𝐖𝐈𝐋𝐃𝐄𝐒𝐓 𝐃𝐑𝐄𝐀𝐌𝐒 | 𝐋𝐀𝐍𝐃𝐎 𝐍𝐎𝐑𝐑𝐈𝐒

𝐂𝐇𝐀𝐏𝐓𝐄𝐑 𝐄𝐋𝐄𝐕𝐄𝐍

Clara, Coco, and Carlos, their agents and coaches finally made it to Paris, to get ready for the summer Olympics. Carlos was excited to compete in singles and the doubles with Rafa Nadal for Spain, which surprised the tennis community since many thought he would team up with Clara for the mixed doubles. Clara was okay with it, though, because if she had the choice, she would have loved to play with her own hero, Venus Williams. Clara was also really looking forward to representing Brazil in singles and playing doubles with Beatriz Haddad Maia, who also from São Paulo. Coco was competing in singles and in doubles with her good friend Jessica Pegula.

The trio were just chilling in Coco's hotel room. Clara was laying with her knees up on the bed, scrolling through her phone and giggling at something she saw. Coco was in the same position next to her, playfully nudging Clara and trying to steal a glance at her screen. Carlos was sprawled out on the couch, arms behind his head, occasionally tossing a pillow at the girls to get their attention. It was a really hot day in Paris, so they decided to take it easy and enjoy a calm afternoon together, sipping on cold drinks and laughing at inside jokes.

"Imagine if we were in that Olympic village, in this heat?" Carlos said, fanning himself with his hand as he tried to turn the air conditioner up, but it wasn't working. The girls paused their own conversation, and burst into laughter, finding his struggle amusing. "We would be living in this heat amongst like 10,000 other athletes," Clara said, a playful grin spreading across her face, relieved they opted to stay in their own hotel rooms rather than the crowded Olympic village designed for athletes. "I don't think I could ever survive on those cardboard beds," Coco chimed in, dramatically flopping back onto her own bed with a sigh of relief when the air conditioner finally started working, the cool breeze washing over them.

"What are those cardboards even for?" Carlos asked, still sprawled out on the couch, looking genuinely curious. "It's to stop people from hooking up, because if they did anything on those beds, it would just collapse," Clara explained, sitting up on the bed and looking down at Carlos with a teasing glint in her eyes. Carlos met her gaze with a shy smile and a blush creeping onto his cheeks, his innocence shining through. Clara couldn't help but laugh at his reaction, the sound echoing warmly in the room as she playfully rolled her eyes at his cluelessness.

"I can't believe i'll be competing in my first olympics in a few weeks. it's so crazy," Coco said, her eyes sparkling with excitement. She bounced slightly on the bed, unable to contain her enthusiasm. "It'll be a first for all of us honestly, are either of you guys nervous?" Clara asked, her brow slightly furrowed as she leaned forward, intrigued. Coco quickly answered, "no, because I know I'm amazing at tennis," She said confidently and jokingly, flashing a playful grin. Clara sat up, grabbed a pillow, and playfully hit coco with it, causing them both to burst into laughter. "and you, Carlitos?" She said, glancing over at him with a teasing smile, eager to hear his thoughts.

Carlos had a serious look on his face as he scratched his head, searching for an answer, and he shifted uncomfortably on the couch, glancing at the floor as if the answers were hidden there. By then, Clara had become worried, and so had Coco. The two girls moved closer to the edge of the bed, their eyes wide with concern as they leaned in, trying to read the expression on Carlos's face. Coco bit her lip, glancing at Clara, who was tapping her fingers nervously on her knee, her brow furrowed in worry.

Carlos felt even more anxious with their eyes on him; the girls knew that when he was too quiet, something wasn't right. "Come on, Carlitos, you can tell us," Clara encouraged gently, her voice soft as she reached out to touch his arm reassuringly, her fingers warm against his skin. Coco nodded in agreement, her expression shifting from playful to serious, as she added, "We're here for you, no matter what." The room was thick with silence, each second stretching into what felt like an eternity, as Carlos took a deep breath, gathering the courage to share what was weighing on his mind.

"It's just that I'm worried I'd play badly, you know." He began as he sat up on the couch, running a hand through his hair in frustration. "Clearly this year hasn't been my best, you know." He said with a sigh, his gaze dropping to the floor. "Yeah, we know." Coco said, and Clara hit her arm, prompting Coco to rub her arm in mock pain. "Ow. What was that for?" She asked, faking innocence. "What do you mean, you know what you did wrong." Clara replied, crossing her arms with a smirk.

Carlos did a nervous chuckle, shaking his head as he leaned back on the couch, his hands covering his face. The girls exchanged glances and whispered for a moment before both moved onto the couch, one girl on each side of Carlos. Clara nestled her head on his shoulder, and he instinctively wrapped his arm around her, pulling her closer. Coco shifted awkwardly, trying to find a comfortable position next to him. "You can talk to us, Carlitos." Clara said softly, looking up at him with concern in her eyes, her voice almost a whisper.

"I'm just worried about what the tennis community or the media will say if I mess up in the Olympics," he explained, his voice tinged with anxiety. "I feel like all eyes are on me, and whether I'll fail or succeed. If I mess this up, I don't only mess this up for myself but also Rafa, who is a tennis legend." He ran his fingers through his hair again.

"Carlos, it's okay to feel this way," Clara reassured him, her tone soothing as she looked up at him, her brow furrowed with concern. "Everyone has their ups and downs, and we believe in you." Coco chimed in, trying to lighten the mood, "And besides, you're not alone in this. We're right here, cheering you on!" Carlos felt a flicker of warmth in his chest at their support, but the weight of his worries still lingered. "Thanks, guys, it just feels like so much pressure," he admitted, taking a deep breath as he tried to shake off some of the anxiety, his shoulders relaxing slightly as he leaned into Clara.

"Don't put too much pressure on yourself, you're literally the best tennis player ever, and you're also my favourite," Clara said, holding him tighter, her eyes sparkling with admiration. Carlos smiled down at her, feeling a rush of warmth. "Thank you, amor, and you're also my favourite tennis player," he replied, leaning down to place a few gentle kisses on the top of her head. They both burst into laughter as they playfully wrestled, Clara trying to pin him down while Carlos pretended to be defeated, his arms flailing dramatically.

Coco, rolled her eyes with a smirk, feeling a mix of amusement and slight disgust. She decided to get away from the duo, standing up and stretching her arms before moving to the bed, plopping down with a soft thud and pulling a pillow over her face to block out the sight. Just then, Clara's phone began ringing, cutting through the playful chaos. Coco quickly grabbed the phone, she curiously checked the caller ID. A grin spread across her face. "Hey Clara, Lando's calling!" she shouted excitedly, her voice echoing in the room. Clara and Carlos paused mid-wrestle, surprise flashing across their faces as they turned to Coco, intrigued by the unexpected call.