Fever Dream ~ Neymar Jr

Chapter 34

2015

When I spotted him emerge from arrivals I ran up to him, surprising him because he didn't spot me until the last second. I kissed him and he responded immediately, dropping his bags on the floor.

"This is never gonna get old." I told him. "I've missed you so much."

"I've missed you too Livvie." Neymar said before he kissed me again.

With our arms still wrapped around each other we picked up his luggage again and headed for the exit.

"That's your car?" He asked me looking at the huge pickup truck I was driving.

"Well, not mine per se but yes. Once a week someone has to make the drive to Novosibirsk to get supplies and I volunteered this week, since I was going to be picking you up anyway." I told him, pointing at the back of the truck and the boxes and bags of things I had bought and stacked there.

"Just how far away is the research facility?" Neymar asked as he got inside the car.

"About 2 hours' drive. It's too bad it's dark, you'd have enjoyed the ride in the morning. The scenery is beautiful."

"I've got all the scenery I need right here." He said putting his hand on my knee as I started the car. "You know, I just realized this is the first time we're in a car together and you're driving." He told me after a while.

"That's right. Be prepared for my awesome skills. They wanted me in F1 but that local 3rd division football team at my university was just too appealing to leave." I mocked.

Neymar laughed. "I can't believe I'm in Novosibirsk. This is the last place anyone would ever look for me."

I nodded in agreement. "I saw your story by the way. It was cute." I told him, smiling at him. It was a photo of his passport in his hand and his luggage in the background with the caption: Finally coming to you.

"They've been going crazy in Brazil, trying to find who the mystery girl is."

I smiled. I knew Neymar enjoyed teasing them. "There's no way they'll find us here, that's for sure." I told him. A little while later I noticed he had fallen asleep. It had been a long journey for him to get here and he had to change three planes.

When the Brazilian Football Federation lost the appeal for Neymar's suspension, Neymar had quickly returned to Brazil, where the criticism and the blame had been significant. Still, Neymar took it like the champ he was, he posted a message that explained his frustration at the outcome and apologized for not being able to represent Brazil further. He wished the team good luck, but in the end, it was becoming more and more obvious that Brazil relied on him to take them all the way. They lost to Paraguay in the quarter finals, something that people once again blamed Neymar for. Neymar stayed in Brazil for a few weeks to see family and friends and then he was off to Russia.

"We're here." I told him when we reached the research center. It was a block of buildings in the middle of nowhere.

Neymar woke up and got outside, looking around. "This is remote." He commented. "Just how many people are here?"

"Well, there are the scientists that live and work here, as well as some supporting and administrative stuff, so about 15 people. Some have families here too, so they don't live here. There is a small village about 10 kilometers away. And then there is me and the two undergrads I told you about."

"Guys, right?" Neymar asked and a laugh escaped my lips.

"Yes. Chad and Justin." I told him. "They're nice guys. We hang out a lot cause everyone else is mostly above 50 years old around here."