Judge My Skills, Not Me

Chapter 15: Chemistry

Booker T by Bad Bunny & God is a woman by Ariana Grande

"I can't wait to see you play!" Natalie said on the phone with Cristina. 

Today was one of the first big league games of the season: Barcelona versus Athletico Madrid in the Vicente Calderon. Cristina was hyped with nerves as the Barca team bus drove into the parking deck. While the police caravan tried to get the team to the stadium safely, the Athletico fans swarmed the streets. Many of them screamed strings of obscenities and curses at them. A couple of "Hijos de puta" here, and another "Concha de tu madre" there. Cristina noted too many curses concerning people's mothers. Natalie and Aaliyah were determined to see Cristina play before they went back to the US and they sure picked a special one. Cristina sat in the front of the bus on FaceTime with them since only team members could ride with designated club resources. Or as Aaliyah put it: 'Fancy bus for the fancy players'. 

"I know! I hope I can put on a show for you guys," Cristina said as she adjusted in her seat. While she just sat the whole way after the plane landed, her teammates joined Neymar's karaoke-adjacent party at the back of the bus. At this point, Cristina was pretty sure that she could recite any Portuguese song from the last year. 

"No need to worry about us being entertained," Aaliyah said while driving, "Watching the hot guys kick a ball is all the entertainment we need." 

"Thanks for the support, guys," Cristina said rolling her eyes. 

"What's this talk about 'hot guys kicking a ball'?" Ney said coming out of nowhere. 

"I thought you were busy being a ringleader to your circus at the front," Cristina said laughing at him. 

"I'm never busy when it comes to entertaining the ladies," Ney said winking at the girls through the phone. 

"Entertain or annoy?" Leo said popping his head into the frame from sitting behind Cristina. Cristina giggled. 

"Let's ask the audience," Ney said taking the phone from her hand. Cristina tried to take it back, but there was no use. "What do you say, lindas," Ney said flexing, "You entertained?" 

"More like repulsed," Aaliyah said backhandedly. 

Neymar was shocked, "Are you blind?" 

"Just not my type," Aaliyah shrugged off. 

"No worries, querida," Ney said giving the phone back to Cristina, "I like a challenge," and left with a wink. 

"In your dreams, playboy." 

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While getting ready in the tunnel, you could feel the tension in the room. The Athletico guys all looked at Cristina with stoic expressions. They whispered back and forth as they looked over at Leo and her. "Don't let them try intimidating you," he said knowing they were just trying to get in her head. 

"I'm not intimidated," Cristina said staring back at her opponents, "I'm ready to wipe the floor with them." 

Leo couldn't help but let out a laugh, getting threatening looks from the boys from Madrid.  Leo enjoyed his talks with Cristina in the tunnel before games. It became a small ritual they both had to get a feel for each other's headspace before playing. A small time to connect before testing their chemistry on the pitch. 

They lined up on the field getting ready to shake hands with the other players. Cristina stood at the end of the line and waited. The final player is Filipe Luis, the Brazilian left-back. He goes to shake her hand squeaking it to the point it hurt and pulled her in, "Can't wait to bring you down a peg."