𝐃𝐄𝐋𝐈𝐂𝐀𝐓𝐄 ★ pedri gonzález

𝙘𝙝𝙖𝙥𝙩𝙚𝙧 𝙩𝙬𝙚𝙡𝙫𝙚, pedri

❝ my reputation's never been worse. ❞
⇄ ◃◃   ⅠⅠ   ▹▹ ↻

"González!" Coach yells just as I was about to shoot my shot. I stop and turn around to look at him. Always in the same position, arms crossed, head up, chest out and of course standing tall even though he's shorter than most the team.

He waves for me to come over and I jog over there. No one has brought up yesterday's video yet. I have a feeling now's the time.

I stand next to him as he walks us further away from the others. "Yeah coach?" I act clueless, maybe it isn't about that.

"Why was I asked to make you go to your pr manager?" Good thing is he doesn't know, bad thing is it's actually about that.

"Monthly check up?" I guess, not wanting to tell my own coach about it. I did sleep with her, back at the start of the world cup. We bonded after our first match in a bar and headed to my room.

I never told her I loved her. I barely would've remembered her if she hasn't gone around telling people I fucking love her.

We both agreed it was a one time thing, I ask for consent every time, no matter what. I don't joke around with that stuff.

"Monthly check up? She isn't a fucking doctor Pedri. What's going on?" I sigh, realizing I actually have to tell him.

"Oh, you know, it's just one of those things where a girl calls you a slut all over the internet." I avoid eye contact, trying to act casual.

"I don't even know why I asked, get out of my field." He sends me away.

I try not to laugh when I feel everyone's eyes on me. I don't know why I want to laugh, it's just one of those stupid thing I feel.

I grab my bottle and walk inside the facility. I take the stairs up, not wanting to bump into someone in the elevator even if I'm burned out from training and my manager's on the fifth floor.

Once up there, I take the longest breath I ever have before knowing on her door, hearing a 'come in' come from her side of the door.

Lisa, my pr manager, sits on her chair focused on her computer when I walk in. She waves for me to take a seat in front of her desk.

I wait for a couple of minutes while she finishes up whatever she's working on. Lisa's probably in her mid forties. I would be ten times more worried if she wasn't one of the sweetest persons I know.

"Sorry for the wait. Hi sweetie. I've missed you." She smiles, focusing more on me now rather than her screen.

"Hi Lisa." I smile. "I missed you too. Sorry these are the circumstances we're meeting under."

She smiles awkwardly after my words. "Pedri, I've been thinking... we might need to take a somewhat unconventional approach to fix your reputation."

I raise an eyebrow, clearly intrigued but also puzzled. "Unconventional? What do you mean?"

She takes a deep breath, her eyes fixed on me. "Well, Pedri, the media has been relentless from you know what, and we need something big to change the narrative. I think it's time for you to have a fake girlfriend."