Best Mistake ︱Pedri González

79

Luciana's POV

It was a beautiful, sunny day in Madrid, and for once, I didn't have to worry about training or races. Tomorrow was the big 100m final, but today was all about relaxing. Gavi, Frenkie, Mikky, little Miles, and I had been lounging around our hotel room when Jude and Camavinga texted, inviting us to their game against Las Palmas later that evening.

Gavi was the first to respond, as usual.

"Let's go!" he said, throwing his phone onto the couch with a grin. "Why not?"

I raised an eyebrow at him. "Uh, Gavi, I don't know if you've noticed, but in the football world, we're not exactly supposed to like each other right now. Barça and Madrid? Does that ring any bells?"

He shrugged, completely unbothered. "I don't care about that. They're my friends, and I want to watch their game. Plus, it'll be fun."

Frenkie, who was sitting with Mikky and playing with Miles, chuckled. "Gavi really does whatever he wants, doesn't he?"

Mikky nodded, laughing softly. "He really does."

"Alright, fine," I said, rolling my eyes but smiling. "We'll go. But if any Barça fans spot us, I'm blaming you."

Gavi just grinned wider. "Deal."

We still had about three hours before the game, so we all decided to head out for a little adventure before kickoff. It felt good to get out of the hotel, and honestly, I needed something to take my mind off tomorrow's race. As we walked to the nearby park, Miles was happily running ahead, laughing and pointing at everything.

The park was peaceful, filled with families, joggers, and people walking their dogs. We found a spot near the playground where Miles could run around and play. Gavi immediately joined him, chasing Miles around, pretending to be a monster, while Frenkie, Mikky, and I found a bench to sit on.

"Look at him," Mikky said, watching as Gavi pretended to growl and Miles shrieked with laughter. "He's going to wear himself out before the game even starts."

"That's the plan," I joked. "Maybe he'll sit still during the match if he's tired enough."

Frenkie shook his head. "I don't think that's possible, Luciana."

Jude and Camavinga arrived about ten minutes later, both of them in their casual clothes but clearly excited for the game. Jude came over with a big grin, pulling me into a quick hug.

"Excited for tomorrow?" he asked.

"Yeah," I replied, even though I was trying not to think too much about it. "But today is all about having fun."

Camavinga plopped down on the grass near us, looking relaxed. "You better be cheering us on tonight, though. We need all the support we can get."

"I'm not sure the media and Xavi would like us cheering on our rivals" Mikky said

Gavi heard that and immediately called over, "Oh, you know I'll be cheering. Especially when Las Palmas gets wrecked!"

Jude laughed, his British accent thick as he teased back, "Mate, I'll score a hat trick and deticate it to you, just to make sure you have something to cheer for!"

Miles ran over to Jude, tugging on his hand, clearly wanting him to join in on the fun. "Come play!"

Jude couldn't resist the five-year-old's enthusiasm, and soon enough, he was chasing Miles around the park alongside Gavi, both of them yelling and laughing like kids.

"They're basically children," Frenkie commented, leaning back on the bench, looking amused.

We all spent the next hour at the park, talking, laughing, and playing with Miles. It was nice to relax and just be with friends. No pressure, no racing, no football politics — just good vibes.

After a while, we realized we were getting hungry, so we decided to grab some food before the game. There was a small sandwich shop nearby, so we headed there, the six of us taking up nearly half the tables.

As we ate, the conversation bounced around. Jude and Camavinga talked about their game plan for the evening, while Frenkie and Mikky kept Miles entertained. Gavi, of course, was mocking Madrid with any chane he got, but Jude and Camavinga took it in stride.

"So, what's your game plan, huh?" Gavi asked, leaning across the table, eyes gleaming with mischief. "Score an own goal to help Las Palmas out?"

Camavinga laughed. "Not a chance. I'm scoring first. You'll see."

"You wish," Jude added, smirking at Gavi. "We'll have you cheering for Madrid by the end of it."

"Never!" Gavi shot back, but there was no heat to his words. "VISCA BARCA, VISCA CATALUNYA!" He yelled causing many people to eye him weirdly.

"You might want to be quiet Gavi" Mikky said.

Once lunch was done, Jude and Camavinga said they had to head back home to get ready for the match, so we all walked with them for a bit before saying goodbye.

"We'll see you later!" I called out as they waved and headed off.

With a couple of hours still left before the game, I suggested we check out a nearby museum I'd read about. It wasn't far from the stadium, and it seemed like a good way to kill some time before the match.

The museum was quiet and cool, a perfect contrast to the sunny day outside. We wandered through the exhibits, taking our time and letting Miles point out all the things that caught his eye. It was calming, a nice way to spend the afternoon.

By the time we left the museum and made our way to the stadium, the sun was beginning to set, casting a golden glow over Madrid. The excitement in the air was palpable as fans made their way to the stadium, and even though we were there to support Jude and Camavinga, I could feel Gavi's Barça pride bubbling beneath the surface.

We found our seats in the VIP section, not too far from the action, and settled in. The game kicked off with a roar from the crowd, and from the start, Madrid was on fire. Jude and Camavinga were dominating the midfield, and before long, they were 2-0 up.

"Your friends are killing it," Frenkie said, nudging me with a smile.

"I told you they'd be good," I replied, watching as Jude set up another attack.

Gavi, though, was all in. "Come on, Bellingham! Smash 'em!"

Mikky laughed, shaking her head. "I don't know how you have this much energy, Gavi."

"Football is life, Mikky!" he said, grinning "I can't help it."

Madrid ended up winning 4-1, with both Jude and Camavinga playing a huge role in the victory. As the final whistle blew, Gavi was up on his feet, yelling and cheering as if Barça had just won the Champions League.

"That was amazing!" he shouted, turning to me. "Did you see them? They were unstoppable!"

I laughed, shaking my head. "You forget they're Real Madrid players, don't you?"

He just grinned. "Doesn't matter. They're my friends, and they played brilliantly."

After a while we were sitting in the stands waiting for Jude and Camavinga to come out.               

After the game, we headed back to the hotel, excited and happy. Tomorrow was going to be a big day, but for tonight, it was all about enjoying the moment and celebrating with friends.