A/N: oh oh, y'all aren't gonna like this;)))
Today was our last practice before we'd official start the 24/ 25 season by playing against Levante on Saturday at 12:00. I've always hated those early games, but at least our match was the first one of the Liga which kind of felt like a big honor.
For once, the weather was on my side as the thermometer didn't climb over 30 degrees for the first time in weeks today. Instead, we were blessed with a fresh breeze and occasional rain, just what I was used to from my time at Bayern.
I placed the ball between two cones and shot Mapi a questioning look. "Are you ready?"
"Always, princesa" she smiled eagerly from a few meters away. My task was to bring the ball from the cones to the other side of the pitch into a small goal which Mapi was supposed to defend.
I started dribbling the ball towards the goal while was feeling Mapi's eyes on me, probably wondering what my next move would be. In an attempt to throw her off, I faked going to the left, but Mapi didn't fall for it. Within a second she got hold of the ball.
"Ha got it" she triumphed laughing and stopped next to me.
"It's unfair" I sighed. "You're too good for me."
"Oh, shut up." Mapi jokingly nudged me. "Let's try again."
This time, I spinned around when Mapi was running towards me which led to her trying to get the ball from behind me. Without thinking about it, I pulled an Alessia Russo and nutmegged her using my backheel. Afterwards I turned around, ran after the ball, and shot it into the goal with one kick. Mapi, who had run after me, shot me a speechless look.
"That was freaking amazing" she finally said. "I'm honestly glad you play for Barca, because if you had pulled that against me in a match, I would have been forced to retire afterwards."
Jonatan blew the whistle which meant that practice was over for the day, and I walked to the water bottles with Mapi.
"Are you excited for your first game?" She wondered.
"For sure" I replied as I tried to find the bottle with my name on it. "But I'm extremely nervous as well."
Mapi nodded thoughtfully. "I understand that. When I think back to my first game at Barca... God, I was a mess, but it will get better as soon as you're stood on the pitch, believe me."
"I hope you're right, but I'm not gonna be starting anyway" I shrugged while taking a big sip out of my bottle. The cold water seemed to be doing wonders to my exhausted body and I felt my energy returning.
"Jonatan never lets newbies start, don't think too much into it. Even when Lucy joined us, he barely put her into the starting XI for ages."
"Hmm, I guess that's true."
"Are you free tonight?" Mapi asked me after a short moment of silence. "There's a really good Tapas restaurant not far from here. It could be the 5th thing on your top 5 list."
Her question threw me off guard as we hadn't really been speaking that much since we went to the beach on Monday.
"I wish I was, but I've got a date to attend" I answered truthfully. "Maybe another time?"
"Yeah, sure thing" Mapi shrugged, but her gaze told me differently.
I was just heading to the changing room when Ingrid appeared next to me. For some reason she hadn't really been talking to me since the night at Mapi's and I couldn't help but wonder if it had something to do with the fight they had that night.
"Hey, how are you?" I smiled at her.
"I'm good" She replied coldly while walking next to me. "Listen Em, I hate to ask this, but is there something going on between Mapi and you?"
My jaw dropped as I stopped in shock. "Why would you ask this?" In my head, memories of Sydney asking me the same question about one of my old teammates came back. Of course, Sydney wouldn't take no for an answer and the next day the rumor had spread to literally every single player at Bayern. Back then, I hadn't known that it would be the first of many rumors to come.
Ingrid nervously played with her dark hair as she desperately tried to provide me with an answer. "I... I don't know, I saw your Instagram stories the other day and I just thought that maybe..."
"Well, there's nothing going on." I interrupted her firmly, still standing rooted to the ground. "Why would you care anyway?"
For a brief moment, Ingrid didn't say anything and just stared into my eyes until she cleared her throat. "It's none of your business. Just stay away from her, understood?"
With that, she quickly turned around and disappeared into the direction of the changing room, leaving me absolutely speechless. Did she seriously just threaten me over nothing? Mapi and I hardly even knew each other, let alone anything else. I shook my head in disbelief and continued my way to the changing room, hoping I wouldn't run into Ingrid on the way.
After a quick shower, I put on jeans and a white crop top before making my way out of the training grounds. My eyes wandered over the few people waiting in front of the building, trying to make out the familiar face I was looking for. When I finally found her with my back turned to me, I quietly walked over until I was standing right behind her.
"Hola guapa" I murmured into her ear.
Startled, Antonia spined around. "You scared me!" She complained with a laugh.
"Almost as if that was the point" I winked.
Suddenly, I felt a gaze burning into my back and when I turned around, I experienced a Déjà vu from when I first met Antonia. Just like last time, Mapi and Ingrid had just left the training complex as well. Luckily, they were walking into the opposite direction as us, but nevertheless the encounter confused me. I didn't know why, but after their fight last weekend I had thought whatever had been going on between them was over. But after Ingrid's threat today I should have known better. Not that it was any of my concern though, Ingrid had made that pretty clear.
"Are you in the mood for pasta and wine?" Antonia's question pulled me right out of my thoughts.
"I'm always in the mood of pasta" I laughed.
Just like on our previous date, we got lost in our conversation and spent a really good time together. Even though I loved my new friends at Barca -well most of them anyway- I quite enjoyed talking to someone who wasn't a football player. It was a great way to take my mind off the upcoming season and the whole Mapi and Ingrid situation. For a few hours I could just be me. Understandably, I wasn't all too happy when Antonia and I were waiting for my metro after dinner.
"I had a great time tonight, thank you so much" I smiled, looking into her beautiful green eyes.
She returned my smile and took a step closer to me, grabbing my right hand in the process. "So did I."
I let my gaze wander all over her face and almost automatically my left hand found its way to her cheek as I came a little closer to her.
"You're so beautiful" I whispered almost inaudibly.
I didn't get an answer, because Antonia's lips crashed onto mine in that exact moment.
Liked by marialeonn16, emiliacortes20 and 40'897 others
fcbfemeni: match day -2 @marialeonn16 @ emiliacortes20
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alexiaputellas: this duo
marialeonn16: so ready <3
emiliacortes20: seconds after I nutmegged you @marialeonn16
^marialeonn16: that's a lie
keirawalsh: <3
fcbfemenifan4: they've been getting along quite well
^mapis.wife: is Mapi not with Ana anymore?
^wosouniverse123: no I think she's with Ingrid now
Liked by marialeonn16, alexiaputellas and 25'894 others
emiliacortes20: nights like these
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alexiaputellas: guapa
buehlklara: <3
marialeonn16: 👸
keirawalsh: gorgeous girl
lucybronze: stunning
antonia.vargas24: prettiest girl <3
A/N: I think I wasn't lying when I said y'all wouldn't like this... but there's another chapter coming out later today. Will it be better? Who knows;)