Las Estrellas (Alexia Putellas x OC)

Back To Business

            The WOSO world has been crazy those last days after Alexia and I made it official. It is, most of the time, good words, supporting people who ship us together. Our teammates were all over the moon and congratulated us. But some people kept on saying this was the only reason I have been recruited to the team, that I'm not even talented, and I don't deserve to be in Barcelona. Alexia told me not to listen to them, and I know she is right. I need to prove them I'm good enough on the pitch, and not to care about what they think.

That's what I'm going to do starting now with my first team training. As I am still negative and that we have been careful with Alexia those past days, Johnathan and the medical staff allowed me to come back to training. One condition, I have to stay away from Alexia as long as she is positive.

I'm currently with the assistant coach, the physio, and the doctor to do some tests before I can really start to train. Everything is going as expected and soon enough, I am allowed to go on the pitch to run and train individually. The assistant coach stays with me all the way and we talk about football, how we see the game and what I want to work on during my time in Barcelona. Then, he sets up drills in front of the goal. Sometimes I have to score, sometimes he wants me to assist him. I feel good during the training and my confidence seems to come back easily.

"Yes, Worldie!" Leila shouts from the other side of the pitch. "This is how we are doing!"

"Welcome to Barcelona, Worldie!" Mapi adds loudly.

"When do you get your ass here?" Lieke wonders. "We need you on Saturday."

"She will be there soon enough." Johnathan smiles. "Get back to work, I like what I see." He points at me, and I smile happily.

I play a little more with the ball and then, I go to shower. Once I'm all dressed up, Johnathan asks me to come to his office.

"Sit down." He smiles. "How are you feeling?"

"All good, training was exhausting but in a good way, I missed the pitch." I explain.

"And with all the supporters talking about you and your love life, are you dealing well with that?" He seems sincerely worried.

"Alexia and I will manage that easily." I reassure him. "We are both grown up women, I won't let frustrated people come after us."

"I trust you both." John seems relaxed. "Just know you're not here because of Ale. We wanted you in our team since you started to play for Lyon. I was in the stadium the day you first play with the OL first team; I will never forget how impressed I was. You have everything to be the best one day, don't let them ruin you."

"I won't." I nod and he lets me go.

Once I exit the coach office, Ingrid walks shyly to me.

"Can we talk?" She wonders.

"Of course, do you want to walk back to our cars?" I smile at her.

"Yes..." She smiles back. "Do you know what I want to talk about?"

"Jill?" I chuckle and she nods. "What about her?"

"She is your best friend, right?" She seems nervous.

"I like to think she is, yes." I chuckle. "Why?"

"Are you going to hate on me?" She almost whispers.

"Why would I do that?" I frown slightly.

"Maybe you want her to get revenge or something." Ingrid blushes.

"She is dealing with her love life and I'm dealing with mine, we don't get involved in it too much." I tell her. "You can relax, I'm not going to make it harder on you."

"That's nice to hear..." She breathes out. "I feel better knowing you don't hate me. We'll see each other tomorrow. Have a nice day." She smiles and goes to her car.

"Worldie, wait!" I hear Leila running to me. "Want to spend the afternoon together?"

"Sure, what do you want to do?" I smile at my friend.

"Shopping?" She offers and I accept.

We spend some time discovering the city and shopping while laughing a lot. Leila and I are really getting along very well, she is like a sister to me now and I know I'll always heve a true friend here if I need it.

We walk near the beach and stop to eat an ice cream, even in January, there is no bad times for ice cream.

"What's on your mind?" I look at her thoughtful face.

"Should I waste time on my love life when we have such a busy season?" She sits on a bench.

"That's a very complicated question." I join her and start to think. "We both know our season is going to be a busy one, we have to win everything with Barcelona, and there is the EURO at the end of the season too... but love can actually help you getting stronger to face all of this."

"That is working if love is easy and constructive like it is with you and Alexia." Leila sighs.

"Remember at first, it wasn't like that, Leila." I chuckle and she nods with a smile.

"You took your time I have to admit." She smiles.

"Exactly, and it's maybe what you are missing right now. Time." I put my hand on her shoulder comfortingly. "Don't overthink too much, just enjoy the moments you'll have with Patri, some are going to be good, others are going to be hard, but you'll have me all the way."

"I'm glad you joined us. I don't know how I'll be handling all of this without you." She puts her head on my shoulder.

"Oh, you would have found a way, you're stronger than you know." I kiss her hair. "You'll be fine."

"Thank you." She whispers and we enjoy the sun for a bit more.