The Player Swap Up

Chapter 10

Alex POV

James picked me up at twelve and first took me to the Metropolis Building. We drove by it first before getting out. James had given me black Rayband glasses and a hat to keep the paparazzi away.

"Wow... it's beautiful." I murmered

"Yeah, a lot of people love this building. They come and have family photos taken and such." He explained

"What's it used for? Like a business? A government thing?" I asked

"It's an office," he laughed. "Just an office."

I laughed with him. A beautiful office.

We got back into the car and drove to the Almudena Cathedral. It was big and made of stone. It looked like a palace.

"Oh I'll show you a palace after this." He laughed. I hadn't realized I said that out loud.

We weren't supposed to walk in so we walked the perimeter. It was beautiful, it looked huge from the outside. "Have you ever been inside?"

"A couple times. But most of the time it's closed. I'm not really sure why." He concluded

We saw a crowd of guys to the side with cameras. Oh gosh. C'mon dudes seriously? Give us one day.

"Ugh. Man. Okay I may not be able to show you that palace after all. But this isn't over I promise. It's just, they know my car. They'll follow. Let me call Ed. He'll pick us up." He said

My long lost friend. I haven't had him pick me up to drive me anywhere since that dinner. I've gotten lost plenty of times for it too.

"Oh good. He hates me." I muttered

James looked at me and smiled while he was on the phone. He spoke in spanish and then hung up. "Ed made you think he hated you? Oh no way. That like never happens." He says sarcastically "He does that to everyone. But after like the third drive with him, assuming you know where you're going, he warms up. He doesn't actually hate you. Trust me."

Huh. "Welp. Too bad. Haven't callied him to drive me since the first team dinner."

He laughed and that drew some attention. I heard a click and knew they spotted us. He groaned "I'm sorry Alex."

I patted his shoulder "It's okay, it's not your fault."

"I'll call someone." He said dialing already. "Damn. Ed isn't answering. I'll try Marcelo."

"Hey Marcelo. Can you come pick me and Alex up? We are at Almudena Cathedral. Paparazzi at here. They know my car. I just don't want them following us." He explained to him

I looked around and saw a bench hidden behind some bushes and trees. I took James by the elbow and led him from behind the cathedral so the paparazzi couldn't see us.

I sat down and James was still talking to Marcelo when he sat down. "Okay thank you Marc."

He hung up and sat back on the bench. "He'll be here soon. Like a half an hour." He said

"Thanks for this James. I really enjoyed seeing Madrid. Or some of it." I smiled

"Oh don't thank me. It's my pleasure. One of these days I'll take you to Buen Retiro park, *My One True Footballer readers, remember this?* that's alot of fun. My little girl loves it there."

"That sounds fun. What's her name?" I asked

"Salome Rodriguez," he said proudly "My pride and joy."

I couldn't keep the smile off my face "That's a beautiful name. Does she look like you?" I asked

"That's what people tell me. I think so, she has my hair. My eyes." He said in a lost voice