, and much to her annoyance, there was a picture from her Instagram.

'Seriously Anna, where do they get all this shit' Jay groaned, throwing herself onto the sofa next to her.

'It really does make you think, doesn't it? I mean, all the stuff online about people, you just take it at face value, you never really think there's actually someone behind it, do you?' mused Anna.

'Jack's been so sweet about it, telling me not to worry and it'll all die down soon enough, but it just feels like such an invasion of privacy'

'I know, but I'm sure Jack's right and it will all calm down soon'

'Yeah, you're right. So anyway, how's my niece or nephew doing?' asked Jay.

'Good, yeah. 20 week scan coming up at the end of the week and these new anti sickness pills the dr gave me seem to be helping a bit more than those last ones. Honestly though, I'll just be glad when the baby finally gets here' she sighed.

Jay realised that in comparison her problems were pretty pathetic.

'Well you stick your feet up, I'll get Olly from Charlie's and then I'll make dinner, okay?'

Ordinarily Anna would have told her not to be daft, but the suggestion was just music to her ears, she eagerly headed upstairs for a long soak in the bath.

*****

Even the Sun article hadn't dampened Jacks spirits like the tabloid nonsense usually did. Yeah there were the usual clowns online saying he should be more interested in his performance on the pitch than between the sheets, but he shrugged it off. Pep knew more about his footballing skills than any of those idiots, and if he was happy then that was more than good enough for Jack. He was done with letting the negativity and ridiculous public perceptions of who he was get in the way of his happiness.

After a quick call to Jay, he'd messaged the group chat and arranged a boys night on fifa. It had been ages since their last one, and he knew they'd be wanting to hear all about Jay, and right now she was his favourite topic of conversation. He knew there were a few bottles of kopparberg in the fridge and his latest supply of prepped meals would have been delivered earlier so he was sorted for the night. He was absolutely buzzing. That was, until he saw Tasha waiting for him in the living room. She was sat in their leather recliner chair like a Bond villain, just without the cat. Her long nails were tapping on the leather arm rest and her lips were pursed.

'We need to talk' she began. That was never a good sign, but he carried on with his plan regardless.

'What's up like?' He asked, ducking in the fridge and pulling out the bottle. He rummaged in the drawers looking for the opener.

'You could at least bloody look at me when I'm talking to you' she complained.

'Alright, calm down' he said a little to patronisingly for her liking, she was getting even angrier. Her hand was balled into a fist, he knew he had to pay attention now

'Look, for the time being I still live here and I deserve a bit of bloody respect' she said firmly, in a tone that told him she'd rehearsed this little speech.

'Okay, I'm sorry' he replied, but she knew he still didn't really have a clue what she was talking about. She took a deep breath and began to explain.

'I felt really uncomfortable walking in on you and Jay here this morning. I mean I know you're together and stuff, but I've not even got a place yet. I just think it was disrespectful to be doing that right under my nose'

'You wasn't meant to be back for ages though so I asked her to stay over, it's my place too you know' he bit back.

'Yeah and mine' huffed Tasha, knowing she wasn't getting through to him.

'Look, I've told you I'll get you somewhere, have you even looked yet?' Asked Jack with a sigh. He had a suspicion she was dragging her feet about it.

Tasha bowed her head.

'No, not really' she admitted

'Not to be horrible Tash, but you need to. Jay's my girlfriend and if I want her to come over then she will. You get me?'

'Loud and clear' she replied, getting up and heading to her room with the dog in tow. Normally he would have followed her too, but she could already hear him chatting to Chilly. That when it hit home. She really had lost him this time, and it hurt more than she'd ever imagined it would.