Through Her Eyes - Alexia Putellas

Chapter Two

Valerie Williamson was not a morning person.

This was proven when she was woken up by the shrill ringing of her phone, groaning when she turns to answer it without looking at the name calling.

"Do you know how early it is? Who calls at this time in the morning?"

"Hola Miss Williamson," The voice of Jona made Valerie sit up straight away, cursing herself for speaking so unprofessionally towards her manager.

"Oh—Oh! Hola sir, um—lo siento.." She apologised nervously, now standing up to open her curtains.

"It's alright Valerie, I was calling to tell you that you may rest today, training starts tomorrow. I wanna see hard work, okay?"

"Sí, haré mi mejor esfuerzo." (Yes, I'll try my hardest) Valerie breathed out, already bored within her apartment at the prospect of what to do.

"That's what I like to hear," The woman could feel his smile through the phone as his tone perked up, "Lucy and Keira will also be off to accompany you in our beautiful city."

Then the manager ended the call abruptly, leaving the athlete to wallow in her stupidity and run his hand down her face, rubbing at the tense points to ease the pressure.

Showering had never felt so good, as the cold water ran down her back. Valerie got ready in her shorts and bowling shirt, not before accessorising with her favourite sunglasses and silver chain gifted to her by her former teammate, Danielle Van De Donk on her birthday two years ago.

"Are you awake?!" Then followed a bang on the door shaking Valerie out of her state, rushing to the front door to find her two best friends with smiles on their faces.

Valerie screamed then embraced them both in a tight hold making them groan, "I can't believe it. Wait—how do you know where I live?"

Lucy's smirk scared the woman as they entered her apartment and wandered over to the living room, "Is that how you talk to your neighbours?"

"So that was the noise in the middle of the—"

Keira cleared her throat, the Williamson woman looking between her two friends with a mischievous look. Though they had never come out as official, Valerie always had her suspicions and the fact that they made it obvious.

"So, how do you want to spend your first day in Barcelona?" Lucy asked

✰

The trio walked down the streets of Barcelona in search of food, they had already hunted down furniture for Valerie's apartment as it was completely bare at the moment.

As Valerie finished ordering food for them in Spanish, her two best friends looked on in awe and also jealousy, "Why are you both staring like that?" She asked accusingly, causing them to laugh at her stern face.

"Ines scolded us for not knowing Spanish, did you seriously learn before?" Lucy asked, smiling politely at the waitress who set down their food, "Gracias."

"What do you mean? You're practically Spanish," Valerie's voice laced with sarcasm causing the dark brunette to lean over and flick her on the head, "My dad taught me, I know French too, it's helpful here."

"I could never master French..." Lucy spoke sadly, leaning her chin in one hand.

As Valerie was about to say something else, the two women were entranced by something behind her, "You two have a staring problem—" As she turned, there was a blonde strolling towards them, her sleeves pulled up showing off her tattoos.

"Hope you don't mind, we invited Mapi..." Keira sheepishly grinned before greeting the said-woman, who sat down besides Valerie.

Though Valerie was a footballer and knew many of them, she didn't exactly follow Spanish football throughout her career, so she wasn't completely aware of who's who.

"Hola Mapi, mi nombre es Valerie." (Hello Mapi, my name is Valerie.) She spoke, reaching her hand out for the tatted blonde to shake, but was pulled out of her seat into an embrace as Mapi kissed both of her cheeks. Valerie's cheeks were now adorned with a pink blush, as she also sat down and shoved the sandwich in her mouth to hide it.

"¿Tú hablas español?" (You speak Spanish?)

"Sí y francesa tambien." (Yes and French too)

Mapi raised her eyebrows in genuine surprise, eyeing the two on the opposite end of the table before leaning in closer to Valerie with a grin.

"Estos dos idiotas no saben una palabra, podemos divertirnos con esto," (These two idiots don't know a word, we can have fun with this)

"Hey! I don't have to be Spanish to know you called us idiots," Keira rolled her eyes with faux annoyance, "Disclaimer that only applies to Luce."

"I like her, too bad though I am in love with Ingrid." Mapi leaned back sipping on her water, adjusting the watch on her wrist.

"You sure it isn't Alexia, you two are joined at the hip..." Lucy laughed when Mapi threw a napkin over the table that landed in her lap, the brunette occasionally teased Mapi and the Barcelona captain for that, knowing that they were just best friends.

"Don't be jealous that I have friends, Luce." The blonde smiled as her's vanished, followed by Keira's oooohh.

They noticed that the sun was going to set soon, as more people came out into the street and music began to play.

Though Valerie was experiencing a huge culture shock, she couldn't help but smile at the life in Barcelona. How people came out at nine o' clock at night to eat, whereas back home it would've been hours ago.

"So, are you excited for your first training session tomorrow Valerie?"

Valerie's smile widened at the prospect of a new turning stone in her career, Barcelona was said to be the best of the best in women's football, now she was playing for them.

"More than ready."