The Secret - Alexia Putellas

28.

Thank you Eliza!!!

After walking out the door and picking up Martha, the group arrived at the airport just in time.

Since they had Martha in tow, as always, and the rest of the team members were now used to the three of them showing up together. At least no one was asking any stupid questions this way.

Alexia separated from the two therapists, who took their seats in the front part of the plane, and sat down in the back by herself, immediately plugging in her headphones.

The moment the plane took off, a very familiar yet exciting feeling overcame the Barcelona captain.

The time had come.

Her first matchday in over 9 months was just around the corner and finally, after dozens of weeks of waiting, Alexia was on the plane that would take her there.

Although Erin had been acting weird for the past two days, she decided to push the thoughts of her girlfriend away. Worrying about it now, especially when Erin had already communicated she wasn't ready to talk about it, would only unsettle her.

Alexia leaned back in her seat, closed her eyes, and drifted off easily as the plane took her to Paris.

In the meantime, Erin and Martha chatted in the front of the plane. While the black-haired ordered snack after snack to pass the time by sampling various sweets, Erin rested her head against the window, gazing outside.

"Hey Er, you should definitely try some of these candies, they're really good", Martha grins while chewing on her sweets, holding the bag out to the blonde.

"I wonder how you can be so skinny although you're constantly eating", was the only grumpy response she got from Erin.

"I'll take that as a no. Then don't. How are you coping with... you know? You look awfully tired", Martha notes, shifting a little closer to Erin just to make sure nobody could hear them.

"That's because I didn't sleep well... I didn't sleep at all, actually. I don't know what to do, Martha. I don't know how to tell her. I hate that I'm lying to her... she doesn't deserve this", Erin replies quietly, throwing a glance back over her shoulder to find Alexia asleep at the end of the aisle.

She couldn't stand the feeling of hurting this woman.

"I know, Er... I can't imagine how hard this must be. Just try to focus and enjoy her comeback, celebrate together, and figure everything out afterwards. It's gotta work out somehow, right? How about a snack now?", Martha explains, popping another handful of candies into her mouth, before holding the bag up in front of the blonde's face once again.

Erin couldn't help but laugh. For some reason Martha always succeeded in brightening up a shitty situation.

"Gracias, Martha. You're a great friend", Erin sighs sadly, her lips forming the tiniest of smiles. She reaches for the candy bag and rests her head on Martha's shoulder.

"I will always have your back. You know that, right? Plus, I'll always have snacks", the black-haired mentions, puts an arm around her friend, while Erin is now holding up the bag of candies.

"Thank you, Martha. Really", Erin sighs, wishing she could sit next to Alexia the exact same way, knowing they haven't had that much time left.

After several hours, they arrived at their team hotel. Everyone proceeded to their hotel rooms to get changed, before the final training session would be held at the 'Parc de Princes'.

Alexia shuts the door behind her, tosses her suitcase onto the mattress, opens it, and quickly pulls out her training gear as well as proper footwear to get changed. Just when Alexia was ready, heading for the door and venturing one final look in the mirror, her eyes opened wide.