Change of Location - Pedri González

xxiii. de-escalation

***

Sophia never misses out on the chance to make a statement during Halloween. In past years, she's evolved from dressing up as Merida from Brave, honouring her Scottish roots, to the femme Oliver Queen from Arrow, she even went all out as the She-Hulk one time. Her skin was tinted green for days.

This year's costume, though... was set to be a top contender.

Except Sira's brother threatened to ruin that.

"What do you mean you're busy on Halloween?"

"I have a date." Pacho responds over the phone.

"Oh, the poor soul."

"I'll have you know she asked me out. I am quite the catch."

"I'll need her number," Sophia tells him, "Be good to inform her of your unreliability with personal commitments."

She hears Pacho sigh. "If it really offends you that much, I can cancel."

"No, don't do that." Sophia groans, begrudgingly. "Go on your date. You owe me one, though."

"That I do. Thanks, Soph. I'm sure the costume will be just as good without me."

"Hm, I don't know about that." She releases a sigh, before bidding goodbye to Pacho and ending the call. Sophia slumps back in her seat, the uncomfortable plastic flip-out seats within the Johan Cruyff arena, where she was midway watching FCB Femeni B beat Villarreal 2-1, her little sister at the heart of it. Sophia turns to Sira, beside her. "Your brother's a dick."

From a few seats below her, Pablo Gavi coughs. "Language."

Picking up the grin of Pedri beside him, Sophia counters, "Didn't your mum ever tell you what happens to pesky little boys that eavesdrop?"

"They grow into handsome elite-tier midfielders, right?"

"No, they grow hideous bunions from their football boots instead."

"My feet are fucking fantastic, you keep your cursed words away from me."

"Language." She reiterates his words back at him.

Sira says, "What did Pacho do now?"

Sophia sighs. "He's bailed on our joint Halloween costume."

"You mean your Halloween costume that you desperately needed a male counterpart for?"

Sophia narrows her eyes at Sira, and sighs again, crossing her arms in her already-hunched position. "That's the one. Apparently he has a date."

"Gross," says Sira. "Surely the costume would be just as good on its own?"

Sophia releases a groan that said otherwise. "But it would look really cool with a partner."

"A male partner, you say?"

"Yes."

Sira nods, pensive. And then:

"Pedri?"

"Hello?" Pedri looks back at having heard his name called, gazing upwards the rows of seats at Sophia and Sira. Sophia was frowning, but she had an idea what Sira was about to do.

"Are you free on Halloween?"

"I was gonna be playing FIFA with Ferran, so yeah, I am free."

"How would you like to come to a Halloween party at our flat?"

"I'd like that."

Sira continues, "And would you like to end Sophia's woes and be her Halloween costume partner?"