𝐒𝐓𝐀𝐋𝐊𝐄𝐑, 𝖽𝗂𝖾𝗀𝗈 𝗅𝖺𝗂𝗇𝖾𝗓

𝟑 ᤤ

꧁★꧂

ALL I CAN hear is Kevin's stomping booming through the hallway, just until he steps into my room.

"Damn, Mel," He chuckles. "You look like La Bruja del 71." He looks at Diego, who's fighting back a smile. Kevin looks back at me.

"Kevin, fuck off." I joke, pushing myself off my bed.

"Woah, woah, woah—" Diego stops me, approaching closer. My eyebrows raise as I look at him. "Can you even walk on it?"

I clear my throat. "Yeah, I can walk on it." I nod continuing to get up. He stays near me, keeping his guard up. My ankle jolts a bit when I fully stand, and shock occurs in his eyes.

I laugh a bit. "I'm fine. It just hurts." He offers a smile, moving his hand to hover over my waist just in case.

꧁★꧂

"So, are you gonna curl your hair?" Azure asks, and I side-eye her. "I know I am." A small smile forms on her lips.

I sigh. "I get it. You're in love with my brother."

"And you're in love with your brother's friend," She shrugs, applying mascara. "Who is gonna be there."

"I know, I know." I grab the curling iron, causing Azure to plaster a proud grin on her face.

I exhale as Azure steps into the drivers seat and I step into the passengers. She begins driving to Kevin's game— United States VS Mexico— and we exchange looks as she gives me a reassuring nod.

꧁★꧂

Azure and I's throat's hurt from cheering, and our lips are going numb from whistling.

During the game, Miazga— from the United States team— trampled into Diego. And, of course, that left Diego furious.

Quickly, Diego confronts Miazga. He approaches him, and Miazga holds out his hand to diss Diego's height. I raise my eyebrows.

"If I were down there, I'd beat his ass." I say, causing Azure to nod in agreement.

Kevin immediately runs up to defend his friend, then soon enough— nearly all twenty-two players are bunched up in one area.

"SALIO CHIKITO PERO PICOSO!" A commentator announces, and I place a hand to my mouth, trying not to laugh at his joke. Azure nudges me, so I force a frown and continue whistling until the game quickly resumes.

Diego glares at Miazga, then for some reason— he looks at me. He swallows a lump in his throat, not looking away. He looks at Miazga another time, then at me again, then focuses on his game once again.

Azure furrows her eyebrows. "You saw that, yeah?"

I nod. "Yeah. I did."

꧁★꧂

"He looks at Matt. Then you. Then him again. Then you." Azure smiles, and I feel a smile form on my lips. I look down. "So, it's been two days since that. Over a week since the ankle incident— now you wanna stalk this boy?"

"I don't wanna stalk him, Azure!" I defend myself. She gives me the 'yeah, right' look. I roll my eyes. "I just want to know some more about him."

"I don't know." She sits down next to me. "Sounds kinda stalker-ish to me."

"If you help me with this, I'll help you with my brother?" I offer, and she smile and grabs my laptop.

"Alright, let's start with his name."

"Diego Lainez." I inform her.

"I know his name, Lua." She shakes her head, searching it and clicking on a biography. "Says here he's twenty-two. Three years older than you."

I nod. "Does he have an Insta?" I ask, so she opens a tab for Instagram, then finds his account quickly.

"Ooh, he's verified." Azure jokes, scrolling through the photos of him playing. "Wait, you got a DM."

"Oh?" I furrow my eyebrows. I hardly use instagram, I've only posted a few times. "From who?"

"No fucking way." Azure says. She's staring at my computer, at a loss for words. I snatch it from her hands and look at the messages.

𝐋𝐎𝐔𝐈𝐒💐
Hey. Melanie, right?

I reply quickly, shock filling my body.

𝐌𝐄𝐋
yeah?

𝐋𝐎𝐔𝐈𝐒💐
I'm Louis. Obviously. I'm in Russia for
a film, and I saw that your brother played
today. I was wondering if you'd like to grab
something? Like a drink?

𝐌𝐄𝐋
oh, sure! when?

𝐋𝐎𝐔𝐈𝐒💐
I was thinking tomorrow?

𝐌𝐄𝐋
okay but russia's a whole country😭what
part are you in?

𝐋𝐎𝐔𝐈𝐒💐
Moscow. Was assuming you're in the same?
Or at least nearby?

𝐌𝐄𝐋
yeah, i'll let you know where i'm staying.
also you can call me lua

𝐋𝐎𝐔𝐈𝐒💐
Alright. See you then, Lua.

𝐌𝐄𝐋
cya:)

"Dude, holy shit."

꧁★꧂

AUTHOR'S NOTE

hey! there may be some confusion, so just to let you know this does take place in 2022, but i made events of 2018 happen now. i know it's dumb but basically diego lainez is 22!! 🤍