Judge My Skills, Not Me

Chapter 11: A 'Not-Date'

Strut by The Cheetah Girls (lol) & Glitch by Taylor Swift

A/N Note: Even though in reality, everyone would be talking Spanish or Catalan, I do not have the brain capacity to google translate everything. So there will be some phrases in Spanish/Catalan, but everyone will speak English. ENJOY!

"Why are we sneaking around the back alleys? Are you actually a serial killer? Are you gonna 'serial-killer' me!" Cristina said as Leo knocked on the back door of the tiny shop. 

"How low do you think of me? If I was a serial killer, you'd think I'd choose this place to kill you. I have much more class and way better spots," Leo said as the door creaked open. 

The mid-afternoon sun was shining and the ocean breeze felt nice and cool. Leo had parked his car in the garage of a small shop on the outskirts of the city. Without really explaining anything, Leo got out of the car and led Cristina to what looked like a family-owned convenient store. "Leito, mi Corazon!  How are you? You look absolutely sickly! Do you even eat in that big house of yours!" an older woman answered the door. She pinched and squeezed Leo's sides to look him over. "Vale! I'm sending you some food this time before you go home. And I don't want any fussing this time!" 

"Ok, Lucia. If that will get you to stop embarrassing me in front of my guest for you," Leo said as Cristina stepped into the old woman's view. 

Lucia's eyes lit up with joy at the sight of the girl. "Quina noia mes bonica! Where have you been hiding her, Leo? Hugo! Leo brought us a girl!" The woman embraced Cristina in a hug as she pushed Leo out of the way. 

An equally old man slowly made his way to the back door and adjusted his thick glasses. "A girl? I won't believe it until I see her with my own two eyes," he shuffled over. 

"Why is it so hard to believe that I could possibly befriend a girl?" Leo said helping Hugo down the step from the doorway. 

"Because, mi Corazon,  you hardly let us meet any of your friends. And you barely speak to anyone, let alone a girl this pretty," Lucia held onto Cristina's arm as her husband finally saw the 'mysterious girl' the boy brought over to his store. 

"Why she is very pretty. Are you sure you don't need glasses like mine, querida? Or why else would you be hanging out con este tio?" Hugo said nudging Leo.

"Hey! The athletic trainer said I've been bulking a little," Leo said flexing his arm a bit humorously. 

"Did he say 'bulking' or 'you're cardio is slacking,' because there's a difference," Cristina chimed in and the old couple laughed at the dejected-looking boy. 

"I like her already. I'm sorry, estimada, we never introduced ourselves," the old woman moved to hold her husband's arm. "I'm Lucia and this is my husband Hugo. We're the shopkeepers here." 

"I'm Cristina. Leo's new teammate," she held out her hand for a handshake. 

"Es Barcelona, estimada, aqui ens abracem," the woman came in for another hug and gave the girl a kiss on both cheeks, as did her husband. "How about we head inside and get you two a coke on the house?" Leo held the door as they all headed inside. 

"How do you know Leo?" Cristina said as she sipped her drink at the small table behind the cash register. 

"Oh we've known this troublemaker since he was a kid at La Masia," Hugo said as he ruffled Leo's hair. "Him and his friends used to sneak out of afternoon practice and run into our store to get snacks the trainers wouldn't let them have at the dorms."