Lifeline (Marc Guiu)

Chapter 1

Alicia was bored scrolling on her phone when the video she was watching was paused due to an incoming call from Victoria's dad Oscar. That was odd...why would her best friend's dad need to call her? There could only be one reason so she panicked and answered the call quickly.

"Hi? Everything ok?"

"Hello Alicia. Sorry to bother you but Vicky isn't feeling well and she told me you could help her", said Oscar, confirming Alicia's suspictions that something was wrong. .

"What do you mean? What happened?"

"She got her period and is in a lot of pain. She told me you know which tablets she takes so maybe you could bring one here? If you're free at the moment".

"Where's here?", asked Alicia, getting up from the sofa and heading to the room to pick up the box of medicine. Both she and Victoria took the same one for their period cramps.

"The training centre".

"Ok. I should probably get there in ten minutes. See you then".

"Yes. Thank you!"

Alicia also picked up some tampons and pads, just in case her friend needed them, and put everything in her bag before running to the car. Her best friend Victoria was working for Barça with her dad and uncle, so she picked her up from their training centre a few times and that meant Alicia knew the way well. Victoria was also dating one of the players, Fermín López. But her family didn't know so Alicia helped them keep the secret as well.

She lived pretty close so thankfully it didn't take her long to get where she was needed and she got out of the car quickly before jogging to go inside the building.

"Excuse me", she said to get one of the security guard's attention. "I'm Alicia Rodríguez and I'm here to bring something to Victoria Hernández. I think Oscar told you about it".

"Yes. Here is your pass. She should be over there", he said, pointing at a corridor to their left.

"Thanks".

Knowing she couldn't really run inside the place, she just walked really fast, hoping she could find the dressing room quickly. And when she turned to go in the direction she thought was right, Alicia bumped into something very hard. Not a wall, but a person. A player, she guessed by what he was wearing. And by how big his muscles were.

"Sorry", he said.

"Do you know where Vicky is?"

"Don't worry, it's ok. I wasn't looking where I was going either".

"She's ill", said Alicia, ignoring the guy's jokes. "She needs me".

"Which Vicky?"

"Ummm...your manager's niece?", she guessed that would clarify it.

"Follow me".

So Alicia followed the tall guy and soon they were in the dressing room. He opened the door for her and Alicia ran inside, spotting Victoria immediately. Victoria saw her friend too and made grabby hands at her, which made Alicia laugh.

"Hey. You ok?"

"No. Do you have the tablet?"

"Yes", she said before looking at Fermín, who was near Victoria trying not to be too obvious but obviously worried about her. "Hey blondie, can you get some water for her?"

"Sure".

Soon Fermín was back with a bottle of water and Alicia had already helped Victoria so she could sit up and take the tablet.

"Right. 20 to 30 minutes and you'll be fine".

"Thanks, Ali", said Victoria, leaning down to hug her friend. "I don't know what I would do without you".