Best Mistake ︱Pedri González

70

Luciana's POV

Three days. That's all I had left until the qualifying rounds for the European Championship in Madrid. The thought consumed me as I laced up my spikes and headed to the track for another grueling session with Juan. My nerves were on edge, but excitement kept me going. This was my chance to prove myself again.

When I arrived at the track, Juan was already waiting with a stopwatch around his neck and a determined look in his eyes.

"Alright, Luciana," he said, clapping his hands. "Today's going to be a long one. Three hours of hard work. We've got to push your endurance and speed if you want to be in the best shape possible for Madrid."

I nodded, taking a deep breath. "I'm ready."

We started with a warm-up—jogging, high knees, and sprints to get my muscles firing. Juan had me run several block starts to perfect my launch off the starting line. Every time I shot forward, I could feel my legs burning, but I kept pushing, knowing that the pain was temporary and the glory would be worth it.

"Good, Luciana! You're explosive off the blocks," Juan encouraged, timing my sprints. "We're going to focus on your form for the next hour, make sure every movement is efficient."

The hours flew by as we drilled technique, form, and race simulations. By the end of it, I was drenched in sweat but feeling strong, more confident about the races ahead.

"Alright, that's enough for today," Juan said, giving me a smile as he clicked his stopwatch one last time. "You're looking good, Luciana. Just stay focused, and when you get to Madrid, run your race. Don't worry about anyone else."

I nodded, trying to calm the nerves bubbling up inside me. "I'll do my best, Juan."

"I know you will," he replied. "Now go home, rest, and get ready. The real test is coming."

After training, I went home to pack for my trip to Madrid. I carefully folded my racing gear, making sure everything was in order. It was hard to believe it was almost time. My suitcase was nearly full, and I was mentally preparing for the trip when I suddenly realized I had a few hours to kill.

Scrolling through my phone, I noticed that Barça had a game against Bilbao tonight at Camp Nou. I wasn't working today, so maybe I could go watch it as a fan. I smiled, deciding it was a good way to distract myself from the stress of the upcoming race.

I quickly grabbed my jacket and sent a message to Lamine. 

Me: Hey, are you guys home? Any chance you have a spare ticket for tonight's match?

His reply was almost instant. 

Lamine: Ofc! We've got you covered, come over to Balde's place and we'll sort you out.

Grabbing my keys, I headed over to Balde's house. When I got there, Lamine, Balde, and Ansu were lounging around, looking relaxed but excited for the game.

"You're going to the match tonight?" Lamine asked as I walked in.

"Yeah, I've got a few hours to kill, and I haven't been to a game as a fan in a while," I said with a grin.

Ansu smiled. "We've got you a ticket. But... we've got a little surprise for you too."

Balde went over to the couch and pulled out a Barça jersey, unfolding it to reveal a custom-made design. It had all three of their names—Lamine, Ansu, and Balde—on the back, and for the number, they combined their shirt numbers: 32. Lamine's 19, Ansu's 10, and Balde's 3.

I stared at the jersey, stunned. "You guys did this?"

"Yeah, thought you might like something special," Lamine said with a proud smile.

"Are you kidding? I love it," I said, hugging them all. "Thank you! This is so cool."

Ansu chuckled. "Now, you've got to tell us. How are you feeling about your race? It's coming up soon, right?"

I nodded. "Three days. I'm heading to Madrid tomorrow, and the qualifiers are the day after. I'm trying not to freak out, but it's hard."

"You're going to crush it," Balde said confidently. "No doubt."

"Yeah," Lamine added. "We've seen how hard you work. Those other girls don't stand a chance."

Their confidence in me made me feel a little better, but the nerves were still there. We talked for a bit more about football and track before they had to head to Camp Nou for the match.

"Why don't you come with us?" Ansu suggested. "We're going early, and you can watch us warm up before kickoff."

I agreed, tagging along as they headed to the stadium. Walking into Camp Nou always gave me chills, but this time felt different. I wasn't here to work or support anyone in particular—I was just here to enjoy the game.

The match started with a bang. From the get-go, you could tell both teams were fired up. Bilbao came out aggressive, pressing high and trying to force mistakes. But Barça was holding their ground. The tension in the air was palpable.

Fifteen minutes in, a quick counter-attack saw Pedri sprinting down the middle, his vision sharp as he threaded a perfect pass to Lamine. With one swift touch, Lamine sent the ball flying into the back of the net. The stadium erupted in cheers, and I jumped up from my seat, clapping wildly.

"Vamos, Lamine!" I shouted, grinning as he celebrated his goal. Ansu and Balde were beside him, both cheering with Lamine.

The first half ended with Barça leading 1-0, but you could feel the pressure mounting. Bilbao wasn't going down without a fight. Early in the second half, Niko, their star winger, made a brilliant run down the wing, cutting inside and slotting the ball past Ter Stegen to make it 1-1.

The energy in the stadium shifted, and for a moment, it looked like Bilbao might pull ahead. But then, Barça found their rhythm again. In the 75th minute, Lamine, showing his relentless pace, dashed down the wing and crossed the ball into the box. Raphinha was there, perfectly positioned, and headed the ball into the net.

The final whistle blew, and Barça had secured a hard-fought 2-1 victory. Lamine had been unstoppable, and as the stadium announcer declared him the man of the match, I could see the pride on his face.

After the match, the boys were surrounded by fans, taking pictures and signing autographs. I waited for them to finish up, knowing they'd be celebrating tonight.

Lamine walked over, grinning from ear to ear. "So, what did you think?"

"You were incredible," I said, beaming. "Man of the match, Lamine! I'm so proud."

Ansu and Balde joined us, clapping Lamine on the back. "We're all heading out to celebrate," Ansu said. "You coming?"

I shook my head. "I can't. I have an early flight to Madrid tomorrow. Gotta be ready for those qualifiers."

They all wished me luck, giving me words of encouragement as I said goodbye and headed home. As much as I wanted to join them, I knew I had to stay focused on my race.