Best Mistake ︱Pedri González

74

Luciana's POV

The sun peeked through the blinds as I rolled out of bed, the weight of my upcoming races in Madrid sitting heavily on my mind. Today was my last day in Barcelona before heading to the competition. Tomorrow, I'd be racing against the top sprinters from across Europe. The heats would determine who moved on to the semis, and only the top three in each race would make it. No room for mistakes.

I pulled on my running gear and headed to my final training session with Juan. This was the last push before Madrid, and I needed every second of it.

When I arrived at the track, Juan was already there, stretching under the early morning sky. He gave me a nod and a small smile. "Ready for one last session?"

I grinned, determined. "Always."

We started with light warm-ups, moving into sprint drills to sharpen my explosiveness off the line. Juan was calm but focused, offering little tips as I pushed myself through the motions.

"Remember," he said, as I reset for another 100-meter sprint, "it's not just about speed. It's about control. You lose that in the first few meters, and it's hard to recover."

I nodded, breathing heavily. "Got it."

I took off from the line, feeling the power surge through my legs. My muscles were on fire, but I was used to the burn by now. I crossed the finish line, gasping for air, and Juan gave me a nod of approval.

"That's it. You're ready."

As we wrapped up the session, I felt a wave of nerves hit me. It wasn't just about the competition; it was about everything. Leaving Barcelona, the pressure of the heats, and the knowledge that my friends would be watching. Frenkie was injured, Mikky had nothing else to do, and Gavi—who'd been benched for one game due to too many cards—were all coming with me to Madrid. Mikky was bringing little Miles too, who was more excited about the trip than any of us.

After the session, Juan walked over and put a hand on my shoulder. "You've got this, Luciana. You've been training for moments like this your whole life. Just keep your head clear and trust yourself."

I smiled, feeling the support in his words. "Thanks, Juan. I'll do my best."

Later that afternoon, I met Frenkie and Gavi at the airport. Mikky was there with Miles, who was buzzing with excitement, already bouncing around with his little backpack. Frenkie, despite his injury, was in good spirits, limping a bit as he made his way over to me.

"You ready to race the best in Europe?" Frenkie asked, grinning.

I smirked, trying to ease my own nerves. "As ready as I'll ever be. I just need to make it through the heats first."

Gavi, nudged me. "Easy. You'll smoke them all."

I laughed, shaking my head. "We'll see."

As we walked through the airport, Mikky caught up to me, holding Miles' hand. "I'm so excited to watch you race. This'll be Miles' first big event—right, little man?"

Miles looked up at me with wide eyes. "Are you gonna be the fastest, Luciana? Are you Usian Bold type of fast?"

I knelt down beside him, smiling. "No, I'm no where near that level. But I'm gonna try my best, buddy."

Frenkie chuckled. "He's gonna be asking you for an autograph by the end of the race, you know."

I stood back up, rolling my eyes playfully. "Well, I guess I better win, then."

The flight to Madrid was quick but filled with chatter. Frenkie, Mikky, Gavi, and I took up most of a row, while Miles sat next to Mikky, playing with a small toy car. Gavi, who couldn't seem to sit still, kept fidgeting in his seat.

"Do you ever just... chill?" I asked him, laughing as he switched positions for the fifth time.

"Nope. Not possible," Gavi shot back, leaning into the aisle to talk to Frenkie. "So, you and I are gonna coach Luci before the heats, right?"

Frenkie gave him a look. "Coach her? You?"

"Yeah! I've got advice. Don't trip, don't fall, and run really, really fast."

Mikky laughed from her seat. "Solid advice, Gavi. Really inspirational."

I groaned, but I couldn't help but smile. "Wow, thanks, Gavi. I'll be sure to remember that."

The banter continued throughout the flight, lightening the tension in my chest. Despite the serious competition ahead, having them here made it all feel less intimidating. Frenkie and Mikky kept the conversation flowing, with Frenkie asking about my strategy and Mikky talking about her plans to visit some sights in Madrid while we were there.

"You're gonna crush it," Frenkie said, his tone more serious this time. "You've been working hard for this moment."

I nodded, the reality of the situation sinking in. "I just need to focus and get through those heats. One step at a time."

Mikky reached over and squeezed my hand. "And we'll be right there, cheering you on. No matter what happens."

As the plane began its descent into Madrid, the excitement and nerves began to mix. I was grateful to have such an amazing support system.

When we landed, we grabbed our bags and headed out into the warm Madrid air. Mikky and Frenkie managed to get Miles into a stroller, and Gavi immediately took out his phone, probably looking up some restaurant to eat at.

"Let's grab food before we check in," Gavi suggested, looking around. "I'm starving."

"You're always starving," I teased, nudging him as we walked.

He grinned. "True. But hey, we need to carb load for your races, right?"

Mikky laughed. "Pretty sure Luciana's the one racing, not you, Gavi."

Frenkie slung an arm over Gavi's shoulders. "Yeah, but he needs all the energy he can get for sitting in the stands."

As we headed toward a small cafe, I couldn't help but smile. With my friends by my side, I felt ready for whatever was coming. The heats, the semis, the pressure—it all felt a little lighter knowing they'd be with me every step of the way.